New to bike commuting and I've got some questions.

So my car is out of commission and I'm switching to bike commuting. I've got a Marin Fairfax 1 (brand new) and I really like it.

I've noticed it's taking me a lot longer than Google map estimates to get anywhere. I'm paying more attention to my tires air pressures, but is there anything else I can do to help? Besides get my lard butt in better shape haha (I'm going from a couch potato for the last 8 months to commuting 4 or 5 days a week)

Luckily, I only have to go 3.3 miles during the week and 6.7 miles during the weekend.

Besides a bike tool and replacement tubes, is there anything I should keep in my backpack? I have access to tire pumps at work and at home.
Does anyone recommend a rack and basket system? I'm thinking of going for the Topeak introductory setup.

in bikecommutingby nowhere_man_1992

88%

14d

Thesorus

14d

yes, it's normal; you'll get better overtime, but there are always limiting factors like other cyclists, red lights, stops, cars and pedestriants, especially if you're on bike paths (*).
For daily commuting, I don't bring anything. if shit happens, I can either walk or take the subway back home.
sorry, can't help with that.

(*) I'm commuting to work for the last couple of years, and it always takes the same time +/- 2 minutes depending if I'm lucky to be synch with the red lights.

Buttleston

13d

I bike commuted for ~9 years, a pretty fair distance. I took spare tubes, CO2 cartridge or 2, a backup tiny pump and a patch kit. That was about it, all of it except the pump fit in a seat bag, the pump attached to the frame. My commute was far enough and out of the way enough that I could easily get stranded with miles to walk otherwise.

I didn't take a bike multi-tool. Never had a use for one except once in a blue moon you might want or need a chain breaker. But honestly, I was doing 10k miles/year for years and I needed a chain breaker on the road like 1 or 2 times. So infrequently that I am cool with just calling someone to pick me up.

I used a rack and panniers for a while (ortlieb, sort of like plasticised cloth). In the end I decided I didn't like them and used a cycling backpack instead. It was designed to keep the bag off my back with open webbing. I liked having the weight there instead of in the panniers.

IME if you have a 5 mile commute, you'll get faster pretty quick but you'll hit a plateau. If you want to make your 5 mile commute faster, adding in some longer rides will help a lot. Like doing 10 mile rides will make your 5 mile rides faster on average. I've never used google for estimating time (and around here it is consistently AWFUL for suggesting routes) so I don't know if they're reasonable or not

nowhere_man_1992

13d

Awesome! Thank you! I don't want to add a seat bag to my bike since I live in a college town and bike thefts are fairly common.

Buttleston

13d

OK so then I think saddlebags or a backpack are still a good option. I kept my tires and repair kit and stuff in a ziploc bag. Throw that in your backpack and keep it there.

There are layers of tire repair stuff. The further you stray from safety, the more stuff you need. For a short urban commute, I'd probably not carry much above a spare tube or two and CO2. If that fails you, well, walk it to a shop, or take a bus, or whatever.

My main problem was that I took a bike path that completely left roads for ~8 miles. There were some crossings with roads, but just to get to *any* road would be at least a 2 or 3 mile walk, in bike shoes. So I took enough stuff to get me through a few flats or even a slashed tire

In the beginning you might call on help more and over time you figure out the likely frequency of problems for your specific route and plan accordingly. Carry enough, but not too much.

I was lucky in that I could keep my bike safely at home, or safely inside my office, so I didn't carry a lock or anything. Also, for my decade of commuting I always had a shower at the end, either in the office, or I'd get a membership at a nearby gym and shower there. I live in texas, showering after a commute is NOT optional

nowhere_man_1992

13d

I've got a pocket in my backpack where I can keep that stuff.

Yeah, I'm not remote at all. I bike through a college campus because it's a shorter route.

I also can shower at work, which is nice. I'll need to start bringing extra shirts and shorts to bike in and some clothes to change into. It's not Texas hot, but it's hot out here and I sweat.

Buttleston

13d

My strategy was, once every couple of weeks, I'd bring in like, 4-5 shirts, a pair of shorts, some socks, stuff like that, and take what I had at work home. I came into work twice a week at the end. The rest of the time I just went back and forth with a laptop and a few minor things.

Initially I'd bring clothes for "today" but after fucking up a few times, I just made sure that I'd have *something* at work. I also left a pair of shoes there permanently. Forget one time to bring clothes and you're walking some place to buy some.

My philosophy around cycling in general was like... remove all the barriers and obstacles, riding a lot is hard enough. So I kept tubes and tools and extra shoes and clothes and stuff at work.

I honestly miss it. I work from home and I have since the pandemic started. I loved commuting and I aimed every year to have more miles on the bike than the car.

nowhere_man_1992

13d

That's a good strategy! I was already going to leave a pair of pants there, since I work in a lab sometimes. Might as well leave some shirts, socks, and briefs since you never know what can happen.

I'm looking forward to this new chapter for a bit.

nowhere_man_1992

14d

Thank you! Less stuff in my backpack sounds better to me.

tarwheel

13d

it gets easier and faster, keep up the good work (I think google would be inaccurate for short distances, don't worry about it. You can do weekend rides, shopping, to get faster.)
My first commute was 14 mi each way so I had pump, tube, tire levers, multi tool. Still take those for short commute on hybrid but never need them.
I did >50 mi today on a racing bike, minipump, tools, tube, patch kit, all small.

I use a bike rack with panniers. I think Topeak has a rack (mine's an old Performance, like Nashbar), Ortleib panniers are good, I have similar. Room for lock, laptop, grocery shopping...

nowhere_man_1992

13d

Thank you!

Itchy_Discipline6329

13d

Google tells me it'll take me 30 minutes to do my commute of 10km across my city. When I first started 1.5 years ago it was taking me about 35. Recently I did it in just over 20 minutes. Your own fitness plays a massive part in the length of time it will take, the more you ride the faster you'll get.

Edit, carry a pump and inner tube with you, no point in having a pump at work if you have to walk your bike the last 4km with a flat tyre to get to it. You're guaranteed to be late doing that.

nowhere_man_1992

13d

Will do, I'll get a minipump.

davereeck

13d

Carry a pump, tire levers and patches unless you can afford to miss work. A replacement tube is ok too.

nowhere_man_1992

13d

Will do! Thank you!

davereeck

13d

P.s. learn how to use it and practice. You could check out if a local cycling club has maintenance classes (some bike shops do this too). Watching it on YouTube is a good start, but actually doing it in your back yard is a much better way to learn.

Also: Pedro's yellow tire irons are the best.

Itchy_Discipline6329

13d

I'll second this, breaking the bead on the tyre when you're not used to it, on the side of the road in the rain will make want to cry. Practice will help.

buffarama

13d

in my experience, my husband and i both double google's estimated times, minimum.

nowhere_man_1992

13d

Nice, at least I'm not the only one

left_it_out

13d

I got the Basil MIK system plates and attached it to a cheap basket from the bike shop. But if you’re carrying heaps of weight, panniers might be better as they put the weight lower. The MIK set up I use can accomodate both.

nowhere_man_1992

13d

Why Basil? I only ask because it's more expensive than Topeka.

I don't think I'll carry a lot of weight, but a universal system would be nice in case my grocery trips become heavier.

left_it_out

I was already using basil panniers that I got from someone else, and the brand was easy to access. I also liked that there was lots of interchangeable parts already MIK equipped like a pet carrier but then I realised you can just attach the plates to anything so I haven’t bought anything new. I imagine all the systems are much the same, so go with whatever you like.