rode my bike to work today

[ronocnikral]

realized some things i need. such as...

• a helmet
• more lights (i want to look like a spaceship going down the road)
• fewer lbs around my belly
• a rangefinder or something compact. even a MF camera with WLVF would be nice. something cheap. the bronica is a little big. maybe a bronica 66, i don't think the lenses are compatible though...
• higher gear
• gloves - my hands were freezing!!

but, today is my first day of my goal to ride my bike to work. a little nervous for the ride home...with the increase in traffic.

[zebulus]

You want to carry a 6x6 with you on your bike? Wow. I usually always carry a camera with me, but its typically the sony. I wouldnt dare take my beloved Bronica 6x6 with me to work everyday.

[ronocnikral]

most certainly doesn't do me any good at home, besides, there are so many cool things between downtown and my house. fits in pretty well with my lunch, clothes, lock etc. my bag is huge! i was thinking about getting a cheap yashica tlr (not so cheap), autocord or diacord. the tlr's are a little bigger, but i wouldn't worry about wiping out and ruining a sub $100 camera. my bronica has a grip and everything...i could pare down to just the camera and a WLVF. of course, if the bronicas had interchangeable backs and lenses, i would only have to shell out the cash for a 66 body and WLVF.

[KenJulio]

For your light source, check out lupine, I bought the tesla 4 and it's more than sufficient, it costs an arm and a leg, but it's better to pay than to lose those pieces. You'll also want a tail light as well, the superflash can be had for about $25.

As for the helmet....that's a no brainer, you should have had one since owning the bike :\ A low speed crash can cause harm as well as a high speed crash, for instance, slipping on a wet tile at home as you're walking, you can smack the back of your head pretty good.

Texas drivers and laws could give a rat's ass about cyclists.

Prime example: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=592111

[d2creative]

Good for you! So did I.

My EP1 fits in the front bag with my wallet and stuff. Clothes go in the back bag.
My front light is a generator hub on the front wheel. For the back though, get on amazon and grab a Planet Bike Super Flash. AWESOME for the 15 or 20 bucks.

Lets see your trusty steed. I love bike porn.

Here's mine...



And here is an interesting story from this morning's ride...

I'm almost at the office and approach a light behind a few cars. In the next lane over there is a prius with a bumper sticker that reads in nice big type, "Your SUV makes you look fat". I was this close to knocking on the guys window and telling him that even me, riding a bike to work, thinks that bumper sticker makes him look like an a$$hole. But then the light turned green. Never saw him before and probably never will again, but if I get the chance he's gonna hear it. It doesn't even make any sense! At least I'm out there getting some exercise and not using ANY gas. He did nothing more than pay too much for a car that gets the same mileage as a VW TDI. And keep in mind this is Texas. I'm surprised he's still alive.

[venchka]

Apparently Texans recognize the shortcomings in others and treat them better than they deserve. Or, our mama's raised us right.

Yep. Show us your bike. I know there's a digital camera in your house somewhere.

[ronocnikral]

i'll have to get a picture up of my bike later. it's nothing flashy like yours dennis. that's what i need is strong steel frame with some beefy wheels. i was thinking about moding my old schwinn le tour which i've owned since i was 12 (rode RAGBRAI on it 4 times!!). the beach cruiser is cool for the residential streets in the heights, but not cool for this little more lengthy heave to work, even if geared higher. i thought about a mt bike with some slicks...we'll see what i can find. i want to keep the le tour open for some rd rides outside of houston...

i have some lights, i just want some more flashing red ones to go on my back. i should look into a rack too...ugh this is getting expensive. i thought some spd clipless would be awesome too. i'll probably end up getting a helmet. my father in law wishes he wasn't wearing one during his accident...

stand by for pics of my hobby horse

[d2creative]

I ride from spring branch to river oaks/montrose and I come into the heights on 14th st then take heights blvd all the way down. Usually I'm on heights around 7:30am on the days I ride.
Does the le tour have fender and rack braze-ons? Old steel bikes usually make great commuters because they have the wider tire clearances and full set of braze-ons. My commuting tires are 32mm wide. Helps soak up some of bumps on houston's nasty in-town roads. And being able to fit fenders in there with the wide tires is just awesome, whether you get caught in the rain or just running through puddles from sprinkler run-off. On my commuter I usually use either the cheap "campus" pedals from Performance Bike that have spd on one side and regular platform on the other, or I use a bmx style pedal with the metal pins because they grip regular shoes almost as good as clipless.

[ronocnikral]

no fender on the le tour. i have it on the crusier though. steel frame also. tires are plenty wide. no braze ons on either. i just may need to find the correct gear on the cruiser to make it a commuter. i commuted with it when i lived in algiers point in new orleans, but that was like a 2 mile commute (including a ferry ride across the mississippi).

i will have to check out the "campus" pedals...

[toverman]

I sold my dad's old Le Tour 3 after riding it for years. Once I got a bike that actually fit me (his was too big) I just didn't feel safe on it anymore. I will definitely drag out my beater bike and snap a pic for this thread. Used to ride to work, but now I have to transport a kiddo and all the feasible routes just aren't safe enough for a loved one in a trailer. My bike is a 14-year-old GT Tempest mountain bike with road tires, scratched paint job and the need for fenders. I rode it in the Hotter N'Hell Hundred a couple of years ago and it was really comfortable.

Conor, I met a guy who commuted 37 miles one way on his bike, having to start out in the dark. Usually he'd have co-workers drive him part of the way back home. He had a 9-volt battery system for his lights that he rigged up. Some of the nicer halogen systems are pricey, but seem nice. You could also get a bunch of mid-price lights and use them all together at once. Wearing a bright yellow windbreaker or vest can also help. Definitely, pick up a helmet ... even ones in the $50 range will protect your melon. The prices go up for more air vents, lighter weight and name brand.

Dennis, that's a Rivendell? Heard great things about the build. Love the mustache handlebar and Brooks saddle.

[ronocnikral]

most definitely envious of Dennis' Rivendell. i should try and convince my uncle to hand his over to me (will have little success). dennis, if you are ever on heights at 5:30 in the morning, we should ride in sometime. we live off of 16th. besides, if i have rivendell, it will just be a nice prize for someone to pick off. i worry about my bell getting stolen during the day.

i will have to pick up a helmet this weekend sometime. 37 miles is a pretty good haul. not such a biggie in the morning, but would be a killer in the afternoon after work.

thoughts about my route. i ride down heights, hang a louie on dallas and head straight into downtown. the morning is completely safe, very few cars. maybe a dozen pass me the entire time. dallas st isn't as bad as i thought in the afternoon. the rd could use some work, but the traffic is minimal. besides, i'm faster than the city bus--it was left coughing in my extra CO2 from the aerobic work (nothing is perfect!). the most dangerous part of my ride is on waugh between dallas and washington. if i can get my bike geared correctly, i could cruise through a little better and have some more confidence. i estimate i top out at about 15mph on the cruiser. after washington, the ride is spacious and beautiful up to 16th st.

I had some issues with chain tension and the fixed gear yesterday, which resulted in multiple stops to put my chain back on. but, it's all fixed now!!

here is my "Steed" nothing too flashy like a rivendell...(iphone pic in low light)

[venchka]

What? iPhone? Dayna won't let you use the 5D?

I thought you had a real bike.

I can't talk. My poor bike hasn't seen the light of day since I moved to Houston. Frankly, Houston driver's scare the poop out of me when I'm in the Volvo surrounded by air bags. I need to get my bike out for some fresh air. I wonder if the 'blad will ride in the handlebar bag ok?

I don't have any spiffy pictures of my bike. GOOGLE Co-Motion Americano.

My paint scheme............Plum & Vanilla Shake....

[ronocnikral]

i thought about getting the point and shoot. but then i would have gotten a million questions about what i was doing (she keeps it in her purse). the 5d would have yielded more questions.

i'm trying to convince dayna to get me the hasselblad 500cm on the rangefinder forum, but her response is that i just got the bronica. she's getting lasik for christmas and i asked why she needed to get her left eye done in addition to the right.

she's getting both eyes done and i still have no blad (and it's not in sight, no pun intended). maybe i'll ask for a rivendell. of course i don't want to worry about the rivendell. i need something with gears...maybe i'll dress up the le tour this weekend. i really want a bianchi (Always have wanted on) fixed gear (puts me in the same boat as I am in right now though).

[d2creative]

Yup, that's a Rivendell. My second one actually. Had an Atlantis for a bit before this A. Homer Hilsen. I love their bikes. Good steel rocks. And they are so sensible. Tire clearance is huge, can fit all kinds of racks, fenders, etc. They ride awesome and the details like the lugs and hand paint jobs are outstanding. Luckily I can just take my bike into my office with me. Sits right next to me all day. My precious.

The cruiser is cool. It's all hot rod-esque. I had an Electra Straight 8 for a while but eventually sold it since it almost never left the garage. Now I'm down to just the Riv and my new weekend roadie, a Tomassini Sintesi.

And those Co-Motions are nice bikes. Shame it's not getting ridden!

d2creative added 10 Minutes and 25 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

thoughts about my route. i ride down heights, hang a louie on dallas and head straight into downtown. the morning is completely safe, very few cars. maybe a dozen pass me the entire time. dallas st isn't as bad as i thought in the afternoon. the rd could use some work, but the traffic is minimal. besides, i'm faster than the city bus--it was left coughing in my extra CO2 from the aerobic work (nothing is perfect!). the most dangerous part of my ride is on waugh between dallas and washington. if i can get my bike geared correctly, i could cruise through a little better and have some more confidence. i estimate i top out at about 15mph on the cruiser. after washington, the ride is spacious and beautiful up to 16th st.

Not sure about improving your route short of taking the allen pkwy paths.
Coming down waugh over memorial i usually top out around 24-25mph, but 15 is pretty fast for that cruiser. If you don't mind the roads, you could take Center Street pretty far in... at least to Houston Ave. Some of it is kinda ghetto though.

[ronocnikral]

yeah, i'm waiting for the bridge to be done in stude park...wasn't it suppose to be done last month? i hate that path though, a stop sign every block...ugh.

the cruiser will work for now...trying to find a nice commuter setup. my mom is bringing me down some saddle bags (as well as a pentax k1000, i think) this thanksgiving.

but, i'm glad i started this on a thursday. the old undercarriage needs some easing into the new routine...home safe and sound this week!!