My Story

[bauldbairn]

lol well I have 2 jobs Arch, first job is where I take 12 laptops around Fife and teach computing to people in ex mining communities, i could attach a little trailer but it might prove a bit difficult :0

the other job is for a corporate company (naming no names, don’t want to be run over) where I work 9am till 8pm, cycling in should be fine but its getting home in the dark might be a bit trickier, I was thinking through once the better weather comes in to start commuting

Well done with the work for the ex-mining community.

By the law of averages there must be some decent people working for the Rubble Bike Scheme() - don't be to hard on yourself!

 

[Stephen-D]

LOL that made me laugh (outloud i might add) its more like Scrapyard Kite Yearnings!

 

[Arch]

lol well I have 2 jobs Arch, first job is where I take 12 laptops around Fife and teach computing to people in ex mining communities, i could attach a little trailer but it might prove a bit difficult :0

the other job is for a corporate company (naming no names, don’t want to be run over) where I work 9am till 8pm, cycling in should be fine but its getting home in the dark might be a bit trickier, I was thinking through once the better weather comes in to start commuting

Oh really, you're not trying.... I have a laptop bag that would probably carry two nice lightweight ones, so one bag each side of the rack, that's 4 covered.... Sounds like a very worthwhile job, anyway.

Good for you for thinking about it in the longer days - I don't blame you for waiting. Do you have to commute far?

 

[Stephen-D]

Oh really, you're not trying.... I have a laptop bag that would probably carry two nice lightweight ones, so one bag each side of the rack, that's 4 covered.... Sounds like a very worthwhile job, anyway.

Good for you for thinking about it in the longer days - I don't blame you for waiting. Do you have to commute far?

Not really mate, i work about 6 or 7 miles from home, i do have to take a laptop to my other job but its such a short distance (and only 1) that that wouldnt bother me.

This morning i was driving into work, my temperature gauge had just changed from -6 to -7 degrees. at the same time i passed by a hardcore cyclist cycling in the snow on the main road, I felt ashamed and vowed to get out on my bike asap.

 

[Arch]

So the 6 or 7 miles is the commute you might do? That's a good distance - far enough, not too far. My longer commute (I have two jobs too) is 3 miles each way, and I have done 4. 6 or 7 would be quite do-able for me now.

When you do want to start, ask here - as you'll have realised we have some really hardcore commuters and a wealth of advice...

The first point is that you don't have to do it every day. In fact, at first, it's could have the odd rest day. And not to feel bad about 'wimping' out if it's icy or rottenly cold and wet and windy. Eventually, none of it will matter, but if you force yourself and don't enjoy it, you're defeating the object a bit....

And you do know about n+1 don't you?

 

[Stephen-D]

LOl it actually does sound like good fun, i dont finish my work till nightime though, so i will need to get lights etc fitted to my bike to. and N=1 of course i know what that is, i mean really, how could i not.


so eh whats n+1??

 

[Arch]

LOl it actually does sound like good fun, i dont finish my work till nightime though, so i will need to get lights etc fitted to my bike to. and N=1 of course i know what that is, i mean really, how could i not.


so eh whats n+1??

n + 1 is the rule that governs the ideal number of bikes any cyclist should own, where n = the number of bikes you currently have.

There's always a reason to have one more.... My current n is 4....

Lights are pretty easy to sort these days, at whatever price band you choose - are you riding in mostly built up areas or are there rural stretches? If rural, you'll need a set up to see by, as much as be seen - often this means a twin set with lights that have different beam patterns. If urban, then you just need a couple of nice bright LED lights front and rear.

 

[Stephen-D]

Hiya Arch,



my commute is 6 miles to work and 6 miles back, i start work at 9am and finish at 8pm.

on my days off that i can get i usually cycle past my work, takes about 30 mins Max to get there from my home, its mostly main roads, its National Speed limit roads (60) so i probably need to be seen

oh and i only have 1 bike at the moment, its a Giant OCR2 (06) model.

spoke to my LBS and they said i can go in and the can fit light mud gaurds for me for the winter.


p.s thanks fro all your help on this.

 

[Arch]

Yes, get good lights for main roads. Other people on here will be able to recommend good sets - my commuting is all urban, so I don't need ultra powerful stuff.

Whatever lights you get, get back ups as well, especially rears. Red LEDs can be got for pence (well a quid at pound shops), and the more you have the better - on the bike, on your jacket (most jackets have a loop for a light), even on your helmet. If the batteries in one run low, you're not left unlit without realising.

Your OCR is a younger, posher brother of one of mine, an FCR that I've set up for light touring with a rack. Now that I have my tourer proper (a Dawes Galaxy), I'm wondering whether to strip the rack and stuff off and make the FCR sportier again. Ha! Sportier, with me in the saddle? (My rides are always planned around cake stops...)

A 30 minute commute is ideal - enough in the morning to get your brain going (it's well known that cycle commuters arrive at work more alert), and not so much in the evening that it seems like a drag.

 

[Stephen-D]

Sweet, thanks matey! you have been an awesome help, im trawling sites just now looking for lights etc

and anything that makes me alert in the morning is an instant win. If you fancy coming up from some cakes feel free to pop into my little village anytime, i promise you we dont deep fry everything in fife (honest)

ideally i would love a touring bike for non serious cycling, i love speed and the quickness my racer gives me. My uncle cycled from John o'Groats to Lands End when he was my age many moons ago and he has always recommended it. Maybe one day eh.

 

[Garz]

Tescos do some great prices for cheap lights. I would buy a good set to see with from crc/wiggle etc then have the cheap ones to just help people see you (also act as backup).

 

[GAVSTER]

Stephen - I'm in Dalgety Bay so not very far away at all.

At the moment I'm waiting for all the snow to b*gger off so I can get back on the bikes.

Good luck in 2010 on the bike and off.

 

[Stephen-D]

Cheers Garz off to tesco after work to check out the cheaper ones

And Gavstar my Folks live in Dalgety 9 Mym is primary School teacher) as do most of me family

Moray Park is the street to live

 

[Jane Smart]

And I am in between Dalgety Bay and Cairneyhill

Just thought I would butt in

 

[bauldbairn]

Smart B/Spoke 0.5w Front/Rear lights(approved by London Transport) aren't a bad - be seen light.
These can be had from Chain Reaction for £18(half RRP) - some say the rear is worth that alone, if you shop around you could find the set cheaper elsewhere. I bought two sets for £13 each in the Wiggle sale - but I don't think they stock them now.

I've got 3 front lights and 3 rear lights - reason - if one fails I've still got at least two on. Always carry extra batteries(I pick them up when ASDA, Tesco reduce them).