Biking

I would like to start biking to work -  15K one way or so.

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips on getting started?

(I live in an urban city)

thanks

Do you already have a bike or looking for one?

A great resource for bike commuting:http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f= 20

UD

Wear a lid ... always.

no I dont have a bike yet. I will get one tomorrow.

Original Post by risza:

no I dont have a bike yet. I will get one tomorrow.

What are you getting? Since it's 15K each way I recommend something you can attach rack and panniers and depending on weather condition you are planning to ride in fenders. Also something without suspension.

UD

Original Post by sybil878:

Wear a lid ... always.

I would argue knowing and following the rules of the road, and paying attention is more important.

UD

Good for you, I ride both ways every day, it's a 22k round trip. 

I would recommend a hybrid bike, this gives you good visability in traffic and is comfy as well as giving you a bit more spped than a moutain bike.

Get decent tyres with pucture resistance.  I have schwalbe Kevlar and have not had a puncture since fitting tham 7 months ago.

the helmet debate rages on!  if you think it would make you feel more secure then go for it.  I don't personally wear one.

Original Post by umneydurak:

Original Post by sybil878:

Wear a lid ... always.

I would argue knowing and following the rules of the road, and paying attention is more important.

UD

 Does what's 'more important' really matter? Always wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road.

We have a name for people who don't wear helmets while biking.

 Organ donors.

Original Post by electrichamster:

the helmet debate rages on! 

How is it a debate? As foolish as people look with it on, you'll look a lot more foolish when your head gets smashed in.

pack a spare tube and pump - know how to change a tube (it's easy)

get eye protection - very important

always know what's around you - watch for driveways, people, potholes, dogs...

never assume a driver has seen you - make eye contact, get "the nod"

The first couple of rides (especially in the city) are a little nerve-wracking.  You'll get used to it once you've done it a few times and are more familiar with your route.

Original Post by floggingsully:

Does what's 'more important' really matter? Always wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road.

It's just most of the time people give the advice "Wear a helmet", and thats it. Like it is an end all solution to safety. Rarely do you hear

• "Follow the rules of the road",
• "Do not ride on sidewalk",
• "Ride with traffic, not against it.",
• "When waiting at a light with a Right Turn Only Lane ben on the left side of it not near the curb",
• "Have a good front light and reare blinker",
• "Scan short, medium, and long distance from you",
• "Have an escape plan",
• "Practice emergency braking. Most of the stopping power is in the front brake.",
• "Watch out for cars turning out of from side exits. Most of the time drivers under estimate bikers speed and will pull right in front of them."
• etc, etc.

UD

Original Post by amethystgirl:

How is it a debate? As foolish as people look with it on, you'll look a lot more foolish when your head gets smashed in.

Helmets only can protect so far. All that are sold in the U.S. are required to meet certain safety requirement, and it's not all that high. It will protect someones nugging from abrasions when they fall off the bike, but won't do much else.

What I am trying to say is that people put too much importance on wearing the helmet and not on other things. I wear one, but I am not under any illusion that it will save my life when a car plows in to me. I rely in situational awareness and riding safe to keep me out of trouble, not on a piece of styrofoam on my head.

UD

Original Post by umneydurak:

It will protect someones nugging from abrasions when they fall off the bike, but won't do much else.

The dent my helmet put in the side of a car argues otherwise. 

Original Post by floggingsully:

The dent my helmet put in the side of a car argues otherwise. 

And I can give pesonal accounts when they didn't do squat and one person died from severe head trauma, and another barely made it. Look into what safety criteria helmets must meet, and decide for yourself just how usefull they are.

P.S. You are missing my overall point.

UD

And just like wearing a seatbelt doesn't make a lick of difference if your honda civic gets plowed into by a tractor trailor, helmets can't save you from everything. But I don't know of a good reason NOT to wear one (unless, I suppose, it gives you a false sense of security).

I get your point UD, and if more people understood the rules of the road for cyclists, maybe spiro would find new things to rant about. The rules aren't just to avoid annoying drivers - they are to keep everyone safe.

My point in saying it the first place is simply that it is the most often disregarded piece of saftey equipment. Too many adults think that it's ok to put a helmet on their kid and then not wear one themselves. It's not. It's the same as needing a motorcycle helmet - will it always save you - no. Will it protect you in most topples from getting a concussion or worse - probably.  Should you wear it - always.

Of course you're saftey is only as good as you're ability to know how to ride defensively on the road - no helmet protects against stupid. When riding on the road you are a vehicle - act like one.

Good for you! Commuting by bike is not only good for the body, but for the soul too .

You've already received a lot of good advice, but given that you will be riding in the city, here's another piece: watch out for pedestrians, especially if you're biking in pedestrian-heavy areas (e.g. - downtown). Many pedestrians are used to looking out for cars, but they don't automatically pay attention to bike traffic. Time and time again, I've had pedestrians step out into the road (NOT at ped crossings) directly in front of me. In fact.... I ran into a pedestrian last week in this exact way. Long story short: I had green, he stepped out suddenly from between two parked cars about 5 feet in front of me... he just didn't see me, I guess. Luckily for both of us, I wasn't going very fast and was able to break enough that I only bumped him (as opposed to knocked him down)! Scary stuff. I'm doubly cautious as a result.

Don't let this put you off, though - just be forewarned! I've been riding for quite a few years now in dense urban areas, and this is the first incident I've had. Good luck!

I used to bike to and from work 16 km each way.  My advice before you start is to scout out your route in your car first, keeping in mind that hills in your car are going to be a lot harder on your bike.  Try to find a route that is less travelled by vehicle traffic, because not only will it be safer, it might even be faster than major arterial routes.  I would also suggest riding your route on a weekend to find out how much time it will take you to get to work, so that you don't get there really early or late on your first ride.  Make sure you take at least one water bottle as well. 

If you find that 15 km is a bit much at the start you can also see if your local transit (bus, subway) has bike racks/space and you can start by commuting part way by transit and then biking the rest of the way.  I also did this when I lived in Vancouver.  I took the train downtown and then biked the 20 minutes from the terminal to my workplace.

I DID IT~~!! I biked to work today. And I loved it! it took 52 minutes ( lots of traffic, and first time being on a bike in a llooooooooonnngg time!!)

I now have to work 12 hours, and bike home! good thing traffic will be light at 6:00 am!!

Original Post by umneydurak:

Original Post by floggingsully:

The dent my helmet put in the side of a car argues otherwise. 

And I can give pesonal accounts when they didn't do squat and one person died from severe head trauma, and another barely made it. Look into what safety criteria helmets must meet, and decide for yourself just how usefull they are.

P.S. You are missing my overall point.

UD

Then there's people like me.  This happened about 24 years ago.  Long before helmets were considered "fashionable".  I was biking to work at a pretty fast clip down a busy street.  As I approached an intersection, an oncoming car turned in front of me.  My bicycle crashed into the cars rear quarter panel.  Needless to say, my bike stopped...but I didn't.

I flew over the car's trunk and probably another 10 feet before gravity pulled me back to earth.  I landed on my head and my left temple took the brunt of the impact.  My head bled like a seive, I needed umpteen stitches, and, fortunately, I did not have a concussion.

By the way, no brain damage.  I am as sharp as ever.  By the way, no brain damage.  I am as sharp as ever. 

I still recommend a helmet to others, though.  Just in case.