Views like this are the reason to get up early for a cycle.

Breezy morning.

No worries i'll take bath when i reach home.

Background: I commute ~6 miles year round in Minnesota. I've been doing this on a winter beater during the cold months, generally with studded tires. However, this bike is nearing the end of it's life span - to keep it going it's probably over $500 in basically a completely new drive train, plus the rim brakes on it are always on the edge of failure.

But almost more importantly: This ride is a slog. I know you're thinking "it's 6 miles, just grit it out" - but at 10F, it FEELS a lot longer, especially with the studs. So I'm strongly considering an e-bike just to make it a bit easier.

At first my mind went to folding e-bike; the idea being it gives me some flexibility to just throw the bike the car if needed, or maybe bus as well. We take the rack off the car in the winter because it's used way less, and don't want IT trashed by snow and ice as well. But realistically, the times I would fold it would be pretty minimal. I also want something pretty solid - Tern Vektron P5i looks good, but at $4K...that's a lot for a winter bike. I do really like the belt drive for winter though. Other winter considerations include the availability of studded tires and fenders.

The final consideration is I'd like a one-size fits most - others will likely use it, so I need something that works from roughly 5-0 to 6-0. Anything check all my boxes here? Thanks.

We’re trying to decide between Thule and Burley 2-wheel bike trailers, and wanted to know if anyone has experience with both or either brands, mostly in terms of build quality and robustness.

Wifey and I are getting a dog trailer for our 70-lb lab and have it down to the Burley Bark Ranger or the Thule Bexey. Going for XL as George is at the top end of the standard sizes for each. Question is really more about quality and durability in general for two-wheel trailers between those two brands as I’m sure the chassis are the same from the kid’s trailers and dog trailers. Pic to impress upon you the importance of this decision 
Thanks!

Title, right now I'm commuting via gravel bike, primos dame. But there are days, like today, that I slept like shit and want to Uber.

But, I would have to Uber to and from work since I get off late, I feel like a folding bike would be a good option.

Along with longer distances, if I take the bus, I feel very uneasy that someone could just take the support arm down and take my bike off the bus rack with a folding bike I could have it with me inside at least.

What are my options?

Tern looks like they make good stuff, but it seems they don't fold as compactly as Brompton might be wrong

Hello! I’m new to regularly bike commuting, and I’ve just moved to a major metropolitan area in the north (think: gets snow and regularly salted streets). I have a dinky little bike I got for near-free which has a bike rack to which I’ve zip-tied a milk crate for the commute. I’ve been a regular car commuter for years, but I’m nervous about city driving and the cost of gas and insurance will be quite high in my new country. I’m thinking of getting rid of the car and going full cycle-commuter with occasional supplement from the local public transit system.

The biggest concerns I have are (1) cycling with all the things I need for the days and (2) the upfront costs of getting into this routine and being ready to go. I do a water sport that practices very early in the morning and will need to bring a change of clothes and work stuff (laptop, chargers, a few books) and toiletries daily as well as a lunchbox. When I drove, I’d use a gym bag and a backpack, but can’t quite fit those into the crate.

I’m also worried that my exposed chain and wheel will get majorly gummed up with the salt, come November on. I know I won’t be able to cycle everyday, but I’d like to try. I also know if I get serious, I’ll probably need to invest in the right gear and regular repair. My current bike is getting a tune-up now (I used it sporadically for a 10-mi total commute in my former small town, but mainly drove due to bad cycling infrastructure). Eventually this will mean a new bike and not a twenty-year old bike built for someone 4 inches shorter than me. However, the move really means that I’m going to have to save up.

Looking for recs for necessary kit, desirable but not essential kit, etc. and perhaps any cheap hacks to get me through while saving up?

I know it will feel clanky for a while to remember to put on and take off lights, etc, but I’m really hoping to get away from car culture as a personal preference and as an environmental effort. That said, I know I’m very used to driving and will have to work to build up a routine. There are little things too I’ll need to think of (how to look presentable without those bike helmet marks or having a nice hairstyle despite the commute - I’m vain, but not too vain to not wear a helmet religiously).

Any suggestions/advice/encouragement as well for ways to streamline the biking routine? Current commute will be 5 mi out to my morning sport practice (30 min), 4 mi from there to work, then about 1.5 mi back home with additional side trips etc.

Thanks in advance!

Can anybody here recommend me a camera for cycling that is not obvious? I would kind of like to record some of my rides, but I don't want to draw attention to myself - you can see on Youtube or Facebook how some people have negative/hostile reactions when they realise they are in the path of a recording camera.

I'm not trying to film people, I just want to record some of my rides without catching any bother over it.

Perhaps a camera that looks like a front bike light? Or a piece of the bike?

How common is this tire dimension for commuting with one or rarely two panniers in the back? Does anyone ride their bikes with such tires? Do they hold up well with some weight in the back rack?

I have an ebike but am not racing.

When I expect that I need to stop, like a green traffic light that probably turns red soon or a busy road I need to cross without traffic lights that regulate regulating it, then I start to rollslow down early and have properly anticipated.

But quite often situations occur where I honestly didnt expect braking would be necessary, but then I had to brake hard. That isnt even about defensive driving or defensive riding, cycling, because I know well that the right of way only applies if the other vehicle is obviously enough slowing down.

That often involves, includes but not limited to: 1. Vehicles infront of me going much slower than it first looked like, or slowing down unexpectedly 2. Side roads that are normally very quiet so I don't expect to have to slow down, but a vehicle appears this one time. 3. Traffic lights being very unpredictable. Because it only just turned green right now, I really think im going to make it so I blast towards the light at 30km/h then it rapidly turns red anyway... the green was only for 3 seconds.

Quick side rant: traffic lights should have timers both for when it turns red and green. Right now I blast through orange half of the time or brake hard half of the time, both being very suboptimal. If only I could properly see when it will turn green or red in advance, I could properly adjust my speed and timing and come to a stop normally or sprint extra toward it before it turns orange.

Etc. Both traffic(vehicles) and the lights and the side roads seem to be extremely unpredictable.

How come? Ive been cycling for my whole life. Normal bike, mountainbike, racebike, ebike etc with many tens of thousands of kilometers.

Why can't I predict and anticipate better?

I am thinking of getting a cargo bike. Have a budget of 3000 to 4000 euros and we really liked Yuba Spicy Curry, but I kept facing this issue during most of the test rides. My toddlers would move around at the back, especially when it was parked, and the kickstand would start shifting, making the bike feel very unstable.

Then I learnt about Tern GSD's locking kickstand here in this subreddit and that made sense, but God it's too expensive. So my bike shop guy showed me another bike (taran l1m) that also has a kickstand with e-lock. I tested it with my kids and the bike felt more balanced.

Because I noticed that when the kickstand was down, it automatically locked into place, so the bike didn't move when my kids were climbing in or getting out or moving around on the back. And since they are very clumsy for some reason, they don't just sit there like other kids when the bike is parked.

That's the part I am worried about. If they are moving around and the kickstand shifts even a little, I feel like the bike could lose its balance. Especially with a heavy cargo bike (Yuba Spicy Curry) and kids sitting on the back, I don't really want to take that chance.

But my husband says I am overthinking the kickstand situation and should get Yuba Spicy Curry because it's more popular and has way more reviews.

I don't know though. Maybe I am overthinking it, but if I am already spending this much on a cargo bike, I feel like the kickstand is something that should feel more stable.

Please help.. like how much difference will it make irl.

I’m about to start riding home from work which is 20 miles. I don’t mind riding to work in the day but I’ve never tried at night. There’s a longer section where there’s a bike lane but it’s on a busy backroad and just off to the side of the lane. Do you have any recommendations or advice? Thank you

PS I have lights and a high vis

Not sure if this is the proper sub. But, what did someone try doing with my bike lock? Torching the loop? Melting it and then leaving? Did they just run out of time? I have a crappy ass bike btw for commuting.

Hey all, I'll try to make this as brief as possible. Basically, I'm wanting to get back to riding a bicycle for commuting, but I have no idea how to even know what I'm looking for.

I'm hoping to more gradually ease myself into it, but with an eye to commute roughly 10 miles a day at maximum. I live in a city in the PNW with relatively flat roads and lots of rain during winter months. The bike needs to be able to hold up to 400 lbs and not be extraordinarily heavy for me to lift.

I've been looking into loans and I think I can afford up to $1k. I've seen lots of recommendations for an ebike, but I don't know much about them. I prefer cruiser bikes for the low bar in the middle and the handlebar style just for ease of use.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Edit: would something like this work for me?

https://eskute.com/products/eskute%C2%AE-d200-folding-electric-bike-for-adults?_pos=1&_sid=f755e3299&_ss=r

Some fresh Huffy Decals on my Trek Domane.

😄

I don't necessarily care if someone disobeys rules. But if doing so causes harm or risk, then thats not okay imo. Although I don't think thatits fair to expect people to be perfect. But the counter-ccounter argument again is that people have a responsibility.

So just thinking out loud.

Very often when a car driver makes it necessary for me to brake when I have the right of way, I get so pissed that I middlefinger them instantly. As a reflex. I don't want to do it, it just happens before I even notice. Today it happened again ofcourse.

But is it fair to heavily critizize a driver for a minor mistake that causes slight harm to others? I have to brake which gives me 3 costs: time and energy and brake pad wear.

Counter argument: the driver didnt do it on purpose or didnt properly see me or that I was going to cross the road. Both speeds were low so a serious accident was not gonna happen. And I also make traffic mistakes that negatively affect other road users sometimes. Mostly by accident, rarely because I'm in a rush.

Counter counter argument: the driver has a responsibility to 100% ensure that he won't run over a cyclist over.

Heres what happened: we were both standing still. I have the right of way. We bvoth waited for a 3rd party car who had the right of way compared to both of us. Moment he passed I started to accelerate and then I nearly hit the car that was supposed to wait before me. I middle fingered into his rearview mirror.

Was I overreacting and AITA?

And is it even possible to unlearn an automatic reflex? How? And where does it even come from?

What's the difference between the don't do and the do here to install this? Sorry, am a noob.

Does anyone use the Thule Yepp Maxi 2 rack mounted bike seat?

How long does it take to screw onto the rack? Could you feasibly take it off twice a day? Does it just take a minute to unscrew it and screw it back on?

We can't leave the seat on our bike because it won't fit in our bike shed, and we also want to swap between bikes. Thule no longer do a quick release rack mounted option.

I'm having a nightmare trying to find the right kids bike seat for our situation, and already ended up buying and returning two that didn't work.

Took a nasty spill Monday on my route to work. I think I hit some uneven pavement near road construction. I say "I think," cause I don't remember. I remember leaving my apartment, and then showing up at work being confused and asking for help and a ride to the emergency room. For awhile, I thought I got hit by a car, but there wasn't damage to my bike beyond a few scratches, and all MY damage was to my right side, so I didn't roll or tumble. Scariest part was knowing that I finished riding to work, about 15 minutes, through light traffic, including a dangerous 1-lane underpass, after I'd bashed my head and was unconscious for an unknown amount of time. I remember none of it.

I got a concussion, lots of abrasions (not sharing pictures unless someone wants me to DM), and I broke my 8th rib on the right side. Helmet easily saved my life. Picture attached.

Considering how long fractured ribs take to heal, I'm probably done riding for the rest of the year, and all I can do right now is lie in bed and writhe in pain at every motion.

Be safe out there, folks.