I was cruising down Oak Street near the donut shop, smooth commute going, when this pigeon just drops out of nowhere and lands right in my front basket. It sat there looking confused for a solid 5 blocks before it flew off. I was so startled I almost hit a curb. Anyone else get attacked by wildlife on their morning ride?
For like 2 years I used a regular backpack to haul my laptop and lunch to work. Every single ride in the summer I would get to the office with a soaking wet back. It was gross and I had to keep a change of shirt in my desk drawer. Finally last spring I picked up a used set of Ortlieb panniers off Craigslist for $60. Now the weight sits on the bike frame instead of on me, and I roll up to work completely dry. The only downside is remembering I have them on when I lock up so I don't try to walk away with the bike. Has anyone else found a cheap way to switch from backpack to bags?
I got a cheap heart rate monitor armband last week just to see what my morning ride was actually doing. Turns out my 8 mile ride to work burns about 520 calories on average. I found this out by logging three days of rides through the app that came with the monitor. I was shocked because I always thought I was just cruising along without pushing hard. Now I realize I can eat a bigger breakfast without feeling guilty. Has anyone else measured their actual burn and been surprised by the numbers?
I was always paranoid about traffic behind me on my 7 mile commute into downtown. Finally broke down and bought a helmet mirror for $40 last week. First day using it I saw a delivery van coming way too close and moved over just in time. No more twisting my neck like a crazy person or getting surprised by trucks. Has anyone found a cheap mirror that doesn't vibrate like crazy on bumpy roads?
For 3 years I cranked those Velcro straps on my trunk rack as TIGHT as possible, thinking that was safer. Then last month in Austin a guy at the bike shop pointed out my rear brake cable was all pinched and bound up from the strap pressure. Now I just snug them firm and check after 5 minutes of driving, and my shifting actually works better than it ever has. Anyone else deal with this or have other rack mistakes to share?
I stopped by Dolce Bakery in Portland last Tuesday after a rainy ride into work. Noticed they have a big industrial fan mounted near the back door that blows right onto a drying rack. Asked the owner about it and she said she puts wet signs and aprons there all winter. Now I make a quick 2 minute detour on wet mornings to stand in front of that fan for a bit before locking up. Anyone else found a random business that helps you dry off before heading into the office?
I figured it would just drip everywhere and make me look like a drowned rat, but the evaporative cooling actually kept me dry for the whole 4 mile trip and I walked into my office in downtown Austin without a single pit stain has anyone else found a weird clothing hack that actually works better than the expensive stuff?
I swear for like 2 years I just biked through rain in jeans and showed up to the office looking like a drowned rat. Finally caved and bought a $30 pair from a random shop near Union Station in Denver last month, figured they'd be useless. First real downpour hit and my legs stayed bone dry, I actually laughed out loud on the bike path. Anyone else resist buying something simple for way too long?
I was rolling down a hill near Downtown Chicago when my pannier suddenly dropped to the side. Turns out one of the bolts holding my rear rack had sheared clean off from all the vibration over time. Anyone got a trick for keeping those rack bolts from backing out or snapping?
Ngl, I was using those cheap $5 disposable lights that die after three rides. Finally grabbed a decent rechargeable set from a local shop for $30 and it's night and day. Last Tuesday I forgot to charge it and still made it home on the backup battery mode for 20 minutes. The brightness alone made me feel way safer on the dark stretch near the river. Has anyone else found a specific brand that holds a charge better than others?
After getting caught in that surprise heatwave near the Fremont bridge last June, I realized I either need to drop my speed by 5 mph or just pack a travel deodorant in my bag. Which side do you fall on for beating the sweat without showing up late?
I kept reading how everyone says to pack as light as possible to avoid sweat. So I swapped my usual messenger bag for one of those tiny running backpacks - just 10 liters, strapped tight. First day in Austin heat, my lower back was drenched worse than ever. Turns out that tight fit against my spine trapped all the heat. My old loose bag let air flow between me and it. Learned that 'light' doesn't matter if it's glued to your back. Anyone else find that less gear or a certain bag type actually made you hotter?