Comments on: tips for bicycle commuting http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/ apparently much happier in person Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:45:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mike Swalm http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-192307 Mike Swalm Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:03:12 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-192307 sounds good...i'll be looking forward to it. hoping that once this season is done they'll try to get rid of the '08 stock cheaper...one can hope!!! i can't afford the 800.00 bow cycle is asking quite yet! all the best, mike sounds good…i’ll be looking forward to it. hoping that once this season is done they’ll try to get rid of the ‘08 stock cheaper…one can hope!!! i can’t afford the 800.00 bow cycle is asking quite yet!

all the best,
mike

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-192303 dnorman Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:43:54 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-192303 Mike, I'm planning a review of the bike - probably in early september to coincide with riding the bike for a full year. The short version: I LOVE MY KONA :-) (the FS seat post takes some getting used to, but the bike is perfect for what I need) Mike, I’m planning a review of the bike – probably in early september to coincide with riding the bike for a full year. The short version: I LOVE MY KONA :-) (the FS seat post takes some getting used to, but the bike is perfect for what I need)

]]> By: http://theo-blogy.blogspot.com/ http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-192301 http://theo-blogy.blogspot.com/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:35:50 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-192301 Hey there...just stumbled across this (older) post searching for kona dew fs reviews. I noticed on another post you were thinking of reviewing your bike, and never did (that i can find). Since i live in calgary and also want to purchase an fs, any chance you\'ll review one, or point me to where i can find a review? thanks!, mike Hey there…just stumbled across this (older) post searching for kona dew fs reviews. I noticed on another post you were thinking of reviewing your bike, and never did (that i can find). Since i live in calgary and also want to purchase an fs, any chance you\’ll review one, or point me to where i can find a review?

thanks!,
mike

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180410 dnorman Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:25:51 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180410 right, on Brian! You can do it! But take it easy - if you push too hard when you start out, it won't be any fun, and you'll be less likely to keep it up... right, on Brian! You can do it! But take it easy – if you push too hard when you start out, it won’t be any fun, and you’ll be less likely to keep it up…

]]> By: Brian http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180409 Brian Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:10:42 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180409 Timely, and thorough. Thanks. I've been methodically knocking down my excuses for not riding -- got a better bike, ordered a smaller and cheaper travel laptop, today bought a new light shell and work-friendly sneakers... I still need to incorporate more of your suggestions, first up, look for some light gloves for cold days -- oddly enough, I always find the hands one of the worst things about riding in bad weather. If the weather is half-way decent on Monday, I'll be person-powered. Timely, and thorough. Thanks.

I’ve been methodically knocking down my excuses for not riding — got a better bike, ordered a smaller and cheaper travel laptop, today bought a new light shell and work-friendly sneakers… I still need to incorporate more of your suggestions, first up, look for some light gloves for cold days — oddly enough, I always find the hands one of the worst things about riding in bad weather.

If the weather is half-way decent on Monday, I’ll be person-powered.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180406 dnorman Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:56:25 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180406 I just use the <a href="http://www.bowcycle.com">Bow Cycle store brand lube</a>, and picked up a set of long-bristled brushes and a bottle of cleaner to scrub the crap out of the nooks and crannies - it's been too cold to actually take the bike out on the driveway and give it a good cleaning yet so I don't know how well those work... I really want to pick up a maintenance stand and a set of proper tools, too. And take a course on properly maintaining the bike so I could do some of the basic stuff myself. I mean, I can change a flat, and lube stuff, and tighten loose stuff, but I can't true a wheel, or replace a spoke, etc... I just use the Bow Cycle store brand lube, and picked up a set of long-bristled brushes and a bottle of cleaner to scrub the crap out of the nooks and crannies – it’s been too cold to actually take the bike out on the driveway and give it a good cleaning yet so I don’t know how well those work…

I really want to pick up a maintenance stand and a set of proper tools, too. And take a course on properly maintaining the bike so I could do some of the basic stuff myself. I mean, I can change a flat, and lube stuff, and tighten loose stuff, but I can’t true a wheel, or replace a spoke, etc…

]]> By: Leslie M-B http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180390 Leslie M-B Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:28:13 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/03/27/tips-for-bicycle-commuting/#comment-180390 Thanks for spreading the word, Brother Bicyclist. I ride a crappy big-box-store bike back and forth to work every day, lugging my laptop on my back. It's much more fun when the bike has been in the shop for a complete overhaul--which costs more than the bike is worth, actually, but which I do anyway every couple of years--but I find even my best efforts to keep it clean and oiled don't suffice. Do you have any product recommendations? My one big recommendation to everyone (besides <a href="http://cluttermuseum.blogspot.com/2007/09/bicycling-with-first-year-students.html">"Watch out for undergrads riding bikes for the first time in 10 years"</a>) is to get *a good-fitting* helmet. I took a nasty spill last year (my own fault--I was trying to carry something in a plastic bag, and the plastic blew into, and snagged in, the spokes) and hit the ground very hard with my head. Without my helmet securely strapped to my head, I might have had some brain damage. Thanks for spreading the word, Brother Bicyclist.

I ride a crappy big-box-store bike back and forth to work every day, lugging my laptop on my back. It’s much more fun when the bike has been in the shop for a complete overhaul–which costs more than the bike is worth, actually, but which I do anyway every couple of years–but I find even my best efforts to keep it clean and oiled don’t suffice. Do you have any product recommendations?

My one big recommendation to everyone (besides “Watch out for undergrads riding bikes for the first time in 10 years”) is to get *a good-fitting* helmet. I took a nasty spill last year (my own fault–I was trying to carry something in a plastic bag, and the plastic blew into, and snagged in, the spokes) and hit the ground very hard with my head. Without my helmet securely strapped to my head, I might have had some brain damage.

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