Starting out cycling to work

neonman

Hi all, I've been reading some of the cycling threads here on boards for a while now seems like a great little community you got going here.

I've taken up the Bike to Work scheme and I'm due to get my new bike very soon next couple of days. I went for a Giant FCR 2 09 bike. I'll be cycling from Clontarf to Citywest (20km approx) each way.

I've never cycled this distance well not since I was a kid anyway. Any advise or tips when it comes to cycling this distance and road awareness would be great.

Also should I eat breakfast before I sent off (7.00am) or wait until I get into work and have it then.

Anyway thanks for reading.

Neon

Raam

Hi Neonman.
my advice would be to try this at the weekend first so you can get a feel for how long it will take you.
Personally I dont have breakfast until I get to work, but my commute is half of yours.

P

davej

40K a day is quite a lot if you are just starting out. I would advise you to do 3 days (eg Mon,Wed,Fri) for the first 2-3 weeks.

The usual advice on road awareness:

Don't undertake HGVs or Buses, even if it looks "ok" - you don't want to get crushed or dragged under.

Always glance behind you before moving out towards the middle of the road (eg to overtake stationary vehicles).

Don't be afraid to take the "prime" position on the road if it's warranted.

Are you carrying a backpack or panniers? Personally I prefer panniers, it's nice not to have a horrible sweaty back and the backpack itself will get sweaty if you are using it day in - day out. Bring a pump and a puncture repair kit/stick on patches.

Get a bottle cage, you will be thirsty, especially in the summer!
I think you should have a light breakfast before starting out, you'll probably still be hungry when you get in though!


davej

neonman

davej wrote: »

40K a day is quite a lot if you are just starting out. I would advise you to do 3 days (eg Mon,Wed,Fri) for the first 2-3 weeks.

The usual advice on road awareness:

Don't undertake HGVs or Buses, even if it looks "ok" - you don't want to get crushed or dragged under.

Always glance behind you before moving out towards the middle of the road (eg to overtake stationary vehicles).

Don't be afraid to take the "prime" position on the road if it's warranted.

Are you carrying a backpack or panniers? Personally I prefer panniers, it's nice not to have a horrible sweaty back and the backpack itself will get sweaty if you are using it day in - day out. Bring a pump and a puncture repair kit/stick on patches.

Get a bottle cage, you will be thirsty, especially in the summer!
I think you should have a light breakfast before starting out, you'll probably still be hungry when you get in though!


davej

Thanks Raam and davej for the advise. My plan is to do my first run on a Friday so I have the weekend to recover and then as davej suggested do Monday Weds and Friday and build up from there. Very excited about getting on the road and having that feeling of freedom that I never get stuck in traffic in the car. The only thing I'll miss about the car is the music..I take it its a BIG no no to use MP3 player while on your bike ?

Raam

neonman wrote: »

I take it its a BIG no no to use MP3 player while on your bike ?

Well, opinion is very much divided, as a recent thread here will show. Personally I use one on my commute, but it is 80% on the Clontarf Sutton track so I don't feel it is an issue. When I cycle through town or go for longer spins, I don't use one. Each to their own. Perhaps it would be wise to get some road experience first and become a confident and competent cyclist. Then you can make an informed decision for yourself.

macinalli

My 2 bits worth:

Get puncture resistant tyres (armadillos or gatorskins are the most popular). These really make a difference and there's nothing worse then getting a flat half way to work
Buy padded cycling shorts! The first couple of weeks will be tough - your ass will thank you for these
Be careful changing lanes - a lot of people drift all over the road as they're checking the traffic behind them. It's a skill that will come with time but be aware of it

Enjoy - after a couple of weeks you'll be wondering why you didn't go for the bike before this!

irishmotorist

There is a pretty good list of ideas for road safety here:
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Safe_Cycling

My main safety tips are just to be aware of what's happening around you all the time and communicate with other users - (polite) hand signals, making sure it's obvious that your'e going to turn/change lane/whatever.

With regard to breakfast, I couldn't leave the house without any. I'm on a 25km each way commute (only 3 days a week though). I have cereal in the morning and on the way home I always have an apple about 1 hour before I leave and a banana 15 mins before I leave. That way, I'm only half starving when I get home!

Personally, I wouldn't use an MP3 player on the bike. I don't have protection of a steel shell around me, so I want to make sure that I am as aware of my surroundings as I can possibly be. Yes, vision is more important but that doesn't make hearing unimportant. IMO.
You could try a cycle one day with it and one day without it to make a personally informed decision.

neonman

Thanks again for all the replies great advice all round. With regards to the Tyres the tyres that come with the bike are:

TYRES- Kenda Kriterium 700x25mm

Are they good quality and suitable for all weather conditions ? Also if and hopefully only if i get a puncture what use is a puncture repair kit without my bucket of water (aaa memories)

Raam

neonman wrote: »

Are they good quality and suitable for all weather conditions ? Also if and hopefully only if i get a puncture what use is a puncture repair kit without my bucket of water (aaa memories)

It's no use really. You pick the offending bit of glass out of the tyre and put a new tube in and off you go. Fix the busted one at home later.

Your tyres will be fine, just avoid potholes and glass.

Unless you are racing around corners at high speed they will do you for all weather conditions

Caroline_ie

Kenda tires are pretty good, I have had them on my bowery, i replaced them only recently got about 8 months out of them. Don't change them until you have to.

niceonetom

neonman wrote: »

Are they good quality and suitable for all weather conditions ? Also if and hopefully only if i get a puncture what use is a puncture repair kit without my bucket of water (aaa memories)

I think they're a bit better than the stock tyres that come on many bikes. For some reason even quite good manufacturers seems to supply rubbish rubber on good bikes (I'm looking at you, specialized!), but giant seem a bit better. When the time comes i'd replace them with either continental gatorskinz, specialized armadillos or schwalbe marathon+.

Puncture repair is best done at home with a nice cup of tea near to hand. Spare tube in the bag. Puncture repair kit too, should you have a very unlucky day.

petethedrummer

I do a similar commute to you. Artane to Grangecastle. 20km. It took me a while to build up to 5 days. 2 or 3 at the start, then took the plunge one week to accept being very tired/late and did the 5.

I cycle through the city centre. Getting into town isn't so bad. Once you start heading West or South West out of the centre, the wind is usually in your face (though not this week) and is the worst bit of the commute. But it makes going back a doddle. You will need breakfast, porridge preferably.

I haven't used my car since January. And if I can't cycle the whole distance for any reason, I cycle my run around in to the centre and take the bus the rest.

neonman

petethedrummer wrote: »

I do a similar commute to you. Artane to Grangecastle. 20km. It took me a while to build up to 5 days. 2 or 3 at the start, then took the plunge one week to accept being very tired/late and did the 5.

I cycle through the city centre. Getting into town isn't so bad. Once you start heading West or South West out of the centre, the wind is usually in your face (though not this week) and is the worst bit of the commute. But it makes going back a doddle. You will need breakfast, porridge preferably.

I haven't used my car since January. And if I can't cycle the whole distance for any reason, I cycle my run around in to the centre and take the bus the rest.

Hi petethedrummer, I was wondering how long does it take you to get to Grangecastle and the same getting home which I take would be at least 20 minutes quicker as you'll be going down hill most of the way with the wind at your back also?

petethedrummer

I'm really the wrong person to ask when it comes to time. I don't own a watch or a cycle computer but it's roughly an hour to get there. That includes stopping for lights and taking my time through town to check the scenery. But yeah the slight downhill into town and the wind behind you mean its about 15 mins quicker home. And there's always some people to pass through fairview and up the malahide road.

D!armu!d

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=38&idproduct=23602
The gear set on the FCR2 is:

• SHIFTERS- Shimano 440 RapidFire Plus 27 speed
• FRONT MECH- Shimano 440
• REAR MECH- Shimano Sora

Is this quite basic for a bike costing nearly €700 or am I missing something about the FCR2 specifications?