Comments on: 10 Bicycle Commuter Essentials http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/05/15/10-bicycle-commuter-essentials/ Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:03:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: RogD http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/05/15/10-bicycle-commuter-essentials/#comment-73718 RogD Mon, 18 May 2009 00:50:15 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=8318#comment-73718 I commute too. Here's my ideal bike commute gear-- the commute gear I wear in my dreams: when I don't need to pack for rain and splash through mud, when I don't have to ride up nasty big hills, when I don't have to lock my bike outside and I don't work in a notoriusly 'criminal' suburb. Oh, and if I were minted: * 1 fix-speed bike, custom vintage retro. Baby blue spray, leather seat. Mud-guards? No way! Lights? Are you kidding...they'd ruin the minimal aesthetic! Brakes? Gimme a break. * 1 leather satchel, by Bally-- not a backpack. * Brogues, not sneakers. * Nappa leather gloves, not old stretched woolen ones. Bzzzzz. There's my alarm clock :) I commute too. Here's my ideal bike commute gear– the commute gear I wear in my dreams: when I don't need to pack for rain and splash through mud, when I don't have to ride up nasty big hills, when I don't have to lock my bike outside and I don't work in a notoriusly 'criminal' suburb. Oh, and if I were minted:

* 1 fix-speed bike, custom vintage retro. Baby blue spray, leather seat. Mud-guards? No way! Lights? Are you kidding…they'd ruin the minimal aesthetic! Brakes? Gimme a break.
* 1 leather satchel, by Bally– not a backpack.
* Brogues, not sneakers.
* Nappa leather gloves, not old stretched woolen ones.

Bzzzzz. There's my alarm clock :)

]]> By: Jason http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/05/15/10-bicycle-commuter-essentials/#comment-73417 Jason Fri, 15 May 2009 19:09:09 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=8318#comment-73417 Thanks for the reply, Tom. I'll fully admit the piece has some spendy items, some of which I've accumulated over the years of bike gear hoarding. Your comment makes for a great counterpoint and suggestions for commuting on a budget. So thank you! Thanks for the reply, Tom. I'll fully admit the piece has some spendy items, some of which I've accumulated over the years of bike gear hoarding. Your comment makes for a great counterpoint and suggestions for commuting on a budget. So thank you!

]]> By: Tom http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/05/15/10-bicycle-commuter-essentials/#comment-73413 Tom Fri, 15 May 2009 19:00:25 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=8318#comment-73413 While informative, this article is a bit misleading to folks who are new to, or want to get into commuting. I don't know many folks in this economy who can drop $1,100 on a bike let alone a $295 sweater!? Not including the cost of my bike ($400, used), this is my commute gear breakdown: Bleach ruined cargo shorts: $0 (I only use them for commuting so I don't care about dirt) 4 short sleeve bike jerseys: $60 (bought for $15 a piece at closeout from Primal Wear) Timbuk2 Medium Messenger bag: $35 (from Steep and Cheap) Helmet: $40, Giro Indicator Planet Bike Superflash Rear Light: $25 230 lumen Cree LED flashlight: $25 (brighter than Niterider Mi-Newt) Li-Ion batteries + spares + charger for above: $20 Handlebar flashlight mount: $3 Shoes: Ordinary sneakers for platform pedals. Gloves: $19 (Mechanix Original gloves, I LOVE these for biking) Pump: $20 Don't forget a patch kit and tire levers! Not including the cost of the bike I'm commuting a 14mi roundtrip several days a week for less than the cost of your sweater. Fortunately I live in Phoenix and I might add a long sleeve over my jersey on the coldest of days, or my pair of Bike to Work Pants that I won in a contest. While informative, this article is a bit misleading to folks who are new to, or want to get into commuting. I don't know many folks in this economy who can drop $1,100 on a bike let alone a $295 sweater!? Not including the cost of my bike ($400, used), this is my commute gear breakdown:

Bleach ruined cargo shorts: $0 (I only use them for commuting so I don't care about dirt)
4 short sleeve bike jerseys: $60 (bought for $15 a piece at closeout from Primal Wear)
Timbuk2 Medium Messenger bag: $35 (from Steep and Cheap)
Helmet: $40, Giro Indicator
Planet Bike Superflash Rear Light: $25
230 lumen Cree LED flashlight: $25 (brighter than Niterider Mi-Newt)
Li-Ion batteries + spares + charger for above: $20
Handlebar flashlight mount: $3
Shoes: Ordinary sneakers for platform pedals.
Gloves: $19 (Mechanix Original gloves, I LOVE these for biking)
Pump: $20
Don't forget a patch kit and tire levers!

Not including the cost of the bike I'm commuting a 14mi roundtrip several days a week for less than the cost of your sweater. Fortunately I live in Phoenix and I might add a long sleeve over my jersey on the coldest of days, or my pair of Bike to Work Pants that I won in a contest.

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