Eighth Anniversary of Bicycle Commuting

[eminva]

Hello —

On this day, eight years ago, I began bicycle commuting. It began as a desperate response to a few really bad days on the Red Line (we lived in Takoma DC then) and a need to get some exercise with a small kid in the house and without a 25th or 26th hour in the day. A friend who was already bicycle commuting agreed to meet me and show me the way downtown by bike (thanks, Jen).

I can hardly put into words how much fun and happiness it has brought me in the years since. Thanks to all of you for all your help and guidance.

And, because I know some of you love data as much as I do, here are some numbers from these last eight years:

miles (first 12 months): didn’t keep track — probably under 1000
miles (most recent 12 months): 5525.35 (not all commuting)
bikes acquired with the intention that they would be the last commuter bike I would ever need: 5
cracked frames: 1
stolen bikes: 1
other stolen stuff: 1 bungee cord
reflective and light up thingies my father sent me when he found out I was bike commuting: 6
reflective and light up thingies on my bike now: 6
times I walked my bike up a hill: 4
runners who passed me while I was riding up a hill: 2
minor crashes: 2
major crashes: 0
ninjas mowed down: 0
middle school students who threw themselves in my path: 1
flat tires: 4
winter cycling jackets that ended up being expensive mistakes: 3
years of service for employer-branded fleece vest I got free at a conference: 8
kids hauled to school via Burley Piccolo: 1
strangest cargo load: 3 evergreen wreaths + ornaments
Bike to Work Days attended: 5
Bike Arlington branded items in my possession: 12
cars our household fleet has been reduced by: 1
money saved: $0 (it all went for bicycle-related stuff)

Liz

Topic

[Steve]

There are two parts of this that I love, aside from just that fact that you’ve done all the cycling:

1. “bikes acquired with the intention that they would be the last commuter bike I would ever need: 5” – I read this quote minutes after looking at a Surly Cross Check online, and felt immediately that I was doing it too.

2. “money saved: $0” – One of the things that always bothers me a little is when car-free advocates say that it leads to so much saved money and increased wealth. No it doesn’t. Budgeting leads to saved money. Sure, removing the car from your budget, often the second biggest expense (after housing), makes it easier to save, but it doesn’t actually make you save. If you’re like most of us, it just means you spend more elsewhere, which of course can be fun.

Great post and congrats!

[RESTONTODC]

@eminva 33391 wrote:

….
money saved: $0 (it all went for bicycle-related stuff)

Liz,

Congratulation! If you keep track all the expense and compare, it does save money.

My yearly car maintenance costs ($1200) are more than a bike. The insurance and taxes pay for accessories. The depreciation, gases, parking, and traffic tickets will cost more.

A DC camera red light ticket is $150, more than most jacket.

[vvill]

This a most extremely awesome compilation of data. I can relate to a lot of these.

And huge congrats on your eight years!

[cephas]

I had to laugh when I saw the similarity between the number of
reflective and light up thingies my father sent me when he found out I was bike commuting
and the number of
reflective and light up thingies on my bike now
both 6.
It’s easy to go without… but glad you’ve got ’em!

I’m curious what kind of winter cycling jackets were expensive mistakes. I just picked up my second (reflective heavy waterproof windbreaker). The first, a Nike I found at 50% off, I loved and wore to death, even after puncturing it through a tree encounter (I didn’t even hit the tree or go down, a branch just punctured it as I rode by too closely), and various other scrapes, falls, and mishaps. I finally picked up a new Novarra. But on both, the bright yellow windbreaker, complete with reflective strips give warmth to my body, and (some) peace of mind to my soul. and I couldn’t imagine either being mistakes, even if they were kinda pricey…

[Greenbelt]

Only 4 flats in 8 years? Dang, I need to lose some weight or something. Even with the superduperest tires I can find, I get 3 or 4 a year.

[GuyContinental]

@Greenbelt 33433 wrote:

Only 4 flats in 8 years? Dang, I need to lose some weight or something. Even with the superduperest tires I can find, I get 3 or 4 a year.

I went 4 years without a single flat, even stopped carrying tubes. Then I posted something like that here and have had 7 in the last 4 months. Oops.

Converted both my commuter and cross wheelsets to tubeless. We’ll see what new fun failures that creates…

[mstone]

Tubeless on a commuter? I hope you like to walk.

[vvill]

There’s enough material in here for several spin off threads!

I bought a rain jacket as my first cycling jacket. Waterproof, windproof, mesh lined, reflective, zippered rear pocket with protective flap, very adjustable. But no ventilation… absolutely unwearable. I still haven’t really solved the cycling jacket dilemma, because wind makes me cold really easily, but then I sweat easily without it. Nor the “bikes acquired with the intention that they would be the last commuter bike I would ever need” conundrum.

[eminva]

@cephas 33429 wrote:

I’m curious what kind of winter cycling jackets were expensive mistakes. I just picked up my second (reflective heavy waterproof windbreaker). The first, a Nike I found at 50% off, I loved and wore to death, even after puncturing it through a tree encounter (I didn’t even hit the tree or go down, a branch just punctured it as I rode by too closely), and various other scrapes, falls, and mishaps. I finally picked up a new Novarra. But on both, the bright yellow windbreaker, complete with reflective strips give warmth to my body, and (some) peace of mind to my soul. and I couldn’t imagine either being mistakes, even if they were kinda pricey…

The first two were rookie mistakes when I had just started commuting. I asked for a jacket for Christmas and my mother gave me two. I didn’t really know what I needed or what to look for so my request wasn’t very specific. She gave me an insulated vest and parka, basically, that one would wear for hiking or being outdoors in the cold, but that turned out not to be too suitable for a bike ride. I still have the parka and it’s great for other purposes. The third didn’t live up to the billing — you feel like you are cooking inside it on all but the coldest days and the waterproof finish didn’t survive the first wash. Also, it’s way too bulky and the color picks up stains easily.

Hopefully breaking out of this rut, this past summer I got a hi viz Gore windbreaker on Amazon.com for $35. My limited experience is that it is water resistant at a minimum and comfort is about what you’d expect from a high tech fabric (great in colder temps, less great if it is warmer). I hope to be able to get through most of the winter with that and layers underneath. I am terrified to wash it, after my experience with the other jacket, though.

@Greenbelt 33433 wrote:

Only 4 flats in 8 years? Dang, I need to lose some weight or something. Even with the superduperest tires I can find, I get 3 or 4 a year.

I have no idea to what I can attribute my good fortune here. I do check the air pressure every single morning, but I’m sure others do, too.

Liz

[CPTJohnC]

Congrats on 8 great years! I can relate on the “no money saved” idea. You do some great annual mileage!

I’m pretty jealous of the 4 flats thing. I’ve had at least 3 or 4 (or double that if you consider my run of 4 in 2 days a few months ago, which I treat as ‘one’) and I’ve only been commuting a few years. And honestly, I feel pretty lucky to have had so few.

Cold weather riding is so personal! I use a light wind breaker or rain jacket layered over base layer and mid layer (i.e. cold weather technical underwear and a fleece), with the option to layer up or down). This works for me down to 20 degrees F, but I know it wouldn’t work for all. I should mention that I still sweat at 20 degrees

[jnva]

@eminva 33391 wrote:

strangest cargo load: 3 evergreen wreaths + ornaments

Ha! This made me remember the time time I saw a guy carrying three full size car tires on a mountain bike on the custis.

[acc]

I think you need more Bike Arlington stuff….

Great post, great rider, you forgot to mention you are now an LCI.

Here’s to many, many more years of awesomeness Liz!

ann

[Mikey]

@jnva 33444 wrote:

Ha! This made me remember the time time I saw a guy carrying three full size car tires on a mountain bike on the custis.

Worst Christmas Decorations Ever!

[cephas]

@acc 33446 wrote:

Great post, great rider, you forgot to mention you are now an LCI.

Um, a what?

[Greenbelt]

Licensed Crash Investigator?
lower case individual?
Llama caravan initiator?

[Author]

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