My Morning Commute

[consularrider]

@ShawnoftheDread 60131 wrote:

You get the gear when you get the gear, but until then you improvise. You don’t skip the ride.

Is this a corollary of Rule #5?

[ShawnoftheDread]

@consularrider 60138 wrote:

Is this a corollary of Rule #5?

It’s a subset of Rule #5. It’s also a corollary of Rule #9.

[jrenaut]

@ShawnoftheDread 60140 wrote:

It’s a subset of Rule #5. It’s also a corollary of Rule #9.

I don’t know, you can’t exactly tell your ironed and carefully folded work shirt, “You don’t melt! It’s just a little water!” and expect any results.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@jrenaut 60142 wrote:

I don’t know, you can’t exactly tell your ironed and carefully folded work shirt, “You don’t melt! It’s just a little water!” and expect any results.

Ironed? As long as you’re shelling out for new gear, buy some wrinkle-free dress shirts. I recommend the Jos. A. Bank outlet. Their Travelers shirts are quite nice, and I haven’t ironed in two years. Also, REI has those folding pockets for clothes.

[KelOnWheels]

@MattAune 60122 wrote:

Me. I don’t have a waterproof backpack yet, and the thought of getting to work and having all my work clothes soaking wet sounded like no fun.

http://banjobrothers.com/products/current/cycling-backpacks/

[ShawnoftheDread]

@jrenaut 60125 wrote:

Every so often, The Clymb has pretty good deals on Chrome bags. I’ve had mine for 2+ years and love it.

Right now they have the Chrome Krakow backpack for $45. They also have an Ortlieb messenger bag with waist strap for $55.

Do you have a Chrome backpack or messenger bag? I’m fine with my Target backpack for now, but am thinking of switching to a messenger bag in the future.

[MattAune]

@Popsicleian 60130 wrote:

If you have a regular backpack, and a garbage bag to put inside of it with your clothes, you do have a waterproof backpack.

I obviously was not thinking clearly at 0500 this morning, and for that I apologize. Now I feel silly about how simple that solution is.

[jrenaut]

@ShawnoftheDread 60147 wrote:

Right now they have the Chrome Krakow backpack for $45. They also have an Ortlieb messenger bag with waist strap for $55.

Do you have a Chrome backpack or messenger bag? I’m fine with my Target backpack for now, but am thinking of switching to a messenger bag in the future.

I have a backpack they don’t make anymore, but it’s more or less like this one.

[mello yello]

also on this morning’s commute, found my tires have very low adhesion in wet conditions – skid city!

[consularrider]

@MattAune 60149 wrote:

I obviously was not thinking clearly at 0500 this morning, and for that I apologize. Now I feel silly about how simple that solution is.

Well, as you said, it was at 5 am.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@MattAune 60149 wrote:

I obviously was not thinking clearly at 0500 this morning, and for that I apologize. Now I feel silly about how simple that solution is.

0500?! We’re almost neighbors, but we’re clearly not going to cross paths anytime soon.

[Arlingtonrider]

Re: keeping things dry

I don’t like the extra weight of the waterproof panniers and packs (esp. carrying them after I take them off the bike), so I just put all my stuff in a plastic shopping bag and put that into my pack or pannier. Problem solved.

[hozn]

@KelOnWheels 60146 wrote:

http://banjobrothers.com/products/current/cycling-backpacks/

yeah, what kel said. I have a Banjo Brothers backpack, and while it has started wearing out (4 years old) the waterproof liner is replaceable and cheap (and they sent me a new one for free). It sits low on the back, which is great for cycling. I used to have Chrome messenger bag but for me it was: unnecessarily heavy (stupid buckle … I know “style”), and that buckle was completely rusted after a couple years (and that isn’t something Chrome feels they should cover under warranty), my medium-sized bag didn’t hold nearly as much as the smaller Banjo Bros backpack, clumsy/uncomfortable position on the back, and over-priced. In general the backpack was a huge improvement. The only downside is that the backpack is hot.

[jabberwocky]

I have a couple Chrome bags and like them a lot. I’ve been using them pretty much daily since 2006, rain snow or shine. They definitely keep water out. My oldest is pretty beat up at this point, but the newer one still looks great. I admit that I almost never use the buckle though, except occasionally as chest armor.

I’ve never cared for backbacks on the bike. I’ve never owned a “good” one though.

[sjclaeys]

I am a fan of Two Wheel Gear’s bike suit bag: http://www.twowheelgear.com/collections/all. It is not light, but carries a full suit, shoes, shower stuff, etc. and is fairly water resistant.

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