Want to begin bike commuting – need some advice please!

[MFC]

@docjones 112066 wrote:

All,
Inspired by links like this: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/10/06/the-true-cost-of-commuting/ and http://www.mrmoneymustache.com and other financial independence bloggers along with the overall frustration of being incapable of driving 16 miles in less than 40 minutes around here, I’d like to give bike commuting a try. Here’s the details:

I’m 37, and not in as good a shape as I should be. Currently 215 vs. my historical norm of 190. I live in Kingstowne, VA, near the intersection of Kingstowne Village Parkway and Manchester Blvd. I’m a contractor, and 3-4 days a week I head up to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. 1-2 days a week I head into my corporate office in Crystal City. I’ve got MANY questions (lights, clothes, backpacks vs. panniers, etc.) but I think 2 of them really trump all others. I’ll figure out the rest after I get started as I go along.

Question 1. I currently have a 2010 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Six that is currently an excellent piece of wall art. It’s my only bike, but what would you all recommend to make it a suitable option for commuting? Should I be trying to swap out wheels/tires for something a little thicker than the road tires it’s currently got? Should I consider spending $300 for a cheap commuting bike off craigslist/Nashbar instead? I rode the bike recreationally (<15 miles usually) when I lived in SE DC and Shirlington, but haven't ridden it much since the move to Kingstowne. (2+ years)

Question 2. My route (I think) is going to be to start out DRIVING my truck with said “wall art” over to a coworkers house who lives 300 feet from GW trail in the Fort Hunt area. Then I’ll dismount my Lumbering Decadent Couch of Combustion and get out in the real world and ride up the trail to either JBAB (across Woodrow) or Crystal City. What should I know about doing this? It’ll take more time than driving overall, but hopefully save me a trip to the gym.

Obviously riding directly from home to work from Kingstowne would be preferable – but not realistic given my current conditioning and the existence of hills. That’s a goal for the future. This Kingstowne area also doesn’t feel very bike commuter friendly but I’ll leave route options from Kingstowne directly to another post. I’ve also got the bare basics for biking clothes: bike shorts, helmet, wicking running shirts, etc, so I’m ok there – but no commuting experience whatsoever. Have access to showers at work, no problem.

Thanks for any help y’all can provide!

In addition to the conventional advice you will get, watch out for the wooden bridges on Mt. Vernon Trail (the trail near the GW Parkway) when it is wet or cold. They get very slick very easily. Stay hydrated, especially in the heat, but in the colder months as well. Get some basic lights in case you have to ride in the rain, and even an even better set of trail lights (LED lights that can cost up to $100 or more) if you ride after dark.

Best of luck with it.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Ride the bike you have. See if it works for you. If it doesn’t but you want to keep riding, then start looking for something else, as you’ll have a better idea of what that should be once you have more experience on your commute.

[jabberwocky]

@docjones 112066 wrote:

Question 1. I currently have a 2010 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Six that is currently an excellent piece of wall art. It’s my only bike, but what would you all recommend to make it a suitable option for commuting? Should I be trying to swap out wheels/tires for something a little thicker than the road tires it’s currently got? Should I consider spending $300 for a cheap commuting bike off craigslist/Nashbar instead? I rode the bike recreationally (<15 miles usually) when I lived in SE DC and Shirlington, but haven't ridden it much since the move to Kingstowne. (2+ years)

Assuming you have a safe place to store it at work, I’d recommend just starting with the road bike and a backpack or messenger bag for stuff-carrying. I personally have been commuting for years primarily on my carbon road bike with a chrome messenger bag. No need to spend money on changing a perfectly functional bike. If you find you take to bike commuting and want to change things about the bike (or replace it/supplement it with something else) that can be done later.

A combination drive/bike commute is a fine place to start!

Other people will have to help with routing, since I’m not very familiar with that area. There is a connector for the Mt Vernon to get across the Wilson bridge now, but I’m not sure the best way to go from there.

[vvill]

I’d also say start with the bike you have if you have a good place to store it during the day, and a backpack/messenger bag, and lights of course if you will be riding in twilight or dark. Plus the usual stuff to be self-sufficient (know how to change a flat – and always carry a tube, tire levers and pump).

Once you get used to your routes you can start looking into other things you might need/want such as panniers, better cycling clothing/shoes, etc. And yeah combination drive/bike (or just doing a 2-3 days a week to begin with) is a good way of starting. I still do combination commutes sometimes.

[PotomacCyclist]

If you’re starting out at Fort Hunt near the Mt. Vernon Trail, routing should be fairly simple. You might get confused the first time you reach the Wilson Bridge. If you’re headed to Crystal City, turn right instead of riding over the bridge. This will take you along the side of the bridge as you make your way to Old Town. The MVT is mostly on-road in Old Town but that’s OK. (However, I’ve never ridden there during rush hour. So maybe conditions aren’t as comfortable then.) Of course the scenery is nice, before Old Town and through Old Town.

In Old Town North, there’s a riverside route, which is scenic, but the wooden path can be a problem in winter. If you check Google Maps, turn on the Bicycling feature to see an outline of the route and/or consult the MVT website. You have the option of turning left toward Abingdon Dr., then taking Slaters Lane up over the Rte. 1/Monroe Ave. bridge to Potomac Yard and the new bike trail there.

Either the MVT or the Potomac Yard trail will take you to Crystal City.

[KWL]

When you do start checking out Kingstowne commuting routes, I’ll be looking for your recommendations. My son, who is also a contractor, just picked up a new assignment in Kingstowne. He lives in Del Ray and had bike commuted to Metro for his former, (cushy, it seemed to me) job in DC. I’d like to see him push himself to riding to his new Kingstowne job a few days a week.

It looks to me when you do get to the full commute, you may want to come up Commonwealth after you get across I-495. I wouldn’t take the Braddock Road route.

Years ago, when I first started commuting, I was apprehensive about being able to get to work. I rode 1/2 way to National Airport, thinking if I could make it there and back, I could make it all the way into work. Now it seems so simple and easy, though I have gotten slower and my commute takes longer because of that.

Good luck getting going.

[trailrunner]

I commuted on my old road and ‘cross bike for many (10+) years, so your current bike is fine. I used a backpack, or a messenger bag when I didn’t have that much to carry. I eventually fixed up my old mountain bike with a rack and panniers and now use that most of the time, but I still occasionally use my road bike. When you start becoming a dedicated commuter, having fenders and a rack can be nice.

You might get some beefier tires, say 700×28 or larger if they will fit in your frame, but again, I commuted on 700×23 for a long time, so larger tires are not necessary. If you do buy new tires, get some that are puncture resistant. They are a little heavier, but you’re not racing.

If you’ll be riding in any kind of traffic, get blinky lights, at least a white one in front, and a red one for the rear.

From where you live, you might actually be able to come up with a decent route. Spend some time on google maps or driving around on the weekend to find a route that works your way north from your house, and find a good way to cross Franconia Road. From there, there used to be a bike and pedestrian underpass under 495 at Clermont Drive in the Rose Hill area (I haven’t ridden there in a while, but I’m pretty sure it’s still there). Once you’re north of 495, there are various road and path routes that you could take to get to Crystal City or JBAB.

[dcv]

Agree with the others about starting with the bike you have, get a good messenger bag or backpack. You’ll figure out what you want to change as you commute more.

Also agree that combination drive / ride commutes are a great way to start, that’s what I did for a few years and added miles as I got into it more. You may want to check if there are any parking restrictions where you plan to start.

Good luck.

[Steve O]

Seconding what most people are saying here. Use the bike you have, and you’ll figure out after a while how you would want it to be different (if at all), and that will inform you what to move towards.

The single piece of advice I try to impart is to set yourself up for success on your first day. You don’t want to have a bad experience on your first try.
So:

– Pick a day that you do not have a critical deadline in the morning. That way if you run behind or get lost or have a maintenance issue, it’s not a crisis.
– Not sure what you wear at work, but often “casual Friday” can be a good choice, because clothing is less of an issue.
– Pick a day that you have daylight in both directions. Lights are for later, after you know your route and your routine.
– Pick a day with great weather. Why torture yourself with dealing with extra difficulties when you are just trying to make sure you know how to get there? You can learn to deal with weather later.
– Ride your route on the weekend in advance, so you know where you are going. It will be different in traffic, but it will be easier if you already know where you need to turn, etc.
– (optional) Find a riding buddy for your first day. Someone here on the forum may be willing to meet you and ride with you part or all of your route.

There a million other little tips about storing stuff at work, clothing, locking, night riding, cold, heat, studs, slicks, bags, helmets, eyeglasses, coffee clubs, Garmins, tools, pancake clubs, balaclavas, gloves, fenders, racks, apps, and on and on. In fact, there are threads on this forum on all of those things and more. But for me the #1 thing is to make sure your first day is a good day. Then you’ll want to do it again. Good luck!

[Tania]

Def try to find a ride buddy. It made all the difference for me my first few trips. Also I did a test run on the weekend as someone suggested so it wasn’t completely new on my first day.

[hozn]

+1 on using your road bike. I started off commuting on a lemond road bike; it was awesome. In fact, if I didn’t need to tow my son home in a trailer [that can’t hook up to my carbon road bike’s dropouts], I would be commuting on my road bike at least as often as the cx commuter.

My vote is for backpack over messenger bag, but do whatever suits you. For me moving to backpack meant I could carry more with far more comfort. I use a banjo bros backpack, like a few others on the forum. They sit low on the back which is very nice when you are pitched forward on a road bike. And fully waterproof should you get caught in the rain (or decide deliberately to commute in the rain).

[dasgeh]

Lots of good advice. My one add is this: I usually tell people that you don’t have to do maintenance yourself: if something happens on a ride in the city, you can throw your bike on a bus at any time. But with your route, the bus might not be a viable backup. So you probably want to know how to change a flat, and bring that stuff with you when you ride.

[Boo Boo]

@KWL 112088 wrote:

When you do start checking out Kingstowne commuting routes, I’ll be looking for your recommendations. My son, who is also a contractor, just picked up a new assignment in Kingstowne. He lives in Del Ray and had bike commuted to Metro for his former, (cushy, it seemed to me) job in DC. I’d like to see him push himself to riding to his new Kingstowne job a few days a week.

I’ve ridden to my brother’s place in Kingstowne a few times (from Falls Church). Can’t recommend a route from Del Ray, but once you get to Eisenhower Avenue, I’d take a left on Clermont and follow that under the Beltway and up the zig-zag trail (big climb once off the zig-zag) to the neighborhood streets. From there, it’s easy enough to stay in the neighborhoods and cross Franconia at a light at Rose Hill Shopping Center. Cut back behind Edison High School on Celtic/Ballycastle/Castlewellen, come out on Van Dorn, make a left and bomb downhill, and you’re at the Village Center.

[Steve O]

@dasgeh 112109 wrote:

Lots of good advice. My one add is this: I usually tell people that you don’t have to do maintenance yourself: if something happens on a ride in the city, you can throw your bike on a bus at any time. But with your route, the bus might not be a viable backup. So you probably want to know how to change a flat, and bring that stuff with you when you ride.

As has been pointed out in the past, your best multi-tool is a SmarTrip card. Don’t leave home without it.

[worktheweb]

As for routing to the MVT, if you want to avoid Telegraph and Kings Highway, I would take Kingstowne Village to a left on Hayfield to a right on Old Telegraph, Right on Telegraph (bike lane) and then Left on Jeff Todd/Mulligan (bike path). Then hang a left on Pole Road, Left on Frye, Right on Lawrence, Right on Ashton, Left on Buckman, take that to Route 1, Left for an 1/4 mile sprint, then Right on Sherwood Hall (bike lanes), take that across Ft. Hunt to Morningside, Left on Park Terrace, stay right to the right at Tulane, cross over and you are at the MVT. Nothing bad on that route besides the hllls, really. If you’re not comfortable in traffic, you can sidewalk it on Route 1, but it is really short, and with the light timing, it isn’t bad. The climb back will definitely let you know you’re alive, but if you do it regularly it’ll get a lot easier.

[Author]

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