Lessons from my 1st commute to work

wheelbender6

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Lessons from my first 50 mile round trip commute to work:

My battery powered tail lights eventually stop working when clipped directly to the bike
from the shock of hitting bumps. Clip them on a canvas rack bag or backpack to absorb
some of the shock. I plan to hard-mount a 6volt, white wire powered tail light.

The throttle cable more likely to stick on long commutes. Apply dry lube and fine-tune
the routing of the cable. Be sure that your kill switch is working.

An adequate headlight for the suburbs is inadequate on rural roads. However, my 6 volt,
white wire powered headlight was totally reliable.

My calculated average speed was 14.3 mph. I maintained the 20mph Arizona speed along
suburban roads and had to slow to 10mph at times on rural areas due to narrow roads
with irregular edges and darkness, sometimes riding on the dirt shoulder. The average
speed includes time spent on stops for inspection/repair/adjustment. There was a traffic
light or stop sign at almost every mile along the route.
 

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Mountainman you should know better as you

My battery powered tail lights eventually stop working when clipped directly to the bike from the shock of hitting bumps. Clip them on a canvas rack bag or backpack to absorb some of the shock

yes wheelbender
my tail light also feel off into many pieces
I had it clipped onto the motor
vibration
come on Mountainman you should know better as you

ride that MB THING
 
Are you still commuting to work?

Have you been carrying a spare tube and pump in case of flats?

How about a raincoat or do you keep a change of clothing at work?

Tools and water?

My son has rescued me twice when I had flat tires enroute to work, a 12-mile roundtrip.

I'm gonna start carrying a patch kit and air pump on my rides.
 
I've always found when your mounting something electrical(like a taillight) to a solid surface that's prone to vibration use a rubber spacer inbetween to cushion/dampen the vibe effect.
 
You ask a lot of questions, mister (but good ones).

I have been making the 50 mile round trip commute once per week. I have been pedaling my ten speed a lot because I'm doing a 150 mile charity ride at the end of March.

I carry a pump, spare tube, multi-tool and patch kit in a small backpack. It's the same pack I carry on my ten speed and when I go mountain biking to keep things simple.

I carry one of those light weight, bright yellow shell jackets in case of rain. It doesn't rain very much in my part of Arizona. I postpone my motor bike commute if heavy rain is predicted. I generally don't keep a change of clothes at work but I probably should.
I would think a change of clothes would be a must in Hawaii. A set of full fenders should probably help a lot

I carry only a few tools for the motor bike. Small adjustable crescent wrench, flat head, phillips head and old style pliers. The old pliers (not channel locks) are the easiest way I have found to adjust the clutch cable. Carry a few zip ties to secure wires or as a temporary substitute for a screw that vibrated off.

There are many discussions on this site about avoiding flat tires. Make sure you are commuting on a street tire. The big gaps in a knobby tread allow glass and nails to penetrate those thin spots in the tire. A street tire has more rubber and smaller tread gaps. I slime my tire tubes but not everybody aggrees with that.

I haven't been to Hawaii in 15 years or so. I would certainly like to enjoy the beauty of the islands from a motor bike. Cheers
 
Thanks for tips.

I have a change of clothing in my office cabinet, but the pants and belt mysteriously :whistle:shrank.

My New Year's resolution was to commute the 12-mile roundtrip via bicycle, rain or shine. There's been intermittent rain lately; I put my yellow raincoat on before riding to work, even if it's sunny. Rainpants and rubber gloves also in my bag, along with pump and tire patch kit.

Got two flats in two months; the homeless spread broken glass along the bikepath to discourage bikes and pedestrians from "trespassing" in their territory.

When I changed my last tire, I placed the old tire INSIDE the new tire. Maybe that'll stop the punctures.

Same tools as yours plus 7/16", 10mm and allen wrench.

Instead of using the bikepath today, I claimed the lane with fellow cagers. I can keep up with traffic going 35mph. Very stressful feeling, because if I fall the car behind me will probably run over me.:sick:

Hawaii is NOT the greatest place to sightsee via bicycle. However, with a powerful MB you have a chance of avoiding/outrunning vehicles.

What I've learned is try not to ride side-by-side with cars. I either keep ahead or behind. If they change lanes without looking, you don't want to be in the lane beside them.

Lots of potholes and road construction too. Hawaii is one of the worst maintained roads in the U.S.

I commend you for riding to work.

One less car on the road.
 
Good tips! Thanks! I have been commuting 3 weeks now on my kit, love it! I stay on Hickam and Pearl Harbor, was afraid to venture outside the fence 5-7. Glad to know the police and not too motor unfriendly here. I was warned they are totally illegal!
 
Good tips! Thanks! I have been commuting 3 weeks now on my kit, love it! I stay on Hickam and Pearl Harbor, was afraid to venture outside the fence 5-7. Glad to know the police and not too motor unfriendly here. I was warned they are totally illegal!

Hey Ed,

The cops are committed to checking up on those noisy moped riders.

As long as we observe the laws and be courteous and considerate to EVERYONE on the road, police will probably not bother us. They have never given me a second glance, and I ride every day, from Kalihi to Waipahu, on the main road and the bikepath.

But Ed, ya gotta make sure that your bike engine is quiet. When you see a cop, show some respect. Idle your engine, check your speed and pedal your bike.

Police really don't want to hassle a bicyclist. Each bike means that there's one less car(potential people-killer) on the road.

Motor bicyclists commuting to work...

:unsure:that's fantastic.

Ed, watch out for broken glass on the bikepath under the airport viaduct.
 
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Flat Tire Commuting

Got another flat heading home from work three days ago. Luckily it was a slow leak so I rode it in.

This was the front tire; I installed a new thorn-resistant tube ANNND an old mountain bike tire casing INSIDE the front tire.

Had to slice off 258 nubbies off the old mountain bike tire before it'd fit INSIDE the tire casing.:sick:

Now I have double-walled tire casings front and rear.

THAT should help prevent flats while commuting to work.
 
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