r/bikecommuting

To be clear I don't think there's a right answer, I'm just curious to hear people's thoughts. I'm team Pannier because:

1. Except if the load is very heavy, I feel like the weight "disappears"

2. I don't like a sweaty back, which I feel even if it's a short/easy commute

3. A comfortable backpack that ticks all my boxes would be too small for all the uses I require; I have yet to find a good "do it all" solution here.

However, backpacks can by more practical in a lot of cases, include "you can use the pack for other things", "it's a lot easier off the back", and "no need for a rack".

What else you got?

Everywhere seems to be raising the price of bikes and STATE Bicycle even states that they will be billing you for tariffs they don't hide it they tell you upfront they are passing on these tariffs to the consumer, other companies hide it and just increase the price of the products.

Bikes that were $1200 are now $1350, the supreme court ruled that tariffs are ILLEGAL but Trump administration said they don't care what the court says and they will charge tariffs anyways because no one can stop them.

Gone are the days when the law meant something.

Just as the title says... I'm a chunker AND have large capacity panniers and have, in the space of a year, popped two spokes. Currently planning to just keep going on this wheel 'til it's destroyed but am wanting to plan for the next wheelset and I'm wondering if a wider rim and more spokes is the best option.
Mostly just looking for advice (other than 'lose weight, fatass... am working on that) and input.

I’m really trying to dial in my breakfast and lunch packing, and I’m curious how my routine compares to others.

Breakfast:

Before heading out, I usually have Greek yogurt with granola. Or I’ll scramble an egg with ham or some other lunch meat. If I have them, I’ll add some bell peppers or onions. I have a coffee every morning.

Lunch:

Honestly, I’ll eat whatever is light, packable, and provides me with enough fuel for my afternoon and ride home. Sometimes there are leftovers. Other times it’s something I can pop into a microwave. I always have fruit and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Goal:

Honestly, my goal is to climb up this big hill on my way home without hopping off. Properly fueling my day is important, but packing light is important too. How does your routine compare?

Hey y'all! I'm gonna be starting a new teaching job in Berlin this year. My apartment will be a 15 minute bike ride from work, so the conditions are perfect. However, I'm required to dress quite formal. Absolutely no jeans and I'll probably want to wear a full suit at least once a week.

How do you white collar folks get yourself and your nice clothes to work. I don't really want to stuff a suit into my panniers to change into. But wearing it on the bike is kind of out of the question. I'm also thinking about summer... When it's hot, I'm not trying to sweat into my clothes that much. So, obviously I'm gonna have to change clothes at work.

I was informed that some other teachers cycle to work, so maybe they have advice for me, but I'm trying to plan ahead a little bit

Like many have done before i am moving out to the suburbs.

Door to door im 25 miles into work, 50 mile round trip. Currently i bike about 15-20 miles daily.

Does anyone bike commute from ridgewood area to nyc daily? Are there hybrid options that you use? Bike to train or drive to bike. Saving time is more important to me than saving money. Saving either by biking some is a benefit to me.

Time wise cycling competes with the bus. Both are 1hr 30m +/-20m.

Im looking to avoid pedalling 50 miles each day and avoid paying a toll to cross into nyc. Would an e-bike/pedal assist be a good option to save some energy?

Im a good and fast cyclist. Other weekend warriors, what does your cycling commute from bergen county look like?

I just started commuting to work. I’ve been a road bike rider for decades. I now have a Surly Bridge Club. I’ve been riding with panniers since I started commuting, but tomorrow I’m filling them up with groceries for my students. I’m feeling anxious about the weight - - that bike is heavy. I’m nervous about turning and braking. I did a trial run through my neighborhood and it went well. But those butterflies in my stomach remain.

I sold my car and have been full time commuting for a month. I already have more energy and my back injury has unexpectedly improved. I get to connect with nature and my community more and I’m so grateful. There have absolutely been challenges but the benefits far outweigh them. Thank you all so much for the encouragement!

I’m currently looking for affordable waterproof shoe covers for bike commuting, especially for rides in wet weather. They should be properly weatherproof, but I don’t need anything premium or expensive. Just something reliable enough to keep my shoes dry during rides.

I would prefer in-store purchase for easy access, but online options are okay as long as delivery is fast. Options from sites like Amazon are fine, but those that take long to deliver like Alibaba might not be ideal since I want to start using them soon.

Any recommendations or experiences with budget-friendly ones?