7 ms·

I don't want to show up to work sweaty. And I want the utility of a vehicle if my plans change. So I'll drive regardless.

lukeschlather 11y ago
That really depends on your speed. Like dhenry says, if you're going at a moderate pace, a 5 mile commute ends up being about 30 minutes door to door, and you don't really work up a sweat, definitely not in the winter, maybe sometimes in the summer. If you're going full-tilt you can get that down to 20 minutes door-to-door and then you sweat and you have to take a shower. So really it's a question of if you're trying to get some aerobic exercise during your commute or not. I am of course speaking for Seattle where it's usually cool but not cold and damp but not really raining.
ethanbond 11y ago
Honestly it's a great way to wake up to get some exercise in, then drop by a gym for a shower (if your office doesn't have one). Showers at the office are probably one of the most underrated perks ever. As a sidenote, the whole point is that "the utility of a vehicle" shouldn't far exceed the utility of a bicycle/public transit in an area as developed as Silicon Valley.
andy_boot 11y ago
I travel ~ 5 miles to work (takes about 30 minutes). I dont push myself to hard and I keep a spare t-shirt in the office. Arrive, swap t-shirt. Done. If my plans change I leave my bike at work and arrive on mass transit the next day.
rconti 11y ago
You're welcome to your opinion. I bike 8 miles each way in Silicon Valley with a backpack on my back. I ride in a t-shirt and jeans (unless it's really hot, in which case I wear shorts). I ride moderately hard, so I arrive with a bit of sweat on my body and on my face. Sometimes I wipe the sweat off my face with a paper towel. 10 mins in my air-conditioned cube and I'm back to normal temp, all dried off, and merino t-shirts don't smell. Driving a car is convenient, sure. My bike commute to work takes about twice as long as driving on 101, though my commute home is often about the same, time-wise due to traffic. I enjoy the bike ride more, for the most part. Occasionally I wish I had a car. Once I had vertigo so I called an Uber to take me to the urgent care. If I had a car, I would have driven, but that's probably not the best shape to be in while driving a motor vehicle. So I suppose you'll trade sitting in traffic for the convenience of having a car on the rare occasion you need one. You're welcome to the choice. I welcome the addition of more bike infrastructure.
- zurn 11y ago
  Just curious, why do you prefer a backpack to a pannier (or backpack-inside-pannier)?
  - dkhenry 11y ago
    I like the backpack better as I can bring it with me on the last 100 ft and into my building where I shower and change, where if its pannier's I either need a backpack inside of it, or I need to carry my stuff around. Also people steal stuff, so I don't like leaving things on my bike.
    - Symbiote 11y ago
      Try choosing "Office bags" from https://www.ortlieb.com/en/produkte/radtasche/ https://www.ortlieb.com/en/produkte/radtasche/ There are pannier backs with backpack straps, or shoulder straps, etc. Although I have the more basic "back roller" standard detachable panniers. They take a second to attach/detach, nothing remains to be stolen. Best £50 I ever spent! They still look new after 2 years of daily use.
  - rconti 11y ago
    I like having the mass attached to my body, as opposed to having an awkwardly-weighted bike. Reduced unsprung weight for more maneuverability :) Much easier to hop speedbumps and the like, which is pretty useful for urban cycling. I have a light 20L pack with an internal frame and mesh for my back so I still get decent ventilation.

lukeschlather 11y ago

That really depends on your speed. Like dhenry says, if you're going at a moderate pace, a 5 mile commute ends up being about 30 minutes door to door, and you don't really work up a sweat, definitely not in the winter, maybe sometimes in the summer. If you're going full-tilt you can get that down to 20 minutes door-to-door and then you sweat and you have to take a shower. So really it's a question of if you're trying to get some aerobic exercise during your commute or not. I am of course speaking for Seattle where it's usually cool but not cold and damp but not really raining.

ethanbond 11y ago

Honestly it's a great way to wake up to get some exercise in, then drop by a gym for a shower (if your office doesn't have one). Showers at the office are probably one of the most underrated perks ever. As a sidenote, the whole point is that "the utility of a vehicle" shouldn't far exceed the utility of a bicycle/public transit in an area as developed as Silicon Valley.

andy_boot 11y ago

I travel ~ 5 miles to work (takes about 30 minutes). I dont push myself to hard and I keep a spare t-shirt in the office. Arrive, swap t-shirt. Done. If my plans change I leave my bike at work and arrive on mass transit the next day.

rconti 11y ago

You're welcome to your opinion. I bike 8 miles each way in Silicon Valley with a backpack on my back. I ride in a t-shirt and jeans (unless it's really hot, in which case I wear shorts). I ride moderately hard, so I arrive with a bit of sweat on my body and on my face. Sometimes I wipe the sweat off my face with a paper towel. 10 mins in my air-conditioned cube and I'm back to normal temp, all dried off, and merino t-shirts don't smell. Driving a car is convenient, sure. My bike commute to work takes about twice as long as driving on 101, though my commute home is often about the same, time-wise due to traffic. I enjoy the bike ride more, for the most part. Occasionally I wish I had a car. Once I had vertigo so I called an Uber to take me to the urgent care. If I had a car, I would have driven, but that's probably not the best shape to be in while driving a motor vehicle. So I suppose you'll trade sitting in traffic for the convenience of having a car on the rare occasion you need one. You're welcome to the choice. I welcome the addition of more bike infrastructure.

zurn 11y ago
Just curious, why do you prefer a backpack to a pannier (or backpack-inside-pannier)?
- dkhenry 11y ago
  I like the backpack better as I can bring it with me on the last 100 ft and into my building where I shower and change, where if its pannier's I either need a backpack inside of it, or I need to carry my stuff around. Also people steal stuff, so I don't like leaving things on my bike.
  - Symbiote 11y ago
    Try choosing "Office bags" from https://www.ortlieb.com/en/produkte/radtasche/ https://www.ortlieb.com/en/produkte/radtasche/ There are pannier backs with backpack straps, or shoulder straps, etc. Although I have the more basic "back roller" standard detachable panniers. They take a second to attach/detach, nothing remains to be stolen. Best £50 I ever spent! They still look new after 2 years of daily use.
- rconti 11y ago
  I like having the mass attached to my body, as opposed to having an awkwardly-weighted bike. Reduced unsprung weight for more maneuverability :) Much easier to hop speedbumps and the like, which is pretty useful for urban cycling. I have a light 20L pack with an internal frame and mesh for my back so I still get decent ventilation.