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I commute on a bike that's several levels below a cheap $300 Walmart one -- and it's glorious. Every day, I get to work in a better mood than when I left home.

I commute on a bike that's several levels below a cheap $300 Walmart one -- and it's glorious. Every day, I get to work in a better mood than when I left home. I defy anyone who drives to work to make the same claim honestly.

verisimilitude 17y ago
I agree completely -- 5 days ago my bike commute took me through 6 inches of snow. The day after, -25°F (-31.6°C) windchills. Your body gets used to the cold if you bike every day as winter sets in. There really is nothing like putting on the thermal underwear + face mask and pedaling home. Keeps one's spirits up during these short winter days.
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago
  If anything, hot summer days are harder. After all, you can always add layers if it gets colder, but public decency suggests that removing layers caps out at shorts and t-shirt.
ams6110 17y ago
What are the temperatures like in your area? If I biked to work, at least 6 months out of the year I'd arrive a dripping, sweaty mess.
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago
  Northeastern rustbelt city. Hot and muggy in the summer, freezing cold in the winter (it's raining today but last Thursday and Friday were baltic), soggy the rest of the year. Oh, yeah: and hilly. And there are almost no bike lanes.
- jrockway 17y ago
  So shower when you get to work instead of before leaving for work. Or, don't bike. There is no magical thing that is going to prevent you from sweating.
bmj 17y ago
Indeed. My commute is a critical part of transitioning between home and the office.
- goatforce5 17y ago
  When I was in Boston I loved my ~30 minute bike commute. That could be extended if I wanted to take a long way home and see a bit more of the Charles. I now live in Toronto, a few hundred yards from where I work. I really miss the bike commute. :(
tfh 17y ago
I build myself a fixie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-gear_bicycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-gear_bicycle) from an old bike last summer and I now always take a longer way home because it's really fun to ride. The bike did cost me under 100 euros :)
travisp 17y ago
While I'd agree about car vs bike, I'd prefer public transporation. On a bus or subway, I can get some pleasure reading done, which I'd rather do.
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago
  Incidentally, the City of Vancouver formally ranks the priority of transportation modes in its planning: 1. Walking 2. Cycling 3. Transit 4. Driving Edit it would be nice if HN supported more than a tiny subset of markdown syntax.
HeyLaughingBoy 17y ago
Bike or car, I can only conclude that you enjoy being at work more than being at home. I can't think of a single incentive that would cause me to arrive at work in a better mood than when I left home. Home is where my "life" is. Work is where... well where I work

verisimilitude 17y ago

I agree completely -- 5 days ago my bike commute took me through 6 inches of snow. The day after, -25°F (-31.6°C) windchills. Your body gets used to the cold if you bike every day as winter sets in. There really is nothing like putting on the thermal underwear + face mask and pedaling home. Keeps one's spirits up during these short winter days.

RyanMcGreal 17y ago
If anything, hot summer days are harder. After all, you can always add layers if it gets colder, but public decency suggests that removing layers caps out at shorts and t-shirt.

ams6110 17y ago

What are the temperatures like in your area? If I biked to work, at least 6 months out of the year I'd arrive a dripping, sweaty mess.

RyanMcGreal 17y ago
Northeastern rustbelt city. Hot and muggy in the summer, freezing cold in the winter (it's raining today but last Thursday and Friday were baltic), soggy the rest of the year. Oh, yeah: and hilly. And there are almost no bike lanes.
jrockway 17y ago
So shower when you get to work instead of before leaving for work. Or, don't bike. There is no magical thing that is going to prevent you from sweating.

bmj 17y ago

Indeed. My commute is a critical part of transitioning between home and the office.

goatforce5 17y ago
When I was in Boston I loved my ~30 minute bike commute. That could be extended if I wanted to take a long way home and see a bit more of the Charles. I now live in Toronto, a few hundred yards from where I work. I really miss the bike commute. :(

tfh 17y ago

I build myself a fixie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-gear_bicycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-gear_bicycle) from an old bike last summer and I now always take a longer way home because it's really fun to ride. The bike did cost me under 100 euros :)

travisp 17y ago

While I'd agree about car vs bike, I'd prefer public transporation. On a bus or subway, I can get some pleasure reading done, which I'd rather do.

RyanMcGreal 17y ago
Incidentally, the City of Vancouver formally ranks the priority of transportation modes in its planning: 1. Walking 2. Cycling 3. Transit 4. Driving Edit it would be nice if HN supported more than a tiny subset of markdown syntax.

HeyLaughingBoy 17y ago

Bike or car, I can only conclude that you enjoy being at work more than being at home. I can't think of a single incentive that would cause me to arrive at work in a better mood than when I left home. Home is where my "life" is. Work is where... well where I work