Biking to work

[Alex J V]

I have been thinking of biking to work. Wondering how people do it. Based on your experience what are the tips for biking to work regarding safety, sun, etc. Do you take a bath at work ?

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Alex J V

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[suman paul]

Few ideas about safety :

1. Wear helmet

2. Wear gloves 

3. Wear full sleeve shirt or T

4. Wear shoes not chappals

These are precautions against a crash. Though the pros can disagree except '1' but others are also highly recommended. 

5. Ride on left lane

6. Instead of negotiating a pothole by going around it and endangering life by fellow drivers on the road, rather take on the pothole ( strictly IMHO )

7. No jumping signal

8. No riding on the footpath 

9. Do not follow a volvo bus or BMTC bus or KSRTC bus or any other colourful bus

10. Do not follow a tempo traveller

11. Do not race on the open road ( you have BBCh for that )

12. Do not carry a sling bag

13. Bag should be on your back and properly fastened

14. Ideally put the bag on a carrier or use pannier

15. Use reflective jacket in the dark

16. Use good light for both front and back

17. Always remember that except you rest all are blind on the road around you

18. Never indulge into a road rage

19. Keep your bike well maintained and checked 

20. Keep time in hand instead of rushing

21. Fellow two or four wheeler drivers are not educated enough as you would expect so be cautious 

Sun tanning / bathing / Beauty treatments , lets others comment. 

thank you & regards

suman  

+91      9886300685

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[Venkatesan Ramachandran]

Just take your bike out and commute. . it is not too complex.

Safety - Helmet must & lights if you return back late night
Shower - I generally wash my face and change the t shirt.. 5km one way for me.

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[Opendro]

Thank you Venki for simplifying.

Suman, commuting on bike shouldn't be complex. If it is complex, one will soon quit doing it.

What that means is that we should try to avoid anything other than just picking up the bike instead of car/motorcycle. My commute distance is short but I do use every opportunity to ride. If it is hot, I don't push hard. If it is short and cold, push a little harder. If you are the kind of person who has a lot of body odour, you might consider a healthier diet and/or a deodorant. This is irrespective of whether you bike or drive car. Just that sweat makes it look as though cycling is the culprit for the odour.

[Alex J V]

thanks guys, 

I took the bait and rode to work just after posting this message. Go to office and great to see these responses. I am all sweaty and stuff. 5km one way for me - from Sony world signal to domlur. Just going out to get a deo :)

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[suman paul]

Commuting on bike is simplest and most enjoyable but the context in which you will be riding is most complex, hence the peripheral measures are more. 

thank you & regards

suman  

+91      9886300685

[Alex J V]

Thanks Suman, for the detailed list. 

What about pollution ? 

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[Opendro]

Ok. Whatever works for people - it is important to keep riding.

About safety - no matter what precautions we take, some things come from experience. We always become better, even in crashes!

[Venkatesan Ramachandran]

Pollution - shouldn't make a lot of issue for 5km ride (15-20mins avg).. inner ring road is not that bad. You can try to plan bit early to avoid more traffic..

Happy commuting :)

[Ashok Kumar S]

As if all bbch races are on closed roads. 😉

Thanks and regards,

Ashok. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Ashok Kumar S]

You can google and figure it out. But a car's cabin has around 15 times more pollutants compared to the side lanes which are used by cyclists/pedestrians. One if the reasons being the air intake of car placed directly behind the exhaust pipe of the car in front of it. And in BLR we know the gap between the vehicles. 

Still, I use a neomask, www.neomask.in which has an activated carbon filter and according to the manufacturer, can be used in chemical warfare as well. 😉. 

Thanks and regards,

Ashok. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Karthick Gururaj]

Hi Ashok,

I think the study doesn't apply to roads here - where pollution levels are much higher and vehicles occupy all lanes (so cyclists share space with polluting vehicles).

I am also a neomask user - I do see a difference when I use it and when i don't.

- Karthick

On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 12:03 PM, Ashok Kumar S <s.a...@gmail.com> wrote:

You can google and figure it out. But a car's cabin has around 15 times more pollutants compared to the side lanes which are used by cyclists/pedestrians. One if the reasons being the air intake of car placed directly behind the exhaust pipe of the car in front of it. And in BLR we know the gap between the vehicles. 

Still, I use a neomask, www.neomask.in which has an activated carbon filter and according to the manufacturer, can be used in chemical warfare as well. . 

[Opendro]

When I go on bike or motorbike, I always avoid heavy smoking vehicles - either I slow down or accelerate fast.

I know that there are other pollutants than just the large particulates. But I have a strong feeling that I'm going to outlive my target (it is just gut feeling, don't ask me how I sense it). So, I'm not overly worried.

[Venkatesan Ramachandran]

Agree with Opendro. I just avoid getting heavy smoke getting to me during commute and that may be enough for short commutes (15-30mins). Just try out with out mask for few weeks and if you get frequent cold & cough and irritation on throat that may indicate that you are getting impacted due to pollution.

Masks helps up to some extent but it is also dis comfort while commuting :)

[Ashok Kumar S]

I get the exhaust smell when not using it in heavy traffic and it makes a difference to me. 

Thanks and regards,

Ashok. 

Sent from my iPhone

On 27-May-2015, at 12:16, Karthick Gururaj <karthick...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Ashok,

I think the study doesn't apply to roads here - where pollution levels are much higher and vehicles occupy all lanes (so cyclists share space with polluting vehicles).

I am also a neomask user - I do see a difference when I use it and when i don't.

- Karthick

On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 12:03 PM, Ashok Kumar S <s.a...@gmail.com> wrote:

You can google and figure it out. But a car's cabin has around 15 times more pollutants compared to the side lanes which are used by cyclists/pedestrians. One if the reasons being the air intake of car placed directly behind the exhaust pipe of the car in front of it. And in BLR we know the gap between the vehicles. 

Still, I use a neomask, www.neomask.in which has an activated carbon filter and according to the manufacturer, can be used in chemical warfare as well. <emoji_u1f609.png>. 

[Jayaprakash E]

I commute short distance of 4km one way in my formal dress & shoes. I ride slow at about 9 to 10kms speed to avoid sweating & use only two accessories, lights and when it rains bag cover. I always prefer less crowded roads and forced to use main roads when it is waterlogged.

[Anil Kadsur]

We always become better, even in crashes!

Absolutely when i realized i cannot control the crashes, i started working on how to fall better.....

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 11:44 AM, Opendro <ope...@gmail.com> wrote:

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Ok. Whatever works for people - it is important to keep riding.

About safety - no matter what precautions we take, some things come from experience. We always become better, even in crashes!

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 11:35:44 AM UTC+5:30, suman paul wrote:

[Anil Kadsur]

For me mask a big no for a simple reason..... i will not be able to smile at people whom i want to.... by that a dis-connect from the world and commuting is boring for me.

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 12:28 PM, Venkatesan Ramachandran <venk...@gmail.com> wrote:

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Agree with Opendro. I just avoid getting heavy smoke getting to me during commute and that may be enough for short commutes (15-30mins). Just try out with out mask for few weeks and if you get frequent cold & cough and irritation on throat that may indicate that you are getting impacted due to pollution.

Masks helps up to some extent but it is also dis comfort while commuting :)

On 27 May 2015 12:20, "Opendro" <ope...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Opendro]

LOL. Who are you trying to impress and connect, Anil? Don't forget to concentrate on the road :-P

[Anil Kadsur]

hehehe.....

I still believe "Life is beautiful"  and added my own version to it (even after multiple crashes.....)

 and commuting is still exciting when the number of motor vehicles are more.....

very truly,

anil s kadsur,

http://kadsur.blogspot.in/

[Ashok Kumar S]

Anil,

With a mask, you can always keep smiling and people wouldn't wonder what has gone wrong with this guy. And to wish others, you can always wave your hand, and they assume the smile is there inside the mask. 

regards,

Ashok

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Thanks and regards, Ashok Kumar S.

[Arvind P]

Anil this is for you. 

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 5:21:10 PM UTC+5:30, Truck driver wrote:

[T Ashok]

Alex : I do bike to work 2-4 days/week. Relaxed ride, no shower needed.

Ashok

[Gana...]

Its been a little over 5months since i've stopped using company transport and using a single speed bike for commutes. It has been amazing. A pair of clothes for change, Deo, (shower facitlity if available at office is great). My office doesn't have shower so i don't push hard on the way out but on the return i make it a hard ride which makes it for a good workout. There's a lot of feedback but with the first couple of rides, you'll figure out what you like/dislike about commute. 

Happy commuting.. :D

[Alex J V]

Thanks for all the tips guys. 

I live with friend of mine who works at the same place I work. He has a R15. On the way back from office, we started off at the same time, me on cycle and him on his R15. I got home first :P That was fun ! 

Alex

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[Chidambaran Subramanian]

On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 12:20 PM, Opendro <ope...@gmail.com> wrote:

When I go on bike or motorbike, I always avoid heavy smoking vehicles -

>>> Smoking is bad for health. Point.

 

either I slow down or accelerate fast.

I know that there are other pollutants than just the large particulates. But I have a strong feeling that I'm going to outlive my target

>>> Whom are you targeting?

[Opendro]

My target is to live for 65 years - nothing less, nothing more. A little tricky target. Don't be surprised if I start picking up some unhealthy habits or some dangerous sports and adventures after 60 ;-P But it also depends on various other factors. Most important factor being how my friends are doing at that age. Anyway, it is not entirely in my control!

[Prashanth Chengi]

Opendro,  your target reminds me of an anecdote. 

 A 105 year old man was being felicitated by the local people, and a member of the media asked him what he considered to be his greatest achievement.  The old man thought for a moment and said "I have no enemies in this world". Even as the people were reflecting on what a beautiful statement that was, he added with a twinkle in his eyes, "I have outlived them all!! :D 

/Prashanth

[Aravind M S]

My target is to live for 65 years - nothing less, nothing more

- Opendro, how do you ensure 'nothing more'?

[Opendro]

There are million ways to do that legally you know ;)

In a way, it is good to live with a target in mind so that I can accomplish all my commitments, have all the fun I wish, etc. and hold off all the crazy things till 63. Hopefully, I won't plan to dry up all my resources by then. LOL.