Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

If they only knew....

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

If they only knew....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-11-17, 12:45 AM
  #1  
CliffordK
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
CliffordK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,550
Liked 4,671 Times in 3,454 Posts
If they only knew....

I went out shopping today. Picked up 40 pounds of chicken feed, then at another store, a gallon of ice cream and a few other things

As I was leaving, a portly fellow commented that my ice cream might melt, then inquired how far I had to go to which I casually replied about ten miles.

He then commented "It's amazing you can still do it!".

I suppose my beard makes me look a little older than I am I will admit that today was a bit short, only about 20 miles RT.

I just wonder what the guy would have thought if he knew what the longer commuting days were like. Riding halfway across the state? 100 miles? 200 miles? MUCH heavier loads?
CliffordK is online now  
Old 07-11-17, 01:10 AM
  #2  
ColonelSanders
Banned.
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Vegemite Island
Posts: 4,128

Bikes: 2017 Surly Troll with XT Drive Train, 2017 Merida Big Nine XT Edition, 2016 Giant Toughroad SLR 2, 1995 Trek 830

Liked 312 Times in 220 Posts
Originally Posted by CliffordK
I went out shopping today. Picked up 40 pounds of chicken feed, then at another store, a gallon of ice cream and a few other things

As I was leaving, a portly fellow commented that my ice cream might melt, then inquired how far I had to go to which I casually replied about ten miles.

He then commented "It's amazing you can still do it!".

I suppose my beard makes me look a little older than I am I will admit that today was a bit short, only about 20 miles RT.

I just wonder what the guy would have thought if he knew what the longer commuting days were like. Riding halfway across the state? 100 miles? 200 miles? MUCH heavier loads?

What bike and/or trailer combo were you using?
ColonelSanders is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 01:22 AM
  #3  
CliffordK
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
CliffordK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,550
Liked 4,671 Times in 3,454 Posts
Originally Posted by ColonelSanders
What bike and/or trailer combo were you using?
Just traveling light today. An old Burley Kid's trailer being towed by my old Colnago Super road bike.

Tomorrow I'll pull out the cargo bike/trailer (as in the avatar).
CliffordK is online now  
Old 07-11-17, 06:58 AM
  #4  
mcours2006
Senior Member
 
mcours2006's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,209

Bikes: ...a few.

Liked 410 Times in 236 Posts
You commute 200 miles?

I sometimes wonder what others think when they see me load up my panniers+trunk bag with groceries, like maybe they feel sorry for me because I have to carry it on a bike instead of a car. Ah, that poor man! Especially if it was raining or snowing.
mcours2006 is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 07:22 AM
  #5  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,653

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Liked 3,680 Times in 2,381 Posts
back to the ice cream for a second. even tho 10 miles is not far, it would still take a little while to get it from freezer to freezer. I'm guessing you brought an insulated bag or something?
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 08:09 AM
  #6  
mcours2006
Senior Member
 
mcours2006's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,209

Bikes: ...a few.

Liked 410 Times in 236 Posts
It is a gallon worth...so it'd take some time. I'd be worried if it were just a pint.
mcours2006 is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 08:27 AM
  #7  
CliffordK
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
CliffordK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,550
Liked 4,671 Times in 3,454 Posts
Originally Posted by mcours2006
You commute 200 miles?
Not on a daily basis...

But, I do regular trips between Eugene and Portland. My routes vary typically from 145 to 180 miles or so. I had to add a couple extra loops to hit 200. I count it as a commute because of riding to do activities at the end for a few days.

Last year I went for a short ride around Crater Lake with about 150 miles and a bunch of climbing to get there, but didn't quite make it all the way the first day.

It isn't uncommon to hit 40 miles round-trip riding around town. Why do Craigslist sellers always have to be on the opposite side of the city?
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
back to the ice cream for a second. even tho 10 miles is not far, it would still take a little while to get it from freezer to freezer. I'm guessing you brought an insulated bag or something?
I have a mini re-usable shopping bag that I put it in, but it only gives a very slight insulating.

The outer edges get soft, but refreeze quickly without any significant damage.
CliffordK is online now  
Old 07-11-17, 08:52 AM
  #8  
pdlamb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 9,156

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Liked 2,159 Times in 1,328 Posts
If the store's freezer was cold enough, I can see getting 10 miles home without serious melting occurring. It'd be tempting on very hot days to remove the melt periodically.


40 pounds of chicken feed, though, that's hard core!
pdlamb is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 09:14 AM
  #9  
no motor?
Unlisted member
 
no motor?'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,192

Bikes: Specialized Hardrock

Liked 433 Times in 298 Posts
My first commute was about 6 miles each way, and that was usually thought to be impossibly long by most people. My latest commute is a little more than 2 and people still think it's a long way, but are wondering if that would be possible for someone like Lance Armstrong.
no motor? is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 10:09 AM
  #10  
BobbyG
Senior Member
 
BobbyG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 6,052

Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V

Liked 1,760 Times in 872 Posts
Originally Posted by mcours2006
I sometimes wonder what others think when they see me load up my panniers+trunk bag with groceries, like maybe they feel sorry for me because I have to carry it on a bike instead of a car. Ah, that poor man! Especially if it was raining or snowing.
Since I hit my practical safe speed and pace quite a few years ago my goals have switched to consistency, all-weather/all-season riding and low-temperature thresh-hold. I love riding in the rain, snow and cold. A couple of years ago I rode home on icy streets with a 25-lb bag of ice melt salt in each Wald folding basket. (50lbs)
BobbyG is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 12:24 PM
  #11  
pdlamb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 9,156

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Liked 2,159 Times in 1,328 Posts
Originally Posted by BobbyG
A couple of years ago I rode home on icy streets with a 25-lb bag of ice melt salt in each Wald folding basket. (50lbs)

Wow, I can hear the comments already. "You worried about getting stuck in the snow on your bike? Don't you want to shovel before you put on the salt?" Etc.
pdlamb is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 12:29 PM
  #12  
BobbyG
Senior Member
 
BobbyG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 6,052

Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V

Liked 1,760 Times in 872 Posts
Originally Posted by pdlamb
Wow, I can hear the comments already. "You worried about getting stuck in the snow on your bike? Don't you want to shovel before you put on the salt?" Etc.
Yes, and that's just my wife...
BobbyG is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 02:02 PM
  #13  
Andy_K 
Senior Member
 
Andy_K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,960

Bikes: Yes

Liked 4,294 Times in 1,582 Posts
Originally Posted by mcours2006
You commute 200 miles?
I can testify that CliffordK recently rode up to Portland for a bike show on a vintage TT bike with a 61T chainring. The man is a beast of a rider. If they only knew indeed!
__________________
My Bikes
Andy_K is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 04:07 PM
  #14  
mcours2006
Senior Member
 
mcours2006's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,209

Bikes: ...a few.

Liked 410 Times in 236 Posts
Originally Posted by Andy_K
I can testify that CliffordK recently rode up to Portland for a bike show on a vintage TT bike with a 61T chainring. The man is a beast of a rider. If they only knew indeed!
That is beastly, indeed!
mcours2006 is offline  
Old 07-11-17, 04:49 PM
  #15  
treadtread
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,261

Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus

Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Heh, riders like CliffordK are inspiring

Last edited by treadtread; 07-11-17 at 04:49 PM. Reason: Edited to change folk to riders
treadtread is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
beaconsbeacon
Commuting
36
08-15-18 05:35 AM
350htrr
Living Car Free
37
07-06-13 03:30 PM
DGonzalez
Utility Cycling
12
06-12-13 09:28 AM
himespau
Recreational & Family
4
01-24-12 06:20 AM
WillynHook
Commuting
26
06-14-10 04:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Your Privacy Choices -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.