Well, I’m interested in how other ETS forumites manage gear, bikes used, etc. Hopefully less inflammatory topic than guns or knives…

I started biking about 8 weeks ago for reasons that I honestly cannot exactly recall, other than I was disgruntled at my busy life not leaving me time to exercise. It’s 3.6 miles one way with a maximum single elevation change of about 200 feet, I think. Slightly faster biking than driving going to work (the big downhill leg is in the last third) and slightly slower than driving going home (I don’t pedal uphill nearly as fast as downhill). Anyway, I’m addicted to the rides now, although I’m not convinced it is making any significant difference in my fitness because the rides are too short.

I’m using a fairly high-end hard tail ATB (because it’s the only bike I own); I did replace the knobby tires with some comparatively smooth Michelin ATB tires and keep them at max inflation pressure. Since it's an ATB bike, it is a bit short on wheelbase for really hanging huge rear panniers on it (heel strike potential), but: Since I started the commuting it has gained weight – tools, the big Jandd rear rack (I had to machine up a nifty clamp to attached the horizontal stays to the seat post tube (? the tube the seat stem fits into), a trunk for the rack, etc etc. Had a big heartache over pannier prices and got cordura nylon “baskets” instead (Jandd, IIRC), although as it turns out I rarely use them for commuting. Front rack options are limited / complicated because of the front suspension so if anyone has any ideas – I hold back my downhill speed to high-20s mph right now as the rear weight bias gives me potential instability at higher speeds. The good news/bad news is that I less frequently take work home now…

Used my Camelbak Rim Runner at first, but it’s really set up as my Ready Pack – too much volume taken up by things I would not need as EDC in this urban environment and I don’t want to re-configure it constantly (I know – buy another one...). I park the bike inside in one of my offices, so leaving items on the bike is not an issue.

I’m more interested in reading how ETSers are bike commuting than reading how the bike fanatics do it on some biking forum. Details, anyone? Fall and winter are coming soon - August rains are not the same as November rains... I think I can handle Jan-Feb fine, but late fall and early spring...

TIA,

Tom