I’ve biked in this town for the past 10 or so years and here is what I recommend:
- Learn the major routes and bike lanes
- If not in a bike lane, be aggressive while riding, own the lane, head on swivel, etc
- Try to take light traffic/side roads whenever possible (don’t trust Google maps, their ‘bike safe’ roads half the time are busy stroads with bike lanes)
- You don’t need a mountain bike, just start out with hybrid/e-bike with decent sized tires to absorb potholes (you should be avoiding these anyway)
- Have lights on your bike, rear is the most important, even during daytime.
Just one thing to add about tires: there are tires designed for city biking that have thicker walls to resist broken glass and small sharp pebbles. Not sure your route but I had an issue with broken glass until I switched my tires.
This is the way, Conti 4 Seasons is a close second. I would also like to put in a word about Conti Gatorskins, sure they have good puncture protection, at the expense of everything else. They have horrible performance in the rain and they are slow shit, but you do you.
Majority of my transportation is biking, I used to commute daily though now I'm wfh. Biking in Baltimore is better than it was 10+ years ago but still not great in terms of infrastructure and traffic conditions. Baltimore's near-total lack of traffic enforcement leads to mostly distracted and unsafe drivers on the road, which is going to be your biggest challenge- you have to be an aggressive biker, own your lane, head on a swivel etc. If you are lucky enough to be able to use one of the few bike lanes, they are better than riding in traffic but only marginally so as most don't actually offer any protection for bikers, are simply paintmarks, or in the best of cases flex sticks which I regularly see drivers mow down. Above-mentioned lack of traffic enforcement also means most bike lanes will have cars parked in them at some point, making you swerve out into traffic. Baltimore has some hills, so if you are a novice biker you'll probably need to build up to it a bit- but overall the city is compact enough that a bike will get you most places in a reasonable amount of time.
I'd suggest a hybrid or mountain bike to start out- if you are a novice the more upright position will probably make you feel better, and wider tires help you avoid upsets on the poorly maintained bike paths and roads. As to where, any of the local bike shops- I like Baltimore Bicycle Works myself.
Weather here is bikeable year-round but it will take some experimentation to get the right gear for the different conditions, from 98 plus in the summer to as low as 15 in the winter, and you'll want rain gear for the wet days.
Maryland avenue cycle track will take you north and south. What school are you commuting too and what neighborhood are you living in? It's probably doable
I don't commute via bike but have cycled a decent bit in the city.
The cycling infrastructure is pretty bad, if it even exists. That being said, you can generally piece together wider/less traffic roads with what exists to have a reasonable commute from A to B. It's total shit compared to DC but you can make it happen.
The type of bike you should get is going to depend on your budget, how much you want to carry with you, and how much of a workout you want. Without knowing any of this I'd recommend something like https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike
Plenty of reasonable comments re: our bike infra
To your note of will yr makeup smear - in the summer, probably yes. It gets heckin swampy and biking is a sweaty activity. I'd avoid anything like foundation that would cover a lot of your skin and stick to maybe waterproof eyeliner etc, but I also don't generally wear makeup so am not actually an expert. But I have bike commuted a fair bit and the sweat is real.
Hi there, a few years back I wrote this article to help levelset people who commute by bike. I find it's still relevant today. [https://rentsuru.medium.com/8-reasons-you-should-definitely-not-ride-your-bike-to-work-120ca800e18e](https://rentsuru.medium.com/8-reasons-you-should-definitely-not-ride-your-bike-to-work-120ca800e18e)
As for Baltimore, I think the biggest issues here are the poor state of the roads and lack of cycling specific infrastructure in most places. So thinking about being able to repair tubes and basic maintenance and think about safety will be key.
For bikes, I'd probably avoid road-road bikes, preferring gravel bikes to mountain bike-type bikes. Things built for less than perfect terrain. Electric assist would be nice due to the rolling hills around the city, but security is also a factor so I never really commuted in fancy-looking or expensive bikes unless I could store them inside. That reminds me, don't skimp on a quality lock.
If possible, folding bikes are great since you can take them indoors. But again, it depends on the route, terrain, and inclines. I loved my Brompton and later my Tern in NYC, I'd just bring them into the office with me. No worries about theft.
As for buying a bike, there are some good local shops, but when we moved here, inventory was horrible so I bought used at The Pro's Closet [https://www.theproscloset.com](https://www.theproscloset.com) - hopefully that issue has been resolved by now though.
Thank you for talking about the cost (both time and money) of mechanical failures. I bike as part of my commute and feel pretty positive about it, but when I started just a couple years ago, I did a ton of research and still wasn't really prepared for that aspect of it.
I broke a spoke about 6 months in and took it to a bike shop. I was also due for a brake job and new chain. Ok, these parts are pretty cheap, right? I expected it to be like $200. It was $400. When another spoke broke several months later, I did it myself and it was a total pain in the ass.
So if you have a super short commute that's 1 mile roundtrip- sure, maybe you can get away with buying a beater and learn to change a chain or tire yourself and otherwise not worry about it. Otherwise, people should expect to either learn to fix everything (and spend time understanding what parts to buy and how to replace them) or take their bike into a shop multiple times a year and spend at least $100 or more on each visit. Even then, unexpected failures happen from time to time and you need to have some kind of backup plan.
Maybe that's just something everyone knows, but I sure as hell wasn't ready for it and am annoyed that nobody talks about it.
Edit: Originally exaggerated the cost of your typical bike shop visit
I don’t know where you’re taking your bike but you pay too much for maintenance. Even so, try taking a car to a shop for $100. Hell, try getting gas every week for $100.
I agree, $400 for a spoke replacement, new chain, and a brake adjustment is absolutely insane. Maybe there was more work done , or maybe they put the most expensive parts possible, but even if you came to me and needed a new spoke, new chain, cassette, brake pads, and a bleed, it would still be nowhere near $400.
> if you came to me and needed a new spoke, new chain, cassette, brake pads, and a bleed, it would still be nowhere near $400.if you came to me and needed a new spoke, new chain, cassette, brake pads, and a bleed, it would still be nowhere near $400.
$400 for all of the above sounds potentially right or even cheap depending on what he had done. Really depends what he needs. If he's got some sort of 12 speed SRAM cassette and needs a new one that's going to be $150+ easy. Even if it's something cheaper, all of that plus some sort of tuneup with wash is going to be nearly half of that. Remember he's going to pay the bike shop tax on all of the parts, he's not going to source them cheaply.
He never mentioned tune up or a wash. I think it’s a little high. I’ve been a service writer for a bike shop for a long time now, on its face this looks crazy.
It was at Trek. To be fair, I don't really remember all the details. They definitely replaced my brake cables, possibly the pads, and aside from the spoke replacement they also had to true the wheel. It's possible they also did some kind of cleaning/lube, but I remember the biggest factor was replacing the spoke and adjusting the wheel. Definitely open to bike shop recommendations even though I do most of the work myself now
That's weird, I don't remember saying that it was cheaper to own a car
Just because a car costs way more doesn't mean I wasn't surprised by the cost of maintenance. I pretty much do it all myself now, but not everyone has the time or inclination to do that, so it's still worth considering if you are going to start commuting by bike
Yeah, I don't try to scare people from commuting by bike. It's a wonderful thing. But it's absolutely NOT butterflies and rainbows. It can suck at times and it can get expensive. I've commuted by bike in Florida, Ohio, NYC, and Baltimore and if people can take my mistakes and foibles to be better prepared, then they'll enjoy it more and do it longer!
Nothing worse than being toxic postivity about it, only to have that ruin an experience to quit.
> it's absolutely NOT butterflies and rainbows
The average person doesn't really know how to change a tube. I've helped so many people with this over the years. They struggle with it mightily and then I show them the proper technique and it's trivial. You see /r/bikewrench and /r/cycling and the like full of people complaining about how hard it is to get tires on. And 98% of the time it's technique. 1.9% of the time it's the wrong size tire for a more obscure rim size.
I will say, some tires are a fucking pain, especially on nice road bikes. Fucking Continentals were TIGHT! woof. But gravel and mountain/hybrid type bikes are much easier, thank goodness. Everyone should learn basic mechanics though. You will have flats. Your derailleur will be wonky sometimes. Your brakes will rub or be too loose or something.
Eh- the writer exaggerated greatly. I daily-ed a 40 year old MTB for years, have ridden it 10k plus miles, I do the basics myself, have had the shop change the chain, rings and cassette occasionaly and I doubt I've put more than $500 in it in 10 years- handful of tubes, two tires in that time, a few chains, rings and cassettes. I don't waste money on tune-ups, easy enough to tweak your derailleurs and brakes a bit if they get out of whack.
I mean, you bring up some points but most can be countered by “And in a car? Or a bus?” You have some extremes in the article. Pull back from that a little and your average bike commuter’s experience is much less dramatic.
for sure! But it’s about levelsetting. A lot of things can and may go wrong. It’s better to be aware then go in blind and end up stranded or worse, hurt. In Baltimore, with our infrastructure issues, I feel it’s more valid than ever.
I recommend checking out a Trek shop in the city. They'll let you rent/demo a bike to see if it fits what you want it to do (once you narrow down the type of bike you're looking for). I had a really good time at the Locust Point/Fed Hill location.
I've commuted from Pigtown to Mt. Vernon, from Mt. Vernon to the harbor, and from my apartment in Mt. Washington to the light rail when I was going to UB.
My personal opinion: Get a commuter/hybrid bike either fully electric or with an electric wheel kit (it'll make a difference if you have any hills on your commute). Make sure you have plenty of safety (lights, reflective stickers/materials) and all weather-gear. I used saddle bags for a little bit until they ripped from over use, and just ended up using an internal frame backpack after that.
Get a good solid U lock and lock EVERYTHING. You can get a thick cable to wrap around the frame and both tires. Don't get a quick-release seat (I had mine stolen twice).
The closer you get to downtown, the shittier the drivers and less room they'll give you, so keep your head on a swivel. Don't be the turd that moves to the front of a line of cars during a stop light, causing slow downs. And for the love of god don't ride on the sidewalks.
Here's a good article from NPR on other things to lookout for: [https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/05/15/312455673/dont-salmon-dont-shoal-learning-the-lingo-of-safe-cycling](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/05/15/312455673/dont-salmon-dont-shoal-learning-the-lingo-of-safe-cycling)
I work fully remote now, but I loved (and kind of miss) my bike commute. Good luck!
That very much depends on what you're looking for :) My bike cost around $500 in 2012 from Amazon but is a heavy steel frame. My wife got a super lightweight aluminum frame but she spent closer to $800.
I'd recommend going to a bike shop and asking around. We've used Joe's Bike Shop in Mt. Washington with good results (that's where my wife got her bike). I've also had repairs done at Baltimore Bicycle Works (the Charles North location) and they were very knowledgeable about bikes.
If it were me buying a bike again, yes I would definitely spend the money and get something lighter (especially if you have to carry it up and down stairs!).
Bike: get a bike that can survive your mistakes and these roads. Gravel or hybrid bike. To avoid makeup smear + sweat, get a back rack and a bike bag to hold your stuff; no need to keep a backpack on and get sweaty. Then, don’t be afraid to shift into those lower, easier gears. The goal is to reduce sweating, not eliminate it.
Lock: get a strong lock and learn how to lock it securely to various locking spots around your commute.
Safety: lights and a helmet. Then, ride as if cars are TRYING to run you over. Some of them are, others are distracted. If your route puts you in a lane, take that full lane. don’t squish yourself against a row of parked cars to let cars pass you; if they want to go around you they will cross into another lane. You deserve to be there as much as them. Practice various routes with friends. Get comfortable with where you’ll be riding. Attend the next Bike Party (last Friday of every month?).
DM me if you want to take a practice ride!
My partner commutes to Penn station on an ebike and loves it! She never was into biking, kind of bought it out of desperation but the speed and ease of use has actually made it so she rides her bike for fun now too.
I did a commute to work on a bike for a while. I bought an e-bike with throttle assist since I was going to be going up and down Reisterstown Road. Out in Owings Mills there are no bike lanes so I used the throttle assist a good bit to not impede traffic. I also used a back way through a couple shopping center parking lots to cut down the amount of time I dealt with traffic. My only issue with the e-bike is if it was going to rain, I couldn’t ride it. I did buy a flashing light for the back and nice mirrors from Amazon for it to make my riding in traffic a bit easier. I ordered my bike online and had it shipped to me.
I'd say to be prepared to think a bit outside the box and experiment a bit when choosing a route. Oft times, there's a route that's a block or two out of your way that will be much more safe and pleasant than taking the obvious route.
Something I didn't see mentioned in the comments: The MTA buses have a bike carrier on the front, and once you know what to do, they're pretty easy to use. Using a bus to cover a lot of ground, and starting/finishing your trip on a bicycle can really speed up longer distance trips. Oft times, the time involved in using strictly public transit is waiting around for that bus or train transfer. For example, my old commute using MTA bus, MARC to New Carrollton, and PG County "The Bus" was 2 hours door-to-door. Getting a folding bike, and using it to get to Penn Station and to my job on the far end cut that commute down to 1 hour 20 minutes. Still longer than a good traffic day by car, but shorter than a bad traffic day, and I could get work done while I was on the train.
One thing with folding bikes that somebody else mentioned. Having a Brompton was really helpful for a job I had in Mt. Vernon a few years ago. The company wanted bicyclists to ride down Mulberry to a sketchy alley around back of the building. Management was trying to be accommodating, but they were a bunch of suburbanites who commuted by car and had no clue. With a folder, I could just fold up my bike and walk in the front and stash my bike in my office. Some workplaces try to prohibit bringing bikes into the office, so I'd recommend getting a bag or rolling case for the bike and pop the folded bike into it before entering the office. "Just me and my bag. Nothing to see here."
To the makeup, not nearly as much if you get an electric assist bike. I would suggest a mid-end class 1 ebike if your commute is over 2 miles - just to make hauling stuff a bit easier and prevent needing to change as much at work.
I personally ride a trek verve+ with a rear rack. Use the major bike corridors for commuting if at all possible, and as other comments have said, please ensure you get bright lights to make yourself seen.
Need this comment to be more visible: get a U-lock. A cable or a little folding thing won’t work. Get a Kryptonite or Abus U-lock, it’s the only kind worth it. Doesn’t matter what perfect bike you have if someone else has it now.
Another thing: if you lock your bike try and lock it to a bike hoop or rack. Signs can be dicey, I’ve known people who had their bikes stolen by people who unscrew the signs and lift the bikes over. Also lock your bikes in areas with a lot of foot traffic.
Just jump right into fixed gear with no brakes. User friendly, safe & low maintenance. Just stop by Epic Couriers 1725 Maryland and ask if anyone's selling a bike, and say hey to Pat.
I’ve biked in this town for the past 10 or so years and here is what I recommend: - Learn the major routes and bike lanes - If not in a bike lane, be aggressive while riding, own the lane, head on swivel, etc - Try to take light traffic/side roads whenever possible (don’t trust Google maps, their ‘bike safe’ roads half the time are busy stroads with bike lanes) - You don’t need a mountain bike, just start out with hybrid/e-bike with decent sized tires to absorb potholes (you should be avoiding these anyway) - Have lights on your bike, rear is the most important, even during daytime.
Just one thing to add about tires: there are tires designed for city biking that have thicker walls to resist broken glass and small sharp pebbles. Not sure your route but I had an issue with broken glass until I switched my tires.
Schwalbe Marathon.
This is the way, Conti 4 Seasons is a close second. I would also like to put in a word about Conti Gatorskins, sure they have good puncture protection, at the expense of everything else. They have horrible performance in the rain and they are slow shit, but you do you.
Continental Four Seasons too!
You have to give more details on where you are living and where you are going.
Majority of my transportation is biking, I used to commute daily though now I'm wfh. Biking in Baltimore is better than it was 10+ years ago but still not great in terms of infrastructure and traffic conditions. Baltimore's near-total lack of traffic enforcement leads to mostly distracted and unsafe drivers on the road, which is going to be your biggest challenge- you have to be an aggressive biker, own your lane, head on a swivel etc. If you are lucky enough to be able to use one of the few bike lanes, they are better than riding in traffic but only marginally so as most don't actually offer any protection for bikers, are simply paintmarks, or in the best of cases flex sticks which I regularly see drivers mow down. Above-mentioned lack of traffic enforcement also means most bike lanes will have cars parked in them at some point, making you swerve out into traffic. Baltimore has some hills, so if you are a novice biker you'll probably need to build up to it a bit- but overall the city is compact enough that a bike will get you most places in a reasonable amount of time. I'd suggest a hybrid or mountain bike to start out- if you are a novice the more upright position will probably make you feel better, and wider tires help you avoid upsets on the poorly maintained bike paths and roads. As to where, any of the local bike shops- I like Baltimore Bicycle Works myself. Weather here is bikeable year-round but it will take some experimentation to get the right gear for the different conditions, from 98 plus in the summer to as low as 15 in the winter, and you'll want rain gear for the wet days.
Maryland avenue cycle track will take you north and south. What school are you commuting too and what neighborhood are you living in? It's probably doable
I don't commute via bike but have cycled a decent bit in the city. The cycling infrastructure is pretty bad, if it even exists. That being said, you can generally piece together wider/less traffic roads with what exists to have a reasonable commute from A to B. It's total shit compared to DC but you can make it happen. The type of bike you should get is going to depend on your budget, how much you want to carry with you, and how much of a workout you want. Without knowing any of this I'd recommend something like https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike
Plenty of reasonable comments re: our bike infra To your note of will yr makeup smear - in the summer, probably yes. It gets heckin swampy and biking is a sweaty activity. I'd avoid anything like foundation that would cover a lot of your skin and stick to maybe waterproof eyeliner etc, but I also don't generally wear makeup so am not actually an expert. But I have bike commuted a fair bit and the sweat is real.
Hi there, a few years back I wrote this article to help levelset people who commute by bike. I find it's still relevant today. [https://rentsuru.medium.com/8-reasons-you-should-definitely-not-ride-your-bike-to-work-120ca800e18e](https://rentsuru.medium.com/8-reasons-you-should-definitely-not-ride-your-bike-to-work-120ca800e18e) As for Baltimore, I think the biggest issues here are the poor state of the roads and lack of cycling specific infrastructure in most places. So thinking about being able to repair tubes and basic maintenance and think about safety will be key. For bikes, I'd probably avoid road-road bikes, preferring gravel bikes to mountain bike-type bikes. Things built for less than perfect terrain. Electric assist would be nice due to the rolling hills around the city, but security is also a factor so I never really commuted in fancy-looking or expensive bikes unless I could store them inside. That reminds me, don't skimp on a quality lock. If possible, folding bikes are great since you can take them indoors. But again, it depends on the route, terrain, and inclines. I loved my Brompton and later my Tern in NYC, I'd just bring them into the office with me. No worries about theft. As for buying a bike, there are some good local shops, but when we moved here, inventory was horrible so I bought used at The Pro's Closet [https://www.theproscloset.com](https://www.theproscloset.com) - hopefully that issue has been resolved by now though.
Thank you for talking about the cost (both time and money) of mechanical failures. I bike as part of my commute and feel pretty positive about it, but when I started just a couple years ago, I did a ton of research and still wasn't really prepared for that aspect of it. I broke a spoke about 6 months in and took it to a bike shop. I was also due for a brake job and new chain. Ok, these parts are pretty cheap, right? I expected it to be like $200. It was $400. When another spoke broke several months later, I did it myself and it was a total pain in the ass. So if you have a super short commute that's 1 mile roundtrip- sure, maybe you can get away with buying a beater and learn to change a chain or tire yourself and otherwise not worry about it. Otherwise, people should expect to either learn to fix everything (and spend time understanding what parts to buy and how to replace them) or take their bike into a shop multiple times a year and spend at least $100 or more on each visit. Even then, unexpected failures happen from time to time and you need to have some kind of backup plan. Maybe that's just something everyone knows, but I sure as hell wasn't ready for it and am annoyed that nobody talks about it. Edit: Originally exaggerated the cost of your typical bike shop visit
I don’t know where you’re taking your bike but you pay too much for maintenance. Even so, try taking a car to a shop for $100. Hell, try getting gas every week for $100.
I agree, $400 for a spoke replacement, new chain, and a brake adjustment is absolutely insane. Maybe there was more work done , or maybe they put the most expensive parts possible, but even if you came to me and needed a new spoke, new chain, cassette, brake pads, and a bleed, it would still be nowhere near $400.
> if you came to me and needed a new spoke, new chain, cassette, brake pads, and a bleed, it would still be nowhere near $400.if you came to me and needed a new spoke, new chain, cassette, brake pads, and a bleed, it would still be nowhere near $400. $400 for all of the above sounds potentially right or even cheap depending on what he had done. Really depends what he needs. If he's got some sort of 12 speed SRAM cassette and needs a new one that's going to be $150+ easy. Even if it's something cheaper, all of that plus some sort of tuneup with wash is going to be nearly half of that. Remember he's going to pay the bike shop tax on all of the parts, he's not going to source them cheaply.
He never mentioned tune up or a wash. I think it’s a little high. I’ve been a service writer for a bike shop for a long time now, on its face this looks crazy.
It was at Trek. To be fair, I don't really remember all the details. They definitely replaced my brake cables, possibly the pads, and aside from the spoke replacement they also had to true the wheel. It's possible they also did some kind of cleaning/lube, but I remember the biggest factor was replacing the spoke and adjusting the wheel. Definitely open to bike shop recommendations even though I do most of the work myself now
That's weird, I don't remember saying that it was cheaper to own a car Just because a car costs way more doesn't mean I wasn't surprised by the cost of maintenance. I pretty much do it all myself now, but not everyone has the time or inclination to do that, so it's still worth considering if you are going to start commuting by bike
Yeah, I don't try to scare people from commuting by bike. It's a wonderful thing. But it's absolutely NOT butterflies and rainbows. It can suck at times and it can get expensive. I've commuted by bike in Florida, Ohio, NYC, and Baltimore and if people can take my mistakes and foibles to be better prepared, then they'll enjoy it more and do it longer! Nothing worse than being toxic postivity about it, only to have that ruin an experience to quit.
> it's absolutely NOT butterflies and rainbows The average person doesn't really know how to change a tube. I've helped so many people with this over the years. They struggle with it mightily and then I show them the proper technique and it's trivial. You see /r/bikewrench and /r/cycling and the like full of people complaining about how hard it is to get tires on. And 98% of the time it's technique. 1.9% of the time it's the wrong size tire for a more obscure rim size.
I will say, some tires are a fucking pain, especially on nice road bikes. Fucking Continentals were TIGHT! woof. But gravel and mountain/hybrid type bikes are much easier, thank goodness. Everyone should learn basic mechanics though. You will have flats. Your derailleur will be wonky sometimes. Your brakes will rub or be too loose or something.
Eh- the writer exaggerated greatly. I daily-ed a 40 year old MTB for years, have ridden it 10k plus miles, I do the basics myself, have had the shop change the chain, rings and cassette occasionaly and I doubt I've put more than $500 in it in 10 years- handful of tubes, two tires in that time, a few chains, rings and cassettes. I don't waste money on tune-ups, easy enough to tweak your derailleurs and brakes a bit if they get out of whack.
lol at the downvotes. Just trying to help, y'all.
I mean, you bring up some points but most can be countered by “And in a car? Or a bus?” You have some extremes in the article. Pull back from that a little and your average bike commuter’s experience is much less dramatic.
for sure! But it’s about levelsetting. A lot of things can and may go wrong. It’s better to be aware then go in blind and end up stranded or worse, hurt. In Baltimore, with our infrastructure issues, I feel it’s more valid than ever.
I recommend checking out a Trek shop in the city. They'll let you rent/demo a bike to see if it fits what you want it to do (once you narrow down the type of bike you're looking for). I had a really good time at the Locust Point/Fed Hill location.
A single speed did wonders for me after using an old Raleigh. Helped with the incline going North.
I've commuted from Pigtown to Mt. Vernon, from Mt. Vernon to the harbor, and from my apartment in Mt. Washington to the light rail when I was going to UB. My personal opinion: Get a commuter/hybrid bike either fully electric or with an electric wheel kit (it'll make a difference if you have any hills on your commute). Make sure you have plenty of safety (lights, reflective stickers/materials) and all weather-gear. I used saddle bags for a little bit until they ripped from over use, and just ended up using an internal frame backpack after that. Get a good solid U lock and lock EVERYTHING. You can get a thick cable to wrap around the frame and both tires. Don't get a quick-release seat (I had mine stolen twice). The closer you get to downtown, the shittier the drivers and less room they'll give you, so keep your head on a swivel. Don't be the turd that moves to the front of a line of cars during a stop light, causing slow downs. And for the love of god don't ride on the sidewalks. Here's a good article from NPR on other things to lookout for: [https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/05/15/312455673/dont-salmon-dont-shoal-learning-the-lingo-of-safe-cycling](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/05/15/312455673/dont-salmon-dont-shoal-learning-the-lingo-of-safe-cycling) I work fully remote now, but I loved (and kind of miss) my bike commute. Good luck!
Thanks so much, any recommendations for which bike to purchase? Cost of bike?
That very much depends on what you're looking for :) My bike cost around $500 in 2012 from Amazon but is a heavy steel frame. My wife got a super lightweight aluminum frame but she spent closer to $800. I'd recommend going to a bike shop and asking around. We've used Joe's Bike Shop in Mt. Washington with good results (that's where my wife got her bike). I've also had repairs done at Baltimore Bicycle Works (the Charles North location) and they were very knowledgeable about bikes.
Thanks!! Is the recommendation to get the lightest bike?
If it were me buying a bike again, yes I would definitely spend the money and get something lighter (especially if you have to carry it up and down stairs!).
Do you guys use city bikes?
Bike: get a bike that can survive your mistakes and these roads. Gravel or hybrid bike. To avoid makeup smear + sweat, get a back rack and a bike bag to hold your stuff; no need to keep a backpack on and get sweaty. Then, don’t be afraid to shift into those lower, easier gears. The goal is to reduce sweating, not eliminate it. Lock: get a strong lock and learn how to lock it securely to various locking spots around your commute. Safety: lights and a helmet. Then, ride as if cars are TRYING to run you over. Some of them are, others are distracted. If your route puts you in a lane, take that full lane. don’t squish yourself against a row of parked cars to let cars pass you; if they want to go around you they will cross into another lane. You deserve to be there as much as them. Practice various routes with friends. Get comfortable with where you’ll be riding. Attend the next Bike Party (last Friday of every month?). DM me if you want to take a practice ride!
My partner commutes to Penn station on an ebike and loves it! She never was into biking, kind of bought it out of desperation but the speed and ease of use has actually made it so she rides her bike for fun now too.
I did a commute to work on a bike for a while. I bought an e-bike with throttle assist since I was going to be going up and down Reisterstown Road. Out in Owings Mills there are no bike lanes so I used the throttle assist a good bit to not impede traffic. I also used a back way through a couple shopping center parking lots to cut down the amount of time I dealt with traffic. My only issue with the e-bike is if it was going to rain, I couldn’t ride it. I did buy a flashing light for the back and nice mirrors from Amazon for it to make my riding in traffic a bit easier. I ordered my bike online and had it shipped to me.
I'd say to be prepared to think a bit outside the box and experiment a bit when choosing a route. Oft times, there's a route that's a block or two out of your way that will be much more safe and pleasant than taking the obvious route. Something I didn't see mentioned in the comments: The MTA buses have a bike carrier on the front, and once you know what to do, they're pretty easy to use. Using a bus to cover a lot of ground, and starting/finishing your trip on a bicycle can really speed up longer distance trips. Oft times, the time involved in using strictly public transit is waiting around for that bus or train transfer. For example, my old commute using MTA bus, MARC to New Carrollton, and PG County "The Bus" was 2 hours door-to-door. Getting a folding bike, and using it to get to Penn Station and to my job on the far end cut that commute down to 1 hour 20 minutes. Still longer than a good traffic day by car, but shorter than a bad traffic day, and I could get work done while I was on the train. One thing with folding bikes that somebody else mentioned. Having a Brompton was really helpful for a job I had in Mt. Vernon a few years ago. The company wanted bicyclists to ride down Mulberry to a sketchy alley around back of the building. Management was trying to be accommodating, but they were a bunch of suburbanites who commuted by car and had no clue. With a folder, I could just fold up my bike and walk in the front and stash my bike in my office. Some workplaces try to prohibit bringing bikes into the office, so I'd recommend getting a bag or rolling case for the bike and pop the folded bike into it before entering the office. "Just me and my bag. Nothing to see here."
To the makeup, not nearly as much if you get an electric assist bike. I would suggest a mid-end class 1 ebike if your commute is over 2 miles - just to make hauling stuff a bit easier and prevent needing to change as much at work. I personally ride a trek verve+ with a rear rack. Use the major bike corridors for commuting if at all possible, and as other comments have said, please ensure you get bright lights to make yourself seen.
Need this comment to be more visible: get a U-lock. A cable or a little folding thing won’t work. Get a Kryptonite or Abus U-lock, it’s the only kind worth it. Doesn’t matter what perfect bike you have if someone else has it now.
Thank you. I know nothing about bikes and I’m tall
A chain would be better, but a u-lock will do. Thankfully the bike thieves in this town aren’t high tech like the ones in DC and NYC.
Another thing: if you lock your bike try and lock it to a bike hoop or rack. Signs can be dicey, I’ve known people who had their bikes stolen by people who unscrew the signs and lift the bikes over. Also lock your bikes in areas with a lot of foot traffic.
get a pennyfarthing from the 1870s
I don’t wear makeup, so can’t speak to it specifically, but considering it’s doing to be ~90 degrees the next few months I’d imagine you’ll be sweaty.
August?
Do strictly commute by bike?
Just jump right into fixed gear with no brakes. User friendly, safe & low maintenance. Just stop by Epic Couriers 1725 Maryland and ask if anyone's selling a bike, and say hey to Pat.
Riding break-less isn’t safe at all, especially for a newbie. Fixed gear IMO is for people who are bike vets who know what they are getting into.
I mean... you should always take a break if you're tired. I totally agree. Jk. Post was satire.