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I commute year round, and it's quite wet for about 8 months out of the year. I've been using the same pair of Ortliebs since 1999. So, yeah, maybe a bit spendy up front but dollar per mile they're one of the cheapest bits of bike stuff I own.
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Oct 23, 2023 18:43
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raggedphoto posted:I once filled 2 Ortlieb panniers with heavy used car parts that I to a shop for repair, I was certain they would tear but they held up just fine. There maybe cheaper/better options but it's hard to argue with their track record. 60lb back of quikrete mortar mix slides right into my ortlieb pannier. never doing that again though
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Oct 23, 2023 19:31
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I bought an Ortlieb waterproof pannier 15 years ago and it gets daily use and still looks pretty good. 10/10 will buy a matching one someday.
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Oct 23, 2023 22:07
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I got a North St roll-top pannier in a pretty color, mostly to be a contrarian dork but also it has some velcro inside so added a felt laptop sleeve, and replaced the closure clip with a magnetic fidlock. Pictured sheltering from a surprise thunderstorm last year. 
sweat poteto fucked around with this message at 04:09 on Oct 24, 2023 |
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Oct 24, 2023 04:07
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I've had good luck with Seattle sports co panniers if you want something cheaper. Waterproof, easy to get on and off the racks, half the price of ortliebs. I stepped on a buckle, broke it, and replaced them this year though. No issues with seams or waterproofness after 8? years otherwise.
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Oct 24, 2023 10:58
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Decathlon panniers are fine. I've been using my £23 one for 5 years and the waterproofing isn't what it was, but it's still completely intact apart from that. Idk if you can get them in the US.
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Oct 28, 2023 18:20
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Soma’s running a sale on Kasai dynamos https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/kasai-dynacoil-d6-hub-6-bolt-disc-2732 100 QR disc is $64 for 28h https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/kasai-dynacoil-rb-hub-rim-brake-2731 $64 for 36h https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/kasai-dynacoil-hub-15mm-thru-axle-2488 $88 for MTB 15mm 32h. Not sure if 110mm though
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Oct 28, 2023 20:01
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I surf in the mornings before I go to work. I need a system that I can lock my work poo poo on my bicycle while I'm in the water. I mainly carry a change of clothes, computer, and a few accessories (phone, sunscreen, water bottle, pack towel, etc) -- about a small backpacks worth of volume. My surfboard also goes on my bicycle, so I have at best, one pannier space and a rear rack. No front rack, no fork-mounted whatever. I have a "typical" gravel geo and a regular, bolt-on rear rack. I can only take with me something that survives salt water and would fit in the key slot in my wetsuit or leash. Normally that would be my bike lock key. What should I be looking at? A locking pannier would be nice as it allows me use of the top rack for a wire basket (and my wet wetsuit), but all I can think about right now is bolting on one of those rubbermaid lockable totes to the rear rack, though it's annoying to double-lock and probably not that secure anyway. Also, is there a heavy-dutyish kickstand that isn't going to wobble over when I strap my surfboard on?
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Oct 29, 2023 05:49
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kimbo305 posted:Soma’s running a sale on Kasai dynamos Thanks for the link, I'm going to commit to the conversion. It's tough replacing a nice working wheel (stans tubeless!) but I'm so tired of managing light batteries. GI Joe jobs fucked around with this message at 06:51 on Oct 29, 2023 |
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Oct 29, 2023 06:44
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PRADA SLUT posted:I need a system that I can lock my work poo poo on my bicycle while I'm in the water. "not that secure" is probably going to be an issue no matter what you decide to go with short of some type of metal contraption (heavy, noisy, expensive). There's all sorts of locking cases available for motorcycles in various materials and price ranges but their shape isn't ideal for bicycles - side panniers will probably strike your heels when you pedal unless you mount them really far back, and top cases usually hinge forward where they will interfere with your saddle, again unless you mount it really far back. Mount it backwards and the key faces the saddle post which isn't ideal. A motorcycle top case mounted sideways would probably work fine but most cheap plastic ones are sort of teardrop shaped and it would probably look a bit goofy. Cheap plastic versions of these type of cases can be had for about €50 in stores, or about half that on the used market where I live. Premium aluminium cases attractive to wealthy dads riding adventure bikes can easily be 10x that price. Invalido fucked around with this message at 07:42 on Oct 29, 2023 |
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Oct 29, 2023 07:40
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Researching dynamo lights a bit I'm not sure if they're bright enough. Riding at night I was having trouble being seen by cars until I ran a 1000 lumen light. I see StVZOo limits lights are limited to 205 lumens, which rules out most dynamos for me. Supernova makes a light with that output but only above ~40mph. Does this rule out dynamo for me or am I missing something? Supernova's lumen vs speed chart  My light in action 
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Oct 30, 2023 00:23
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GI Joe jobs posted:Researching dynamo lights a bit I'm not sure if they're bright enough. Riding at night I was having trouble being seen by cars until I ran a 1000 lumen light. They don't see you because they're not looking in the first place. There's basically nothing you can do to make them see something they don't want to see. Also the good German-rated ones don't really do lumens, they do lux which measures the effective amount of light on a surface instead of measuring the firehose of light going off to the sides and into the sky. Just point the shaped-beam ones into motorists' eyes instead of at the road and you'll get the same result as your crazy floodlight.
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Oct 30, 2023 01:23
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I'm a big baby about commuting in the winter. Never done it before, but I'd like to give it a shot this year. So I'm in Calgary where we have snowy rear end winters and I don't plan to bike to work all through winter but I figure with the right gear I can save a few bus tickets. So I've picked these tires up. Studded, same measurements as my OEM tires. Should be okay. The thing is though, the saying in Calgary is that if you don't like the weather, wait an hour! We have pretty extreme melts and chinook winds that make a couple wintry days feel like early fall. How do studded tires generally fare on dry(ish) ground? I'm thinking 2-3 days after a melt, should I be switching back to OEM tires when stuff clears up?
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Oct 30, 2023 05:00
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I used to run the 4-row schwalbe version on a 5-mile commute through winter, they were ok on dry days too. Noticeably slower than normal road tires in same size but nowhere near bad enough to bother switching back between snow days.
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Oct 30, 2023 05:11
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IMO if your primary concern is "be seen" lights you want both one aimed at the road and one on your head, so you can point it at side streets. This might be more or less of a big deal depending on what your commute routes look like. I'm riding through neighborhoods so I have to worry about every intersection. I run a dynamo on my commuter, and supplement with a light on my helmet and a Varia radar/taillight. bicievino fucked around with this message at 06:23 on Oct 30, 2023 |
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Oct 30, 2023 06:20
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I have rainbow spoke lights for visibility from the sides. I feel like they are a cheap option that will catch any driver who is catchable without causing excess light pollution. Comfort in doing this may vary based on your queerness and the visibility thereof that you’re used to.
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Oct 30, 2023 06:34
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Grassy Knowles posted:I have rainbow spoke lights for visibility from the sides. I feel like they are a cheap option that will catch any driver who is catchable without causing excess light pollution. Comfort in doing this may vary based on your queerness and the visibility thereof that you’re used to. I have reflective tape dotted all around my rims, since I find that when I drive a car in darkness the motion of anything shiny in bike wheels really grabs my attention even if I'm not actively scanning for bikes. Spoke lights are probably great, I just cant be bothered with charging another battery in my daily life. Those spoke lights that are programmable are pretty cool though, I sort of want my bike to look like a ghost chasing a pacman around or something.
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Oct 30, 2023 06:48
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GI Joe jobs posted:Researching dynamo lights a bit I'm not sure if they're bright enough. Riding at night I was having trouble being seen by cars until I ran a 1000 lumen light. I see StVZOo limits lights are limited to 205 lumens, which rules out most dynamos for me. Supernova makes a light with that output but only above ~40mph
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Oct 30, 2023 09:11
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sweat poteto posted:I used to run the 4-row schwalbe version on a 5-mile commute through winter, they were ok on dry days too. Noticeably slower than normal road tires in same size but nowhere near bad enough to bother switching back between snow days. Slow and lumbering is the general feeling I've got so far, so that tracks. I got them on, and took my bike down to Decathlon to cash in on my free tune up. There was basically nothing wrong with my bike at all, but the tune up was free and I wanted some level of reassurance that I'm good to go for the winter. Dude seems to think so! The ride there and back was mostly dry with patches of slush, snow, and ice here and there. Mostly I could get around it but one unavoidable bit had me jerking around a little, worried I was gonna fall off. BUT - Decathlon dude had pumped the tires a bit to account for the drier weather, so I figure once it's icier out there and I let a bit of air out + I'm going over more consistent snow/ice instead of random bits here and there that should feel a bit better. Will report back if I die.
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Oct 31, 2023 20:53
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Even on studs you’re never close to the level of confidence of even wet pavement. Every spring I surprise myself by actually carrying speed through corners.
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Nov 1, 2023 00:44
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Yesterday was one of the shittiest commutes I've had. Snowing, high winds, etc. Oh, and no studs yet. Still better than driving.
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Nov 1, 2023 12:53
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iospace posted:Yesterday was one of the shittiest commutes I've had. Snowing, high winds, etc. Oh, and no studs yet.
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Nov 1, 2023 18:27
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Just saw a cyclist take the right edge of a lane like a total bitch and get smacked by taxi's side mirror. He had to kick his side panel -- and get into a confrontation -- when he could have been taking the whole lane and never let him try that poo poo. I stood there and pretended to film it, so the taxi driver didn't dare start an actual fight when he got out to confront him. Groda fucked around with this message at 19:28 on Nov 1, 2023 |
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Nov 1, 2023 19:26
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Groda posted:Just saw a cyclist take the right edge of a lane like a total bitch and get smacked by taxi's side mirror. He had to kick his side panel -- and get into a confrontation -- when he could have been taking the whole lane and never let him try that poo poo. Answer the important question—Did the side panel turn out alright?
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Nov 1, 2023 20:16
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Finally got my 1st puncture after starting bike commuting in the Summer - turns out the factory tyres on my bike have as much puncture resistance as a piece of soft cheese . A *tiny* stone penetrated the tyre by a fraction of a mm and pierced the innertube. So rather than deal with this again I've ordered some Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. I don't mind the extra weight, and I like the reflective strip on the tyres - anything that says "Look at me, don't murder me" is a positive !
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Nov 2, 2023 07:31
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I (like many, many other commuters I see around me) ride Marathon Plus too, and they work really well at preventing puncture. They are sometimes difficult to mount and dismount compared to lighter tires so you might find that you need to use some soapy water or similar to get them on there and seat right. If you enjoy the reflective strip, consider getting some retroreflective tape and decorate your rims and whatever else on your bike too for added visibility.
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Nov 2, 2023 08:59
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Groda posted:Just saw a cyclist take the right edge of a lane like a total bitch and get smacked by taxi's side mirror. He had to kick his side panel -- and get into a confrontation -- when he could have been taking the whole lane and never let him try that poo poo. evil_bunnY fucked around with this message at 09:10 on Nov 2, 2023 |
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Nov 2, 2023 09:06
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Invalido posted:If you enjoy the reflective strip, consider getting some retroreflective tape and decorate your rims and whatever else on your bike too for added visibility.
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Nov 2, 2023 09:09
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Invalido posted:I (like many, many other commuters I see around me) ride Marathon Plus too, and they work really well at preventing puncture. They are sometimes difficult to mount and dismount compared to lighter tires so you might find that you need to use some soapy water or similar to get them on there and seat right. Getting some of the Pedro's tire levers that are real thick helps. If someone's really struggling they can try to heat them up a bit by leaving them in the sun in summer or near a radiator in winter.
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Nov 2, 2023 11:29
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evil_bunnY posted:Cab drivers are pretty universally horrible round here yeah. The guy who honked at me for taking the lane a couple weeks back (then also came out looking for a fight) was one as well. Yeah, I was gonna say! Taking the lane will often aggravate the exact same numbskull drivers who'd try a risky overtake if you were riding by the kerb (especially if you're going slow for whatever reason.) You can't win sometimes!
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Nov 2, 2023 13:00
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evil_bunnY posted:Cab drivers are pretty universally horrible round here yeah. The guy who honked at me for taking the lane a couple weeks back (then also came out looking for a fight) was one as well. A driver got out of his car to fight two cyclists here about a decade ago and got his poo poo kicked in, and the cyclists went to jail because they had a u lock. Great system
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Nov 2, 2023 16:14
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First full ride to work with the studs and yikes. It's dry right now, all the ice is avoidable so the studs really aren't doing anything except make a noise and I guess introducing more drag? The ride seemed harder than usual, at any rate, and I definitely lamented switching over so soon about halfway through that ride.
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Nov 2, 2023 16:27
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Yep studs are poo poo on anything except actual ice. But on ice they're the only thing that'll give you a fighting chance.
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Nov 2, 2023 16:46
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Guinness posted:Yep studs are poo poo on anything except actual ice. But on ice they're the only thing that'll give you a fighting chance. Studs are great on leaf paste. And that's usually a problem right before it starts freezing in the morning.
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Nov 2, 2023 16:56
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I switched to snow tires on the car already but i'm holding off on the commuter bike studs this year until I absolutely have to. They ride like poo poo and I hate them but they're necessary unless I want to drive or take the bus to work and I detest both those alternatives way more.
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Nov 2, 2023 18:16
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I've fitted my new Marathon Plus tyres without any dramas - the sidewall says 55-85 psi pressure. Any recommendation for the pressure to use ? Just a regular manual hybrid bike.
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Nov 2, 2023 18:21
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Groda posted:I stood there and pretended to film it, so the taxi driver didn't dare start an actual fight when he got out to confront him. When I saw your post about the taxi driver coming out hot, I had one thought: Why didn't you actually record?
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Nov 2, 2023 18:22
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Baconroll posted:I've fitted my new Marathon Plus tyres without any dramas - the sidewall says 55-85 psi pressure. Any recommendation for the pressure to use ? Just a regular manual hybrid bike. Put your pressure around the middle of that span and adjust up or down according to how it feels is my recommendation. On smooth surfaces higher pressure is faster but lower pressure is smoother, in a nutshell. With new studded tires, at least one manufacturer (Suomi, which used to be Nokian) recommends that you ride carefully at max pressure for the first few dozens of distance units in order to help the studs bed into the rubber so they don't rip out so easily, and anecdotally I think there's something of value to this break-in procedure.
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Nov 2, 2023 18:50
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Pittsburgh Fentanyl Cloud posted:A driver got out of his car to fight two cyclists here about a decade ago and got his poo poo kicked in, and the cyclists went to jail because they had a u lock. Great system Invalido posted:With new studded tires, at least one manufacturer (Suomi, which used to be Nokian) recommends that you ride carefully at max pressure for the first few dozens of distance units in order to help the studs bed into the rubber so they don't rip out so easily, and anecdotally I think there's something of value to this break-in procedure.
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Nov 2, 2023 18:53
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Baconroll posted:I've fitted my new Marathon Plus tyres without any dramas - the sidewall says 55-85 psi pressure. Any recommendation for the pressure to use ? Just a regular manual hybrid bike. The high end of that range is if you're heavy and/or carrying a load. Just try it in the middle and see how it feels (its going to feel like crap because that's how Marathon Plus feels)
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Nov 2, 2023 22:44
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