t'was the night before i bike to work, and all through the house...

Tomorrow, I start. I have been riding bikes my whole life - more competitively of late - so there really isn't any sort of nervousness. Especially nothing like the anticipation the night before a race! I know that this month will be a great learning experience for me, and will require a lot of work. But I am ready!

Just to give a general idea of the gear I am using: it's simple. I will be riding my slightly modified GT Avalanche mountain bike - like I said, simple. So far, the only modification I made was to swap out my fat ol' 2.3 inch cross-country tires for some thinner, 1.8 inch city tires.

These Michelin city tires have a reinforced tread to help prevent punctures. In addition to reinforced tires, I am using two slime light tubes with sealant already in the tube. These tubes will immediately fill in punctures up to 3 mm, and really decrease the need to patch or replace a tube. The narrower tire will obviously allow greater speed due to the decrease in friction between the tire and the road.

The beauty of this set-up is that it is simple, inexpensive, and does not require a lot of extra resources ($).

Part of the purpose of me blogging about this experience, is to dispel myths like needing a $1000 Trek Portland commuter-specific bike. Sure it would be nice - but don't let it stop you. If you have a bike, you can ride it to work! Now THAT is empowerment!

Why not ride a road bike?
Because I love all things bicycles, I DO have a road bike as well. I opted to go with the modified mountain bike for a few reasons:

1. Comfort. Because my commute is relatively short (7 miles really isn't too far), I don't have to sacrifice comfort for speed or endurance. A road bike would be better suited for the longer commutes because you can count on better speed.
2. Stability. The City of Phoenix is in the middle of a major construction project, which just so happens to be taking place on the road that my office is on. So, until the Metro Light Rail is complete (Winter 2008!), there is a plethora of potholes, torn roads and construction materials just hanging around waiting to rip up a 700c x 23mm road tire. I prefer to have the peace of mind that my thicker tires, slime tubes, and front suspension will help prevent unnecessary flats. Finally, I feel that flat handlebars are a bit easier to manage than the drop bars of a road bike. I know that on a mountain bike setup, I can keep one hand on/near the brakes and use the other to signal a turn...
3. Joy. Let's face it, riding a bicycle is fun. If I were riding my road bike, I would be more tempted to feel like I was racing to get to work...and honestly, why would I ever need to do that?
   

You may notice that I do not have any racks or fenders... Once again, SIMPLE. I am planning on cramming all of my work clothes, "freshening-up" supplies, emergency gear, and my lunch into a backpack that I will carry on my shoulders. Many commuter bikes make use of racks and/or panniers (saddlebags) to carry objects. It's Phoenix, so I really don't have any need for fenders. I don't want to spend the dough - so I am making do with what I have. Perhaps I will feel differently in a month.

All things considered, I am ready to go. More importantly, my bike is ready to go. The tires were properly inflated. The mechanical parts were recently lubed, tuned, checked, greased, etc...

I have my emergency gear picked out and ready to pack:

• 2 extra tubes
• CO2 cartridges AND a small frame pump
• BRIGHT green, reflective rain jacket (just in case!)
• Cell phone and specific contacts at work
• Battery powered headlamp and blinking tail light (in case it gets too dark - at 4 pm?)
• Bike lock
  

I also recommend making sure that you carry some sort of "Emergency Card" with local first contacts, your blood type, name, address, home phone...and anything else you would want a medic or good Samaritan to know in case the unthinkable happens. It's one of those things that you HOPE you never have to need, but will be glad you have it if you ever do need it. Road ID makes some really convenient bracelets/anklets that you can engrave this info on.

That's all I can think of right now. I will be compiling a better guide at the end of the month that has all the essential info one would need before beginning to commute by bike.

Here's to bikes - and to the Velorution!