10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Bike Commuting
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- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
- These tips are things i came to realize during 15 years of bike commuting. I hope they can be of help to you. Please let me know in the comments. Twp monts ago I joined Team #cryo-gen on Zwift so I am looking forward to show you some races soon.
#bikecommute #bikecommuting #commuting
Strava: Barry van Jaarsveld
athletenatural.blogspot: athletenatural.blogspot.com/20...
Komoot: Barry VJ
Who the heck is Barry? I am a ex- elite triathlete and started riding in 1984. In real life I am a chiropractor.
This channel is about cycling and health. I also build my own bikes which can be a risky business as actually i am a chiropractor.
Born and bread in South Africa, riding my bike in The Netherlands is one journey of discovery as it's so beautiful. I race mountain bike marathons and will soon be doing my first gravel race.
I raced as a triathlete in South Africa and the United States of America and was on the South African Triathlon Invitation Team 1989.
Currently i am racing the Sforz MTB Cup in the Netherlands and Germany. I finished in 4th place in my age-group in 2017 and 2018 - 50+
Thank you for watching my channel.
Cheers - Спорт
I always use kevlar tyres, they almost never puncture. Personally I never had a puncture with them. Gives me great peace of mind.
Thanx for the tip Hans. I wil surely look into it. Which one do you actually use?
@@Barryridesbikes I went to check, all I can make out is "CTX". Very hard to read it. I'm not an expert at all, personally I would go have a chat at a reputable store. As I remember it, they said there are two types: one is puncture resistant, the other is meant as a replacement outer tyre and has kevlar on the sides to keep it flexible. But again, don't take my word for it, consult a professional or do some research. They are a bit heavier and have some higher resistance so it's not for racing. I don't find it noticeable in daily life.
@HansVanIngelgom Thank you Hans. I will check it out. Much appreciated.
Great video Barry, never actually thought about air quality - it's a eye opener!
Johnny it's just a thought. I am so sure it's bad for our health whilst many riders think they are commuting for their health.
@@BarryridesbikesThe good (or sad?) thing is that even riding directly in car traffic, the air a cyclist breathes is still better than that of a person sitting in a car or in public transport. (probably because air intakes for cabin ventilation sit low, typically at the base of the windscreen, and cabin air filters can only remove a small part of the pollution).
So do not let traffic and car exhaust deter you from riding a bike... it's still better for your health than driving a car!
Still, your advice to take a small detour to ride on nicer roads/paths and through nature is valid and valuable. It may take a few minutes more, but if it makes the commute more enjoyable, that is almost always worth it.
Great video and tips!
Thanx boet #2oceans
Lekka boet! I'm moving to the UK soon and looking forward to (hopefully) better behaved drivers. South Africans have lost the plot, okes aren't even stopping at red robots these days - kak story!
Lekka Greg. I am not sure if the UK is better. I live in the Netherlands and it is quite ok. Funny - South Africans have lost the plot. Don't forget we have KAK weather here...9 months of it😁
@@Barryridesbikes Ha Ha 9 months...so true
10:54 that was a close one! 😅
Yeh it was mate. Some people can drive you nuts. No respect 🙃
Great Video! My tips: get a horn (electrical from Amazon like €20), be more visible than required by law (stickers, 2 rear lights, reflective vest), AirTag your bike (feels a lot safer), profile tires for winter (Schwalbe g one bite for my gravel bike, marathon for race bike). I still have trouble with gloves in winter, most are too cold, Neopren are sweaty after a few minutes and skigloves can’t feel enough. I now usually start with neoprene and switch to wool after some time but it means having to fill my toptube. Does anyone have a better tip?
Great tips thank you. I try to ride without gloves for 12 minutes - very painful sometimes. I've noticed my hands start warming themselves up after 12 min. Then I put running gloves on fron Nike. If it's under 4 celcius nothing keeps the hands warm I find.
I have 44m tyres with profile. I could use even more lights...thanx for finding it a great video.
You could try one of the Bar Mitts type pogo handlebars hand protectors. Apparently many commuters swear by them.
Thanx for the tip. I will look into it.
@@Barryridesbikes Not for the roadie who may be purist about keeping their bike minimalist.
I'm very impure and maximalist. Two motorbike style mirrors for your handlebars for safety. More reliable than any technology and ten bucks or less from Amazon. A rear rack for carrying your stuff. Although my bike generally looks like I'm off on a world tour! An upper face shield or visor to protect your eyes in cold wet weather. I wear glasses but I prefer the extra protection. Thankfully I've never got a red eye. A long peaked hat to keep the rain off my glasses/visor. A permanent very bright flashing light on the front day and night plus another good main headlight for night time. I have two 150-200 lumens always on the back plus another on the back of my helmet. Plus spares in case of battery failure, loss, theft.....? Hi-vis vest always. And always a good idea to carry a few pairs of disposable mechanics gloves in case you do need to get your hands dirty and wet especially in cold weather. Actually I found after reading it as a tip latex gloves worn under outer gloves help keep your hands warmer too.
And my final tip is to buy yourself a fairly cheap older car for those times when the weather is just too bad or your body is just not up to it. And everything else when necessary. Yes it will cost you extra €€€€'s but I'm a morally flexible idealist. Granted, I live in a rural area of Ireland and if the side roads were icy I wouldn't risk 6-8 weeks recovering from something broken and other less dramatic reasons. Or excuses if you prefer.
Keep riding safely though guy.
@tconnolly9820 wow riding in Ireland seems auiye harsh. I was there in june and broke my ribs on the MTB :( The narrow roads with hedges, I can imagine you are all safety. I tried the latex gloves under my normal gloves...did not work for me. But I do have them for a mechanical. How far do you commute? I might move to 🇮🇪 next year August from the Netherlands.
I ride my bike almost every day. I don't ride to far. 5 miles the most so far.
Hi Eddie. 5 miles is great specially if you are riding every day. Keep at it. Cheers
5miles twice a day, 220 working days a year still add up to 3540km a year. Most normal people (i.e. those not obsessed with cycling training) would quantify that as "a lot".
Keep doing it!
@@turboseize 3540 km is pretty good for sure.
Do you use radar??? Do you have blinkers yor the sides of bike not just rear???
Yes I use radar but no side lightning. That does seem to be a good idea. I used a light on my helmet but don't have it on now. Should do that again.