How strenuous is an hour bike ride to work? Is it a good idea? Assume I'm slightly above the average male, fitness wise. Also, is this a good commute for a bike you can find at Walmart? What tools should have at hand as a new biker?I'm looking at a job that's an hour away (according to Google maps) via bike ride. My shift would end at 11pm, which sucks for a biker, but I have to take any opportunity at this point. I made a similar thread before, but I just want to get different perspectives since it's starting to look like a reality
>>34449423Picrel is not mine. Just a random bike image
>>34449423You already posted this and got very good answers. Suck me!https://archive.4plebs.org/adv/thread/34304681/#34304681
>>34449423Just get or rent one of those electric scooter things. Seriously.
>>34449435Yeah I might re sift through that thread. I was wondering if an hour was better than an hour and 30... Obviously yeah, but I wonder if that's normal
>>34449423>How strenuous is an hour bike ride to work?Go ride your bike for an hour and find out.
>>34449423Biking is mostly mental fortitude. Physically it's not as demanding as the mental aspect. I always hit a point about 20 minutes in when my legs are burning and my head is pounding wondering why the fuck I'm doing this. If you get past that it becomes easy. When you get to work you will be sweaty so they will need a shower, or you could towel down and change to a new set of clothes in the washroom. Counter intuitively I found I had a lot more energy after biking in in the mornings. At the end of the day, the reverse is true. You will be drained from the job, physically and mentally, which is dangerous because you may not be thinking as well. I would also advise you to never ride on busy roads or highways.Your biggest problem will be getting a flat and having to put a new tube in then being late for work. It shouldn't happen often, maybe once a season, two if you're unlucky or bought cheap chink tubes. You can ride on the rims but this can fuck up the bike and can be dangerous as well. You may want to practice putting a new tube in before you get a flat, but it's not really complicated, just a pain in the ass. Also another thing you can expect, your legs will get really fucking strong after only a few months.>What tools should have at hand as a new biker?You should always carry a spare tube, tire levers, a hand pump, and a compact bike tool. t. rode to work and back every day for one summer 13 years ago
>>34449934Do you think a bike from Walmart will be enough for my trek? Besides the obvious, how dangerous is riding home at 11p-12a for an hour?
>>34449951I don't know, I bought a decent bike from an actual bike store and I still ride it today although I've had to replace the pedals, brake pads and about 15 tubes over the years. I don't ride it nearly as much anymore, only maybe 6 times a year recently. This is the modern model of what I have: https://en-ca.konaworld.com/products/dewIf you're riding home late I'd advise reflector gear and a headlight. I never rode much in the dark, just when I was first learning to ride again as an adult because I didn't want people to see me. I would again emphasize not to ride on any busy road, you'll end up dead or maimed and the person in the car probably won't even stop to help you.
>>34449963800 fucking dollars? Is this thing made of gold? For two wheels and a fucking seat? No wonder I've only ever seen white cyclists. I can get a used car for 150% more on FB marketplace and it'll have infinitely more usability than that. But I suppose I don't have a licence or know how to drive a car...
>>34450076Those prices are in Canadian. In 2013 I bought it new for $500 CAD. The equivalent price to commute to work on a bus was $80 a month. By the time fall had rolled around it had paid for itself and was essentially free.
>>34450154Yeah, it equals about 600 usd. That's better, I suppose. Whether I choose to bike, take the bus, or ride Uber, it's all a temporary thing until I learn to drive, get my license, and buy a car second hand. I assume you've done just about all of them, so which do you recommend I invest my money into? I have 3k saved up right now, and I'm fixing to switch to a full time job before I'm on my own and have to find a way to work. I'm looking to move into an income based apartment, if it that matters at all
>>34450277I don't know, not enough info. If you're young I'd recommend living with parents if possible, get a full time job and just save everything you can. Get your license and a beater car to open up more jobs you can travel to. Hard for me to give life advice, I'm probably 20 years older than you. When I was in my early 20s I rented a 2bedroom in a nice area for $650. The world was actually affordable then but shit is much different now.
>>34450420The problem is, I feel like I'm very close to ruining my life if I continue living with my family. If I could stomach living with them for another year, I'd focus on getting a car and a license, but I'm trying to strike while the iron is hot, and right now this seems like a good time to get away from her. I just need to put the pieces together. I appreciate your help so far. I'll see if I can get some help regarding what I should be investing my money into short term
>>34449495Looking into e bikes, this is probably my best bet
>>34449423Do not shift under load and use tire slime. There’s nothing crazy about what you are considering. Walmart shit is fine. Learn some bicycle mechanics and you can probably adjust in better quality.
