A reporter in Colorado is giving bicycle commuting a try and learning a lot in the process. One upshot here: There’s no substitute for good equipment. I carry a backpack whenever I bike (light, rip-stop nylon). It contains: a good rain suit (the kind tournament bass fishermen use), small tool set, knife, pump, patch kit, detachable lights, and a DV camera.
The St. Paul Pioneer-Press covers the sweating issue. You get some good advice here. The best advice is: slow down. Obviously, on a humid summer day in 90s you’re going to sweat doing just about anything. A human on a bike, however, is one of the most efficient moving machines. Going slow, coasting when possible, and wearing light clothing will get you through all but the most blistering days. Springfield, Missouri can be terribly hot and humid in the summer. I manage to get around town without sweating too much. And by “too much” I mean sweating enough to be offensive.
Canadian HR Reporter says some companies help employees relieve the stress of commuting because it is good for the bottom line; it improves wellness.
Comments 3
Good idea re: backpack. I carry one as needed, but then again I am not commuting from A to B like you are, yet.
[...]and a DV camera
Por que why? In case you need to document the atrocities or something? (As opposed to a digital still camera.) I’d be too paranoid about losing/damaging my camera, but try to remember my cell phone when biking just in case.
Obviously, on a humid summer day in 90s you’re going to sweat doing just about anything. A human on a bike, however, is one of the most efficient moving machines. Going slow, coasting when possible, and wearing light clothing will get you through all but the most blistering days.
I contend that turkeys bake just fine sitting still in the oven (grin), but one key point that air conditioning/driving deprives us of is the ability to cope with higher temperatures naturally, and most importantly (to me), appreciate shade and a cool breeze. I am pushing 40, and haven’t really appreciated shade/breezes since I was in my teens, probably. Sure took me back when I felt that brief relief that a breeze brings. Beats the “backlash” wind from passing semis. Or garbage trucks.
Posted 19 Aug 2008 at 12:06 pm ¶Ethan… The DV really has nothing to do with biking except that I’m ready to document anything I encounter. The one I carry is a very cheap model made by Aiptek. It records video, stills, and .mp3. So I’m ready for anything
re: turkey
I hammer on the whole sweating thing simply as a way to promote the idea of slowing down. I think you may be right about acclimation. I hadn’t thought of that.
Posted 19 Aug 2008 at 1:54 pm ¶BTW, I took my bike out recently for a joyride around my subdivision (it’s 2 miles back to front, more so side to side – welcome to Texas) and did notice that slow, easy biking meant less sweating. As mentioned in an earlier comment, I usually jack the gears + resistance way up so I get more of a workout while biking, except any sort of upward incline is really, really grueling. Tour De Anything bikers will laugh in my general direction, but sheesh. Lowering the resistance knob has helped tremendously.
Posted 19 Aug 2008 at 7:29 pm ¶