Utility Bicycling Thread

[MikeHL]

I commute to school (UofC) from the NE (Temple). I find the roads are ok, I mainly just stick to the roads and have to fight it out with the cars sometimes.

There are some assholes out there (mainly truck and SUV drivers ) but the majority of the drivers just want to get around you and get on their way.

[BumbleBeeCivic]

Originally posted by flipstah




Haha good call! That's what my co-worker suggested after I got booted off this morning. I will check out this El Boso bag and see where it goes from there!

The bike is 26 incher but it folds in half. (34 x 94 x 79 cm to be exact)

http://www.dahon.com/us/jack.htm

the Army Navy store sells an oversized hockey bag for cheap, maybe $15.

best of luck to you.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by BumbleBeeCivic


the Army Navy store sells an oversized hockey bag for cheap, maybe $15.

best of luck to you.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll check 'em out when I can.

[scary_perry]

I get to pass through Fish Creek on the way to work but only for a bit.

Our new office in Quarry Park = 15 km each way in the park (+ 5 km on road) during my commute.

[scary_perry]

Originally posted by flipstah


Thanks for the heads up! I'll check 'em out when I can.

Do you have a Dahon? I've read that stuffing one in a shoulder bag gets transit peeps off you bike. A hockey bag is a good idea.

I travel a lot and was thinking of getting one. You can modify a Samsonite clam case to fit the bikes so you can check it on a plane like normal luggage.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by scary_perry


Do you have a Dahon? I've read that stuffing one in a shoulder bag gets transit peeps off you bike. A hockey bag is a good idea.

I travel a lot and was thinking of getting one. You can modify a Samsonite clam case to fit the bikes so you can check it on a plane like normal luggage.

I have a Dahon Jack which is the full sized ones. The small wheeled ones are super small and can fit in an IKEA bag!

I'm still searching for the bag as those hockey bags are too slender to fit mine.

[scary_perry]

I have a Brodie Dynamo that I use to commute.

But I think I would rather have a fast Cross bike so I am going to sell the well-used Brodie.

[no_joke]

^^So how was the Dahon Jack over the summer time? Any luck with the bag and getting it on to a bus? Just bumped this thread because MEC sells a folding bike now but it's $800 smackers. As for no bikes on board a bus- I understand for a full-size bike but one that folds up should be fine. No more obstructive than a stroller or eight bags of groceries. Will Calgary ever get out of the 1960s?

[flipstah]

Originally posted by no_joke
^^So how was the Dahon Jack over the summer time? Any luck with the bag and getting it on to a bus? Just bumped this thread because MEC sells a folding bike now but it's $800 smackers. As for no bikes on board a bus- I understand for a full-size bike but one that folds up should be fine. No more obstructive than a stroller or eight bags of groceries. Will Calgary ever get out of the 1960s?

No. As expected, Calgary Transit is still stuck in the past and when I needed to, the bus driver wouldn't let me in, even when it was folded.

The bag was a no-go because the handlebars still stick out and I have to manually unscrew them in order to properly fit in the bag (it's a full-size folder so the handlebar doesn't fold.)

I still love it though because on trips, it fits just fine in the trunk. And it was comfortable to ride but I think I'm gonna upgrade the front gears so that it's a 21-speeder instead of a 7-speeder.

Is the MEC folder a full-size or one of those small-wheeled ones? I checked their site and couldn't find it but if it's a small-wheeled one, $800 is pretty steep.

[no_joke]

MEC link

20 in wheels so pretty dinky. Made by Dahon though. I get all my tools, tubes, etc from MEC because they're the cheapest and decent quality so I figured their bikes would be decent and cheap... but their bikes are pricey IMO.

[flipstah]

Does anybody know a custom bag maker? So that if I bring my bike in, the maker can create a nylon/some other tough fabric bag to quickly place my bike in?

New technology too from Dahon:

http://www.dahon.com/technology/dahon-axis-stem

It turns your handlebar 90 degrees so that it's streamlined! I NEED ONE!

[flipstah]

Great news! Folding bikes are now allowed in Calgary Transit!

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/loca...wed-on-transit

[Khyron]

As it should be - not much diff than a stroller.

My commute is 30km each way - made it to work in 53 mins (west wind!)

Home was wind and a bit of hail, but still 1:10.

[megavolt]

Been commuting to work for almost a year now - took the train downtown for a few months before buying a bike.

18km each way, depending on the wind it's 35-45min.

In the winter I was going halfway - drive to the park-n-ride across from Fox Hollow and ride from there. I tell ya winter riding is cool (pun intended).

About a month ago I found out there were showers in my company's other building so now I get a shower after my morning ride, much better than toweling down in the washroom.

Starting to think I should have bought a more expensive bike... I think this one's about had it - even with regular maintenance.

[phreezee]

25-26km commute to downtown.

Personal Bests:

00:41:02 minutes to work 36.2km/h avg

00:51:42 minutes to home 29.9km/h avg elevation gain 227m

[flipstah]

Originally posted by megavolt
Been commuting to work for almost a year now - took the train downtown for a few months before buying a bike.

18km each way, depending on the wind it's 35-45min.

In the winter I was going halfway - drive to the park-n-ride across from Fox Hollow and ride from there. I tell ya winter riding is cool (pun intended).

About a month ago I found out there were showers in my company's other building so now I get a shower after my morning ride, much better than toweling down in the washroom.

Starting to think I should have bought a more expensive bike... I think this one's about had it - even with regular maintenance.

Bump because I might steal your idea of going halfway... Unless someone knows a safe way to get to downtown from.the NE (redundant question, yes)

Im going to be based in downtown Calgary now and need to get rid of the site weight lol.

[msommers]

Where are you coming from in the NE?

[flipstah]

Originally posted by msommers
Where are you coming from in the NE?

Taradale

[msommers]

Holy crap. Where roughly in downtown?

[flipstah]

Originally posted by msommers
Holy crap. Where roughly in downtown?

Near the Calgary Tower. :-(