Your online guide to everything bike is at http://sheldonbrown.com

Thanks Wobbly, Yep I dare say the men would be rare at that first link lol.
Thanks for the other one. I should be able to do it myself.

Saw this on the net.

Seems UK Government are helping promote cycling to work.

Tax free bikes for commuting with Evans Cycles Ride2Work programme!

Did you know that a Government scheme exists that can save you around 50% off the cost of a new bike?*

It's called the Green Transport Plan, and it aims to make cycling more attractive and more accessible by taking advantage of some unique tax incentives.

Evans Cycles have developed the Ride2Work programme to help you take advantage of the benefits of the Green Transport Plan. Through the Evans Cycles Ride2Work programme we can supply bikes via your employer with massive savings!


http://www.evanscycles.com/ride2work.jsp

I finally braved the move from walking to biking to get to work this year. I grew up in a place that is flat flat flat, but I live in a very hilly place now, so I'd always been nervous about cycling. Turns out I love it. But now there's snow on the ground, and despite the fact that I know I could winterize my bike, I'm not going to. This year, anyway.

My 8k commute takes 20-25km to work (depending on the wind) and 30-35 min home (home is more uphill than downhill). The city I live in is pretty low density, so driving would only take me 7-10 minutes. Walking takes me around an hour.

I don't bother showering when I get in... I shower at home before I leave. I get there early, make a cup of coffee, check my email... when I've stopped sweating, I put clean clothes on. It's possible my coworkers find me offensive, but they've never said anything. So, either I don't stink, or they're afraid of me, but it hardly matters which...

doesn't it matter that your coworkers may be afraid of you?

no... it would be a definite advantage where I work...

Be careful out there fellow cycle commuters!

Got knocked off my bike for the second time in 6 months by a car yesterday riding home from work. The p***k did a runner after he stopped for a split second and nearly ran me over as I lay on the road.

Luckily he missed and I was OK. A nice bloke helped me to get home. Spent 2 hours at the cop station this morning; luckily I got the number plate, plus I have paint from his car on my bike. Some very bad Karma is heading his way.

Both times I was riding along in a bike lane and a car has come out of sidestreets and ploughed into me. The first time I went to hospital but at least the guy who did it stopped and helped me.

I ride defensively and assume all car drivers are incompetent. I can accept getting knocked over accidently but when the person does a runner, not knowing whether you are under the wheel or not, thats just not f#$kin on!


Ride safe everyone.

Just good to hear you're okay Cakeboy

make sure to keep us updated.

I'm interested in how the Adelaide PD handle it.
Here in Melbourne the weekend "Hellriders" cycle maniacs tar the commuters and there is a distinct lack of respect for cyclists.

Gee cakeboy - sorry to hear that. Pretty good of you to take in the rego number considering that you were just knocked off your bike. Where were you? I started this thread as I want to ride from Morphett Vale to Thebarton at least once a week. I'm all set to have the first run on the 2nd Jan when I start back at work. When I first looked I thought my route was covered by bike tracks, but now realise that only some sections of South Road have a bike track. And hearing your story, and others, I'm not sure whether it's a good idea really. I can't believe twice in six months!

Harvey998, I've been riding to/from work pretty much every day since May and never had a single incident.

Both times on Diagonal Road, near Glenelg. I normally cut through to the coast and avoid the main roads, bit was in a hurry yesterday..I only got his number because I was lying on my front facing the way he was speeding off to. I normally can't remember numbers but I was pretty determined to nail the SOB.

You'd be lucky to find a route through without being on a major road for at least a short time. I'd keep well away from Sth Rd simply because it is so narrow and is full of trucks. Marion Rd may be better.

edit: before this, I rode for 6 years everyday without any problems. Just an unlucky year...
Cheers Dave

Gee Cakeboy, glad your ok. I'm sitting here looking at my bike thinking about your accident! I haven't been on it lately it's been so hectic with Chrissie coming up and the driver's on the road have been nuts!
I have had a couple of close calls but still keen to get back out there.
Stay safe.

How do you get your clothes to work?

I've been cycling to work for over a year now but recently have changed jobs so I haven't cycled for the first few weeks until I sus things out.

I used to have my own office and little wardrobe/cupboard of my own where I could hang up my work clothes. I would either bring clothes that didn't crush much, or wear a shirt slightly crushed from the commute, or come in on the weekend and drop off a heap of clothes in the cupboard.
In my new workplace I need to keep a slightly snappier image (at least until I get promoted), so that usually means starched business shirts.

The facilities at my new workplace are quite pathetic considering it's a state government building who employs hundreds, possibly thousands of people. There looked to be about 50 or so bicycles in the carpark (the designated bicycle area was jam packed so people had to leave their bikes elsewhere). The ladies change facilities consists of a very small area with two showers and two lockers.
It looks like I'll have to leave my clothes hanging on a hook in there and hope for the best.

Just wondering how most of you get your work clothes there without them getting all crushed?
I thought about taking a bus one day a week and bringing in a heap of clothes in one of those suit bags (would be quite heavy though). Alternatively I thought I could try different methods of carrying them in my panniers... I've heard that rolling them is more effective than folding?

Any suggestions?

I usually get my clothes cleaned near my workplace and collect them on the monday and have them hanging in my office.

I just roll mine up and stick them in my backpack.

But I've been carefully cultivating a crumpled look over the last few years, so noone thinks anything of it

Working in a software R&D team probably helps though...
--Toby

One day a week I drive into work. I take clean clothes in with me on those days & bring used ones home. I have a locker at work in my area - otherwise I would just store them in a box or on a shelf. Also I take in a bag of provisions (heaps of bread, fruit, yogurts, food & more food) when I drive in. I only take a small bum bag with me on teh bike, with my wallet, my diary, my glasses, my mobile in it.
You just have to be organised.

I carry my clothes in every day. Although I fold mine neatly, as opposed to rolled up. I find that if you're careful, there's nothing to show that the clothes aren't fresh off the rack.

I just chuck them in my pannier every day but I work in a jeans and t-shirt environment so it doesn't matter. Last year, when I was wearing business shirts I would always have a spare shirt hanging up at work. So, each day I would bring a shirt in, hang it up and put on the one I brought in yesterday, the idea being that the creases would fall out during the day. Seemed to work okay.

I had been riding to work until last Monday when i went to get the bike and it was gone!!!!!!

I was carrying my clothing in the back pack and it would settle not long after i put them on.Id leave my shoes at work, along with shower stuff.

I just loved riding to work and carn't wait to get back into it.Waiting for the insurance to come through.

You sure Horrie didn't hide it? Doesn't want a triathlete in the family

Not sure where you are riding to. You should enquire with BNSW about a bike lockers. Very cheap monthly rate and secure. I have used one in Western sydney last 8 months and no problems. Hope this helps.
http://www.bicyclensw.org.au/LockerLocations.asp
http://www.bicyclensw.org.au/LockerRent.asp

Edited for clarity.

Thomo, I wouldn't dare hide BlueBel's bike. When she is riding, she is very happy. Since the bike's been gonesky, she has been like a bear with a sore head. So I will be very happy again when she gets her new bike.

I also have nothing against triathletes. A lot of my friends are triathletes. I may cross over to Ironman in 2009 myself.

I have been riding to work a couple of times a week for the last year, just sort of folding/rolling my uniform into my backpack and doing the hoping the creases will settle through the day thing!
Well today was the first time a colleague asked me if I forgot to iron my clothes. I told the truth, I am a really crap ironer and very rarely iron anything! Maybe I should start dropping some clothes in to hang up in my locker!

That is what a friend use to do. One day a week he would bring in his work clothes for the week. He was in middle management so had to look at least the goods