Commuting and the gear you choose to use can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it.
You could put all of you crap in a backpack and bundle up in your snow jacket and pants,tie up your boots and head off on your $100 dollar mountain bike.
Saddle up onto your Milwaukee Bruiser or Bianchi Pista with 16 inches of drop. Have your friends help you into your skinny jeans.Stick your gigantic U-Lock in your belt.Make sure your keys are fastened to your belt loop and have the proper jingle factor - something like Santa's Sleigh Bells- is acceptable. Now all you need to do is get your empty gigantic messenger bag and skid your way to class, blowing stop signs and red lights the whole way...Shakkah Bro.
I could go on and on and on about all the different set ups I have seen or used for commuting. The possiblities are endless, and I'm not knocking any of them, well...maybe I am, the ones where you carry all of your shit on your back. Not good, not fun to ride with and not good for your back.
I personally have been researching what gear I will use for commuting for about 3 months now. I know I am a peculiar type of cyclist, in the parlance of THE SNOB, I am something of a Retro Grouch,but I also believe in some new fangled idears like clipless shoes and pedals,rechargeable light systems, and SOME synthetic fibers.
For commuting in early spring, my clothing will consist of a mix and match of what I feel keeps me warm and comfortable, without sweating to death. We will start from the feet up.
- Specialized Tahoe Shoes, comfortable, spd compatible, multi function shoes. If I forget regular shoes, I could wear them at work. (Anyone who knows me knows that I like utility, meaning I want items to be useful for more than one thing).
- Depending on the temperature, Pearl Izumi Barrier Mtb Shoe Covers. The best, they go on easy and keep my feet warm.
- WOOL is real. Wool socks, usually KEEN, or Adidas.
- Padded Cycling Short, Pearl Izumi, Bontrager or Castelli. To keep me comfortable on my 50 mile round trip trek.
- Some sort of thermal tight or weather proof pant. Usually Bontrager. Again, weather dependant.
- Long sleeve base layer, for moisture wicking.
- Short or long sleeve jersey, temperature dependant
- Wind Barrier Vest, Wind Barrier Jacket, or Mega Warm Jacket. Temperature Dependant.HI VIS ALWAYS. Arcteryx, Bontrager,or LL Bean.
-Wool Hat.
- Helmet. Always. NO Exceptions, especially when Randall is speeding next to you in his F350.Rudy Project.
Bike that I will most likely use.
-Specialized Globe Haul, Size Large. Awesome Touring,Commuter,Country Bike.Has a rack built into the frame. Light built into the rack.Full aluminum fenders.
-WTB All Terrainasaurus 700x40 Tires. Awesome. I'm all about big tires.
-Shimano SPD Campus Pedals
-Bontrager Aluminum Bottle Cages,they hold water bottles. I dont care who makes them or what they are made of as long as they can do that.
-Bontrager Air Support Mini Pump.Emergency use only
-Nite Rider Mi-Newt Mini USB Headlight. Light, Simple,bright enough.
-Nite Rider Cherry Bomb Taillight, Two Taillights, just in case.
-Bontrager Handlebar Bag- Reflective, contains my cell phone,wallet,rain poncho,clif bar or fig newtons, map,led flashlight, pocket knife,and sunglasses.
-Bontrager Deluxe Trunk Bag.Reflective Taping. Holds my spare tubes, patch kit,tire levers,multi tool,any extra clothing I may need, my lunch, and a lock.
