I wear regular clothes when I bike so I sometimes bring my helmet into a store to make it clear how I arrived. Yesterday I did this at UPS on Hennepin & an employee excitedly shared that she’s in her first season of winter biking. We had an awesome chat re: gear & tips that made my night. - ThreadSky

lauragmitchell.com • 94 days ago

I wear regular clothes when I bike so I sometimes bring my helmet into a store to make it clear how I arrived.

Yesterday I did this at UPS on Hennepin & an employee excitedly shared that she’s in her first season of winter biking.

We had an awesome chat re: gear & tips that made my night.

Comments

nickhasthoughts.com•94 days ago

random q but what rack are you using on the surly?

lauragmitchell.com•94 days ago

It’s a basic Topeak Explorer that fits my disc brakes and 650b wheels.

nickhasthoughts.com•94 days ago

thanks! I have a small front rack with a basket that's worked well but my office is making me take my laptop home so I need something a little more robust

lukewanderer.bsky.social•94 days ago

I know they don't work for everyone, but I prefer to carry my laptop in a backpack. Possibility?

nickhasthoughts.com•94 days ago

I've used a backpack and it's Fine but I don't like the weight on my back especially in hot months

nolanhahn.bsky.social•94 days ago

If you do need to stick with a backpack, my wife uses an Osprey day pack with hers that she likes since she's anti rack (too heavy). It has decent airflow built into it

somediplomat.bsky.social•94 days ago

Bold to go fender-less! I assume Minneapolis is similar, but Winnipeg’s freeze-thaw cycles make fenders a necessity for comfort.

lauragmitchell.com•94 days ago

I have quick install fenders on my winter bike. This Surly is brand new and not supposed to be my winter bike bc I’m trying to baby it, but we’ll see how that goes. ☺️ We only got like 1/2” of snow yesterday so I just rode this as things weren’t slushy or icy yet.

steveor.bsky.social•93 days ago

I bought a used Cannondale touring bike specifically for commuting in Chicago because I had to carry a suit in a pannier/garment bag. One winter I did the 20 mile ride each way (only a couple times a week) and I felt like Shackleton each time I arrived at my destination.

lauragmitchell.com•93 days ago

40 miles round trip of biking in the winter is wildly impressive! Most of my trips are 1-4 miles. 😆

steveor.bsky.social•93 days ago

It was a way of combining a dreary commute and staying in shape. It took a toll though. I was almost worthless as a dad that night and the next day if it was a weekday ride. By the spring it was just drudgery and I rarely biked in winter again because I hated going that far in darkness.

stephen.int42.org•94 days ago

My winter helmet is annoying take on and off, especially if I have my hair put up under it. So I usually just wear it inside for shorter stops and I always get some looks.

barturtle.bsky.social•94 days ago

I take mine off to mask up, then just pop it back on top unbuckled because it's the easiest way to carry it.

frankhudson.bsky.social•94 days ago

The pedal lights are a cool touch.

My winter bike got stolen when someone left my garage unlocked while I was off on a poetry research trip this summer. Mourned most the loss of years of getting a bike dialed-in “just right” from experience. 1st winter for the replacement.

lauragmitchell.com•94 days ago

Ugh, what a loss! I hope you can take some lessons learned from the first bike into dialing in this next one.

frankhudson.bsky.social•94 days ago

Yup. Lots of accessories to the new off-the-rack bike based on experience. Rack, basket, fenders, grips, bar mitts, pedals, seat, studded tires. 4th winter bike in a bit more than 40 years—at my age I thought I’d bought the last one.

lauragmitchell.com•94 days ago

I love all of the orange!

kuhlmatthew.bsky.social•94 days ago

Great thinking on the helmet as a conversation piece!

odduck.bsky.social•94 days ago

Love to see it. Sick bike too!

bettybarcode.bsky.social•94 days ago

I like the hi-viz bag. Who makes it?

lauragmitchell.com•94 days ago

North St bags… unfortunately they don’t make it in this material and color anymore! https://northstbags.com/products/gladstone-grocery-pannier

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