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Six-foot-five Roger Kummert found a bike that fits, folds and and doesn't freak out security guards in the lobby. It's a Fixed Friday!
Rising gas prices, the need for physical activity to stay healthy, and a desire to be part of the solution for global warming has encouraged many folks to use their Fridays with buses, trains and ferries, whether commuting or traveling. Our mission at Green Gear Cycling/Bike Friday is to help more people do this. So here is an interesting story about Roger Kummert who takes it even further, and bought a Fixed Gear Friday to reduce his dependence on the NY subway. Here's how he does it on a Monday with Friday...
I became a bicycle commuter because I love to ride bikes. The side benefit of getting in some quality exercise while doing something I had to do anyway was a plus. Also being busy like everyone else, I could now be assured of getting in 20 miles of riding every day.
I began commuting in May 2006 and plan to make it a year round activity under the same guidelines as the Postman’s Oath which my local mail carrier seems to ignore.
Another reason I was interested in commuting was to remove my dependence on the New York City Subway System.
I have lived here almost twenty years and the subway is pretty dependable but after 9/11, a power failure and a transit strike I was finally motivated to take the plunge.
The next question was how to do it. I wasn’t going to ride my expensive Rivendell to the office and lock it up somewhere. The bike would get stolen, damaged or vandalized. I also didn’t want to park any other bike outside since it seems no matter what the quality of bike it could disappear. I spoke with building management and they were not going to allow me to bring the bike in the building. At this point I began to become discouraged.
I then began visiting websites dedicated to bicycle commuting and found some links to folding bicycle manufacturers. I continued my research by Googling folding bikes and began researching different models including Bike Friday. I kept coming back to Bike Friday because they claimed that the bikes performed as well as your best bike and they were custom built.
I then subscribed to the Yak and within weeks found a posting for a used Bike Friday that would fit me being 6’5”. It was a Pocket Rocket and rode really well. This was the bike I began riding in May.
As I rode that bike I was making mental notes of the things I did not like about it. The biggest was the fact that the bike would not take wide tires. Riding in New York City on thin tires with over 200 pounds on the bike I was finding that I needed to true the wheels on a weekly basis- never got a flat but still not the ideal situation.
Next I realized that I was not shifting much and didn’t really need all of those gears. Also folding the bike day-in day-out I was finding that I need to adjust the derailleurs frequently and I was always fiddling with things.
Finally fed up with all of this I contacted Walter Lapchynski at Bike Friday to put together the ultimate commuter. The reason I contacted Walter was for his expertise as the fixed gear guru. We discussed my needs and desires and I ended up ordering a fixed. I have a Phil Wood double fixed rear hub and 36 spoke wheels.
I have now been riding it for a month and love the bike. When I get to work I take the chain off of the front ring and fold and pack the bike into my bike bag in less than two minutes. This requires the removal of the front wheel which is no problem with the V-brake which I disengage. I then walk into the building and the security people are fine with it. They know it’s a bike but since it is in the bag it is okay.
What have I learned as a commuter?
• You do not need a shower at work. I keep a washcloth in my office which I wet in the bath room. I then go to my office and clean up a bit and get dressed in my suit and tie.
• Wool cycling clothing works better if you need to store your cycling gear in your workspace. I began riding with my high tech riding gear and noticed that even when using Fabreeze and Oust my office would sometimes smell a little funky. In the Rivendell Reader I had read many times about the advantages of wool. The biggest advantage being that it does not develop that funky locker room smell. Since switching to wool I no longer need to use the products mentioned earlier. Wool is also fine in hot weather I ride in every day (postman’s oath) even when it is in the 90’s. I currently wear cycling gear from Ibex and would highly recommend it to anyone.
• Fatter tires are not slower than the thin ones. I am faster on my fixed than I ever was on the Pocket Rocket. I have Schwalbe 1.5’s pumped up to 95 pounds. The ride is more comfortable and I no longer need to worry too much about pot holes.
• Panniers are better than a cool looking messenger bag or bulky backpack strapped to your back. I have inexpensive Detour bags which I keep garbage bags in to assure that I arrive at work with dry clothes on rainy days. Your back will thank you for this ... My beautiful Rivendell now sits most of the time under my stoop while most of my weekday riding is on the BF. Sunday rides continue on the Rivendell which is usually a 75 to 100 mile ride ...
Roger rides a Fixed gear Friday, increasingly popular (and/or cool) among urban cyclists. Some folks with muche mettle even tour on them! You can ride almost any bike as a commuter, but here is why Roger likes his 'fixie'.
WHY A FIXED FRIDAY?
On my fixed I only have a front brake and it is a dependable Shimano “V” type brake. For rear braking I just need to add resistance to the pedal revolution as the pedal begins to rise to add rear braking. In fact I usually don’t even use the front brake. I find that I can stop effectively without it and it also gives you a great workout. I do recommend having a brake for those times when you need to stop quickly. In fact I have read on some fixed gear websites that in certain areas it is required that you have at least one brake on a fixed gear bicycle.
I also find that having the brake I can ride faster than if I did not since I can use the brake if I do need to stop quickly. Since I only have one cable maintenance is also reduced. All of the bearings on my bike are sealed. Keep the chain lubed, keep the tires inflated and periodically check that all of the bolts are tight and you are done. This will be very important when riding in the fall and winter when New York gets more precipitation.
I also have time trial - also called bullhorn style - handlebars which are nice for commuting. If I keep my hands centered near the stem I am sitting up straighter and have a very comfortable position to cruise. When I reach out further on the bars near the brake levers I am more stretched out and can deal with headwinds effectively.
My pedals are dependable MKS touring pedals with toe clips and straps. I think that on a fixed it is advisable to be strapped to the pedals. It not only gives you more control but also makes sure that when you decide to go downhill really fast your feet remain planted to the pedals. Of course you can also use clip less pedals with cycling shoes but for me as a commuter I find it more convenient to use sneakers.
Walter talks about the Zen experience of riding a fixed. When you first start riding a fixed you will find it odd and for the first few days you will forget you cannot coast and the bike will remind you that you can’t very quickly. As you become accustomed to riding the fixed you really do begin to become one with the bike. You have a large degree of control and not thinking about shifting which includes thinking about the shift levers, the derailleurs, which gear should I shift to, should I shift up or down, should I shift to the big ring in front or down further in the rear and on and on…your mind is now free of these thoughts and you can ride.
The efficiency of a fixed gear is another plus. I ride a 52 (front chainring) X 14 (rear cog) which allows me to cruise along at between 16 and 20 mph very comfortably. I find that I pass most other riders, even the racer types on their carbon wonder bikes, as I leisurely cruise to or from work. Believe me passing the carbon bike riders is always fun and some of them find it so embarrassing that they need to speed up and pass you! Just think you are now assisting them in getting better workout!
Uphill the bike is also very efficient. You almost feel like the pedals are pushing you up the hill. Yes, you will be huffing and puffing when you get to the top but not being able to shift into a low hill gear is good for building up leg strength so that when you do ride your other geared bike you will be a stronger rider.
I am now in better shape than I was before I started commuting. When I do go out on longer rides I find that I am stronger and recovery afterward is much quicker. The environmental aspect for me is different since I rode on the subway. I know it continues to run even without me so I can’t really claim that I am saving energy. However I am saving $72 a month on subway fair. I am probably also saving money on medical expenses since I am keeping myself in good shape.
My advice to anyone considering commuting by bicycle is ... just do it!
For more information, follow this link http://www.bikefriday.com/commuting.