Commuting - gas savings vs. startup costs

[GLC1968]

I think the more expensive jackets have either more technical fabrics, more features or (unfortunately) a more popular label. A shell is basically a type of jacket. There are cycling jackets that have linings, but I've never owned one. I'd rather control what level of warmth I need with my clothing underneath the jacket.

Any shell/jacket should cut the wind (if it's not a knit material). I started with a $19 super thin shell from performance that I used over wool or polypro long sleeve shirts my first winter (I was in NC where 'cold' was in the 30's). The second year, I upgraded to a slightly more substantial jacket that had removeable sleeves. This gave me more temperature controlling options. This past year, I bought a more expensive Showers Pass rain jacket. It's actually bigger than my other jackets, so it gets worn when it's REALLY cold and I need lots of layers underneath. It's also waterproof (where my others are only water resistant), so it gets worn for real rain. Again, none of these have any type of warm lining.

There is one major advantage to cycling jackets over other windbreaking type shells (such as those worn for sailing or golf). Visibility. Every single one of my jackets has reflective piping and they are in bright colors. That's definitely a plus...particulalry in the dark winter! Running jackets would likely have some of those same features, so they could be good options as well.

Good luck on your hunt for the right clothing!

[HillSlugger]

You said that your daughters have afternoon soccer 4 days a week. Can you bike commute on the fifth day when there would be less time pressure on you? Commuting even only once a week is good for your body and the environment and will save car costs. I only commute once a week because I need my other mornings for swimming and running. Speaking of which, it's time to log off and bike home!

[GeoCam]

You said that your daughters have afternoon soccer 4 days a week. Can you bike commute on the fifth day when there would be less time pressure on you?

Yes! Plus, there might be occasional days like yesterday when for one reason or another, my chauffeuring services are not needed until a bit later and I have time to bike home. I really did enjoy it yesterday, so I'm hoping to have more opportunities.

[malkin]

It sounds like you are pretty determined, and if that's the case there's probably nothing that can stop you!

Doing something you love for yourself will be a great role model for your kids, although they probably won't know it until years from now.

[indigoiis]

I am not a single mom, but I am a divorced/re-married mom and my husband takes no part in the transportation of my daughter. So that was a huge barrier for me last year when trying to coordinate our schedules. What I ended up doing was doing a hybrid-commute. I would drive the truck (with bike in back) in to the park and ride, lock up the bike, get on the bus, go to work, come home, then leave the car and ride the bike home. Next morning I'd ride the bike to the truck, lock it up, and then in the evening, with my daughter, drive the truck home. The nights I didn't have her, I rode home, the nights I did, I drove home. It worked fairly well.

This year our schedule changed somewhat and she is actually riding some with me. As they get older, they can do that. It's cool!

I agree with the poster above who reasoned that there might be other moms or dads who can carpool your kids to practice and home.

Don't do it for the savings (although the savings are great) - do it for the awesome legs you're going to have next summer.

And all of my winter equipment was purchased at the Salvation Army thriftstore, and includes long socks with holes cut in the bottom (for armwarmers), an old wool sweater, a goretex jacket, a wool hat, and warm up pants to wear over bike shorts and under-armor (scored some at the SA thrift store - whoo hoo!) You don't want to wear too much cuz it does get sweaty. I wear hiking boots and have grippy bmx style pedals. I cut the neck off of an old lands end turtleneck and slip that over my head to pull up on my face on those really cold days.

Enjoy your winter commuting. One thing you might want to invest in is GOOD LIGHTS, and a helmet light. Be seen. A highway worker or construction worker vest is enough high-vis but you want to stand out as a flashing, moving, bright object.

[NbyNW]

It was still pretty chilly this spring when I started commuting and since I was still trying out the commuting thing, I just dove in the closet for things I had from other sports. Every now and then I'm sampling a new activity, so I like to have things that will work in multiple situations.

A base layer + lightweight fleece + a light rain shell was enought to keep me warm, although I was often a bit moist by the time I got to the office. For visibility, I wear a screaming yellow PI vest. My rain shell sticks out all funny under the vest, since it's not as fitted, but it gets the job done. Since I don't know whether I'll like winter commuting, I'll probably keep using this ensemble until I know how committed I am to it.

I figure I'll have to reach a certain level of discomfort with the weather and my current gear to know what I'll need or what will work for me.

Good luck with the schedule constraints!

[GeoCam]

This year our schedule changed somewhat and she is actually riding some with me. As they get older, they can do that. It's cool!

The girls do ride with me, but not for commuting. They both got new bikes this year. The 13 year old got an XXXS Giant FCR2, that is a really nice and lightweight bike with 650c wheels. (Actually so nice, I'm kinda jealous!) Got a great deal on an unused 2006 model on ebay. MSRP is $700 and I think I got it for $300 including shipping. My 11 year old was harder. She is so little (her new school jeans are size 7 Slim!!) that it is tough to fit her in a decent bike. LBS put her on a Gary Fisher and because of the frame geometry was able to get her on a bike with 24" wheels with decent gearing for the first time. It was also the lightest kid's mountain bike they had, although still not as light as I would have liked. There was nothing available that did not have at least front suspension, which we really don't need. She's still a long way from being tall enough to ride something like the Trek KDR1000. Her inseam is so short that the seat on this Gary Fisher is actually no higher than the top of the back tire. But what a difference that bike made for her! Up to then, her longest ride had been about 5 miles and whining most of the way. Our first time out with her new bike, she did 15 miles and not a peep out of her! She only weighs about 54 pounds and that old bike must have weighed close to 40 - can you imagine how hard that must have been!!

Tomorrow night the girls and I plan to ride in our LBS' annual moonlight ride - it's about 12-15 miles, mostly on the bike path, with food and live music on the parking lot after the ride. (Helmets and lights required!). I hope this infernal rain lets up.

And all of my winter equipment was purchased at the Salvation Army thriftstore, and includes long socks with holes cut in the bottom (for armwarmers), an old wool sweater, a goretex jacket, a wool hat, and warm up pants to wear over bike shorts and under-armor (scored some at the SA thrift store - whoo hoo!)

Wow, that is awesome!! I have visited both Goodwill and Salvation Army this week - waded through hundreds (maybe thousands??) of sweaters, many of which were, well, just icky, but found very little wool and didn't buy anything. I need some education here - is any kind of wool ok, or only merino wool? I did find some lambswool, but it seemed awfully heavy and scratchy. And I saw some things that were wool blends, but wasn't sure about that either. What about cashmere? 100% silk?

Thanks to all of you for the help and encouragement. I think I initially felt like I needed to justify the expenses by an offset of savings, but I realize it is just a good thing to do for many different reasons, whether there is a cost savings or not. I'm sure that those of you with kids will understand this - whenever there is a little $$ left over at the end of the month, it is so hard to spend that on myself. If we were a 2 income family, things would be a lot different for my kids, and I feel guilty about that sometimes. Being a single parent was something I chose to do and they would undoubtedly choose to have a dad if that were an option. Had I not made the choice I did, however, they could still be in orphanages halfway around the world, and I need to remember that when I get the guilties over what they don't have now.

[sfa]

I only manage to commute by bike just one or two days a week. Like you, it's schedule restraints that are the problem--in the summer I drive my DD to and from summer camp every day; in the school year I have after-school activities to get the kids to and meetings mid-day that I have to drive to, and two days a week are just impossible because my husband gets home from work at 8 a.m. and I have to be at work, 13 miles away, at 8:30. I wish I could commute more, but I try not to get too worked up about my limitations. These are the crazy years of my life, and it'll get better over time. When the colder weather hits, I'm going to try not to spend too much on expensive gear. I have a decent jacket, and I can layer that over some shirts and sweaters I already have. I'll need a hat to wear under my helmet, and something to keep my feet warm--I'm going to start with just wool socks there and see how I do. My biggest expense is going to be lights for my bike, but I think that's worth the investment.

One thing you might want to look into for getting your girls to soccer practice is carpooling. Carpooling is back in style--last year none of the kids in my daughter's Girl Scout troop carpooled, and this year *everyone* is in a carpool! I like it because there are fewer parents jamming the room at pickup. If you can find someone to take the girls to practice, then you can be the one to bring them home, so you'd have time to bike home from work then pick up the car to go the (presumably) shorter distance to practice.

Good luck!

Sarah