Is your bike your only form of transport?

**Bonez** · 9th January 2007, 10:58

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

A
Visibility. Spray and crap being kicked up off the road is a pain - especially for those that wear glasses. Pledge (as in Johnson and Johnson wax) the visor before you go out - maybe once a week or when the crap starts to stick again. The rain beads up and runs off the visor so much better.

If you wear glasses - DON'T lift your visor. Water on the glasses combined with water on the visor makes 2x the visual impairment.

Even when cleaned the visor can mist up on those colder days, including the glasses, so lifting the visor a few mils usually gets rid of it.

**crashe** · 9th January 2007, 11:01

Disco Dan - The warehouse wet weather gear to keep you dry.......
(Yellow or dark green: Pants $8.83 and the jacket around $10)

I ride my bike 99.5% of the time.
The car only gets used a few times a year - twice to get a WOF and other times to transport a child around and to carry stuff that absolutly wont fit on the back of my bike.

Some have commented that they can't carry stuff on a bike....... Like hello!

Examples of what I have put on the back of my bike:
A old fashioned wooden high chair
A dehumidifier
A child's car seat.
A child's booster seat
A weed eater
A huge roll of curtain material
A spare tyre after it had been changed over (still had plenty of tread)
A huge box on the back
Camping gear
9 Painting sheets (thick bed covers and sheets) and painting gear
Carpenty tool box
Groceries (on back of bike and also in backpack)

All strapped onto the back of my bike... with no paniers bags at the time.
If I cant fit it on the back of the bike then and only then do I get the car out.

**Bonez** · 9th January 2007, 11:06

Originally Posted by crashe

Disco Dan - The warehouse wet weather gear to keep you dry.......
(Yellow or dark green: Pants $8.83 and the jacket around $10)

I ride my bike 99.5% of the time.
The car only gets used a few times a year - twice to get a WOF and other times to transport a child around and to carry stuff that absolutly wont fit on the back of my bike.

Some have commented that they can't carry stuff on a bike....... Like hello!

Examples of what I have put on the back of my bike:
A old fashioned wooden high chair
A dehumidifier
A child's car seat.
A child's booster seat
A weed eater
A huge roll of curtain material
A spare tyre after it had been changed over (still had plenty of tread)
A huge box on the back
Camping gear
9 Painting sheets (thick bed covers and sheets) and painting gear
Carpenty tool box
Groceries (on back of bike and also in backpack)

All strapped onto the back of my bike... with no paniers bags at the time.
If I cant fit it on the back of the bike then and only then do I get the car out.

Yes you can carry a fare bit on a bike but nowhere near as much in a car or ute.

Ever tried carrying a complete spare engine or parts bike?

Try it sometime.

**BUNGY** · 9th January 2007, 11:13

Yes. Being a poor student I cant afford to have both and dont really like driving a car anyway. That being said i can always use the bus on wet days and dont really need to transport anything that wont fit in a bag.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 9th January 2007, 11:17

Originally Posted by crashe

Examples of what I have put on the back of my bike:
A old fashioned wooden high chair
A dehumidifier
A child's car seat.
A child's booster seat
A weed eater
A huge roll of curtain material
A spare tyre after it had been changed over (still had plenty of tread)
A huge box on the back
Camping gear
9 Painting sheets (thick bed covers and sheets) and painting gear
Carpenty tool box
Groceries (on back of bike and also in backpack)

All strapped onto the back of my bike... with no paniers bags at the time.
If I cant fit it on the back of the bike then and only then do I get the car out.

I use to do Motorcycle Couriers and you would be supprised what I use to carry... from car mufflers, to computers and monitors... but most were documents they were a little easier... hehhehe and me and my flatmate at the time would both go grocery shopping on the bikes.... most of the time there was room for more if needed...

the only time we had to go back was because we went grocery shopping when we were starving... but when we got home we said shit... suppose we better go by some real food...

**MyGSXF:Me** · 9th January 2007, 11:24

Unfortunately my car is my main form of transport...

but being a solo parent with a 4 & 10 1/2 year old boys.. I have to use the cage.

The older one does come with me on the bike.. has done since he was 5!!

but the little one isn't too keen on the idea yet!!

(I spose I could always bungy him to the packrack....

)

**ZeroIndex** · 9th January 2007, 11:26

My bike was my only form of transport... I now have no transport, until I get a new bike

**Sparky Bills** · 9th January 2007, 11:30

Have commuted on the bike since i started full time work when i was 17years old!

Rain or shine!
Every winter, i think to myself... maybe i should sort out a car license

, but it never seems to happen!
Oh well, theres always this year.

**pervert** · 9th January 2007, 12:05

Originally Posted by bobsmith

I'd rather walk than take a bus.

Hahahaha same here.

The old 10 tonne loser cruiser...

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 9th January 2007, 12:10

Originally Posted by MyGSXF

(I spose I could always bungy him to the packrack....

)

Top Box, and the some foam and blankies...

he will be snuggly in there ...oh you do need breathing holes if twins you need the side panniers

**Disco Dan** · 9th January 2007, 12:11

Well I survived folks, the others in my class looked at me with respect and commented on how brave i was to ride in this weather etc etc... a few sniggers about being soaked etc... but was funny as I overtook them after class in their cars stuck in town traffic!! hehe... then slid on a big manhole for a metre or so... that was fun, it looked intentional as well!! hehe

Originally Posted by imdying

The guy that taught me to ride told me 'Always have a car, bikes aren't reliable enough to be you're only transport, some day you'll need to pickup parts, take fairings to the welders etc etc'. Bloody good advice I've found out over the years...

....but I prefer to take the woman about by car.

My women prefer the back of my bike! plus they are on constant "mute" - I cant hear sh*t.

But just get wacks when I start going the wrong way!

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

A tad cliche but there's no such thing as bad weather - only a lack of good gear.

Good point! I only found out my jacket was not completly waterproof the other week when I rode from south to west on the mway in a downpour!

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Riding along at speed, turn your head 90 degrees left, the 90 degrees right to clear your visor.

Make sure your gear's in a good nick. Nugget on the boots keeps water out, as does CRC silicone (901?) on gloves etc.

I think that's it...

DD... good gear really does make a big difference to riding in the rain. I got to work 100% dry this morning, Kumeu to downtown Auckland - 25kms. I know as a student it's not easy to buy a lot of good gear. I understand the bright yellow or black PVC stuff from the Warehouse does the job pretty well.

Excellent advice! Thanks! Yes I need to upgrade my gear a little I think. First purchase is going to be proper boots - as my old work boots just dont offer my ankles the support I feel safe with. Then a trip to the Wariwhare for a big jacket to will fit over my jacket! My overpants seem to be waterproof though. Just not long enough, and the bottom of my draggins get wet! As do my feet through the boots.

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I'll save my riding in the wind lecture for later...

awww... do tell!

---------

"Only transport" issue:

Im fortunate that I moved back home when I started University, not only to save money but also I have the use of my 17yrold sisters car! Im teaching her to drive so in return I can use it to pick up parts, go out partying all night etc etc

I had two cars and a bike at one point but I was in a high paid full time job then!

If I could afford to have a car I guess I would, as it is handy; but for the time being im a poor student and can barely afford to put gas in my bike now!! Hmm I guess I should get a job... my little 'own business' is too small and upredictable to sustain me!

**riffer** · 9th January 2007, 12:11

Strictly speaking, I only own a bike.

However, with 4 kids you need to have other transport, so the wife has an Odyssey, which I drive when we go out or need to shop or drop off kids.

But day to day, its the bike – rain, shine, hail or snow.

**riffer** · 9th January 2007, 12:13

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

My women prefer the back of my bike!

Wow - a collector!

Just how many do you have ...

**Keystone19** · 9th January 2007, 12:30

Originally Posted by NinjaNanna

I'll concede these points, I misunderstood your first post and thought it could be read as advocating finding where your limits are in the rain. I guess this wasn't what you were about.

Apology accepted...if you've seen me ride in the rain you'd know I ride like a nana...