I bike commuted 14 miles each way for about 16 years. I stopped when I switched careers and moved about 4 years ago. But I started again today with a new bike and a 10 mile ride to work and gonna get back to it! So excited.. It really is great feeling to wake up and not sit in a car.😀 Thanks for the vid
Adding fenders and a rack changed my life. It's amazing how much crap the fenders keep off your bike, and riding with paniers/a basket and not needing a backpack made my commute significantly more comfortable.
Absolutely! The backpack was killing my back, I switched to panniers, added mudguards AND a comfortable saddle and they transformed my daily 20 mile daily commute. However, commuting to work each day I find that I do NOT want to go out as often on weekends to sightsee/touring.
Same here. Most days, I'd be carrying between 10 and 16 pounds on my back and shoulders. So I bought a rack and secured a milk crate to it with some zip ties. Works great.
I always take the longer safer way if there is one, it only takes a second for some idiot in a car / bus / lorry to ruin your life, I know from personal experience , 23 years ago a car knocked me off and drove off leaving me with brocken cheek bone , head injury and nearly lost my right eye, never been right since with poor balance , head aches all the time and justmnot feeling great ... Be safe if you can , it's really not worth the risk just for the sake of mixing it up.
The outcome you experienced is what I fear more than anything, especially in a town (Baltimore) where traffic laws aren't obeyed, and people are self-centered and distracted behind the wheel. In response, I, too, have been making an art of designing routes that are not heavily traveled, and they're longer than the shortest possible commutes, which are fraught with danger. Get well soon!
I know many will laugh at this idea, but when I commute in heavy rain on my “adventure bike” complete with mudguards ( “fenders” in the US!), I use a large poncho! Got the idea from a book called “Just Ride” by Grant Petersen. Besides keeping you dry, it also keeps quite a bit of the bike dry. In hot, muggy weather, just a quick lift up when stopped at traffic lights does the trick. In fact, I get less sweaty than when wearing a rain jacket. It cost under 2,000 yen (about $20) from amazon. Also comes in handy for hiking!
I was riding everyday 20-30 miles except the weekends here in Okinawa(weekends are family time). But I had an Afib attack out of the blue in February. Love watching your videos. Hope to be back on my bike next week after 7 months and a surgery later.
I use my old touring bike (Raliegh Sojourn) as my more than 10 mile commuter, and I have a brompton P6RD for anything under. The sojourn has taken a beating over the past 4 years, but when the weather gets bad I just wash her once I get home. The brompton's internal gearhub is rock solid and the most adjustment it's needed in the past year was a couple turns on the cable housing. The biggest change in my life since starting cycling commuting 30km each way is that I've stopped doing a lot of the extraneous hobbies that I had (gaming mostly) because the extra time it takes over driving has made me prioritize my time more.
Wow, Cruise. I just bought a 1.2k usd roadbike to commute, selling my old urban bike that gave me 0 issues. And now you tell how bad of an idea that was. Im about to cry.
@@davidmora2241 I'm a bit of a maniac when it comes to cleaning my bike and chain. I use WD-40 for the frame, it makes it waterproof for about 2-3 days. It is extremely volatile won't last much. Also, I clean and lube the chain and every week. I haven't notice any wear this last 6 months and I ride 40k every day.
I've been commuting for a couple decades. You're a lot younger and more gifted on the bike than I ever was. I'll be interested in your 5 or 10 year impressions. I'd like to think I've got my junk dialed, but I am always looking to learn. Interesting to see the traffic enforcement issues in Japan vs. the USA. I blow stop signs and red lights without breaking cadence... as long as there are no cars around.
Congrats on the first 6 months! Well I guess about a year now! Oh man, so, so many points I can relate to with this lol! I started riding 30 km to work 5 years ago in may, and I went through so much of this journey. I too had been super into biked for years always with short commutes, and planned to build the ultimate commuter, and faced the drop off in recreational cycling (I actually sold my MTB in my first year of commuting because I no longer could be bothered to throw it in the ute and drive out to the trails after riding all week. My lessons learned don't sound that inspirational I guess ... but they were hard learned and have massively improved my enjoyment of cycling. First I learnt the ultimate commuter is really a bike that can take all the abuse in the world and is easy to repair ... I guess in Japan that would mean JIS everything lol. Yeah, when I sold my MTB, I was totally set on this cool fast, light commuter built - I wasn't going to be one of those guys who rides in their work clothes on a 20 year old hybrid, no sir, I was a proper cyclist. Fuck that. I bought a $500 hybrid and it was the second best decission I made. It's comfortable, well made and hard wearing. It's a workhorse. Second I started off going to ride my near 70kms every day ... yeah nah. I now ride to a train station in the morning and hop on a train for 4 stops lol. I also bought an e-bike kit. So now I ride an e-bike modded hybrid bike and get the train 2/3 of the way in the morning and just ride home at night. I only ride 40kms total instear of near 70 and it's power assisted ... 5 year ago me would be appalled lol. But... you know what? I don't get home tired, I enjoy riding with a couple of friends on the weekend, and sometimes when it's been a nice summer evening I've even gotten home at 6, and had dinner and then had a ride on my fun bike at 8 lol. Also the ebike makes it SO much faster and more pracctical. I don't know if any of that means anything to you other than I got old and lame, but it's what I learned, hope it helps! And no .. I didn't become the guy that cycles in his work clothes lol ... but ... there's a lot of hiking gear rather than cycling gear at times of the year now.
If you have the space and money, having a couple of different bikes designated for different weather is a good tip. I have a dry weather bike, a rainy day bike and a winter bike. The last one have have studded tires on it all year, so it's ready whenever the snow falls.
I used to ride in the rain with an internal hub but the maintenance was so difficult and took too much time to do it. I had to choose and a normal gear easy to repair was the first choice, I never regret it for
After commuting daily for a while and i am now so used to it that if i take the buss for some practical reason i instantly regret not making a more effort to be able to use my bike regardless of rain or snow. Oh and most likely il end up in Japan for a couple of weeks next year for bike packing. Cant wait!
I strongly recommend a gravel bike for the snow. Ride here in canada every winter. Get a winter specific front tire at least (if the back slips you can recover but it's dicier if the front slips). I use the Continental Top Contact 2 winter tire up front. You CAN run slicks on the back but I strongly recommend a crossbiking pattern, maybe something made for mud. Mtbs unless we're talking a 29er get too bogged down in heavy snow. 700c tires can be wide enough for grip while cutting through snow. Fat bikes are tanks but sloooooooooow. Also drop bars keep your weight balanced more to the center of the bike instead of to the rear
Steel is the way to go. Easy cleaning and can take a beating. For some reason, i fell in love with the 9 speed system era ... either campy chorus or shimano ultegra (dura-ace is overkill for commuting). Found an old italian frame on ebay for dirt cheap and it became one of my favorite bike. Sure, the paint is chipped everywhere, i've put stickers here and there but it becomes a bike that you can relate to you ... as it follows you everyday (and doesnt shine too much for those bike thieves) . Mine is an old 1983 guerciotti, i had to manually extend the rear axis to fit some newer generation wheels. Nothing fancy, like old campy neutrons from 2007. Everytime i sit on this bike, it feels like its part of my body and functions as an organ on its own. To each their own, i've been commuting with mine for 12 years now and still going strong ... and to think the frame is 36 years old lol.
9 speed era was great. Campagnolo from that time is impossible to kill... my current chain has over 8000km and still isn't worn. (Or maybe I'm to weak?)
I use my charge plug for my commute, no beating of my road bike that way. It's a strong workhorse and just set the ratio to suit how you want to ride. Everyone's different but I agree in not wanting to get lazy with maintaining your main and expensive bike. My cleaning and maintenance is like a ritual now as I notice every sound change on my bikes
It is not advisable to eat right before a ride, unless it is some easy to digest simple carbs. This is because protein and other foods compete with your stomach for blood flow. The "protein" after your ride is a great recovery implementation. Shakes work faster(you could use before the ride) but are not really necessary. In your commute you are really putting the base miles down. You would probably only need interval training every other weekend to keep sharp.
I rode my carbon road bike (Kuota Kharma) in Paris (glass, cobbles and all that jazz) as a bike messenger for 1,5 years, 80 km a day 5 days a week. I put old tubes around key parts of the frame to protect from damage fro locking and unlocking about 40 times a day. Also rode in rain and snow. I never cleaned the bike (unless I was changing the chain or cassette due to wear and took the chance to give the bike a clean). I honestly don't know what "damage" you are talijg about, the bike is still fine as of today (even if I have bought a Orbea Terra and don't use it much anymore. Now I live in Barcelona and I commute 27km each way regularly with the Terra with road wheels and gp 4000 sII tires (I cannot do it everyday because of a mixture of time constraints and physical problems). I still don't think that the bike suffers much because of the commute. Of course it will need more maintenance and parts replacement that a barely used bike (or riding long routes where you don't have to brake all the time like in most commutes) but that's it, more use = more maintenance cost but nothing too bad.
I agree. I was looking for this comment. Lol. Whether someone rides 100 miles on the weekend or 20 miles each day for fives days, it's still 100 miles. Commuter miles aren't any different. Lol
Go Fixed. I ride a custom titanium, not cheap, and it looks as good today as the day I built it up. 40miles in, 20miles home all year round in the UK. The components, chain (~6K miles), sprocket (~12K miles), chain ring (~24K miles), wheels (~50K miles), brakes (only run a front) last way longer. Keeping it clean is a lot simpler, I wipe down with a baby wipe after every ride. Running fenders is also a must. Cleaning the drive chain is also a lot easier, wipe the outside down with a baby wipe. Wrap one around the rear sprocket and give it a spin to clean the inside, then try off with a piece of paper towel and relube.
I rode a Fuji Sportif for several years. It's built like a tank, and pretty much indestructible. Crashed twice, and you'd never know it. I ran 28 mm tires, and 105 mech. That thing will go anywhere. It's a bit heavy, but it's absolutely worry free. These days I ride a Specialized Roubaix with Ultegra Di2, but I won't sell the Fuji. A care free, well built aluminum bike is still a joy to own.
Man, I can vouch for EVERY single one of these points! My current idea is to take my old '15 Specialized Crosstrail and turn it into a 1x system. Along with the bottom bracket, the front derailleur takes the most beating for me. I've actually seized the springs and joints on a few front derailleurs just from a few winter rides alone (XT derailleurs!). It's a small upgrade to what I have, and I think that working with what you have is easier. It means I don't have to go out and buy a new bike and get worried about screwing up expensive things like a belt drive or internal gear hub; besides, if that stuff actually does get screwed up, it's probably just better to just have the easier chain/cassette/rear derailleur system. I've tried to be mindful of just changing the chain every certain amount of miles, cleaning all the bikes once a week, etc. Once I get on a schedule, it's much easier to maintain. The only issue is I do have one of those dumb, heavy 50mm front suspension forks on my bike. Not sure if I should get a better sus fork for some light adventuring or go light rigid. Keep doing what you're doing!!
I commute 20ks each way on my CX bike. It barely ever rains, and i have locker and shower facilities at work. We have well marked cycling lanes on streets and bike pathways that cut through town and key intersections, although i feel safer on the road due to cars being more predictable than pedestrians. It's great, i much prefer riding over using the car.
I've being bike commuting for about 2 year, where last year doing half your distance: 10km per leg. My bikes are a Dahon and a Brompton. Both use IGH, but the Brompton combine a system where it use a three gears IGH and a 2 gears derailer. What I can say is that the derailer requires much more maintanance. You need to keep it clean and all to get it to work flawless. I guess the perfect commute bike would have a belt plus an IGH. It's maintenance would be similar to a car. Do an oil change every year and you're ready to go. :)
commuting very often 100-200 km every week, and I use my first road bike with a 9-speed for those rainy days, and high-end di2 for nice days. I too am guilty with neglecting washing the bike. Especially with salty roads in the winter, dear lord, I often use a water bottle to "hose" down the bike on a nearby field of grass.
We don't quite have typhoons like Japan, but that weather sounds like the weather we have from October- April in Western Canada. We don't get much snow, but we get a lot of rain (and black ice in the dead of winter). It makes me wish I worked somewhere with a shower. That would help motivate me on those cold, dark December mornings. A retro steel bike can be good for your commute, especially if it is mainly flat. You can get an older, tougher drivetrain (a 5 or 6 speed) and still have a couple of gears when you need them. If you can find one on the cheap, that's a great option. Commuter bikes are also a great option, especially with fender mounts where you can mount those big, full fenders to keep the road spray off your butt when it starts to pour.
My hybrid works great, it doesn't have the high tolerances of high end bikes. People complement me on how good it looks after all these years. There are many different cleaning levels. If you have access it an outside hose, a simple spray down and the wipe down is good enough once a day. You do not have to get very detailed every day. Get a "boot tray" and put it under your bike rack to let it dry inside and keep the floor clean.The most important thing is proper chain lube for rain and snow. Use a heaver wax type lube and it will help the chain greatly. A chain cleaning tool with a light biodegradable citrus degreaser once a week, is enough. Also clip on fenders will help tremendously. SKS Germany has some good ones.
If you can find some nice roads try extending your Friday commute home to a 40-50 km ride maybe with some intervals. It's important to break up the monotony of the same thing Mon-Fri and stay supple.
Yup... while light is nice it generally isn't robust in terms of daily use. I've worn bikes out commuting. Probably mainly because the maintenance is demanding to keep on top of it. We get similar winter weather here is New Zealand. Road grit gets everywhere. I use mid range components as they are reliable, stay tuned, are easy to do so and last just as well as the more expensive ones. Weight is not particularly an issue. My fave bike is my fixed gear for commuting... mild hills over a 22km each way. It's simple and light while being suitable strong. What can be cost effective is getting a suitable second hand bike rather than new. Many will have low KM and the components in good condition. Maybe 10 years old. For my touring bike I paid about 1/10th of what it would have been originally and it's in good condition.
Just before the last winter I bought myself a Scott Sub10 with Alfine 8s hub and belt drive. I can say it really payed off... I ride min 30km/day (home x office x home) and the salty roads of winter season eats up the chain and cassete. So by using the Scott I didn’t have to clean and lube chain every second day - save me a lot of time and money. Once the ice and snow were gone I come back to my regular commuter bike (low tier road bike with Sora components) as the geometry of the Scott is not providing any fun - too comfortable and slow reaction bike for an everyday ride. But it is still there in the basement, with spike tires, just waiting the first snow to get back in the road! I surely recommend a belt drive, internal gear set up for nasty weather conditions!
Usually i didn't breakfast a lot, but when riding more then an hour you feel the difference. I like a small portion scrambled eggs (1 or 2 eggs) and maybe some bread. It helps a lot.
I've been riding a bike to work most every day for the past year (it's only about 4 miles each way). In that amount of time I've had to replace 5 tires, 1 wheel and a shifter cable. The flat tires started getting to me so I replaced the rear tire with an airless tire which seems to be holding up without any problem (other than the somewhat increased rolling resistance and slightly rougher ride quality). I also live in the Pacific north west so I am well acquainted with wet, crappy weather.
A single speed belt drive may be the way to go. I think I'd still want an aluminum bike, just because of the rust, and likely would want to go with disc brakes as well. Definitely interesting to hear you comments now as opposed to a month in.
Good and sensible option, could even go with a Nexus hub, 8 or 7 speed, if he still wanted gears. Two to three months of daily rain definitely needs a re-think lol.
Found a single track route to work so don't have to share with cars. Much safer and can concentrate on riding. In winter it gets very muddy, totally wrecked the drive chain so converted it in to single speed and the mud clearance on the cogs improved and can wash it all down with a rinse with the hose. Disc brakes help as you're not wearing your rims down. I use mtb to commute but was considering gravel bike. Front mudguards stopped mud on chest and face...ruined a jacket with all the mud stuck in the zipper so makes sense now. Commuted everyday for nearly two years now and trying to find more routes to use the bike for transport without using the roads.
I've been riding my road bike most of the time to work for almost 4 yrs. I clean and maintain moving parts and pay little cosmetic attention to other places, the frame and wheels gets pretty dirty over time. Dirt accumulate and got washed away by rain and repeats. Lots of parts replaced like chain, cogs, bearings, seats, BB's and accident damages. Sport riders in Hong Kong keep their expensive bikes clean and shiny, mine looks shabby in comparison. I slowed down during the past month to reduce fatigue and let my knee joint heals, extending a 40 mins ride to 45 mins makes a big difference.
When considering moving to a new city or a new area I find measuring in minutes is more accurate, I go by how long it takes to travel during the winter because you have to add 10 more mins and it takes your fitness level into account. I'm probably a faster cyclist than I was 7 months ago, my speed in the winter is probably similar to when I first started out.
LOL at the umbrella cyclist at the end who ran a red light too. I started bike commuting again and started binge-watching all your uploaded vids that I've been meaning to watch. I also got a new Giant Contend bike too. Yea I do agree about using the nice road bike as a commuter and I kinda feel bad inside every time I roll over messed up road with some gravel and cracks on my road tires. I haven't dealt with rain yet and when that comes, I have to decide whether I want to try biking in the rain and risk of ruining the bike or wait forever for the bus if I need to get to work. I used to wake up super early in the morning to get to arrive at work at 7am which was miserable for me that I get morning depressions. Now that I changed my schedule to 8:30am, I feel a little better at ease because I don't always have to rush to get out the door even though I'm sprinting on the roads every day and my commute is about 8 miles and takes me 35-40min to get to work; a bus would take me over an hour.
I have been commuting by bike the last 3 months, but I almost always avoid using my bike when it's raining and cold. My commute is 11km each way, so my biggest challenge, besides stressing with close calls with cars, is getting to work all sweaty, because I have no way to shower there. So I try to go easy to work and go hard getting back home to try and get fitter. I use a commuter/city bike (It is a TREK FX2 hybrid with 700x35) and I average around 20km/h in my back and forth commute. It was less than €500 with a full set of Bontrager mudguards and almost all components are inexpensive to replace.
I’ve been commuting to work here in Bangalore-India for around 18 months now. I did bike commuting in Korea for couple of years where conditions are similar to Japan. Due to dusty conditions drivetrain gets clogged with mud, muck and it’s a pain to clean it. I try to clean it every alternate week but still it’s a messy process. As I became regular in bike commuter I wanted to “upgrade” myself with a proper road / enduro bike ( specialized Roubaix was in the bucket list) but then realized cost of maintenance and every day wear n tear would be just too much to handle. Right now sticking to cheaper bikes from Decathlon. Not sure if you are aware of this store from France and if they have a presence in Japan
I'm also a bike commuter in Bangalore :) I use my road bikes for daily commutes mainly because those are the only bikes I own :p I ride my alloy Scott Speedster during the rains and my carbon Cannondale SuperSix Evo on the fair weather days :)
I do not remember hearing anything about dressing for the weather. I eat light breakfast before commuting to work myself. I found that give me energy for the ride in. so, I can have time change clothes for work and punch in. wile I am PTI (pre-trip-inspection) my truck for the day. That is when I eat something and drink lots of water most days commuting to work. I use a recumbent trike, tadpole type with 20 " front wheels and 26" rear wheel. The route i use to work is between 5.5 to 6 miles. On the way home can be 6.1 to 9 mile long. It depend on which route i take out and back. I do like to change the route a little bit from time to time. This will most days depend on how lights I run into that red or green. My commute will take me 20 to 42 minutes in ether way traveling. oh, i have been doing this for over 4 years and working on year five. This does keep me from getting to fat in my old age 58 years old. In North Texas
For commuting singlespeed, fenders, and bike racks with 1.75 slick tires are the best though not sure what to ride on winter. I always avoiding to carry some bags on the body, prefer to attach it on the bike.
When I was surviving Japan, I fitted full length fenders to my commute bike. It reduced alot of the gravel rubbish from the road on wet days from going all over my bike and drive chain. Made cleaning easier. I would just quick wipe down the bike each day and detail clean once a week on my off day. For my racing bike I have sks clip on fenders for quick removal. By the way you still enjoying Japan after 4 years?
@@TwoWheelCruise yeah I hear you. I was there 10 years in kanagawa area. Would you consider going to Taiwan or taking your wife to the States for more beautiful life?
Used to do a 20km commute daily. Definitely not fun, in our hot & humid weather. It's the cleaning up after arriving at work that got to me. We didn't have a shower so basically it's just a sink and a small towel... especially challenging during the monsoon season. :(
Yep, I used to live in the Philippines for a few years(I'm American), and man Asian weather conditions (especially rain) is NO joke. Monsoon season in countries like Japan and Philippines, gets mad sketchy at times.
I'm planning to buy an entry level aero (because looks wicked) to use for commute to school and strictly use it for good weather conditions. But would it survive 8.5km backnfort 5 days a week in a steep hilly road?
Just found your channel-love the commentary from Nagoya and look forward to more. I’ve been commuting 50k a day in Tokyo traffic for 15 years. Gotta have your shit together but sure beats any alternative. I put a vid up a few months back if you’re interested. Think I may have your traffic light count beat...
I have been commuting for over 3 years now in Dublin Ireland. I do have a place in work where I can have a shower so that is crucial to be able to commute daily I believe. I noticed that if you were to have a bus pass it would be something like 1000 euros per year and to fix my Cyclocross bike 600 euros per year. I would cycle to work and back in different weather conditions. This time around I got a fixie since the commute I have does not require any steep roads. I would say that if you do something like 50 kms per day, like I did at one stage, you will not want to pick up the bike on the weekends. So I do get what Cruise was saying. I believe the fixie might be the way to go since it is less expensive on the long run if your commute is not too steep. If your commute is more steep I would say 46-16 is a good start option, however if you are to go above and increase the difficulty you can go for 48-18 or even 50-18 however I would advise to start on the 46-16.
Single speed with full fenders is definitely the way to go, even with a 230 m climb on the way home. My single speed was affordable and requires minimal maintenance compared to my other geared bikes.
I used my road bike a few times for commuting but it was getting beat up. So, I bought a Specialized Diverge gravel bike. Much more comfortable due to the geometry, future shock (Specialized innovation) and 38mm tires. It is an absolute beast! But, like you said, 200km Monday-Friday may be too much. I would have nothing left for the weekend. As a result, I try to limit my rides to 2-3 a week. This allows me to enjoy my weekend rides😉
Thanks for the video Cruise , I also find that my commute becomes so much part of my normal day that I hardly count it as exercise , but I'm sure I'm much better in fitness for it . The traffic passing me is usually going at about 100 Km/hr , so once its passed and I'm still alive it doesn't count as a threat anymore . What you don't see cant hurt you ? :-) I have a theory that if you are killed , you just branch off into a different time line in the universe while everyone is going to your funeral etc and your doing just fine ? Hmmm ..
My first month commuting with bicycle are tough.. I am not an athlete or even excercise alot beside cycling. So riding 16 km back n forth on daily commute is hard for my body. The only thing that keep me motivated to always ride my bike is.. Bicycle the only personal transportation i have and it is the most effective way to reach my destination in fastest way possible.
Riding in the rain is never fun and like you said it's hard on the bikes parts. Only been in the rain a few times. The worse was during a massive thunder storm. I'm a crazy guy, I like to ride everyday but sometimes my legs or whole body just says no. Been putting in a good 200 plus miles a week. Belt drive bikes are suppose to be really low maintenance.
traffic light in 8% climb is most chalenging part in my commute since every motor want to overtake you from right and left and the rush hour start from 6.30 since every school start at 7.00. the road feels like 75% fill by vehicle in indonesia, there are public mosque everywhere you can use the bathroom free hahaha
I use my 8 speed alloy Scott roadie for commutes during rains but I prefer riding my SuperSix Evo during the drier weather simply because it's so nice to ride :) I too find myself too tired to ride during weekends, but that's mainly because I'm pursuing my post grad along with a full time job. I have to study daily after office and attend classes during the weekends :( That's another reason why I'm usually not inclined to go out for weekend morning rides
damn that was close. In Da Nang the same thing happens with bikes and tourist electric cars who can anytime overtake you and stop right in front of you. I have got a loud bike horn that I am using often here.
Definitely like to start a long ride before eating then look at a stop with light breakfast and tea/coffee at about 20 miles. Totally agree with you on hanging back for turning cars, I don't understand cycling alongside or trying to filter past turning vehicles, it makes no sense. The MGIF lorry driver? Don't understand that either but good awareness on your part 👍 I'm in the fender/mudguards camp for wet commuting, you'll still get wet but really does help protect the bike.
I got a used Nishiki, still super nice bike, multiple speed, good for commute, and I spent only small amount to repair and upgrade. My Trek is only for fun ride, although it's made for beating, it's a touring bike. Still it feels wrong to take it to rain and cold :)
I got into a head on wreck with another cyclist on my ultralight road bike I was using for commuting. I bought a low end Chromoly touring bike to replace it. I transferred some parts from the road bike to it and pretty happy with it for the last 4 years I had it. Hopefully, it'll keep going as long as I change the wearable parts along the way. Honestly, for the purpose, I actually like this bike better--it's heavier but light enough, way more comfortable even with the same seat, and about 1/3 the cost so I can tolerate some cheap feeling levers.
Had the same happen to me except I got a boxer's fracture (ironically, I also box). If the salmon cyclist prick didn't have those stupid metal horns on his mtb bar ends I woulda been fine
looks like another week of rain~ . your commentary during the rides is always fun to listen to for me. I think because I ride out here in Japan as well and I always come across the same stuff like parked cars and those damn bugs in the summer. would be cool to see you ride on a random gravel adventure type situation. I'm looking to buy a new bike before our taxes go up this October. Should meet up and go for a ride sometime.
I'm still weighing options for the next bike, and feeling like I need to just pull the proverbial trigger or else I'll never get riding again. Basic factors: little space, so one bike is all I can manage to store; motor function disability, so leaning toward Di2 or Pinion to help me shift; and considering how nice a bike I'd like, if I'm only able to have one at a time and ride in all weather. Cycling shops and cycling culture in Japan puts me off, so I'm not sure how an "exotic" drivetrain like Pinion/Gates will fare. Narrowed to three: RLT9 Steel with mechanical or Force AXS; Co-Motion Klatch w/ Pinion and belt; or a titanium frame with Di2.
I am in my second weeks of bike-communiting to work, my body is sore but getting used to the routine. I bike-commute two hours daily from work, it’s a test of endurance.
Used to commute by bike years ago. Had to give it up as I'd nearly gotten killed by inattentive drivers one too many times. Almost a 50k round trip once or twice a week weather permitting
I use a cheapo bike here in Bangkok for everyday use. Our roads are awful. Add to that the rainy seasons just gone, and dangerous drivers everywhere, well you can imagine. The relative peace of kansai roads is perfect for me. Keep on spinning man.
Hi Cruise, I was in Osaka and Tokyo just last week, These cities are fantastic, and the train systems are super extensive! With the train system there, I think using a Brompton (small foldable bike), which is what I use, would give the best mobility going around. Just sharing, and If you get a chance, I hope you can review other commuter bike alternatives too, as I am interested in your opinion in it. Thanks!
If you want a belt drive bike and a Rohloff hub, do it, it’s the best for cycling under water 😊 We have a few of the best manufacturers in the Netherlands, look up Koga, Santos and from Germany (but Dutch founder) IdWorx. They make the best on the market.
Watch the videos of Bicycle Dutch and his blog like this one bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/riding-in-the-rotterdam-rain/ to see what the Dutch use for everyday commutes. You need something sturdy with a simple speed hub (3, 5 or 8) and a good closed chain guard. Yes, they are heavy compared to a road bike, but virtual maintenance free. The alternative is to used a long distance travel bike, but those can be as expensive as a carbon road bike. I also start my commute at 7 am, but I don't mind rising early. I always eat a light breakfast before I start. In the 9 years that I'm commuting, I tend to vary my routes as well. Cycling the same route every day becomes boring. Sometime I cycle an extra 2 km, just to have a change of scenery and pace. Speed isn't really that important with all the traffic lights and side streets you have to watch out for.
Interesting commuting experience...2 questions...😁. 1. How about a Gates belt drive with internal Alfine gears? 2. Please (please) make a video on Banana+Peanut butter sandwiches. In England they do not exist and it sounds interesting! 😋
I bike 16 miles a day round trip. The weather sucks here in Michigan . Wondering if I should take the longer route with more incline 😢 or the shorter route on freeway . It’s dangerous out there Michigan rain is ruthless. Just imagine, peddling uphill getting pelted in the face by rain and push back by wind as you’re struggling to go up the hill I must listen to David Goggins on my way to work and Home and my Rocky motivation music. I feel like a warrior when I ride my bike in the treacherous weather.😂
i have weetabix before my morning commute, i find it gives me enough energy until lunchtime, that way i dont snack, although my commute is alot shorter than you, im 5km to work and 5.5km home (i have to take a different route).
You should eat after your morning commute. Cortisol levels in the morning are/should be on the highest of all day, so take advantage of that. Your body doesn't really need those carbs/sugar/cereal early even if you ate your dinner some hours before going to sleep. This will also help to make your body more energy efficient by helping your metabolism. edit: changed cals to carbs
Nice video. Do they use salt 🧂 on the roads in winter in Japan? I live in the Midwestern US & road salt wreaks havoc on a bike here in winter - especially the drive train - it'svery difficult to keep clean. I know several other bike bloggers have gone to belt driven internally geared hubs for commuting in winter.
Hey Cruise. I’ve being commuting to work for about 3 years now and people that I work with it always questioned me about clothes for work (how do you do? Do you take shower? Didn’t you sweat a lot?) So, guess what I’m saying that would be good if you could share your experience on this matter. How do you arrange your stuff on the backpack? Since you go clipped, how do you do with regular shoes, they are also on the backpack? If you work with social clothes, how do you do to not get them wrinkled? How do you when it rains (since Asian rain season is long)? Guess that could be interesting and could encourage people that want bike commute but have this type of concerns. Also, hi5 from Brazil. Great work with the channel, keep going.
I have been watching your videos for quite some time. Do you ever use mirrors on your bikes or have you ever used cycling mirrors on your helmet or handlebars etc? Thanks!
A commuter bike would be better for your kid of traffic nice paved roads. where I bike to work the road are pretty bad from potholes to all most gravel like roads. so I sold my road bike and bought a cx aluminum bike instead. what a difference from a road bike to cx bike. fenders would be the next purchase.
I mean you get fitter and tone/ripped. Strong legs. Very strong legs. High stamina and endurance. Btw. Off topic. Is an Kona Lava Dome 1996 model. Worth it for 60 dollars? It's a steel cromoly race light frame.
Buy it, sell the groupset parts but keep the frameset, buy used premium parts for the frame, build the bike after a full overhaul and deep clean. And boom!
I commute on my motorcycle, but I for years commuted on my bicycle ( which $100 crap Target and Walmart bikes definitely aren't the same as, riding a bike from a dedicated bike shop that has $400 and up), about 10 miles(each way) to and from work...on days when I didn't feel like doing that ride. Well, the bus sure came in handy.
Raining everyday for several months definitely needs a re-think and a bike of a different calibre. Some good suggestions from your viewers, among which the following are pertinent: Aluminium, non-rusting frame ( cheap second hand), sturdy wheels and tyres (at least 28,pref.35mm width) with mudguards (fenders), belt drive, either single speed or Shimano Nexus hub (much cheaper than Rohloff) , definitely disc brakes, a rack and waterproof panier is another consideration. You will lose acceleration speed but not a lot of overall speed with this set up and you could still use your cyclo-cross bike in dry weather conditions. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimano_Nexus
I do not prefer internal gear hub because I do not how to maintance and repair them. Commuting bike need to be working so need to be something that you can fix it if broken and not for waiting that when bike shop have time to repair.
From all that I have read about internal hubs, such as Shimano Nexus and Rohloff, they don't need maintenance, only an oil drain and refill once a year, if you forget one year, do it the next year, no big deal.
@@Andy-sj2dv Everything what human are made, requires maintenance. Other thing more other less. :) But lucky there are bike for everyone if you prefer somethng and not want some technology
Really enjoy your videos! I was wondering what you meant by the weather wearing down your bike? I use a carbon road bike to commute and I can see more wear on the drivetrain but I was wondering there is any wear on the frame. I haven't noticed any yet but maybe I don't know what to look out for. Thank you!
Hi Cruise! Another great film about cycling-commuting and showing some of those everyday things we have to put up with here in Japan. (BTW that guy at the end with his umbrella goes into the class of 'fucking idiot' - I get them now and then too!) The main thing you talk about is wear and tear. Yes, if you ride a bike at a decent speed everyday for 40+kms in all conditions you will see massive deterioration of parts. It always bugs me when I see some guys on really nice bikes dressed for work - I want to scream 'You're ruining your bike!' This is why I have a self built bike for commuting. I buy barely used or used second hand parts online (Japan is so good for this) and do all my own maintenance (generally once a week). Cables, chains, tyres, brake pads, bar tape etc are obviously new. My travel expenses from work cover a lot of what I spend on parts. The rest I am more than happy to pay for cos it is a great way of life. I'm a family man so I have breakfast early and as I am on my feet a lot at work I have to be careful about energy - hell, yesterday I bonked after 5kms of street riding on my way home!!!! But it is much better than taking the train everyday. 'Be safe, be seen, be careful and don't treat your commute as a race - then, you can enjoy your daily ride' is basically my philosophy. And I too at the weekend will lose complete impetus to go for a ride - I tend to try to plan in advance a Saturday ride (once a month?) where I can take out my TCR and hit the hills etc, but then I have to put up with those weekend warriors :( !! Look forward to more of your films!!
1. Why is biking with an unbrella illegal? 2. I've been a long distance hiker for years but in the last couple years I've had a few injuries and so I've started branching out. Paddled the length of the Mississippi River and today I bought an old beat up titanium road bike to fix up. I intend to modify it a little to tour on. (I know I shouldn't tour on a road bike everyone says but my only real biking experience is with road bikes and me+gear+consumables is still lighter then the average person.)
I bike commuted 14 miles each way for about 16 years. I stopped when I switched careers and moved about 4 years ago. But I started again today with a new bike and a 10 mile ride to work and gonna get back to it! So excited.. It really is great feeling to wake up and not sit in a car.😀 Thanks for the vid
It takes me 2 hours to get to school. 33km . Legs are steel.
Steel is your legs? What of your blood?
You use your roadie?
@@awawa420 used yea. Got a car now.
@@SEIBALTER bro dont give up riding... enjoy it even with the car. I gave up riding for nearly 17 years after getting my car, regret it so bad
Wow. That's tough.
Adding fenders and a rack changed my life. It's amazing how much crap the fenders keep off your bike, and riding with paniers/a basket and not needing a backpack made my commute significantly more comfortable.
xbmarx I like turtles
I totally agree with you!
Absolutely! The backpack was killing my back, I switched to panniers, added mudguards AND a comfortable saddle and they transformed my daily 20 mile daily commute. However, commuting to work each day I find that I do NOT want to go out as often on weekends to sightsee/touring.
Same here. Most days, I'd be carrying between 10 and 16 pounds on my back and shoulders. So I bought a rack and secured a milk crate to it with some zip ties. Works great.
I always take the longer safer way if there is one, it only takes a second for some idiot in a car / bus / lorry to ruin your life, I know from personal experience , 23 years ago a car knocked me off and drove off leaving me with brocken cheek bone , head injury and nearly lost my right eye, never been right since with poor balance , head aches all the time and justmnot feeling great ...
Be safe if you can , it's really not worth the risk just for the sake of mixing it up.
True
The outcome you experienced is what I fear more than anything, especially in a town (Baltimore) where traffic laws aren't obeyed, and people are self-centered and distracted behind the wheel. In response, I, too, have been making an art of designing routes that are not heavily traveled, and they're longer than the shortest possible commutes, which are fraught with danger. Get well soon!
I know many will laugh at this idea, but when I commute in heavy rain on my “adventure bike” complete with mudguards ( “fenders” in the US!), I use a large poncho! Got the idea from a book called “Just Ride” by Grant Petersen. Besides keeping you dry, it also keeps quite a bit of the bike dry. In hot, muggy weather, just a quick lift up when stopped at traffic lights does the trick. In fact, I get less sweaty than when wearing a rain jacket. It cost under 2,000 yen (about $20) from amazon. Also comes in handy for hiking!
lots of people use the super large panchos that cover the bike and basket as well here in Japan haha
Ive been commuting everyday for the last year and a half and I love every minute of it except the wind haha
I totally respect you, i ride my bike every day 7,2km, 3,6km to school and 3,6km back home
I was riding everyday 20-30 miles except the weekends here in Okinawa(weekends are family time). But I had an Afib attack out of the blue in February. Love watching your videos. Hope to be back on my bike next week after 7 months and a surgery later.
Sorry to hear that man, hope the recover goes well!
I use my old touring bike (Raliegh Sojourn) as my more than 10 mile commuter, and I have a brompton P6RD for anything under. The sojourn has taken a beating over the past 4 years, but when the weather gets bad I just wash her once I get home. The brompton's internal gearhub is rock solid and the most adjustment it's needed in the past year was a couple turns on the cable housing.
The biggest change in my life since starting cycling commuting 30km each way is that I've stopped doing a lot of the extraneous hobbies that I had (gaming mostly) because the extra time it takes over driving has made me prioritize my time more.
Wow, Cruise. I just bought a 1.2k usd roadbike to commute, selling my old urban bike that gave me 0 issues. And now you tell how bad of an idea that was. Im about to cry.
keep the urban bike for the rain days!
Me too, lol. Isnt there any way of making the rain less destructive for your bike?
@@davidmora2241 I'm a bit of a maniac when it comes to cleaning my bike and chain. I use WD-40 for the frame, it makes it waterproof for about 2-3 days. It is extremely volatile won't last much. Also, I clean and lube the chain and every week. I haven't notice any wear this last 6 months and I ride 40k every day.
I've been commuting for a couple decades. You're a lot younger and more gifted on the bike than I ever was. I'll be interested in your 5 or 10 year impressions. I'd like to think I've got my junk dialed, but I am always looking to learn. Interesting to see the traffic enforcement issues in Japan vs. the USA. I blow stop signs and red lights without breaking cadence... as long as there are no cars around.
Will be interesting if I keep making videos that long 🙂
Congrats on the first 6 months! Well I guess about a year now!
Oh man, so, so many points I can relate to with this lol! I started riding 30 km to work 5 years ago in may, and I went through so much of this journey. I too had been super into biked for years always with short commutes, and planned to build the ultimate commuter, and faced the drop off in recreational cycling (I actually sold my MTB in my first year of commuting because I no longer could be bothered to throw it in the ute and drive out to the trails after riding all week.
My lessons learned don't sound that inspirational I guess ... but they were hard learned and have massively improved my enjoyment of cycling. First I learnt the ultimate commuter is really a bike that can take all the abuse in the world and is easy to repair ... I guess in Japan that would mean JIS everything lol. Yeah, when I sold my MTB, I was totally set on this cool fast, light commuter built - I wasn't going to be one of those guys who rides in their work clothes on a 20 year old hybrid, no sir, I was a proper cyclist. Fuck that. I bought a $500 hybrid and it was the second best decission I made. It's comfortable, well made and hard wearing. It's a workhorse.
Second I started off going to ride my near 70kms every day ... yeah nah. I now ride to a train station in the morning and hop on a train for 4 stops lol. I also bought an e-bike kit.
So now I ride an e-bike modded hybrid bike and get the train 2/3 of the way in the morning and just ride home at night. I only ride 40kms total instear of near 70 and it's power assisted ... 5 year ago me would be appalled lol. But... you know what? I don't get home tired, I enjoy riding with a couple of friends on the weekend, and sometimes when it's been a nice summer evening I've even gotten home at 6, and had dinner and then had a ride on my fun bike at 8 lol. Also the ebike makes it SO much faster and more pracctical.
I don't know if any of that means anything to you other than I got old and lame, but it's what I learned, hope it helps!
And no .. I didn't become the guy that cycles in his work clothes lol ... but ... there's a lot of hiking gear rather than cycling gear at times of the year now.
If you have the space and money, having a couple of different bikes designated for different weather is a good tip. I have a dry weather bike, a rainy day bike and a winter bike. The last one have have studded tires on it all year, so it's ready whenever the snow falls.
Those roads are so smooth! If only the UK's were like that.......
Come riding in Rome, you'll love your roads after XD
I used to ride in the rain with an internal hub but the maintenance was so difficult and took too much time to do it. I had to choose and a normal gear easy to repair was the first choice, I never regret it for
Good to know, thanks!
After commuting daily for a while and i am now so used to it that if i take the buss for some practical reason i instantly regret not making a more effort to be able to use my bike regardless of rain or snow.
Oh and most likely il end up in Japan for a couple of weeks next year for bike packing. Cant wait!
tbh it's not worth it. Japan is not bike friendly at all. There's NO bike lanes anywhere and riding on side walks is illegal in Japan.
I strongly recommend a gravel bike for the snow. Ride here in canada every winter. Get a winter specific front tire at least (if the back slips you can recover but it's dicier if the front slips). I use the Continental Top Contact 2 winter tire up front. You CAN run slicks on the back but I strongly recommend a crossbiking pattern, maybe something made for mud.
Mtbs unless we're talking a 29er get too bogged down in heavy snow. 700c tires can be wide enough for grip while cutting through snow. Fat bikes are tanks but sloooooooooow.
Also drop bars keep your weight balanced more to the center of the bike instead of to the rear
Steel is the way to go. Easy cleaning and can take a beating. For some reason, i fell in love with the 9 speed system era ... either campy chorus or shimano ultegra (dura-ace is overkill for commuting). Found an old italian frame on ebay for dirt cheap and it became one of my favorite bike. Sure, the paint is chipped everywhere, i've put stickers here and there but it becomes a bike that you can relate to you ... as it follows you everyday (and doesnt shine too much for those bike thieves) . Mine is an old 1983 guerciotti, i had to manually extend the rear axis to fit some newer generation wheels. Nothing fancy, like old campy neutrons from 2007. Everytime i sit on this bike, it feels like its part of my body and functions as an organ on its own. To each their own, i've been commuting with mine for 12 years now and still going strong ... and to think the frame is 36 years old lol.
9 speed era was great. Campagnolo from that time is impossible to kill... my current chain has over 8000km and still isn't worn. (Or maybe I'm to weak?)
I use my charge plug for my commute, no beating of my road bike that way. It's a strong workhorse and just set the ratio to suit how you want to ride. Everyone's different but I agree in not wanting to get lazy with maintaining your main and expensive bike. My cleaning and maintenance is like a ritual now as I notice every sound change on my bikes
It is not advisable to eat right before a ride, unless it is some easy to digest simple carbs. This is because protein and other foods compete with your stomach for blood flow. The "protein" after your ride is a great recovery implementation. Shakes work faster(you could use before the ride) but are not really necessary. In your commute you are really putting the base miles down. You would probably only need interval training every other weekend to keep sharp.
Your route is so good.
My bike commuting in Bangkok is like an extream sport.
Bangkok commuting is next level 😂
I rode my carbon road bike (Kuota Kharma) in Paris (glass, cobbles and all that jazz) as a bike messenger for 1,5 years, 80 km a day 5 days a week.
I put old tubes around key parts of the frame to protect from damage fro locking and unlocking about 40 times a day. Also rode in rain and snow.
I never cleaned the bike (unless I was changing the chain or cassette due to wear and took the chance to give the bike a clean). I honestly don't know what "damage" you are talijg about, the bike is still fine as of today (even if I have bought a Orbea Terra and don't use it much anymore.
Now I live in Barcelona and I commute 27km each way regularly with the Terra with road wheels and gp 4000 sII tires (I cannot do it everyday because of a mixture of time constraints and physical problems). I still don't think that the bike suffers much because of the commute. Of course it will need more maintenance and parts replacement that a barely used bike (or riding long routes where you don't have to brake all the time like in most commutes) but that's it, more use = more maintenance cost but nothing too bad.
I agree. I was looking for this comment. Lol. Whether someone rides 100 miles on the weekend or 20 miles each day for fives days, it's still 100 miles. Commuter miles aren't any different. Lol
For me, I can just ride the bike for work about 20km/h in 15 mins...Hard to keep this motivation in almost 1 hour...You are awesome!
Go Fixed.
I ride a custom titanium, not cheap, and it looks as good today as the day I built it up. 40miles in, 20miles home all year round in the UK. The components, chain (~6K miles), sprocket (~12K miles), chain ring (~24K miles), wheels (~50K miles), brakes (only run a front) last way longer. Keeping it clean is a lot simpler, I wipe down with a baby wipe after every ride. Running fenders is also a must. Cleaning the drive chain is also a lot easier, wipe the outside down with a baby wipe. Wrap one around the rear sprocket and give it a spin to clean the inside, then try off with a piece of paper towel and relube.
Been riding my fixed gear more lately
I've got a shoehorn for a fender and secured it with a cable tie. Works like a charm.
I rode a Fuji Sportif for several years. It's built like a tank, and pretty much indestructible. Crashed twice, and you'd never know it. I ran 28 mm tires, and 105 mech. That thing will go anywhere. It's a bit heavy, but it's absolutely worry free. These days I ride a Specialized Roubaix with Ultegra Di2, but I won't sell the Fuji. A care free, well built aluminum bike is still a joy to own.
aluminum bikes rock!
Man, I can vouch for EVERY single one of these points!
My current idea is to take my old '15 Specialized Crosstrail and turn it into a 1x system. Along with the bottom bracket, the front derailleur takes the most beating for me. I've actually seized the springs and joints on a few front derailleurs just from a few winter rides alone (XT derailleurs!). It's a small upgrade to what I have, and I think that working with what you have is easier. It means I don't have to go out and buy a new bike and get worried about screwing up expensive things like a belt drive or internal gear hub; besides, if that stuff actually does get screwed up, it's probably just better to just have the easier chain/cassette/rear derailleur system.
I've tried to be mindful of just changing the chain every certain amount of miles, cleaning all the bikes once a week, etc. Once I get on a schedule, it's much easier to maintain.
The only issue is I do have one of those dumb, heavy 50mm front suspension forks on my bike. Not sure if I should get a better sus fork for some light adventuring or go light rigid.
Keep doing what you're doing!!
Maybe a Kona Dew City will make it for you
I commute 20ks each way on my CX bike. It barely ever rains, and i have locker and shower facilities at work. We have well marked cycling lanes on streets and bike pathways that cut through town and key intersections, although i feel safer on the road due to cars being more predictable than pedestrians. It's great, i much prefer riding over using the car.
Mountain bike with road tyres, tough enough for the daily commute hammering.
good full fenders help much in ruff conditions, the water do not spray all over you bike....
seems to be the way to go..
I've being bike commuting for about 2 year, where last year doing half your distance: 10km per leg.
My bikes are a Dahon and a Brompton. Both use IGH, but the Brompton combine a system where it use a three gears IGH and a 2 gears derailer. What I can say is that the derailer requires much more maintanance. You need to keep it clean and all to get it to work flawless.
I guess the perfect commute bike would have a belt plus an IGH. It's maintenance would be similar to a car. Do an oil change every year and you're ready to go. :)
commuting very often 100-200 km every week, and I use my first road bike with a 9-speed for those rainy days, and high-end di2 for nice days.
I too am guilty with neglecting washing the bike. Especially with salty roads in the winter, dear lord, I often use a water bottle to "hose" down the bike on a nearby field of grass.
We don't quite have typhoons like Japan, but that weather sounds like the weather we have from October- April in Western Canada. We don't get much snow, but we get a lot of rain (and black ice in the dead of winter). It makes me wish I worked somewhere with a shower. That would help motivate me on those cold, dark December mornings.
A retro steel bike can be good for your commute, especially if it is mainly flat. You can get an older, tougher drivetrain (a 5 or 6 speed) and still have a couple of gears when you need them. If you can find one on the cheap, that's a great option. Commuter bikes are also a great option, especially with fender mounts where you can mount those big, full fenders to keep the road spray off your butt when it starts to pour.
My hybrid works great, it doesn't have the high tolerances of high end bikes. People complement me on how good it looks after all these years. There are many different cleaning levels. If you have access it an outside hose, a simple spray down and the wipe down is good enough once a day. You do not have to get very detailed every day. Get a "boot tray" and put it under your bike rack to let it dry inside and keep the floor clean.The most important thing is proper chain lube for rain and snow. Use a heaver wax type lube and it will help the chain greatly. A chain cleaning tool with a light biodegradable citrus degreaser once a week, is enough. Also clip on fenders will help tremendously. SKS Germany has some good ones.
If you can find some nice roads try extending your Friday commute home to a 40-50 km ride maybe with some intervals. It's important to break up the monotony of the same thing Mon-Fri and stay supple.
I try to get in a few small efforts every once in a while ;)
Thank you for the great tips like 2:32 !
That is something I would learn the hard way.
Excellent tip! There's so many little nuances you can learn riding with city traffic.
Yup... while light is nice it generally isn't robust in terms of daily use. I've worn bikes out commuting. Probably mainly because the maintenance is demanding to keep on top of it. We get similar winter weather here is New Zealand. Road grit gets everywhere. I use mid range components as they are reliable, stay tuned, are easy to do so and last just as well as the more expensive ones. Weight is not particularly an issue. My fave bike is my fixed gear for commuting... mild hills over a 22km each way. It's simple and light while being suitable strong.
What can be cost effective is getting a suitable second hand bike rather than new. Many will have low KM and the components in good condition. Maybe 10 years old. For my touring bike I paid about 1/10th of what it would have been originally and it's in good condition.
I'm loving my fixed gear more and more lately
Just before the last winter I bought myself a Scott Sub10 with Alfine 8s hub and belt drive. I can say it really payed off... I ride min 30km/day (home x office x home) and the salty roads of winter season eats up the chain and cassete. So by using the Scott I didn’t have to clean and lube chain every second day - save me a lot of time and money. Once the ice and snow were gone I come back to my regular commuter bike (low tier road bike with Sora components) as the geometry of the Scott is not providing any fun - too comfortable and slow reaction bike for an everyday ride. But it is still there in the basement, with spike tires, just waiting the first snow to get back in the road! I surely recommend a belt drive, internal gear set up for nasty weather conditions!
Usually i didn't breakfast a lot, but when riding more then an hour you feel the difference. I like a small portion scrambled eggs (1 or 2 eggs) and maybe some bread. It helps a lot.
I've been riding a bike to work most every day for the past year (it's only about 4 miles each way). In that amount of time I've had to replace 5 tires, 1 wheel and a shifter cable. The flat tires started getting to me so I replaced the rear tire with an airless tire which seems to be holding up without any problem (other than the somewhat increased rolling resistance and slightly rougher ride quality). I also live in the Pacific north west so I am well acquainted with wet, crappy weather.
Wow, that's quite a lot of flats. I'm curious about the airless tires myself..
been bike commuting for a year its fun. it's the same for me my will to ride during the weekends plummeted.
A single speed belt drive may be the way to go. I think I'd still want an aluminum bike, just because of the rust, and likely would want to go with disc brakes as well. Definitely interesting to hear you comments now as opposed to a month in.
Good and sensible option, could even go with a Nexus hub, 8 or 7 speed, if he still wanted gears. Two to three months of daily rain definitely needs a re-think lol.
Found a single track route to work so don't have to share with cars. Much safer and can concentrate on riding. In winter it gets very muddy, totally wrecked the drive chain so converted it in to single speed and the mud clearance on the cogs improved and can wash it all down with a rinse with the hose. Disc brakes help as you're not wearing your rims down. I use mtb to commute but was considering gravel bike. Front mudguards stopped mud on chest and face...ruined a jacket with all the mud stuck in the zipper so makes sense now. Commuted everyday for nearly two years now and trying to find more routes to use the bike for transport without using the roads.
I've been riding my road bike most of the time to work for almost 4 yrs. I clean and maintain moving parts and pay little cosmetic attention to other places, the frame and wheels gets pretty dirty over time. Dirt accumulate and got washed away by rain and repeats. Lots of parts replaced like chain, cogs, bearings, seats, BB's and accident damages. Sport riders in Hong Kong keep their expensive bikes clean and shiny, mine looks shabby in comparison. I slowed down during the past month to reduce fatigue and let my knee joint heals, extending a 40 mins ride to 45 mins makes a big difference.
I mostly do the same, too much work to always clean the full bike
Ahh these roads are pretty flat and With bike lanes wish roads by me were like that , long distance though fair play to you
When considering moving to a new city or a new area I find measuring in minutes is more accurate, I go by how long it takes to travel during the winter because you have to add 10 more mins and it takes your fitness level into account.
I'm probably a faster cyclist than I was 7 months ago, my speed in the winter is probably similar to when I first started out.
LOL at the umbrella cyclist at the end who ran a red light too. I started bike commuting again and started binge-watching all your uploaded vids that I've been meaning to watch. I also got a new Giant Contend bike too. Yea I do agree about using the nice road bike as a commuter and I kinda feel bad inside every time I roll over messed up road with some gravel and cracks on my road tires. I haven't dealt with rain yet and when that comes, I have to decide whether I want to try biking in the rain and risk of ruining the bike or wait forever for the bus if I need to get to work. I used to wake up super early in the morning to get to arrive at work at 7am which was miserable for me that I get morning depressions. Now that I changed my schedule to 8:30am, I feel a little better at ease because I don't always have to rush to get out the door even though I'm sprinting on the roads every day and my commute is about 8 miles and takes me 35-40min to get to work; a bus would take me over an hour.
Welcome back! I actually had a break from bike commuting myself the last few weeks with lots of work trips. Feels good to be back on a bike 🙂
I have been commuting by bike the last 3 months, but I almost always avoid using my bike when it's raining and cold.
My commute is 11km each way, so my biggest challenge, besides stressing with close calls with cars, is getting to work all sweaty, because I have no way to shower there. So I try to go easy to work and go hard getting back home to try and get fitter.
I use a commuter/city bike (It is a TREK FX2 hybrid with 700x35) and I average around 20km/h in my back and forth commute. It was less than €500 with a full set of Bontrager mudguards and almost all components are inexpensive to replace.
I’ve been commuting to work here in Bangalore-India for around 18 months now. I did bike commuting in Korea for couple of years where conditions are similar to Japan. Due to dusty conditions drivetrain gets clogged with mud, muck and it’s a pain to clean it. I try to clean it every alternate week but still it’s a messy process. As I became regular in bike commuter I wanted to “upgrade” myself with a proper road / enduro bike ( specialized Roubaix was in the bucket list) but then realized cost of maintenance and every day wear n tear would be just too much to handle. Right now sticking to cheaper bikes from Decathlon. Not sure if you are aware of this store from France and if they have a presence in Japan
I'm also a bike commuter in Bangalore :) I use my road bikes for daily commutes mainly because those are the only bikes I own :p I ride my alloy Scott Speedster during the rains and my carbon Cannondale SuperSix Evo on the fair weather days :)
Agreed, the cheaper / simpler bikes seem to be the way to go. Likely gonna switch to my single speed from now on..
I do not remember hearing anything about dressing for the weather.
I eat light breakfast before commuting to work myself. I found that give me energy for the ride in. so, I can have time change clothes for work and punch in. wile I am PTI (pre-trip-inspection) my truck for the day. That is when I eat something and drink lots of water most days commuting to work.
I use a recumbent trike, tadpole type with 20 " front wheels and 26" rear wheel. The route i use to work is between 5.5 to 6 miles. On the way home can be 6.1 to 9 mile long. It depend on which route i take out and back. I do like to change the route a little bit from time to time. This will most days depend on how lights I run into that red or green. My commute will take me 20 to 42 minutes in ether way traveling.
oh, i have been doing this for over 4 years and working on year five. This does keep me from getting to fat in my old age 58 years old. In North Texas
For commuting singlespeed, fenders, and bike racks with 1.75 slick tires are the best though not sure what to ride on winter. I always avoiding to carry some bags on the body, prefer to attach it on the bike.
Might have to put a rack or big saddle bag on my SS
@@TwoWheelCruise It's time to ride mamachari for commuting XD
When I was surviving Japan, I fitted full length fenders to my commute bike. It reduced alot of the gravel rubbish from the road on wet days from going all over my bike and drive chain. Made cleaning easier. I would just quick wipe down the bike each day and detail clean once a week on my off day. For my racing bike I have sks clip on fenders for quick removal. By the way you still enjoying Japan after 4 years?
it's a mix of good and bad
@@TwoWheelCruise yeah I hear you. I was there 10 years in kanagawa area. Would you consider going to Taiwan or taking your wife to the States for more beautiful life?
Used to do a 20km commute daily. Definitely not fun, in our hot & humid weather. It's the cleaning up after arriving at work that got to me. We didn't have a shower so basically it's just a sink and a small towel... especially challenging during the monsoon season. :(
bucket and towel for me lol
Great honest opinion with regards bike commuting. Its a balance between riding and family.
Yep, I used to live in the Philippines for a few years(I'm American), and man Asian weather conditions (especially rain) is NO joke. Monsoon season in countries like Japan and Philippines, gets mad sketchy at times.
I'm planning to buy an entry level aero (because looks wicked) to use for commute to school and strictly use it for good weather conditions. But would it survive 8.5km backnfort 5 days a week in a steep hilly road?
@@awawa420 I would think so. I heard they are built sturdy to last, but like I said the windy and rainy days can test a bike fierce.
Just found your channel-love the commentary from Nagoya and look forward to more. I’ve been commuting 50k a day in Tokyo traffic for 15 years. Gotta have your shit together but sure beats any alternative. I put a vid up a few months back if you’re interested. Think I may have your traffic light count beat...
Cheers man, that's some dedication!
I have been commuting for over 3 years now in Dublin Ireland. I do have a place in work where I can have a shower so that is crucial to be able to commute daily I believe.
I noticed that if you were to have a bus pass it would be something like 1000 euros per year and to fix my Cyclocross bike 600 euros per year. I would cycle to work and back in different weather conditions. This time around I got a fixie since the commute I have does not require any steep roads. I would say that if you do something like 50 kms per day, like I did at one stage, you will not want to pick up the bike on the weekends. So I do get what Cruise was saying. I believe the fixie might be the way to go since it is less expensive on the long run if your commute is not too steep. If your commute is more steep I would say 46-16 is a good start option, however if you are to go above and increase the difficulty you can go for 48-18 or even 50-18 however I would advise to start on the 46-16.
Single speed with full fenders is definitely the way to go, even with a 230 m climb on the way home. My single speed was affordable and requires minimal maintenance compared to my other geared bikes.
Get a fixie with fenders for the rainy days, road bike for sunny days. If you want to train, do intervals on your commute.
I used my road bike a few times for commuting but it was getting beat up. So, I bought a Specialized Diverge gravel bike. Much more comfortable due to the geometry, future shock (Specialized innovation) and 38mm tires. It is an absolute beast! But, like you said, 200km Monday-Friday may be too much. I would have nothing left for the weekend. As a result, I try to limit my rides to 2-3 a week. This allows me to enjoy my weekend rides😉
Thanks for the video Cruise , I also find that my commute becomes so much part of my normal day that I hardly count it as exercise , but I'm sure I'm much better in fitness for it . The traffic passing me is usually going at about 100 Km/hr , so once its passed and I'm still alive it doesn't count as a threat anymore . What you don't see cant hurt you ? :-) I have a theory that if you are killed , you just branch off into a different time line in the universe while everyone is going to your funeral etc and your doing just fine ? Hmmm ..
I like your thinking John.
My first month commuting with bicycle are tough.. I am not an athlete or even excercise alot beside cycling. So riding 16 km back n forth on daily commute is hard for my body. The only thing that keep me motivated to always ride my bike is.. Bicycle the only personal transportation i have and it is the most effective way to reach my destination in fastest way possible.
That's all the motivation you need :)
Riding in the rain is never fun and like you said it's hard on the bikes parts. Only been in the rain a few times. The worse was during a massive thunder storm.
I'm a crazy guy, I like to ride everyday but sometimes my legs or whole body just says no. Been putting in a good 200 plus miles a week.
Belt drive bikes are suppose to be really low maintenance.
Small breakfast before a community ride and then i eat a lot when I get to work/school tend to work for me
traffic light in 8% climb is most chalenging part in my commute since every motor want to overtake you from right and left and the rush hour start from 6.30 since every school start at 7.00. the road feels like 75% fill by vehicle
in indonesia, there are public mosque everywhere you can use the bathroom free hahaha
haha good to know in case I ever go there.
I use my 8 speed alloy Scott roadie for commutes during rains but I prefer riding my SuperSix Evo during the drier weather simply because it's so nice to ride :) I too find myself too tired to ride during weekends, but that's mainly because I'm pursuing my post grad along with a full time job. I have to study daily after office and attend classes during the weekends :( That's another reason why I'm usually not inclined to go out for weekend morning rides
Doing something big on top of full time work is tough.. Weekends turn into time to catch up on the other "work" haha
damn that was close. In Da Nang the same thing happens with bikes and tourist electric cars who can anytime overtake you and stop right in front of you. I have got a loud bike horn that I am using often here.
you should have a fixed gear during rainy season
Definitely like to start a long ride before eating then look at a stop with light breakfast and tea/coffee at about 20 miles. Totally agree with you on hanging back for turning cars, I don't understand cycling alongside or trying to filter past turning vehicles, it makes no sense. The MGIF lorry driver? Don't understand that either but good awareness on your part 👍 I'm in the fender/mudguards camp for wet commuting, you'll still get wet but really does help protect the bike.
I got a used Nishiki, still super nice bike, multiple speed, good for commute, and I spent only small amount to repair and upgrade.
My Trek is only for fun ride, although it's made for beating, it's a touring bike. Still it feels wrong to take it to rain and cold :)
I got into a head on wreck with another cyclist on my ultralight road bike I was using for commuting. I bought a low end Chromoly touring bike to replace it. I transferred some parts from the road bike to it and pretty happy with it for the last 4 years I had it. Hopefully, it'll keep going as long as I change the wearable parts along the way. Honestly, for the purpose, I actually like this bike better--it's heavier but light enough, way more comfortable even with the same seat, and about 1/3 the cost so I can tolerate some cheap feeling levers.
Had the same happen to me except I got a boxer's fracture (ironically, I also box). If the salmon cyclist prick didn't have those stupid metal horns on his mtb bar ends I woulda been fine
Trucks and Prius's are the cyclist nightmare
looks like another week of rain~ . your commentary during the rides is always fun to listen to for me. I think because I ride out here in Japan as well and I always come across the same stuff like parked cars and those damn bugs in the summer. would be cool to see you ride on a random gravel adventure type situation. I'm looking to buy a new bike before our taxes go up this October. Should meet up and go for a ride sometime.
unfortunately most of my rides now are just before/after work. Hopefully will get to do more exploration rides again someday
I'm still weighing options for the next bike, and feeling like I need to just pull the proverbial trigger or else I'll never get riding again.
Basic factors: little space, so one bike is all I can manage to store; motor function disability, so leaning toward Di2 or Pinion to help me shift; and considering how nice a bike I'd like, if I'm only able to have one at a time and ride in all weather. Cycling shops and cycling culture in Japan puts me off, so I'm not sure how an "exotic" drivetrain like Pinion/Gates will fare.
Narrowed to three: RLT9 Steel with mechanical or Force AXS; Co-Motion Klatch w/ Pinion and belt; or a titanium frame with Di2.
2:37 the speeding civic gain nothing, zero, nada from speeding, the bicycle catch up to all the speed demons LOL.
I am in my second weeks of bike-communiting to work, my body is sore but getting used to the routine. I bike-commute two hours daily from work, it’s a test of endurance.
Used to commute by bike years ago. Had to give it up as I'd nearly gotten killed by inattentive drivers one too many times. Almost a 50k round trip once or twice a week weather permitting
Definitely wouldn't do it every day if I had to be on these roads..
I use a cheapo bike here in Bangkok for everyday use. Our roads are awful.
Add to that the rainy seasons just gone, and dangerous drivers everywhere, well you can imagine.
The relative peace of kansai roads is perfect for me.
Keep on spinning man.
いつも楽しんでみています。
長久手から千種区ですか？大変ですね。私もBikeで通勤しています。同じ愛知県です。夏はまだ良いと思います。冬は日が暮れるのが早く、自転車は、大変危険ですので、安全運転してください。私もはじめはロードバイクで通勤していましたが、20年ほど前からは、MTBで通勤しています。スピードは出ませんが、より安全です。日本の道は、MTBの方が、安全だと思います。歩道（歩行者がいない場合）に楽に避難できますからね。とにかく日本の道は、自転車にとって安全ではありませんので、お互い安全運転で行きましょう。
ありがとうございます！
普段は車のない安全な川の道で走っています :)
MTBもたまに通勤で使っています。
Hi Cruise, I was in Osaka and Tokyo just last week, These cities are fantastic, and the train systems are super extensive! With the train system there, I think using a Brompton (small foldable bike), which is what I use, would give the best mobility going around. Just sharing, and If you get a chance, I hope you can review other commuter bike alternatives too, as I am interested in your opinion in it. Thanks!
I bike commute when the weather is good in Iowa, but I only live one mile from my job.
If you want a belt drive bike and a Rohloff hub, do it, it’s the best for cycling under water 😊
We have a few of the best manufacturers in the Netherlands, look up Koga, Santos and from Germany (but Dutch founder) IdWorx. They make the best on the market.
Watch the videos of Bicycle Dutch and his blog like this one bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/riding-in-the-rotterdam-rain/ to see what the Dutch use for everyday commutes. You need something sturdy with a simple speed hub (3, 5 or 8) and a good closed chain guard. Yes, they are heavy compared to a road bike, but virtual maintenance free. The alternative is to used a long distance travel bike, but those can be as expensive as a carbon road bike.
I also start my commute at 7 am, but I don't mind rising early. I always eat a light breakfast before I start. In the 9 years that I'm commuting, I tend to vary my routes as well. Cycling the same route every day becomes boring. Sometime I cycle an extra 2 km, just to have a change of scenery and pace. Speed isn't really that important with all the traffic lights and side streets you have to watch out for.
Interesting commuting experience...2 questions...😁. 1. How about a Gates belt drive with internal Alfine gears? 2. Please (please) make a video on Banana+Peanut butter sandwiches. In England they do not exist and it sounds interesting! 😋
I'm gonna test one out later next month.. can't wait!
And don't think I can make a whole video dedicated to pbb sandwiches haha
I bike 16 miles a day round trip. The weather sucks here in Michigan . Wondering if I should take the longer route with more incline 😢 or the shorter route on freeway . It’s dangerous out there Michigan rain is ruthless. Just imagine, peddling uphill getting pelted in the face by rain and push back by wind as you’re struggling to go up the hill I must listen to David Goggins on my way to work and Home and my Rocky motivation music. I feel like a warrior when I ride my bike in the treacherous weather.😂
I generally choose the longer and safer way... unless I'm running late 😅
i have weetabix before my morning commute, i find it gives me enough energy until lunchtime, that way i dont snack, although my commute is alot shorter than you, im 5km to work and 5.5km home (i have to take a different route).
You should eat after your morning commute. Cortisol levels in the morning are/should be on the highest of all day, so take advantage of that. Your body doesn't really need those carbs/sugar/cereal early even if you ate your dinner some hours before going to sleep. This will also help to make your body more energy efficient by helping your metabolism.
edit: changed cals to carbs
Nice video. Do they use salt 🧂 on the roads in winter in Japan? I live in the Midwestern US & road salt wreaks havoc on a bike here in winter - especially the drive train - it'svery difficult to keep clean. I know several other bike bloggers have gone to belt driven internally geared hubs for commuting in winter.
Hey Cruise. I’ve being commuting to work for about 3 years now and people that I work with it always questioned me about clothes for work (how do you do? Do you take shower? Didn’t you sweat a lot?)
So, guess what I’m saying that would be good if you could share your experience on this matter. How do you arrange your stuff on the backpack? Since you go clipped, how do you do with regular shoes, they are also on the backpack? If you work with social clothes, how do you do to not get them wrinkled? How do you when it rains (since Asian rain season is long)? Guess that could be interesting and could encourage people that want bike commute but have this type of concerns.
Also, hi5 from Brazil. Great work with the channel, keep going.
I have been watching your videos for quite some time. Do you ever use mirrors on your bikes or have you ever used cycling mirrors on your helmet or handlebars etc? Thanks!
Another great and informative video. I usually eat after a ride. Take care, Be safe!
Thanks man! :)
A commuter bike would be better for your kid of traffic nice paved roads. where I bike to work the road are pretty bad from potholes to all most gravel like roads. so I sold my road bike and bought a cx aluminum bike instead. what a difference from a road bike to cx bike. fenders would be the next purchase.
I mean you get fitter and tone/ripped.
Strong legs. Very strong legs. High stamina and endurance.
Btw. Off topic.
Is an Kona Lava Dome 1996 model. Worth it for 60 dollars? It's a steel cromoly race light frame.
Get that 90s kona while you can, 90s mtb are a hit now for commuting
Buy it, sell the groupset parts but keep the frameset, buy used premium parts for the frame, build the bike after a full overhaul and deep clean. And boom!
Uodate! I bought it.
Outboard shimano square taper cranks too. Not bad. A bit of rust here and there. Recently replaced the cassette.
I commute on my motorcycle, but I for years commuted on my bicycle ( which $100 crap Target and Walmart bikes definitely aren't the same as, riding a bike from a dedicated bike shop that has $400 and up), about 10 miles(each way) to and from work...on days when I didn't feel like doing that ride. Well, the bus sure came in handy.
$100 walmart bikes are great for rainy days
@@TwoWheelCruise Yeah, sketchy...and fun.
Ride what is comfortable even if it is expensive. if you ride a cheap bike but hate it....
Raining everyday for several months definitely needs a re-think and a bike of a different calibre. Some good suggestions from your viewers, among which the following are pertinent: Aluminium, non-rusting frame ( cheap second hand), sturdy wheels and tyres (at least 28,pref.35mm width) with mudguards (fenders), belt drive, either single speed or Shimano Nexus hub (much cheaper than Rohloff) , definitely disc brakes, a rack and waterproof panier is another consideration. You will lose acceleration speed but not a lot of overall speed with this set up and you could still use your cyclo-cross bike in dry weather conditions. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimano_Nexus
I do not prefer internal gear hub because I do not how to maintance and repair them. Commuting bike need to be working so need to be something that you can fix it if broken and not for waiting that when bike shop have time to repair.
From all that I have read about internal hubs, such as Shimano Nexus and Rohloff, they don't need maintenance, only an oil drain and refill once a year, if you forget one year, do it the next year, no big deal.
@@Andy-sj2dv Everything what human are made, requires maintenance. Other thing more other less. :) But lucky there are bike for everyone if you prefer somethng and not want some technology
Really enjoy your videos! I was wondering what you meant by the weather wearing down your bike? I use a carbon road bike to commute and I can see more wear on the drivetrain but I was wondering there is any wear on the frame. I haven't noticed any yet but maybe I don't know what to look out for. Thank you!
Mainly rust on bolts, spokes, drevetrain
Hi Cruise! Another great film about cycling-commuting and showing some of those everyday things we have to put up with here in Japan. (BTW that guy at the end with his umbrella goes into the class of 'fucking idiot' - I get them now and then too!)
The main thing you talk about is wear and tear. Yes, if you ride a bike at a decent speed everyday for 40+kms in all conditions you will see massive deterioration of parts. It always bugs me when I see some guys on really nice bikes dressed for work - I want to scream 'You're ruining your bike!' This is why I have a self built bike for commuting. I buy barely used or used second hand parts online (Japan is so good for this) and do all my own maintenance (generally once a week). Cables, chains, tyres, brake pads, bar tape etc are obviously new. My travel expenses from work cover a lot of what I spend on parts. The rest I am more than happy to pay for cos it is a great way of life. I'm a family man so I have breakfast early and as I am on my feet a lot at work I have to be careful about energy - hell, yesterday I bonked after 5kms of street riding on my way home!!!! But it is much better than taking the train everyday. 'Be safe, be seen, be careful and don't treat your commute as a race - then, you can enjoy your daily ride' is basically my philosophy. And I too at the weekend will lose complete impetus to go for a ride - I tend to try to plan in advance a Saturday ride (once a month?) where I can take out my TCR and hit the hills etc, but then I have to put up with those weekend warriors :( !! Look forward to more of your films!!
Thanks! Unfortunately lots of people like him on the rainy days..
1. Why is biking with an unbrella illegal?
2. I've been a long distance hiker for years but in the last couple years I've had a few injuries and so I've started branching out. Paddled the length of the Mississippi River and today I bought an old beat up titanium road bike to fix up. I intend to modify it a little to tour on. (I know I shouldn't tour on a road bike everyone says but my only real biking experience is with road bikes and me+gear+consumables is still lighter then the average person.)
More details here ruclips.net/video/zXJBFUyLfNc/видео.html
My belt drive is great until I need to remove the rear wheel on the road. If you are a mechanical whiz, maybe it's not so bad.
How often do you look back when riding in that traffic? I'd be too nervous.
Only when I move to the right honestly.. Mostly try to use my ears, the dangerous cars always accelerate like crazy.