Deanna's Commute Details
The Bike: Breezer Villager
My commute bike is a Breezer Villager. This bike comes ready to go for
commuting and running errands around town. It comes stock with:
- Fenders
- Rear rack
- Lights: both front and rear and they are powered by a tire
generator so you don't need to worry about the batteries going dead if
you get stuck out at night. The generator also stores power to keep the
"Stoplights" going for 10 minutes after you stop pedaling.
- Built on lock
- Nothing is quick release--while this makes it a bit of pain to
change flats and make adjustments, a thief is less likely to be able to
pull off individual parts (wheels and seat).
I've added a tool kit and extra flasher lights to the bike. I also
carry a spare flasher to attach to my helmet when I know I'll be taking
a route where the car drivers are likely to be distracted. Some other
things I can't do without are a super bright windbreaker, rearview
mirror (glasses mount), waterproof bags (backpack), and sunglasses with
interchangeable lenses (I have lenses for fog, bright light, dark, etc).
I also look for clothing with reflective bits to add any amount of extra
visibility I can. I keep a towel and shower gel at work, but they're
pretty much for emergency use only as I rarely break a sweat on my ride
into the office. I also keep a supply of plastic grocery bags for
packing my lunch in. The one time I didn't think I needed it I ruined a
nice sweater when my soup container cracked open.
The Route
This bike is a little heavy for longer or hilly commutes, but that's
fine with me as my current route is only 10 miles round trip, with only
two freeway overpasses of climbing to deal with. Sometimes side trips
take me a little further for the day, but nothing too difficult. I'm
definitely a fair-weather commuter when it comes to rain, though if I
starts AFTER I get to work, I'll just go ahead and ride home in the
rain. Wind I just put up with and I can handle cold down to freezing.
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