I was wondering about velo cult. I was told they closed down.

I am looking for some vintage style bike cloths. I would love some old peddle pushers

MuhatmaGoogus:My price range is maximum $1,000, I do plan on still using a basket to carry all of my adventure necessities.

Sorry for the slow response, but at that price range, you can find tons of options in many of the bike shops around town. I like Hi-Tech in Kearny Mesa, Adams Ave Bike Shop in North Park, and REI in Kearny Mesa. That's not to say I don't like the other shops. I just had good experiences with these three. Again, go in there, ask for something under $1000, you'll have a lot of options.

I recommend a cyclocross style bike because of the gearing ratios, more aggressive seating position, and fat tires. A road bike with a triple crank would work too. Throw on some fat city-street-friendly tires and you should be good. A compact crank (big ring + small ring) will work too depending on your leg power. I don't recommend the standard 2-ring crank (big ring + medium ring) for daily climbing. Too much work. :) A mountain bike has the best gearing ratios for climbing up Texas St, but the tires are too fat. The top speed is also too low. Not an efficient daily commuting option unless you need the off-roading capability and want the daily exercise. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

Following the example of Hans, Mark, Sigurd, etc., I'm changing my user name from "mileco" to my actual first name. I've been on enough social rides with the folks from this forum that most know me by Geoff.

Hi I'm James. I commute from Kensington to Sorrento Valley about 3 times per week, in addition to running errands around town. I've been a cyclist for life, and still do all sorts of riding from towing around the kids to mountain bike trips and long road rides. I find the commutes to be awesome at providing time away from the madness of the household and office when I can think and reflect, or just zone out. Mostly I commute on a red Steelman that I've had for about 14 years. Since my commute is about 20 miles each way I carry only a backpack.

It's great to see more cyclists on the road although I saw far more bicycle commuters in the winters in Switzerland when I lived there than I do here in the summer. Still, it's a good start and I feel like our numbers are slowly growing! Cheers.

Welcome James! What route do you take from Kensington to Sorrento Valley? I'm curious because I live in Sorrento Valley, and even though I would like to ride more, I hate negotiating with the Genessee exit traffic.

When I was in Switzerland I was mostly in Zurich but for a little while in a town called Rapperswil which is down the shore from Zurich. I definitely enjoyed it and would have stayed longer if the firm I was with could have worked out a better ex-pat situation for us.

My route from Kensington to Sorrento Valley varies slightly based on my mood, how much of a rush I'm in, etc. It typically is Adams Ave, down Texas and then thru Mission Valley/Fashion Valley to Friars, cut over at Napa to Morena/W.Morena, take Balboa and quick right on Santa Fe, up to bike path and then up Gilman, I cut through UCSD and then through Scripps Memorial, turn left on Genessee and down to I-5 for the quick ride on the shoulder to Sorrento Valley. Office is on Roselle. On the way home I come off Santa Fe and take Mission Bay by the car dealers and then along the bay to Sea World, and usually up Friars. Sometimes I take Pacific Hwy up to Old Town and ride up by the Presidio or Juan and then through Mission Hills, Hillcrest, etc. Once in a while I'll ride up Bachman Place or Texas if I feel like it. Sometimes I'll change the morning ride and go through MIssion Hills too. Lots of ways to make small changes to the route without impacting the total time too much.

The worst part of my commute I think is riding up 5 in the evening and exiting Genessee. I try to spin an easy gear up the ramp and then once on the freeway shoulder it flattens out slightly and I shift up a few gears and try and get it over with as fast as possible. On the exit ramp I don't have too much trouble getting across the right exit lane and once across that I usually occupy the right lane for the most part until I get across the bridge as there's not a lot of room. W. Morena Blvd on the way in the morning kinda stinks too - lots of cars parked on the right, no bike lane, not a lot of room, cars/trucks going 60 mph. Riding along the bay on the other side of 5 would be safter perhaps but also adds time to the commute so I just put up with Morena for now.

Hopefully I can keep up with the commuting. I used to commute years ago from Solana Beach to General Atomics up on Torrey Mesa, and before that from University City to Scripps Inst on Torrey Mesa. The past 15 or so years I"ve worked from home and didn't have an office to commute to. So far it's been a great experience but having just done recreational riding and errands I'd forgotten how easy it is to space out when commuting. It's totally different than just going out for a ride, and add to that the fact that it's during the rush hour when lots of motorists are having their anxiety attack behind the wheel. Anyways, enough rambling! I'll try and post a pic of the Steelman for you sometime but pics don't do it justice.

Welcome to all new forum members!

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of poverty and distaste

I'm an Encinitas bike commuter

Welcome from the Mesa! (And I love the reference.)

Welcome jacobk, (and to your girlfriend as well),

I'm glad you see improvements to the bicycling infrastructure. Sometimes us long timers don't recognize that change has occurred; it happens so incrementally and not at a pace we would like to think it should. San Diego is moving in the right direction thanks to the strong voices and efforts of the local advocates. They are a determined group and fun too!

The Down Townies still ride occasionally, watch for announcements in that thread on these forums. There are other groups you might enjoy as well. Check out the TNR - Tuesday Night Racing at the Velodrome thread, The Taco Tuesday Rides with the SD Urban Bike and Social Club, and other rides that get announced on the forum. There seems to be a lot of group rides and gatherings in the uptown neighborhoods so you're in a good spot.

Check out the SDBikeCommuter Discount Program as well. If you ride your bikes to a participating business, you'll get a discount on products or services from 5% - 15%. Coffee shops, Pubs, restaurants, clothing stores, bike shops and even health services. There are many participating businesses in your area.

Ride well and be safe out there.

OKB

slomaro3.4:I'm only in SD for the summer, but I bike a few miles to work everyday, and whatever I can make time for on the weekends.

Welcome to the forum and to the Strava club, slomaro3.4!

Welcome james!

Those are a couple of nice steel ponies you got there. The TREK looks good. That's how I roll as well, a touring rig with panniers. If I rode a bike as old as me, I'd be on something made out of gas pipe. Ha! Is that a three speed Raleigh? I see you like the Brooks saddles; a good way to go.

If you're in San Diego, join a group for a ride here in town. Stay cool and stay hydrated.

Ride well and be safe out there.

OKB

Sweet bikes James - very classy!

Without resorting to a search engine, how many of us know the source of the literary allusion of the name of James's Trek "Rocinante?" Just wondering.

Cecil:

HMeins:Without resorting to a search engine, how many of us know the source of the literary allusion of the name of James's Trek "Rocinante?" Just wondering.

I named my LHT the same thing when I took her touring.

Tilting at windbags!

1) Don't go too slow,
2) don't go too fast, and above all
3) don't stop!

;)

HMeins:Without resorting to a search engine, how many of us know the source of the literary allusion of the name of James's Trek "Rocinante?" Just wondering.

I had to look it up. I'm kind of bummed because I DID read that book but it was roughly 35-40 years ago.

YAY PINK BIKE! (i think that makes it 6 or 7 now) welcome :D

Welcome, Darcon, I also look forward to meeting you in person! Those bikes look awfully familiar, but perhaps it is just the brilliant blue on pink interaction tweaking my thought strain.

Hey - you showed us all a new path to the beach - welcome to SDBikeCommuter!

Hi darcon! Welcome! Hope you had a chance to meet with lotso friendly forum people today. I'm sure I'll see you one of these days...maybe on the road.

Good evening all. I recently passed down an old trek that was given to me. Now im in search for a new bike. Does anyone have any reviews with The Bike Revolution, I am interested in purchasing a '12 Jamis Hudson Sport or '12 Jamis Citizen 2 sometime at the end of this month. Haven't really had time to actually go to different shops, Trek is the only other spot I've been too. My commute would consist from Little Italy to the Ferry, to Coronado. Any suggestions on type/model bicycle and location are greatly appreciated. I look forward to ride with you and post a picture soon.

Hi all,

I've been lurking for a while, and figured I'd use a couple of minutes to create an account and post scary pictures. I'm Petteri as you can guess, originally from Finland and now living in San Diego. I live in Hillcrest/Mission Hills and work in Sorrento Mesa, commuting by bike a couple of times a week with occasional help from the Coaster if I'm going to a social ride afterwards. You may have seen me eating tacos or drinking beer before.

Here's me, first heading to Tour de Fat and in a more typical setting:



Here are two out of my three bikes, the new Surly Cross-Check commuter and Ridgeback ex-commuter relegated to urban assault bicycle status:



Hope to see you folks around!

Welcome Petteri. Glad you joined the forum. I am the fella who rides the arctic blue Brompton folder. We've ridden together a few times on UB&S

Welcome Petteri and Smorg! I still am not 100% sure how to pronounce Petteri...but I shall learn.

And all slowpokes - I got you beat! No one is slower than me. I am certain of it. I exist to boost your egos and your time on any road, hill or even downhill (I ride my brakes down all hills).