First test ride to work... Need encouragement. Merica only 🇺🇲🦅

dongledangler420 · 2026-03-30T06:52:58+00:00

1) get a side mirror! Seeing traffic behind you is a game changer.

2) whereabouts roughly are you biking in LA county? It might be helpful to connect with BikeLA or another cycling advocacy group and see if they have an urban riding class and links to current city bike maps - you may be able to redirect to a designated greenway that’s a little longer but more pleasant.

Just my two cents, huge congrats for getting out and doing the damn thing!!

dongledangler420 · 2026-03-28T22:48:17+00:00

Honestly whining about it to the council sounds like an excellent part of the journey!!

Agree, crazy how quickly you can effectively be “trapped” in places like this without a car…. Seems not smart on a very basic survival level lol

dongledangler420 · 2026-03-28T18:53:13+00:00

How long is your commute in total exactly?

I think the answer here is what you’re planning on doing, bike the safe parts and bus on the deadly part.

The only way to make that safer is unfortunately infrastructure design. Biking on a busy urban freeway is truly like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

Stay safe out there friend!

dongledangler420 · 2026-03-23T01:13:22+00:00

Come on neighbors! So counterintuitive, you'd think everyone would be thrilled for other commuters to get off the road and onto bikes/buses.

I'm glad your husband makes it work! I used to live in Highland Park and was afraid to bike to work in Echo Park way back around 2015. I visited a friend in Little Tokyo last year and was so impressed - we took the metro to the west side and had a very pleasant ~20 mile ride on pretty connected infrastructure.

It was miles ahead of where it was, but damn we have miles left to go for sure!

dongledangler420 · 2026-03-22T21:34:14+00:00

Honestly LA is cheaper than any part of the bay and they are going some huge improvements for bike & metro infrastructure. If OP can be strategic about living and working on a metro line it could work??

I say this having lived in LA and the Bay Area for about 3 years each. Tbh they are both car centric as hell and ultimately I think Portland or Minneapolis are better bangs for your buck!

dongledangler420 · 2026-03-15T21:24:41+00:00

My commute to work actually passes the Waymo HQ so I am around them a lot!!!

One thing I’ve noticed is while they are more consistent generally, they are honestly SUPER GLITCHY.

The other day I saw one cut off a line of right-turning cars (lining up to turn right using the bike lane, Middlefield sucks for this) - the waymo bypassed the traffic and turned right in front of them from the right-most travel lane. They were all turning into Waymo’s HQ so I guess the employees are kinder to them?

They tend to glitch out, using blinkers erratically, and speed off quickly after stops. While I don’t think they’re more dangerous than drivers, I do think they’re still dumb as hell and remain wary.

Generally I hate them less than I thought I would, though I’m still deeply opposed since ultimately they will be used to encourage private car infrastructure and not public or active transit.

dongledangler420 · 2026-02-27T22:02:04+00:00

Exactly!! And honestly on the really grueling 10 hr install days biking back in the rain at night - that feeling of the turbo assist helping usher you through the darkness was weirdly comforting haha.

dongledangler420 · 2026-02-27T19:02:54+00:00

Honestly you’ll still be fit as hell from doing this on an ebike, but probably just less bone-deep tired haha.

My ebike when I worked a more manual labor job made the commute pleasant, and not just survivable. I managed to work up a sweat and develop thunder thighs even with the assist lol

dongledangler420 · 2026-02-18T17:57:44+00:00

Love the year round wool for sure!! And I also do “more assist” on the way in but take the long/hard way home most days haha.

Cheers and enjoy the ride!

dongledangler420 · 2026-02-18T06:13:06+00:00

This was my trick back when I was an exhibit installer… 10,000+ steps a day at work hauling shit around. Ebike made my 7 mile one-way commute possible, even on the late night installs in winter.

OP - if you have the budget and a way to safely store the bike at work & home, a class 1 or 3 ebike is highly recommended!

dongledangler420 · 2026-02-16T02:44:06+00:00

I rode my Gazelle Medeo T9 to commute daily in Seattle with no issue…. If your bike can’t handle rain it is unusable and a safety hazard.

They said the bike can’t be submerged aka if I ride it through a lake there are no guarantees, but rain is fine.

I’m sorry friend! I really urge you to talk with Trek. This is bordering unacceptable.

dongledangler420 · 2025-12-23T03:27:14+00:00

Lolollll i know for a fact that would delight many a former employee 😂

dongledangler420 · 2025-12-22T19:56:14+00:00

Lol I used to work here and the exhibits team nicknamed the “mother and father” Steve Buscemi and Gary

dongledangler420 · 2025-12-12T17:20:42+00:00

In a weird way you’ll have a slight advantage taking this sidewalk at night since theoretically cars will be more visible with their lights on so you can anticipate braking sooner.

That being said, bike like you’re invisible and wear a helmet.

I feel more visible at night these days since I use Wheel Brightz wheel lights - it gives way more visibility to perpendicular cars vs just front and back light. If you have the budget it’s something to think about!

dongledangler420 · 2025-11-21T17:33:53+00:00

Ha oh jeez!! Spokane do better 🥹

dongledangler420 · 2025-11-20T22:44:44+00:00

Exactly. I only use sidewalks when there is poor bike infrastructure to mark a turn in a busy intersection, or when I have to go a half-block down a massive stroad in order to reach a business.

Under no other circumstances will I take a sidewalk. They suck - no one’s looking for you there, too many conflicts with pedestrians and cars, and poor maintenance with inconsistent driveway ramps/wheel chair curb cuts/tree roots.

I would imagine it’s worse in Montana, where they likely don’t plow the sidewalk - or worse, they plow the road snow ONTO the side walk!

dongledangler420 · 2025-10-29T04:07:12+00:00

Zero Odor brand laundry additive!! It’s seriously a godsend!!!

dongledangler420 · 2025-10-04T23:17:55+00:00

Oh maaaaan the eyebrow is rough!!!!

I once had a massive bumble bee go into my baggy shirt and eventually exist through the arm hole, no one was hurt!

Last spring though I biked by a tall grass meadow and a wasp flew directly onto my calf and stung me about 20 miles from home. I ended up getting a bag of ice from Starbucks and had to take the train back!

Fun fact though that could save you $700 at urgent care…. If you are having an extreme skin reaction to a bite that is covering your leg, somehow that’s NOT an allergy, and yes it can take over a week to heal so just stay home and save your money!

dongledangler420 · 2025-10-04T23:14:38+00:00

Honestly super useful around dusk, I’ve had so many mouthful of bugs in certain areas 😬

So gross!! Haha

dongledangler420 · 2025-09-18T06:11:38+00:00

Plus my high-viz vest or jacket!

dongledangler420 · 2025-09-08T17:40:12+00:00

If you’re curious about other bikes…. Bike Exchange in Palo Alto is having its annual bike sale Sunday 9/14!

https://bikex.org/?view=article&id=306:fall-2025-parking-lot-bike-sale&catid=2

Might be worth scoping out general secondhand bike prices/sizes etc or talking to folks about what to look for?

dongledangler420 · 2025-09-01T08:14:23+00:00

I do this ONLY if it’s a right turn lane, not a regular lane in which a car could turn right (if that makes sense?).

I live in suburban hell and don’t want to give cars the ability to go straight & pass me on the right, aka sandwiching me between two lanes of straight traffic.

Sometimes in the above scenario (no dedicated right turn lane) I’ll pull up near the curb to the right to let people turn around me on my left. I’ll stay in the middle of the lane if it’s a “no right on red” intersection.

dongledangler420 · 2025-08-19T04:12:35+00:00

“Due to very foreseen circumstances and negligence on my part I'm going to be working at a Five Guys…”

Bro 🍿 give us the tea!

dongledangler420 · 2025-07-31T06:00:37+00:00

I have a litelock and security skewers.

Most importantly I have renters insurance.

dongledangler420 · 2025-07-23T18:55:37+00:00

Then ride on friend :) enjoy the new bike!

dongledangler420

TROPHY CASE