bike as only transportation?

[jmillheiser]

If you wear gear you get used to dealing with it.

I gear up differently depending on the riding im doing, if im commuting to work its helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans, and workboots

if im riding on a day off or after work its helmet, jacket, gloves, kevlar reinforced jeans, and motorcycle boots.

A textile or perforated leather jacket can be nice if you live in a warm climate.

as for the stripping off gear part, look into overpants, they go on over your street clothes, provide good protection and come off like a pair of trackpants. the rest of the gear is easy enough to deal with.

Tennis shoes are not a good idea on a bike, but a pair of hiking, work, or combat boots should be fine.

having the bike as your sole transport could work in a warm climate. Have to have a cage here in wyoming, we get some fierce snowstorms here in the winter

[CNF2002]

I have a jacket, gloves, overpants and a helmet. It takes me less than a minute to gear up/down.

[DirtyD86]

Tennis shoes are not a good idea on a bike, but a pair of hiking, work, or combat boots should be fine.

ive heard a few different people say that, is it mainly because of road debri, or is there another reason?

[CNF2002]

I think its more protection from getting your foot torn off, or maybe burn your ankle against an exhaust if you get stuck under it.

[camthepyro]

Boots would definitely help to not break your ankle in a spill.

[KroSha]

I've been living and commuting in London for the last year. My bike has been only transport I've owned for the last 2 years. I use it at least 5 days a week, as I hate public transport, unless I'm going out on the town.

The key, as far as I've found, is anticipation.

I've got a good pair of leather trousers that I wear for riding. I take a pair of jeans to work to wear during the day. I keep an eye on the weather forecast and take the rainsuit if it looks bad. I've got heated gloves and a face-mask for the winter. Decent combat boots keep my feet dry, or MC boots for extra shin protection (I rotate them, so I'm not always wearing the same pair).

There was an article in the paper that said that commuting every day meant getting wet on average 12 days per year. Perfectly acceptable as far as I'm concerned.

If only they'ed get rid of the cages, or at least let us use the taxi lanes legally (not that I'd use them illegally, natch )

[Kal]

Tennis shoes are not a good idea on a bike, but a pair of hiking, work, or combat boots should be fine.

ive heard a few different people say that, is it mainly because of road debri, or is there another reason?

Take your sock off, roll up your trousers and look down you shin - do you see the noddly bit of the ankle just above your foot?

Imagine that being sanded off.

Thats the reason that has me wearing bike boots everytime I take my bike out.

[zarakand]

It's difficult to do. I do not like riding in icy/snowy conditions or temperatures below 40 F. If you go to a job that requires a tie/slacks and does not offer storage for your gear it can become a problem as well. Grocery shopping also becomes difficult, as it then involves numerous trips a week if you regularly eat/cook at home.

Can it be done? Hell yes, but it's very difficult. For the most part I've practically eliminated the car from my daily life, in the winter I bicycle everwhere including to the grocery store. However, I'm currently student teaching and doing clinical observations at high schols around the Chicago area. I do not have a place to put my motorcycle gear, and I need to cary quite a bit of paper work around while dressed up in slacks/shirt/tie.