bike commuting tips: accoutrements edition

So, it's September.

This means that it's been two months since I sold my car, during which time I've been moving across the country, starting my new internship, and commuting by bike!

thanks bulletproofcourier.blogspot.com

Here's a list of handy items to improve your bike commuting experience:

1. Helmet.

I wear a Bern helmet. There's some debate as to whether or not you're statistically safer on a bicycle when you're wearing a helmet, but I'd rather have an extra layer of protection for my brain just in case something unexpected happens.

I've bonked my (helmeted) head on the ground during unscheduled bike/horse dismounts, and I am convinced that a helmet is a wise investment. Make sure it fits correctly, and replace it if you fall on it or drop it from a significant height.

2. Fenders.

Ohhhh you guys fenders are going to make you so happy when it's raining. With fenders, your wheels won't throw muddy water up onto your clothes. Enough said.

3. Rack(s).

I have a rear rack. Some people have a front rack. Some people have a front rack and a rear rack. You can tie and/or hang shit on your rack(s) so you don't have to stuff it awkwardly in a backpack.

Some people prefer the backpack, though. You do you.

4. Gloves.

You know what's cool about gloves? They keep your hands warm when it's chilly (unless you get the fingerless ones). They look awesome. And...if you ever fall onto pavement or gravel, you'll tear up your gloves instead of your palms. 

5. Rain pants.

Arriving at your destination mostly dry > arriving at your destination with rainwater running into your underwear.

6. Rain jacket/poncho.

See above, re: rainwater running into your underwear.

7. Waterproof/water resistant shoes.

It's pretty amazing how thoroughly wet you can get when you're riding your bike in the rain. Don't neglect your footwear, or you'll be squelching for the better part of your day.

8. Bike locks.

Locking your bike is a whole separate subject for another day, but for starters, I use two locks of different types (U-lock and chain lock) to lock my bike. Both keys go on my key chain, and both locks nestle in one pannier when I'm riding.

9. Pannier(s).

A pannier is a pretty sweet receptacle for whatever you might need to carry with you throughout the day. I have a pair of waterproof Ortlieb panniers that attach to my rear rack, and so far they've done a solid job of carrying:

- Groceries
- Stacks of journal articles
- Extra scrubs
- Lunch
- Extra jacket

I like that my panniers are easy to detach and carry around, and they can carry absurdly large volumes of stuff before the balance of my bike starts to feel weird.

10. Bike lights.

Bike lights help 1) you see in the dark and 2) other people see you in the dark. Both of these should happen as often as possible. Safety!

internship tips: moving across the country edition

Hey friends!

As previously mentioned, I just moved across the country. I've started my oncology internship (which, btdubs, could not possibly be more different from my last internship), and today seems like an excellent day for a collection of moving tips for you:

1) Find a place to live.

It's actually much harder to rent an apartment long-distance than it is when you're moving from one local-ish place to another. Unless you have many dollars, it's probably cost-prohibitive to fly back and forth to look at potential places/meet potential landlords and/or roommates.

Landlords are more reluctant to rent to you (see: what if you see the place and instantly hate it when you get here?), and potential roomies are somewhat hesitant about signing you on (see: she seems okay on Skype, but what if she's actually horrible in person?). It's just easier for everyone to rent to local folks.

So! Jump on that. Search early and often. I'm a fan of craigslist, but others prefer sites with a broader net (such as Padmapper). Decide on your nonnegotiables (no basement apartments? rent < a certain $$? close to school or work), and call/email listings that look promising right away.

2) Get rid of your shit.

No, seriously. You probably have a lot of shit.  If you are legitimately moving across the country (or a similar distance), it's gonna be more expensive if you still have a lot of shit come moving day. Make a "thrift store" box, a "sell" box, a "throw away" box, and get sorting.

3) Decide how you're going to get there.

Are you driving? Renting a moving van? Flying? Flying and selling your car? Flying and shipping your car? Taking the train? Decide which mode of getting yourself to your new city works best for your lifestyle, traveling companion(s), and budget.

4) Decide how your belongings are going to get there.

I'm going to tell you something (as this person has already mentioned) - Amtrak is a secretly excellent way to ship your non-electronic, non-furniture items. I shipped 38 boxes across the continental US, and it cost just under $500. At the time of this writing, the cost was $72 for the first 100 pounds, with each additional pound costing 73 cents.

In theory, you cannot ship more than 500 pounds per shipment - however, at the Amtrak station I used, the gentleman did not enforce this. You also are not supposed to ship furniture or electronics (anything with a cord). The maximum size of a box is 36"x36" - bike boxes are exempt from this, but they count as their own shipment (I'm not 100% clear on the bike rules, as I did not send my Surly on the train). The boxes arrived when they were supposed to, and only one box had some minimal damage. Winning!

5) If at all possible, set aside some funds for the move.

There will be a fair few planned expenses (travel, shipping, +/- hotel, takeout after you pack your kitchen, etc) as well as some surprises. Any cash you're able to save for moving and associated costs will help reduce your panic and make the process a bit easier.

moving!

Hey Everyone!

So, some things have happened over the last month or so.

I finished my internship.

thanks newdogworld.com

I sold my car.

thanks kulfoto.com

And I moved across the country.

thanks lifewithcats.tv

I'm starting an oncology internship at a university hospital, which is super exciting. This is a specialty internship, which is sort of like my last internship except with more oncology and less ER (also hopefully a step towards an oncology residency).

I start tomorrow. Wish me luck!

furrrrrniture:

My new state is a reasonable driving distance (a little over six hours) from the University of Awesome. So! Moving was simpler than it might have been otherwise. All of the stuff in my apartment fit into the back of a pickup truck and a car, even with the front seat reserved for a certain someone:

ALWAYS WATCHING

My cat is awesome, btw. I met her in a palpation lab at the vet school during my first year, and at the time she was as fat as a house. She weighed approximately twice what her trim body weight should be. She sat fatly in her metal cage sternly regarding the world around her. I scooped her up in my arms (my lab partner said, "Lift with your legs!") and I instantly loved her.

She has since lost a significant amount of poundage, and enjoys snarfing every morsel of food she can find. We share the same name (I did not name her, she came with it), so for a time the two technicians in charge of the labs called us "Alacrity" and "Fat Alacrity". As in,

"Hey Alacrity! How's Fat Alacrity doing?"

She is also an excellent traveler, and always very polite. Sometimes she bites.

Anyway!

This was supposed to be a post about furniture.

I didn't have all that much furniture in my last apartment, but in the spirit of minimalism and having fewer heavy things to carry whilst moving, I winnowed said furniture down to the following:

1. Futon and frame
2. Nightstand
3. Coffee table
4. Two folding shelves
5. Meditation bench
6. Two stools
7. Freestanding kitchen butcher-block structure
8. Fish tank stand
9. Three disassemble-able small shelves for shoes, etc.
10. Sturdy plastic storage container with drawers

Also (not furniture exactly but heavy, big, and/or fragile:

1. Full-length mirror
2. Two small lamps
3. One tall lamp
4. Toaster oven

Here are some things I learned about moving a) furniture, and b) things that are heavy, big, and/or fragile:

1. Take the lightbulbs out of your lamps.
2. Get a box designed to move art for your big mirror (or your art also), or really extensively/absurdly wrap the mirror in soft, comfy blankets.
3. TAKE PICTURES OF HOW THINGS GO TOGETHER BEFORE YOU TAKE THEM APART.
4. Put all the screws and washers in a bag together for each piece of furniture and label them.
5. Do not let cords dangle and trip you while you are carrying a corded appliance.
6. If you are moving something with drawers without emptying said drawers, tape the drawers shut.

Happy packing! Hopefully you will lose your screwdriver, hammer and scissors fewer times than I did.

everything is new and different!

Hi there everyone!

Let me tell you, I am so excited to be mostly moved in.

Here are some things I have learned during this last week or so:

1. 5 drops of citrus essential oil and 5 drops of dish soap mixed in a spray bottle of water is a fairly effective spider repellent.

2. It costs $3.75 to wash a load of laundry here, compared with $2 where I last lived.

3. It is important to have your shit together when you visit the DMV. Relatedly (and, seemingly, illogically), the DMV will not take a copy of your lease as proof of your residence in your new state.

4. There are a number of ways to assemble a futon that are not correct. Most of these ways will result in the futon folding upon itself when sat upon.

5. Parking in the city is the worst part about driving into the city.

6. There is a sex shop several doors down from my landlord's office, and a head shop across the street.

7. There is a store down the street from my apartment that makes the best cupcakes in existence.

I start my internship next week. I am really excited!

HOLY BUCKETS:

I GRADUATED!

Yes.

I am ever so excited. Now I am hurriedly packing everything in my apartment, discovering large numbers of dust bunnies, and preparing to move/start my internship. Um, what?

Everything is happening so quickly, but I haven't enormously panicked yet.

There have been some small panics:

1. While packing the kitchen, I discovered that all of my drinking glasses are now Mason jars, and Mason jars in large quantities are heavy. Now I have too many heavy, fragile, kitchen boxes.  Balls.

2. OH HEY I guess I should send in my now-finalized transcript to the licensing board so I can be licensed in my new state! That's important!

3. A group of industrious ants has been slowly devouring a lone, forgotten horse treat in the bottom of a basket on my dresser.

4. There are SO MANY SPIDERS in the loft. I am viscerally afraid of spiders.

This Autostraddle Guide to Moving has been enormously helpful.  Oh, moving. One day I may be skilled at moving. That day is not today!