About
My name is Felix Reychman, and I cycle commute to work most days. Bikes are not a passion – Mostly. They’re a means to get from a to be in a nice manner.
However, riding forest trails or nice straights on a road bike is a very nice feeling. I try to introduce it to my kids as much as possible.
I live in a suburb called Farsta in the south of Stockholm, Sweden. Also, my other major interest and passion is photography.
How long have you been cycle commuting?
Always!
I got my first bike at age 4 or 5, and I never stopped riding. I rode with my friends just for fun as a child – “Wanna go out riding our bikes?”
I rode to school and then I rode to work.
Your Commute
I’m a bit torn. I read about commutes in other places, and realise it could be ever so much worse. On the other hand Stockholm prides itself on being a world class bike infrastructure city, which is a joke when compared to places in Holland and Denmark!
But I’m lucky. My 12km (8 miles) to work is almost exclusively on dedicated bike paths with reasonable standard, and most importantly salt sweeped in the winter. This makes it bare blacktop pretty much all year around, so I can ride all through winter as well. That works surprisingly well, even in 15C below zero!
I’m blessed with an employer encouraging cycling, providing us with showers and a locked bike room.
Over the last ten years, cycle commuting has exploded in Stockholm. Even winter commuting is now a big thing. In some places the stretches that were designed ten years ago and were considered ridiculously generous, are now so crowded that not everyone gets through on a single green light.
In ten years, I think I’ve taken the car 3 times, for very special reasons.
About 2 days a week I run instead of biking.
I also get some of the best views available in Stockholm, something you can never appreciate from a car, and rarely from the tube.
What is the best thing about Cycle Commuting?
So many things!
I get away from cars and crowded tube trains. I get fresh air, and the weather even when horrible, is rarely too bad I’ve found. You can always find clothes that are good enough to keep you comfortable.
I get all the views, and often the really nice sunrises and sunsets.
I get the exercise when I otherwise would have been just sitting, waiting to get from A to B.
Sometimes I even get the thrill of good speed, and the feeling of tailwind. A nice straight road dedicated to bikes, with a nice surface and beautiful trees all around me.
Your bikes
My main bike is a Scott Scale 760 mtb. I had to replace the original calipers, wich had aluminium parts that broke instantly on the first contact with salt (despite the shop promising me they were perfect for commuting and everything else – included moon landings!). That gets me through everything.
When the weather’s nice, I ride my 1996 Trek 1400 road bike. I love that bike. It’s yellow, and has lasted almost 25 years, so far, with an absolute minimum of service and maintenance.
Recently, I bought a carbon fiber road bike from a police auction (salvaged goods), which was broken. I gambled that I could fix it, and it does seem that I could. The repair has lasted nicely for the first 40 km of test runs. An angle grinder, industry grade epoxy glue, and patience was enough. Oh, and some spare parts. That bike was way to cheap this way, and it’s a bike I could never afford if it was in good shape.
I also have a really old 3-speed for the sort runs, when I have to take the tube for example.
And then there’s the rest of the family. At the moment they occupy one Scott Sub (wife), one similar Nishike (oldest daughter), 4 mountain bikes (the other four kids), one of which is to be sold off.
That’s a lot of bikes!
Any top tips?
Dress properly. Properly is not a brand, and it’s definitely not looks. It’s what keeps you comfortably dry and warm. Too much, and you’ll be too sweaty. Too little, and you’ll freeze. Too good looking, probably both!
Get a bike that solves your ride. Don’t go for what looks good, or is cool. If your ride is bumpy, avoid the road bike. It’s flat and straight, avoid something too heavy.
Website: http://www.flix.nu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reychman
Sign up for the Newsletter to get profile updates:
- Magene Radar Tail Light - July 18, 2023
- Remembering - June 23, 2023
- School Run Fun - June 19, 2023