Bicycle Commuter Profile: Tim Donahoe

Name: Tim Donahoe
Location: Columbia, MO, USA
Started bike commuting: To work – 2009…everything else – 2008
Commute distance (one way): 10 miles

Describe your commute: My commute consists of a short jaunt through town and the campus of the University of Missouri. Then I climb a steep, long and windy hill to a major road with 50 mph speed limit. I think take an outer road to an overpass over MO Hwy 63. I then take a shortcut through the University of Missouri’s South Farm Research facility (Grass, dirt and gravel), and on to a small road that leads to the back of my workplace.

Describe your bike and accessories:

• Frame – Early 90′s Giant Cross/Hybrid
• Handlebars – Inverted north road
• Wheels – Sun CR18s laced to Deore hubs
• Cranks – Suntour XC Pro
• Pedals – Deore XT
• Front Derailleur – Suntour AR
• Rear Derailleur – Shortcage Deore XT
• Saddle – Brooks B17
• Other – Planet bike fenders, Velo-Orange Porteur rack, Blackburn bottle cages…etc.

What bit of advice would you like to share with new bike commuters?: Just do it. The more you ride, the easier it becomes. Eventually you figure out how fast you need/want to go, what routes are the best, and how to deal with the weather. You’ll feel better about yourself the more you ride.