Bike commuting/ bike repair

There are few bike commuters on STT. However I have a good friend who loves to bike down here. But the roads are very bad. The drivers are even worse. And there are lots of hills. Lots.

Kmart has some bike stuff so I am not sure what other stores there are. A look in the telephone book has one place, sportorama@hotmail.com as a possible contact.

I would not count on using the bike to commute unless you are close. Look into buying a car instead o shipping yours down. Look in the island trader for cars.

good luck

billd

Thanks for the info. I think I will bring plenty of replacement tubes with me. Does your friend have any suggestions on what makes him feel safer when he rides? I know many people have suggested a car; however, as a graduate student on a very tight budget shipping my car or buying one on island is out of my price range. Pretty much all of my stipend left over after tuition will be for rent and food. Thanks though!

Lots of color.

A vest.

And pray a lot !

billd

Riding here is difficult but do-able. I would suggest a Mt bike because it will hold up better than a skinny tire road bike. I would get heavier tires and even tire liners (good lock too). Try to live as close as possible and check the hills you would need to climb. The drivers do not do a good job of sharing the road. So be super aware. I don't know STT as well as St Croix so I can't help you with a bike shop.

I don't know of anyone on the isle of STT that commutes via bicycle...too dangerous and hilly (there are NO shoulders to the roads). Riding for pleasure, yes...but for the only form of transport? Nope. Use the dollar buses for commuting if you can't afford a car...but driving a bike will get you killed...either of a heart attack or flattened by a careless driver...JMHO, mind you. (I ride my Harleys every day, but they have engines...wouldn't try pedaling anywhere on this rock, but that's just me...)

You shouldn't be scared of the roads, you need to scared of the drivers. May God be with you.

Well, ya gotta admit, the roads aren't best, what with the potholes and all...the lack of shoulders make them even more dangerous for bicycles...and the hills are just too steep for all but those in the best of shape..but the drivers will take you out and not even look back..let alone stop!

sounds like my mountain bike is the best bet =) also lots of flashy clothing? haha. Everyone does describe quite a hairy experience biking on the island .. at least I can work on legs of steel with those hills. Honestly from the sound of it, I'm more concerned about the drivers than anything those roads can throw at me. I will definitely look into bus lines as well.

You may want to wait until you have been here a few weeks and then ship it down - just have it ready to ship and decide once you have seen what STT is like for riding.

I honestly think it has nothing to do with the drivers. The roads have no shoulders and TONS of blind curves. How is a driver to know that a biker is going to be there around a blind curve going much slower then the speed limit. Every bike in the island is just a time bomb. Sooner or later your number will be up. Frankly I think it's selfish.

Hiya: In Big America, bicyclists have an expectation that a. they have equal rights to the road, and b. if there is a problem, that the law will prevail. I have heard of pedestrians on narrow streets getting a ticket for being hit in the road. I have heard of bicyclists being hit and the driver not stopping. There is a sub-set of drivers here who believe they have divine rights to the road... If you drive responsibly, you *expect* something to be in the road around a blind turn. You do not drive like an Indy driver on Memorial Day.8-)

EE: you are partially correct.

Those that feel that they have divine rights to the road are the bicyclists themselves. For example, there is a group of about 10-15 bicyclists who ride in a large group on the south shore road on STX. They usually ride at around 5 pm (when people are trying to get home after work). They do not adhere to the rules of the road. More often than not, they ride side by side, either to talk or race. Either way, it forces commuters to pull as far as possible into the opposite lane of traffic to avoid them. They do not care if it is a straight away or a curve. They go so far as to sometimes have a jacka$$ in a silver truck follow them at 10 miles per hour, forcing commuters to form a long line of vehicles behind him until it is safe to pass. I have "heard" that it is getting so bad that there are people actively looking for his truck to slash his tires, thus unhindering the public roadway (I would never condone this). I have also heard that people are starting to carry jacks in their car. Jacks like you used to play with as a child. When modified, they won't hurt a vehicle tire but can do damage to bike wheels (I don't condone this either).

I am all for giving right of way when bikes ride tandem, but when they feel they have divine rights and hinder traffic, then it is a problem.

lol @ (I don't condone this either) *-)

EE if you want big America you know where the airport is at. The simple FACT is our roads are all much more narrow then stateside, have numerous blind curves on top of hills, gravel (dangerous to bicyclist and bikers), large a$$ potholes and ZERO shoulders, not to mention almost NO sidewalks. Anyone encouraging anyone else to drive on roads like this is a bit unhinged.

Not to mention how much rain we have gotten in the last 12 months? We been wet at least a third of the year. Not to mention you are going to have to have a job where it doesn't matter if you stink when you get there. Our "cool" time of year means 82 to 85 and always humid. I couldn't keep clients if I went to work looking and smelling like that. Bicycles are not a practical or safe means of transportation on any of the islands. Motorcycles are just not safe.

But the good thing about the world is you can usually pick your poison and to each their own. Best of Luck to you honiscb.

Hiya: I don't believe you understood what I was saying, dahling. Honis is from Big America and is not afraid of hills. Honis does not have a clue as to how narrow our roads are. You said that it was the roads and not the drivers. Most cyclists are more afraid (or should be) of drivers than the landscape. I was pointing out that the drivers are as much of a problem as the roads. And honis is a marine science student. S/he doesn't have to worry about clients and smelling funny. The fishies in the sea will not take notice. 😉

Uttica: I don't know about the St Croix riders. There are rules for riding in proper peloton formation. It includes the last rider yelling when there is a "car back" for everyone to move to the side. Sometimes there is no accounting for manners, is there? 😉

Sheesh. Is it just me or are people testy these days?

I don't find it selfish to pursue a mode of transportation that increases my fitness and is actually within my budget. I understand there are stupid cyclists out there that right many abreast - they are ignoring traffic rules and I don't like them either. These are the bikers that give the rest of us a bad name! At the same time though, based on traffic laws I too am a vehicle and have every right to be on the road if I am riding single file. Although I won't be as fast up the hills, I know that I will be going the speed limit when I finally get to cruise down them =) I do appreciate everyone's input regardless, and will eye the roads before I ship my bike.

At the same time though, based on traffic laws I too am a vehicle and have every right to be on the road if I am riding single file.

Yes, of course you are right. My point is that the enforcement of the law is not what you are expecting.

ah true. though it seems from other posts that a lax laws seem to be an island feature in more ways than one. and you are right - I don't think the fishies will care when I hope in already salty =)

You may have the right but not live very long to enjoy it!! 😮 Wish I were mostly kidding, instead of mostly not kidding.

And if your white on a bike........don da don da Dahhhhhh!!:-(

I sincerely hope people won't assume anything about a white bike rider... I am so looking forward to the diversity of people and backgrounds on the island. I spent a month in South Africa this year and was disappointed when I got back to my college town... everyone was so similar haha. I think meeting and hanging with the locals will be a blast =) even if they don't like my biking =P

To chime it now, it sounds like you're gonna ride your bike no matter what people tell you.... so good luck. I mean really, good luck, you'll need it. If you would rather not have your probably of life ending (or your ability to walk) skyrocket, then take the safari buses, or figure out a way to get a vehicle. I'm not saying you suck at keeping balanced on a bike, it's the roads, steep blind curves, very fast drivers, people not seeing you, steep cliffs, wet pavement.... etc. You get the idea..... i hope. *-) What Hiya said about it being selfish is true. It's like suicide... it's a very selfish act that you're gambling with your life unless you have no loved ones, family, or friends.

As you can see, there are many Anti-bike people on this site and on St Thomas too. Most of their comments are irrational and based on god knows what kind of prejudice. Yes, bike riding on St Thomas is difficult and not usual, but I would like to see that change. On St Croix it is more common and less risky, despite the rants of people like Uttica. Islands with low speed limits, should be great places for bike riders. Unfortunately that is not yet the case. I could envision islands this small as a wonderful place to make bike riding the dominant form of transportation. That, of course, is not going to happen. Too many people are preconditioned to drive their gas guzzling, pollution spewing cars so they can get somewhere in a hurry with the least amount of effort.

All of that being said, I must agree that St Thomas is not a bike friendly place.

I am hoping the bike path on STX and STJ is built.... that would be great.