That sucks JP. Give L&C a call. They'd be the people to know how to do that.
Sounds like you're ok, which is the important thing.

I'm sure there's a way. I hope you're alright! 

Not a typical commute 
but great fun,  once you get over the bridge the roads are usually clearer , not the case this morning

Been riding to work for the past month since my office announced a 2x week return program.

I highly recommend that anyone commuting apply for the NYC Bikes in Buildings program. Basically requires landlords to allow people to store bikes in their office spaces if there is a location inside the office space that does not interfere with fire code. My landlord, Kaufman/Sage Realty was pretty accommodating and being able to store my bike in my office gives peace of mind vs locking up outside or even storing within a bike room.

https://www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/description/bikes-in-buildings-program

People For Bikes has an online petition for something called The Bicycle Commuter Act

"If passed, the Bicycle Commuter Act would give you $81/month (pre-tax and adjusted for inflation) for riding your bike to work. Before this bill can move forward, your senator and representative need to hear that you support it. Use this form to send a letter to your members of Congress today, asking them to co-sponsor this important legislation."
https://www.peopleforbikes.org/take-action/if-passed-the-bicycle-commuter-act-would-give-you

mugwump said:

People For Bikes has an online petition for something called The Bicycle Commuter Act

"If passed, the Bicycle Commuter Act would give you $81/month (pre-tax and adjusted for inflation) for riding your bike to work. Before this bill can move forward, your senator and representative need to hear that you support it. Use this form to send a letter to your members of Congress today, asking them to co-sponsor this important legislation."

https://www.peopleforbikes.org/take-action/if-passed-the-bicycle-commuter-act-would-give-you

Thanks for posting this. Signed.

question for my fellow commuters: what is your favorite/go to lock for commuting? Once I move to Jersey in a couple weeks I’m going to be be leaving a commuter bike at the train station 

I have only used the Kryptonite fahgettaboudit and it hasn't failed me.  Though I think a committed person with a grinder probably can't be stopped.  After the theft of the stigmata, I've put these in my bikes.  https://us.muc-off.com/products/tubeless-tag-holder

oh and I'll miss randomly bumping into you coming off the bridge! 

Depends on where you're locking it and for how long.

If I were locking all day, I'd probably swap out my quick-releases for some kind of slow releases.

I've put the Kryptonite Gravity WHeelboltz on my son's bike.  You use a 5mm Allen to tighten and then you need to turn the bike upside down to get them off.

And I've gotten a Kryptonite Keeper for his bike.

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/en/products/product-information/current-key/001706.html?type=bicycle

I'm sure there's other good stuff out there.  

@Matt Budofsky +1 on the Kryptonite fahgettaboudit that's the lock I use. Agree on the suggestions from @mugwump too.

But here's the challenge, Matt, and I hate to type this: If you are gonna park the bicycle outside regularly in the same general location, there are no two ways about: It will be stolen. The only solution is to commute on relatively cheap bicycles ($100~$120) so you can replace them when they get stolen.

@SammuelAuld the muc-off airtag holder is, well, not good. I would suggest finding another airtag solution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUcStFN--VA

@SammuelAuld
  oh I just realized that the tag holder you are using appears to be their response to the review above!

thanks all! It's a verrrrrrrry cheap old Fuji (read triple chain ring, 7 speed, downtube shifters, brakes on the tops and the hoods and it weighs about a metric ton) that I'd love for it to not be stolen because duh, but i paid a cool $75 bucks for it so if it does, ce la vie

Matt Budofsky said:

thanks all! It's a verrrrrrrry cheap old Fuji (read triple chain ring, 7 speed, downtube shifters, brakes on the tops and the hoods and it weighs about a metric ton) that I'd love for it to not be stolen because duh, but i paid a cool $75 bucks for it so if it does, ce la vie

Primo pricing.

Yeah it was a buddy's first road bike fthat he was very happy to get out of his garage.

But we're headed to Maywood (right between Paramus and Hackensack). Look sharp may be hard, but I'm like 45 minutes from the bridge on bike/20 by car so I'll still be joining all the weekend group rides I can

The other option is a brompton which I use as my first/last mile option and take aboard the commuter train (LIRR). Folds up into a large suitcase size and I can bring it into a pretty strict corp high rise building without the front desk folks all riled up.

David Yang said:

Upfront cost is pretty high but I’ve had mine for nearly 15 years with minimal servicing and zero stress about getting it stolen off the street. Can’t recommend it enough as city transportation.

Funny thing about Brompton.  A cousin of mine moved to White Plains and had to commute to NYC.  Totally not a rider.  Somehow, he looked at the cost of parking and the cost of a Brompton--never would have expected him to do that. He bought the Brompton.  I think not parking paid for the Brompton in three months.  the two subway fares he skipped every day added up, but took much longer to pay for the Bompton.  

@Matt Budofsky

that means 1:20 at most to midtown.  Just sayin'

(yes, I know Maywood.  I have a ride that goes through Hackensack and moves on to Oakland.  Can show you some rides out there.)

@mugwump I did a practice commute the other week and all in it was about 1:10 door to door so not too bad. Would love any rides you have out that way!

AWESOME! https://patch.com/new-york/upper-east-side-nyc/finally-east-midtown-greenway-set-open-dec-19

With my local subway going down for at least 6 weeks this summer, I’m strongly considering taking the bike commuting plunge. 

@BlakeFoster  I think this crowd is pretty heavy into taking their older bikes and repurposing them as commuters when they've upgraded.  

Fenders, slow-releases, heavier tires, and a decent lock are pretty much all you need to add to any bike to make it a commuter.  

I see the appeal of 1x, but I'd hardly put it as a priority.

Don't overthink it.  Get the fit right, add those few things, maybe add a rack, and go. 

Agree with JP , 
I’ve been a commuter for 40 years  :'( , 
two most important things in my experience 
#1 Fenders 
#2 Avoid a backpack , save your self a sweaty back

JohnMalcolmson said:

AWESOME! https://patch.com/new-york/upper-east-side-nyc/finally-east-midtown-greenway-set-open-dec-19

BTW, I FINALLY took this in early February.  Maybe because it was winter, but it was pretty nice and pretty empty.  The main bad thing then was that construction prevented taking it all the way to east 112th street.

All great feedback, thank you. I am a big sweater in even the mildest temps so a pannier with my work stuff will be the way for me.   

A 1x setup can be had for cheap, the most expensive bit being the rear derailleur. You can get narrow wide chainrings for pretty cheap to convert an old double (or even a triple!) crankset. In fact you can probably get away with just the chainrings and use any old long cage rear derailleur.

Look for an old 1990s "hybrid" bike - these often came with 700c wheels which has way more modern wheel and tire choices than old mtb 26" wheel standards. 

I started commuting during covid and could bring my bike into my office so I slapped some skinny tires on my cross bike and did that, but it doesn't have rack mounting points so I use a backpack. I get sweaty too so baby wipes, extra deodorant and changing into work clothes at work is a key for me.

Now I commute to my local train station on an old aluminum road bike worth maybe $100 and lock my bike there. As @eloy put it, if you're locking a bike outside and someone wants to steal it, they will steal, so I approach it with that mindset and never leave anything on the bike that would truly bother me if it disappeared one day (other than the principal of someone stealing my stuff)

For my commuter, I took an old steel bike of mine, turned it into a single speed (not fixie), gave it flat bars, and wrapped the main frame tubes in inner tube to protect the frame and make it less pretty than the next bike on the rack. The simplicity and utility of the bicycle made it perfect for going between Brooklyn and midtown. I used a heavy Kryptonite chain with a storefront lock which I kept at the rack. The simplicity of the build meant less stuff to break down or get stolen. Bottom line: keep it affordable and simple. 

Agree, I think the <$1000 might potentially be too high, altho you do want to make it nice. Depends where you can park the bike. I forget the details, but most NYC office buildings after a certain size have to have bicycle parking, or accommodate bicycles in some clear way.

The most expensive piece of my commuter is likely the lock. I think mine is the Krypotine New York Fahgettaboudit, which I bet ride brooklyn can sell you at a discount.

The other alternative is to get a Brompton and not worry about locking anything up or bike parking and folding it up and taking the train if you don't feel like pedaling all the way. And when you get home you can pop it into a small corner and not worry about it being stolen or exposed to the elements.