06/11/2026
Whether you're biking a 2 mile commute, a 20 mile road ride or 2,700 adventure, cycling is a spectrum.
Sonny lives all of it.
THIS WEEK he is one of around 200 riders about to embark on : the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from north to south starting in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and finishing at the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico.
Here's what years of bike commuting taught him.
Q: What do you do on days when the weather isn't perfect?
A: Like Ryan Catino says: please see Velominati “The Rules,” specifically Rules #5 and #9. Especially Rule #5. I’ve ridden to work in minus 12.1°F once. At some point, you stop asking if the weather is perfect and just ask, “Do I have enough layers?”
And yes, I have the selfie to prove it.
Q: How do you handle showing up to work — do you shower, change, freshen up? What's your routine?
A: Sadly, Spoke-N-Sport doesn’t have a shower, so deodorant is my emergency backup plan if I roll in extra “fresh” from the ride. I usually ride in lycra, so I leave my work clothes at the office and just change once I get there. Simple routine: change clothes, deodorant if needed, and get to work.
Q: What do you carry or what are your commute must haves? Walk us through your bag/kit.
A: My commute must-haves are pretty simple: repair kit, flashlight, rear lights, and the right gear for whatever weather South Dakota decides to throw at me that day.
I also pick the bike based on the conditions. In the winter, it’s definitely the fat bike. In the summer, I’ve got a few different bikes to choose from depending on my mood and how long I want to commute.
Honestly, choosing which bike or outfit to ride is sometimes the hardest part of the morning.
Q: What's your favorite part of the ride — a moment, a view, a feeling?
A: No traffic in the bike lane! Those sunrise and sunset moments, and the rare no-wind days you definitely appreciate here in windy South Dakota.
Even when I’m tired, something changes after a few minutes on the bike. You just start rolling, wake up, and the ride takes over before the brain fully catches up.
Q: How has biking to work changed your day or your mood?
A: For me, it’s peace of mind and a free workout on the way to work, then another free workout on the way home. It turns the whole day into something a lot more balanced and a lot less stressful.
Q: Has it saved you money or time in ways you didn't expect?
A: It definitely saves me money on gas and all the usual car expenses. But the funny trade-off is I’ve probably spent it all back on my “N+1” bike habit over the years. No regrets though.
Q: What would you say to someone who thinks their commute is too far, too hilly, or too complicated?
A: Like Ryan Catino says, Velominati “The Rules,” Rule #6.
I’ll admit it too when I was in Colombia for the Transcordilleras bike race last year, I was worried about the serious climbing before I even started pedaling. But once you’re out there, it becomes simple: just focus on one mile, or one kilometer at a time.
Big commute, hills, complexity: it all shrinks when you stop looking at the whole thing and just keep turning the pedals. And there’s no shame in walking a steep hill when you need to.
Q: What's one piece of gear or advice that made the biggest difference for you?
A: One thing that made a huge difference for me: Brooks B17 saddles. I’m at three Brooks saddles now. Those stock rubber seats just don’t work for me at all. Once you find the right saddle, everything changes.
Also I don’t really follow Velominati “The Rules,” especially Rule #8, so I just build my bike the way I like it.
Q: If someone wanted to try it just one day, what would you tell them to do first?
A: I’d say start simple: just hop on whatever bike you already have and ride it for a few weeks.
It doesn’t need to be a $10k bike or anything fancy. A basic bike works just fine. Use the clothes you already have, ride it, and you’ll figure out what you actually want to change as the seasons shift. Most of it sorts itself out once you just start riding.
Q: What's the thing you wish you'd known before your first commute ride?
A: I used to worry I’d show up tired after my first commute. Turns out it did the opposite. It wakes me up, clears my head, and I arrive ready for the day.
