THE MODE: The engine on BMW’s F 650 GS motorcycle ($9,174) can survive a continent’s worth of Interstate and slash through any city’s mean streets. When the weather turns frozen, a power jack for a heated vest and heated grips will keep you riding long after the less well-equipped have started taking the bus. THE LOOK: Aviator sunglasses ($119) by RAY-BAN; lambskin jacket ($300) by BUSHNELL OUTERWEAR; cotton shirt ($43) and pants ($60) by NAUTICA; Torrance leather boots ($125) by TIMBERLAND.
By Skateboard
ARBOR Pin skateboard
ARBOR Pin skateboardTHE MODE: For easy rolling, put a 46-inch-long ARBOR Pin skateboard ($162) under your soles and turn any downhill into a mellow carving session. Once you reach your desk, prop up the board for everyone to see; its elegant, Hawaiian koa-wood topsheet makes it look more like a work of art than something you rode in on. THE LOOK: Demeanor sunglasses ($150) by BOLLÉ; Minor Reef cotton button-up shirt ($70) by QUIKSILVEREDITION; silk tie ($35) by NAUTICA; boot-cut cotton corduroy pants ($68) by BANANA REPUBLIC; Altamont leather shoes ($90) by TIMBERLAND; Modern Classic watch ($695) by ORIS.
By Kayak
PRIJON Barracuda and WILDERNESS SYSTEMS Tempest 170
PRIJON Barracuda and WILDERNESS SYSTEMS Tempest 170THE MODE: Stuff your work clothes in a drybag and paddle your way to work. Among sea kayaks, either the performance-oriented PRIJON Barracuda ($1,449), left, or the durable WILDERNESS SYSTEMS Tempest 170 ($1,499) will capably float you across any river, lake, or bay that separates you from the office. THE LOOK: Left, Mildwater PFD ($89) by LOTUS DESIGNS; Whisker sunglasses ($135) by OAKLEY; baseball cap and rashguard, boater’s own; right, Locean PFD ($145) by LOTUS DESIGNS; Gascan sunglasses ($90) by OAKLEY; nylon-and-spandex rash guard ($28) by HURLEY; baseball cap, boater’s own.
Kayaks from Manhattan Kayak Company ()
By Bicycle
THE MODE: The KONA Coiler Primo full-suspension mountain bike ($3,499) was built to launch off house-size rocks and keep rolling. The potholes, curbs, and debris strewn all over your commute don’t stand a chance. Its disc brakes dole out confident stopping power on dry or rainy days, and the simple coil-sprung rear shock is plush and relatively maintenance-free. THE LOOK: Wool blazer ($198) by NAUTICA; silk tie ($95) from POLO BY RALPH LAUREN; pinpoint oxford cotton button-up shirt ($45) and plain-front Comfort Waist cotton pants ($56) by LANDS’ END; Mali running shoes ($75) by ADIDAS; iPod Shuffle digital music player ($99) by APPLE.
By Foot
THE MODE: Make your commute a daily workout by lacing up your running shoes and folding your office togs into a backpack. The Fielding backpack ($70) by ADIDAS will hold your gear snug against your bod while keeping it wrinkle-free. THE LOOK: Body Mapping ClimaCool Seamless nylon-and-Lycra T-shirt ($35), ClimaCool compression polyester running shorts ($35), and Mali running shoes ($75) all by ADIDAS.
By Car
MINI COOPER convertible
MINI COOPER convertibleTHE MODE: Stay connected to the environment with a MINI COOPER convertible (from $22,000). Its 115-horsepower engine sips 27 mpg of fuel in the city, while its tight 143-inch length turns any tight parking situation into child’s play. THE LOOK: Sunglasses ($119) by DKNY; cotton button-up shirt ($43) by NAUTICA; Vatna polyester soft-shell jacket ($150) by AIGLE; Extension Cord cotton pants ($74) by PATAGONIA; Emergency watch ($4,300) by BREITLING.