Cycling to work can be a very rewarding experience. You will save money, get fit, lose weight and quite possibly save time. With so many advantages of cycling to work it is perhaps surprising more people don’t commute by bike. I know a close colleague who always drove for 20 years, but, it was only increased parking charges that made him consider to start cycling. Initially he said his legs felt like jelly. But, after a few days he found he really enjoyed the experienced and wouldn’t switch back.
admittedly it’s not always such good weather for commuting!
These are some tips for commuting to work:
1. Find the Best Route
If you’re lucky, you may find some cycle paths which are actually helpful.
This may sound obvious but for quite a few years I commuted along the main road, which was the shortest route as the crow flies. However, it wasn’t the nicest because of high traffic volumes. After two years I tried a different route, a little slower, but much nicer because it took in a bike path along the river. Be prepared to think out of the box, and spend time researching different routes. If you are lucky you will be able to avoid the worst traffic black-spots. Don’t just take the route you would if you were in a car.
2. Caution and Confidence
Cycling requires a combination of both caution and confidence. They are not exclusive. Caution means not taking unnecessary risks. Be very wary of undertaking large vehicles on the inside, even when stopped. Be prepared for motorists or other road users to do something dangerous. Always be aware of what is happening. If traffic is stationary, it is tempting to go on inside and overtake – but watch out for cars turning left or right into your path when you’re not expecting it. Perhaps rather than caution, a better word would be awareness. You need to be aware of everything that is going on and anticipate potential problems.
Taking caution is common sense. But, it is also good to ride with confidence. Don’t feel obliged to hug the gutter. (see where on road to cycle). Give space between yourself and opening car doors. If you need to turn right, learn to look over your shoulder and signal right. Don’t feel bad for making cars slow down just because you are turning right! If you gain experience, you will feel more confident about cycling and you will become willing to take the lane where necessary. But, when you have that confidence don’t start to feel you are indestructable.
3. Change of Clothing.
Depending on how far you cycle you might want to keep a spare pair of clothes at work. Especially in summer it is good to be able to change into work clothes on arrival. It is not necessary to have a shower, but a change of clothes can make you feel refreshed. Cycling clothes need to be comfortable and not get caught in wheels. This is often different to clothes expected at work. But don’t worry, commuting doesn’t mean you have to dress from head to toe in lycra (unless you want to)
4. Don’t Get Angry with Bad Drivers
If you commute, you will come across many examples of bad driving and thoughtless pedestrians. The trick is to be patient. If you expect road users to be perfect you will be doomed to disappointment. My attitude is to expect the worst, then when it is not so bad, I am happy. But, if I got upset and angry by every example of bad driving you will spoil your commute and possibly your whole day. Shouting at bad drivers will vary rarely achieve anything positive. Be patient.
5. Have Some Patience
commuting can be social.
When I first started commuting I had the mindset of a racing cyclist (I do race time trials). This meant I would get frustrated at any red light or obstacle, and would always be thinking of a way to get there faster. I think this also spoils your commute. It makes you start looking for the quickest shortcut, riding on pavements, squeezing past buses (one of most dangerous practises) getting frustrated at any stoppage. However, over the years I’ve tried to be more laid back. I allowed an extra five minutes to get to work, I no longer saw it as a race against time. Therefore when I have to stop, I no longer get frustrated. I see stopping at red lights part of the commute and not something to be avoided. The result is I enjoy commuting a lot more. Another advantage of being a little patient, is that I don’t arrive in town all hot and sweaty. Slow cycling is also excellent recovery from my training sessions.
6. Be Visible
Many cyclists commute in dark clothes and with no lights. It winter, there visibility is very low and increases their risk of being in an accident. Maybe in Oxford there are a lot of students who may say they can’t afford it. But, the cost of battery LED lights is really quite low. Don’t just wait for night – twilight is a statistically dangerous time for cyclists. Most accidents occur at this time.
Stand out in a misty day.
7. Bell
A bell is great for warning pedestrians and other cyclists who are used to listening for cars rather than looking. A good set of panniers is much better than carrying a backpack whilst cycling.
8. Understand laws and regulations about Cycling
The main thing should be common sense. But, it is useful to know laws and regulations.
9. Avoid Punctures
If there is one simple tip I’d give to cycle commuters it would be – buy the best puncture proof tyres you can get. It’s such a boon to be able to commute without having to stop and side of road and get a bus into town. I never carry a puncture proof kit when commuting because the risk of puncturing is so low.
10. Commuting in the Rain
Rain isn’t the end of commuting. With the right wet weather gear, you can still cycle without too much inconvenience. It just takes an extra few minutes to put on all the waterproof trousers and jackets. Cycling Rain Gear
Things to Buy for a Cycle Commute
- Bell – great for letting people know your on the road
- Panniers – much better to carry weight on panniers than a back-pack.
- Mudguards – you don’t want your best coat to have a nice line of muddy rain down your back.
- Lights. (best rear lights)
- reflective jacket for dark days and nights
- Puncture proof tyres
Best Commuting Bikes
Related
In Item 9, if your existing tyres have plenty of life left in them and you don’t want to buy a pair of puncture resistant ones just yet, a good alternative is to install a kevlar (or similar) puncture-resistant strip inside the tyre. Works for me …
On ‘change of clothing, you don’t have to shower’ – this is true, but it’s really nice to freshen up. I keep a change of clothing at work, and a face flannel – I go to the loo, wipe myself all over with the damp flannel at least twice – once makes you damp, the second removes the sweat. To check, touch your tongue onto you arm; if you taste salt, wipe yourself down again. It’s as good as a shower.