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 increased parking charges forced him 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.
These are some tips for commuting to work.
1. Find Best Route
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 2 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 blackspots.
2. 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)
3. 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.
4. Be a Patient Cyclist
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. I think this also spoils your commute. It makes you start looking for the quickest shortcut, riding on pavements, riding through red lights, getting frustrated at any stoppage. However, recently I 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 (I also probably give a better impression of cyclists)
5. Be Well Lit.
It never ceases to amaze me how many cyclists commute in dark clothes and with no lights. 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. I don’t see any good reason not to be always well lit and well seen. Also don’t wait for pitch black - twilight is also a dangerous time for cyclists.
6. Buy Right Accessories.
Commuting can be made more desirable through having the right accessories. 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.
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