rcslcycling.myfastforum.org

Posted: Tue 20 Mar 2007 1:14 pm

Getting to work by bike

I can’t give you the safest or best route from your home to your place of work, for a start I don’t know who will read this! But I can impart a few wisdoms that I’ve learnt from cycle-commuting for a good number of years.

Distance
The vast majority of journeys in the UK are less than 5 miles. Your mileage may vary Wink

. I have happily commuted distances between 2 and 10 miles each way by bike and have known people to commute up to 30 miles each way. A distance longer than 5 miles is not a problem as long as you have the time or are fit enough to travel at speed. For everyone else the 5 mile cut-off point is well within reach.
I’ll let you into a little secret… those that don’t cycle will believe that you are superhuman if you manage to ride 5 miles to work. The truth is that after a few weeks 5 miles will seem like a walk in the park.
The other thing people worry about is time. If you are travelling around 3-8 urban miles and have done a similar journey on a bus, travelling the journey by bike will take around the same amount of time. Once you’re fit you will be quicker (especially during rush hour).
Currently the 6 miles I travel to work takes, on average, 30 minutes.

Bike
Simple. Any half-decently maintained bike will get you from A to B. People have done commutes on unicycles. However if it’s going to be regular and your journey is greater than the 5 mile / 30 minutes cut-off point it might be worth looking for a bike that is suited to the road.

This means either a road-bike (select a Trek or Ridgeback) or a hybrid (a cross between the more fashionable mountain bike style and the more practical road-bike - see the Cotic Road Rat, or Condor). That’s not to discount the mountain bike totally. If your commute happens to have road surfaces that make Swiss cheese look solid then a good MTB might be just the ticket.

Useful kit
If commuting by bike regularly it is good to have:

A carrier and panniers (for all those essential work items – the packed lunch)

A decent, heavy lock (left locked to your cycle parking area).

Lights

A pump and spare inner tube (that fits your wheel). The adventurous can add a puncture repair kit to this.

The number of a good LBS (local bike shop).

Clothing
Wearing the right clothes gets more important the greater the distance your have to commute. If your abode is only a couple of miles or less from your place of work you could go disguised as a pantomime horse and it wouldn’t be much of a problem (at least not with regards to cycling). However as soon as you get to around the five mile mark wearing cycle specific clobber starts to become worthwhile.

Having said all this I know many cycle commuters who come to work in their work clothes and think nothing of it. It all depends on your preferences.

What not to wear (general)

Jeans. OK most wouldn’t wear denim to work anyway but it isn’t the most comfortable material for a day in the saddle (unless you’re John Wayne).

Suit. Much more likely. A nice two-piece suit isn’t going to look so nice if you’ve decided to race the bus in this morning. Or if the chain makes a bid for freedom.

Tie. Constricting, liable to catch on things and generally not a great idea.

Stuff that is loose. Jewellery that swings around your wrist or neck. Long / flared clothing. Long shoe laces that are swinging around every time you circle the pedals.
What not to wear part II (Winter)

OK it may be cold but try not to wear the heavily fur-lined nylon-covered parka that keeps you toasty when you are out walking. Given 10 minutes cycling you will be wet (not from the rain that has just started but through sweat – egh).

Welly-Boots. Great for muddy conditions but useless for pedalling.

Waterproofs. Yep. Unless you have Gortex (tm) or similar breathable trousers/top you will be just as wet at your destination but decidedly more smelly.
What not to wear part III (Summer)

Shorts/jackets with pockets. Sounds ridiculous but the contents of your pockets (especially change) will be unlikely to reach your destination with you unless the pockets have a zip.

Peaked cap. Baseball caps are always in fashion, can keep the sun out of your eyes and off your head (if you’re follicly-challenged) but sadly don’t tend to stay on your head when descending a hill or if the wind gets a little gusty.

Clothing meant for cyclists
Tends to be more expensive but you can sometimes get good deals from places like Decathlon, Tchibo or even Lidls.
General sporting wear rules apply. If it is cold wear layers not a heavy top-coat. If it’s hot wear as little as you can get away with Wink

but keep a rain jacket with you just encase.

Hygiene
Having showers available at the workplace is definitely a boon for cycle commuters. That is not to say that you have to smell like Stig of the Dump if your workplace doesn’t have showers. All workplaces have washing facilities (in the toilets) and these can be all you need once you have reached that lauded ‘fit’ stage.
It also helps to have work clothes to change into once you reach your workplace; and this means you can wear cycle-specific clothing on the journey which also helps in the hygiene stakes.
To sum up my basic tip for keep your work colleagues happy with your presence is to either:

become very fit (you’ll sweat less) or

wear cycle-specific clothing and wash before you change into your work clothing.

Safety
Roads are risky… for all road users, get over it. You are the only one who can decide whether the risk is too great but generally there is a lot you can do to minimise the risk of an accident.

Learn to ride on the road.

shouldn’t

Ask to go out riding with a regular cycle commuter from work.

One of the most dangerous situations for a cyclist on a busy road is not the cars, buses or lorries it is the lack of confidence of the cyclist.

Be seen.

Be aware.

Use the cycle paths.

Ensure your bike is road-worthy.

each time

Finally… the helmet.

NO

Fun
There is nothing like cycling past a line of 20 cars in the summer noting the gently steaming motorists inside as you coolly glide down the next road continuing your journey home.
Cycling to work lets you see a lot more of your environment, along with the fun animal sightings (squirrels running across your path, foxes sideling down an alleyway, magpies flying through your line of sight), you get the darker side of the road; the carnage of road kill in all its gory detail.
Some mornings you’ll blitz your journey and feel more alive than you’d ever believe possible.
If you’re of a personable frame of mind you can greet all and sundry (tends to work best at pedestrian crossings). Always give cyclists passing the other way a nod of recognition no matter what style of bike they happen to be favouring.

Forum Newbie Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 7

This is all good advice. I've cycled to work each day for many years. I now have to start returning home by bike too, as the bike shed at the office is now full (joke).

Rather than joust with the juggernaughts get hold of a decent map and look for the back streets and quiet roads. Here in Leicester we can cycle across several parks. In the summer we can get all the way from towncentre to our suburbian home by following the towpath alongside the Grand Union Canal. An absolute joy when the weather is jolly.

Posted: Wed 04 Apr 2007 7:40 am

Mick,

Canal paths sound lovely, unfortunately my most direct route to work involves little that could be called 'An absolute joy' terrain-wise! More likely to be 'watch that %&#@!$ pot-hole'. Wink

Cheers,

John.

Forum Newbie Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 7

Using the mind set of our employers - MOVE HOUSE!!!

Forum Newbie Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 4 Location: devon

(Hi guys, new here, first post too, saw the article on the intra-yawn-net)

I find the hardest part of the commute (and I've only done it a few times) is dealing with the comments of your work'mates' when you walk in wearing your shorts! Laughing

Forum Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I'm thinking about a 13 mile commute to work (and back!). Don't want to subject my Bianchi to the gutters so will probably stick road tyres on my (unsuspended) mountain bike. Should still do it under an hour. All in aid of getting my weight back under control! But it means giving up the motorbike and the deep joy of beating up the four wheeled brigades. Tough choice.

Forum Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Well today was my first ever commute by bike into London. After 12 years of using the tube, train or car, the time was right to switch codes.

I recently took a 2 hour cycling course (cycling proficiency course for big kids), which was subsidised by Transport For London, £8 for a one on one for 2 hours. Well worth it. The main teaching point is positioning on the road.

The commute was fine, 8 miles from Tooting to Central London. The traffic was lighter due to the holidays and I took it steady. Took 45 mins and enjoyed the experience.

Posted: Mon 03 Sep 2007 11:11 am

Gentlemen

Just thought I would add my four-penneth to this subject.

Firstly I agree totally with Johns comments/tips regarding commuting they are spot on. The only thing I would add is NEVER & I mean NEVER ride without a helmet, because even a slow speed fall can be fatal.

I can certainly say that commuting into work, as I have done for the past 4 years, is great fun & you definitely notice the increased fitness. First thing in the morning when the birds are singing, the cows a mooing & the fields are green it really sets me up for the daily grind in the office. My commute is 14 miles from South East Cornwall into Plymouth across the Tamar Bridge. Over the years I have managed to reduce the time taken to get in & I am now only 10 mins slower than by car although going home uphill is a different matter. I should point out, before you all think I'm Superman or Mad or both, that sadly I am only able to commute on my bike during BST (April - September) as the rural roads outside of Plymouth are unlit & far too dangerous to ride on a bike in the dark on a wet winters day - believe me I drive my car on them & that's scary enough.

There may not be nine million bicycles in Beijing but there’s at least that many in the cycle sheds in the summer.