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Congratulations! The decision to ride to work is an excellent one. You’ll save money, improve your health, and help save the environment. It may not even take more time to get to work!
Commuting to work by bike isn’t as hard as you think. There are very few changes you’ll need to make to your bike (if any), and you may not even have to change your clothes. First, we’ll take a look at your bike.
Chances are, the route you’ll take to work will be mostly roads and pathways. Any bike tire will work great, but you might want to use a slick or semi-slick tire to improve comfort and efficiency. Install a set of good fenders, so that spray from wet roads won’t ruin your clothes.
You’ll need to carry your lunch, a few tools, and maybe a change of clothes. A backpack would hold all these, but your back might end up getting sweaty. The best way to transport these items is with a rack and matching rack bag, or a set of panniers if you need more storage space. You’ll definitely need panniers if you have to transport a briefcase or laptop computer. Check out the article on increasing storage space for more info!
Depending on when you ride to and from work, you may be riding in the twilight or in the dark. Install a set of good lights to help you see, and to help you be seen by cars. Many lights are designed to be easily removed, so you can take them with you when you go in to work. Reflective clothing and reflective stickers will also help improve your visibility at night.
Finally, you’ll want to install a bell or horn. Not only is this a legal requirement in many cities, a bell is useful for alerting others to your presence. If you ride on the road, make sure you get a nice loud horn so that the drivers can hear you.
One big issue that potential bike commuters have, is the thought that they will arrive at work all gross and sweaty. This is definitely a possibility, but it’s manageable and even avoidable. So, what can be done?
Well, one thing you can do is not pedal so hard. If you ride at a more leisurely pace, especially once you’re an experienced commuter, then you probably won’t sweat much at all. A quick swipe of deodourant and a glass of water may be all you need after your ride.
If sweat is unavoidable, because of the climate, distance or other factors, then you may want to bring a change of clothes. It’s a simple matter to fold up a dress shirt and slacks and pack them into a pannier, then quick change into them once you’re at work. You can even bring a week’s worth of clothes with you on the first day of the week, if you like. This is especially useful if it’s raining, since you don’t have to worry about getting wet; you’ll be changing into other clothes anyway!
Riding to work may require a few sacrifices, mostly time. Depending on how far your ride is and what the traffic is like, it will take anywhere from the same amount of time, to three times longer. It would be a great idea to try riding to work on the weekend sometime, just to see how long it would take, and what route would be best. Also, it’s not necessary to jump right into commuting five days a week. You may only want to ride a few days a week to start, or only on nice days. Even riding one day a week is better than not riding at all!
Good luck, don’t let the cars bother you, and you’ll be fine.
