Cycling to work, tell me about it

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Cycling to work, tell me about it

42 posts & 24 voices | Started 2 years ago by bigsi | Latest reply from bigsi

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bigsi - Member

Ok so my office has just moved from 5 mins up the road to 12 miles along the coast. As there is a cycle path 90% of the way which for a large part is along side the beach i intend to take the bike whenever i can rather than pay £1ph for parking plus petrol !!!

Given what i do and that i am self employed my working hours are quite flexible so i plan to catch the train over in the morning with the bike and just spin the 2 miles from the station to the office, lock the bike up in the car park under the office block and when I'm done in for the day cycle home. Eventually i will cycle to the office as well but as they don't have showers i want to spend the 1st hour of the day sweating over my desk. This will also save me wearing a shirt that looks like I've slept in it all day.

So now you have the picture i have some questions -

Can anyone recommend me a racksack type bag that i can fit a lap top, power lead, cycle clothing, work shoes, small towel and client files into?

I will also need a decent lock as the office car park is not 100% secure and in the middle of Hove, any ideas?

How can i avoid helmet hair? (no i am not going to shave my head)

How are Southern Rail about people taking bikes on trains?

Anyone know of any bargains on 29er wheels & commuter tyres to fit the same at the moment?

Any pointers or advice gratefully received.

Cheers

Posted 2 years ago #
TandemJeremy - Member

Use a pannier - much more comfy than a rucksac for 12 miles

Buy a serious D lock - motorcycle stuff and expect to pay £100+

Don't wear a helmet.
As there is a cycle path 90% of the way which for a large part is along side the beach

Sounds like the really gnarly dangerous route where a helmet is a must.

Posted 2 years ago #
bigsi - Member

Cheers TJ, pannier is a damn good idea. can you get ones that don't require those frame mount bosses ?

I hardly ever go out on a bike without a helmet and where as most of the route is cycle path the bits that aren't are main roads or busy city centre riding so would really want some protection

Posted 2 years ago #
barca2 - Member

I ride between 7 and 15 miles each way everyday depending on the site I'm at. Any recreational cyclist can ride 12 miles each way most days a week. It's a very managable distance.
I use a Howies chevron courier bag.
No showers at any location so I take a towel, bar of soap, flannel and hair brush. Copious use of the disabled loo and all is good.
Loosely roll my clothes, chopped fruit for lunch n a tupperware box, laptop in the specific compartment in the bag....all done.
My bike comes in to both buildngs with me but if they stayed outside, I would get a forgetaboutit Kryptonite lock and a big motorbike chain and padlock and fasten them to something solid and leave them there permanently. Cover the moving parts of the locks in grease to help stop rust. A bike that wouldn't kill me to lose and I'd make sure I had 10 minutes cool down time before I set about getting washed and changed.
Look for lightweight items to carry rather than steel toecap boots (you know what I mean).
If you don't have a specific safe place where you can leave the stuff you need everyday, try and find at least one place down the side of a cabinet or something where you can hide at the end of the day and collect at the start of the day, your shoes.
Be inventive. Cut the handle off of the brush, cut the soap bar in half, get a travel towel. Sack the full wash and use a handfull of baby wipes instead.
Cycling to work is so doable for so many who say it's not.
Helmet hair? That's easily fixed. Take helmet off, run brush or comb through it, make way to loo for full wash. Easy.
DON'T GET PANNIERS, RACK OR MUDGUARDS! Have you no shame? :-}

Posted 2 years ago #
samuri - Member

Ditto on the pannier, anything on your back will make you sweat. If you must go for a bag, go for a sensible courier bag, not one of those ridiculous ones that look like big artic roll.
Something like this will be best.

Do you not have two power supplies for your laptop? Leave one at work. Ditto on the shoes.

If you want to wear a helmet then just rinse your head under a tap when you get to work.

Posted 2 years ago #
barca2 - Member

If you're riding 12 miles and you are not sweatng, you must be riding naked in Norway in December!
Those North Face bags are hopeless. Low capacty, pretty rigidily square shaped so it's difficult to get odd shaped things in and the awful PVC they're made from is just that, awful.

Posted 2 years ago #
erbii - Member

Funnily enough I was reading about Southern rail and their bicycle policy earlier..

link

Posted 2 years ago #
B.A.Nana - Member

I've just started doing a similar thing, 12 miles along the canal towpath, door to door :D. Options are car, train, bike or a combination of. At the moment I'm catching the train in and cycling home, because like you, I don't want to arrive at work all sweaty and I like my bed too much.
We have different rolling stock, it seems only the newest trains have specific cycle storage facilities (there's big cycle pictures on the train doors, so you can see, when the train comes in, which doors to head for). Older sprinter type trains sometimes have nothing, so you end up standing in the doorway area. Although, I'm quite fortunate that I travel in the opposite direction to the city mayhem.
I use a rucksack, I suppose a pannier sounds like a good idea. If you're using your mtb, then some narrower drag free tyres have made a massive difference for me from my early test runs.

Posted 2 years ago #
TooTall - Member

Panniers for sure.
Can you get any locker space at work? Anything that would negate carrying everything every day would make life easier. A weeks worth of shirts hung up is better than a folded one every day.
If you are that worried about helmet hair, your bouffant is foppish and you really need to have a word with yourself.
Look at the Kryptonite New York M18 - E Bay or Amazon.co.uk for the cheapest prices. It is the big brother of Kryptonite locks and really for the motorbike world - under £70 if you shop around.
Try to find showers - there must be something somewhere - sports centre? You could always get some maritime soap and wash in the sea!

Posted 2 years ago #
vdubber67 - Member

barca2 - Member

If you're riding 12 miles and you are not sweatng, you must be riding naked in Norway in December!

I actually ride 16 miles each way, and at this time of year, if you get the clothing mix right, I'm not sweaty at all. Maybe just me?

Posted 2 years ago #
DrP - Member

If you're not too keen on panniers, get a decent backpack with 'air mesh' style back.
I've got a nice Berghaus Freeflow 25+5 like this:

Never get a sweaty back, and holds lots and lots. However, if I were to cycle more than 4-10 miles each way, I'd prob get a rack.

Mudguards are a must - it's amazing how much wetter you get from 'road rain'. It's so much more enjoyable riding now with them, as before I'd get wet whenever it rained, wheras now I only get wet if it's raining at the time i'm on the bike. I've got SKS bleumenthal things....

Tyres - your choice really. If you want skinny tyres, I'd go for something with 'protection'. I ride conti gaitorskin things, but there are others out there.

DrP

Posted 2 years ago #
crocodilian - Member

Agree with vdubber67, I usually just wear a long sleeve jersey in the winter for my work trip as you warm up quickly and shed little sweat too. I carry my clothes and work apparatus in a vans courier bag so don't suffer from "ruck-sack back".
Similar for summer, I do have showers at work but never sweat so much that I need to use them, just a spot of deodorant. No complaints from co-workers yet...but then again they are very polite!

Posted 2 years ago #
jacko54321 - Member

i ride 25 miles a day, but work at a sports center so i can shower, i tend to take all my uniform for the week on the first day and then take it all home on the last, i also have a pair of trainers i keep in work and never bring home,

i feel alot better now that i have got into mountain and road cycling over the last 3 moths, 40 mins on the bike at 5:30am is a good way to start thr day.

Posted 2 years ago #
crocodilian - Member

i feel alot better now that i have got into mountain and road cycling over the last 3 moths, 40 mins on the bike at 5:30am is a good way to start thr day.

You shouldn't cycle over moths, it's cruel.

Posted 2 years ago #
hilldodger - Member

Helmet hair - buff or summer buff can help
Security - one main lock and a couple of cheapos, remove front wheel and seatpost (if QR)
No showers - wet wipes and a 'tarts wash' in the gents
Work shoes - leave them at work

Nice 10 mile saunter along the beach path to work, lucky fella

Posted 2 years ago #
crocodilian - Member

"Tart's wash" Nice!

Posted 2 years ago #
samuri - Member

Those North Face bags are hopeless. Low capacty, pretty rigidily square shaped so it's difficult to get odd shaped things in and the awful PVC they're made from is just that, awful.

How odd. I commuted with one for two years quite happily, all my gear in including a dirty great IBM T60. I think they're great bags. It still looks brand new too.

Posted 2 years ago #
fisha - Member

Pretty much what everyone else has said.

Definitely agree on the mudguards point. One of the main ways of getting your feet wet ( and cold, and then you get miserable ) is where the rear wheel throws water onto the seat tube and the water then splashes sideways out onto your ankles. ( it'll throws a lot of grim onto the chain too ) Likewise, water from the front wheel hits the downtube and splashes sideways onto your feet. So full mud guards are the order of the day. If thats not possible, then a crud catcher on the down tube low down will direct the water down from the front wheel and will also protect the chainrings from front splash too.

As for showering when you get to work ( or not having showers ) ... if you make sure you let yourself cool down first, then go to the toilets and wash using babywipes and a fresh skoosh of smelly stuff, then you dont smell or feel manky, and have a proper shower when you get home. I used to do this for a number of years, and found it best to come in, fire up the computer and look at the most important emails first so i could cool down, but still get stuff done and then go get washed. No one bothered about me sitting at the desk in all the cycle gear for 20 minutes.

As for wheels ... considered a second hand commuter? a roadie or hybrid setup with all the mounts for pannier and mudguards where it simply wont matter about grime and dirt and is less nickable. a roadie / hybrid goes noticably better than a converted MTB in the long run. ( although a well converted mtb is good, the roadie setup is better in the long long run )

Posted 2 years ago #
rootes1 - Member

Most times I use my Brompton 8 miles a day plus south west trains. Brompton are ace and the only way to cycle and use a train in peak times. I do occasionally do my whole commute on my SS road bike (60 miles round trip) but last week I used it with the train as Brompton broke. Using a proper bike with trains at peak times is a major pain in the ass, banned at most times and if you can get on often no where to put bike. In general luggage is best on bike, though carry beer is best in backpack ! Carradice SQR slim fits quite a few shape of laptop, plus room for other stuff - Brompton has a range of its own luggage

Posted 2 years ago #
bassspine - Member

All the commuting advice is good.
I'd just add that sea air, salt and sand will add up to short lifespans for your drivetrain...

Posted 2 years ago #
rootes1 - Member

Brasspine - yep too true, my Brompton is like yer old grandfathers broom... Still my Brompton, not the same as when it left the factory!

Posted 2 years ago #
DaddyPig - Member

bigsi- I'm guessing you live in Worthing?

Posted 2 years ago #
Karinofnine - Member

I commute by bike.

Agree re mudguards, an absolute necessity.

Panniers v. back pack/courier bag is, I think, a matter of taste. Whatever you decide to use, make sure it's waterproof otherwise you will spend ages wrapping things up in plastic bags.

Iron your stuff the night before, fold it when cold the next morning, essential, if you fold when hot it will crease. With practice you will be able to fold a shirt and it will look fine when you get to work, trousers are easy to fold, and even skirts (but that doesn't apply to you).

Some people take a week's worth of shirts to the dry cleaners, they often do deals.

Get lights for the winter.

Get a lightweight waterproof and remember to pack it.

Posted 2 years ago #
rootes1 - Member

Yep mudguards are essential and when others tell you that your a grandad, just laff at their soggyness! Also for commuting take reliability over speed if you have to choose. I.e. Schwalbe marathons are a better bet than Schwalbe stelvio, no point have fast tyres if you keep having to stop to fix punctures....

Posted 2 years ago #
aP - Member

It's really not that hard, just get on with it.

Posted 2 years ago #
avdave2 - Member

Sounds like the really gnarly dangerous route where a helmet is a must.

TJ you have never ridden that cycle path have you! You have no idea of the the utterly brainless visitors and residents that like to walk along there and for some reason are attracted to throwing themselves in front of you. I feel safer on the roads than many of the cycle paths in Brighton & Hove.

Posted 2 years ago #
rootes1 - Member

other good thing about folders like the brompton is you can fold them up and take them into to work - mine lives nice and safe in the office - far better than having to lock and leave it outside..

Posted 2 years ago #
bigsi - Member

Cheers for the suggestions guys, yep DaddyPig your guess is correct

As i can pick and choose the days and times that i go to the office i hope to avoid too much riding in the rain so mudguards will wait till the end of summer, hopefully

Decided against panniers for now and will investigate a courier bag as hopefully I'll only be lugging the lap top to and fo for a month or two before my PC gets moved over from the old office.

Looks like Southern Rail won't let bikes on trains that arrive @ Brighton before 10am which fits in with my plans perfectly

Helmet hair I'll be taking a water spray and towel to quaff my bouffant

1st on the shopping list are tyres, a lock and courier bag and I'll take it from there

Can't wait to get the extra mileage in

Posted 2 years ago #
B.A.Nana - Member

I've no experience of courier bags, but wouldn't carrying a laptop, other work stuff, repair kit/tools, clothes (maybe), waterproof, etc. slung over one shoulder, be a bit uncomfortable for 12 miles?. Surely a good small rucksack (30L) would be better?. Sorry, but putting all the weight on one shoulder just seems a bit daft to me!

Posted 2 years ago #
bigsi - Member

Hmmm I'll investigate and look at the options but don't fancy the sweaty back. Will report back if anyone's interested

Posted 2 years ago #
B.A.Nana - Member

You just need to choose the right rucksack, ie like the one above, where the sack is held off the back by design. Also, wouldn't a rucksack be much more useful/versatile for other stuff, maybe?

Posted 2 years ago #
B.A.Nana - Member

How long are you expecting to do the 12miles in?

It takes me an hour and a half along the towpath, steady pace not pushing it. I've yet to use the GPS on my route, but approx half is tarmac/aggregate and half is unmade grass and mud. I think the tarmac/aggregate takes approx half an hour, the grass and mud is maybe an hour. I bought a set of 400gm 2.1 Conti speed king supersonic tyres. They are seriously sh1t in the mud, but the lightweight and lack of drag make the effort much less on both surfaces, and it's all on the flat of course.
I know my time is very poor, but it gives me lots of scope for beating it every time I cycle home.

Posted 2 years ago #
b r - Member

and put a mileage expense against your journey - 20ppm

Posted 2 years ago #
bigsi - Member

No idea on time but the wind is normally from the South West so will be a head wind most of the way home. Not done much non off road riding so will aim for sub 1 hour and take it from there.

It's very flat but there is a set of lock gates at Portslade so if these are closed it can add 15 mins to the ride

Oh and anyone know of any deals on 29er wheelsets ?

Posted 2 years ago #
angryratio - Member

Do what i do, strip naked in front of the Polish cleaner and lie on the floor before she does your office.
I'm the same colour as the floor in my work.

Shower solution.

Posted 2 years ago #