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#1 tired of trying to squeeze a lunch box and pump into your frame bag? Stop trying to find lunch box shaped frame bags! Use a frame bag shaped lunch box! Click-lock bacon storage tubs are the perfect shape for Planet X Podsacs medium frame bag and pump!
First commute of the school year for me today. 16 out of 26 working years commuting on a bike.
- bag packed the night before
- I've made it normal for myself
- 26 years on the water proof vaude pannier bags are looking like an excellent investment!
- waterproof jacket and trousers live in the bag so when it tips it down unexpectedly the commute is less unpleasant
- live and work somewhere close enough to ride in
If you have the time, and the trails, take the scenic route when you can! I only commute about once a week; yesterday's stunning weather was a good excuse to make the time to enjoy the commute ...
@hardtailonly I used to say that my dream was a job with a mountain bike commute. Ideally living one side of a fairly small hill from my job, with a 25 minute singletrack climb and a 5 minute descent in either direction.
Usual, full guards with front mud flap, simple reliable bike no need for bling. A flow mindset if riding in traffic. It's not who is right that is important but getting to destination in a calm manor. Good tyres, tube and puncture repair kit. Wet wipes. Spare clothes at work for when you forget. Porridge
Similar to tall_martin.
Dedicated bike for commuting. Spare 'winter wheels' and tyres so can be swapped out if icy. - at one point it was a spare winter commuter, but it's all in one now. Panniers and rack. Have kit ready night before, always pack the same (then you know what's missing). Waterproof pants and top are very handy, as are overshoes to keep your shoes dry - nothing worse than wet smelly shoes in an office.
Ortlieb panniers are about 15 years old !
Baby wipes are a life saver. Carry sudocrem, just in-case.
What mudguards do people have please?
My tip is to swap panniers for a rackbag, they’re more aero and make riding into headwinds less of a PITA.
I keep my shoes at work.
I've used SKS previously on 700c, currently on some Zefal 26", with home brew mudflap. I do carry my shoes, although could leave them if needed. I do have to carry the laptop two times a week, so use a laptop wallet and tuck the laptop in the pannier.
Use one pannier for your daily stuff, clothes shoes, and the other for waterproofs, pump etc, so you are only opening one.
I also use 1* for lower maintenance and better reliability.
Don't use old stuff from your best bike to keep the commuter going.
Buy cheaper, reliable, new stuff. Fixing a broken bike at 2pm in the afternoon on a sunny hillside in the Pennines is a lot nicer than having to fix a broken bike at 10 past 6 in the morning in the pouring rain at the side of on A road half way to work. In february.
Find somewhere to leave some stuff at work, shoes, towel, maybe energy bar and spare water bottle etc. Emergency stash, spare tyre, tube or two, quick link or two, brake and gear cable. (all depends how far you commute and if you have a back up! I did 60km a day for a couple of years with no back up/bail out option then 40km a day for 5 with limited options for back up.)
full mudguards, puncture proof tyres and a rack</span>
Yes, No, Yes.
Get decent quality touring or training tyres (or even tubeless!), and keep on top of maintenance/replacement. Nothing like "puncture proof" tyres to suck what little joy remains when cycling to work.
What mudguards do people have please?
SKS Longboards for the road, the front almost wraps all around the back of a front 700c tyre. Just enough clearance between the flap and tarmac to avoid embarrassment. Toasty dry feet every wet day(I have some aluminium ones for the gravel bike that haven't been fitted yet, watch this space).
Panniers needed for start and finish to the week only. Food and clothes for the week in on a Monday, dirty clothes home on a Friday (ymmv as I work for a cycling related business and we have set up the new office to allow all this).
Waterproofs and Velotoze live in the bar bag to avoid uncomfortable trips home on the days the weather forecast doesn't match the weather.
Edit:
puncture proof tyres
These do not exist, at best you'll get very resistant tyres which suck the joy out of a commute. Hedge cutting season is upon us and the crap on the road from flail trimming can get through Marathon Plus tyres, as can flints.
Find the most enjoyable route,even if it's longer.
Eliminate all faff.
Have a backup (bike) plan.
Minimise the amount of essential ,daily tat carried in rucksack,panniers,framebags.
Eliminate all faff.
Work on all the details of the bike,adjusting and improving until it's everything you need.
Be kind to your bike and give it a regular checkover.
Invest in quality clothing that suits your seasonal needs.
Eliminate all faff.
Schwalbe marathon plus. Over 10,000km on cycleways, gravel and shitty Welsh roads without a single puncture - plus they have a reflective bit that makes you very visible from the side.
Lights - I had one too many instances where I forgot to charge my lights and ended up on a slow, dodgy, dark ride home using my phone as a torch. Now invested in a dynamo light and never looked back.
Leave multiple sets of clothes at work, so you only need to commute with sarnies.
Ride a bike which is enjoyable to ride and feels fast. Draggy commutes are hateful
I commuted fixed gear for about 7 years until knocked off, changed route to mainly off road, which required a more robust bike. Currently using an old 90's MTB. Repainted it, but it's running period XT and LX components, but it's well maintained. None of it hand me downs from other bikes, so cassette/chain/large chainring/jockey's get changed every 12-18 months.
Studded tyres are great for winter - my route isn't gritted !
I've added winter boots to the equation over more recent years, a revelation compared to putting overshoes on every day to keep your feet warm.
We don't have shower facilities, so baby wipe showers are all we get, and getting changed in the disabled loo - a luxury as it's a fair bit bigger than a cubicle.
Oh and rob a fan or an oil radiator to dry out your sweaty kit - mine is currently on a radiator at the side of my desk. No drying facilities and open plan offices.
Have a checklist of things that are a disaster if you forget, for me that's work pass and phone
I keep spare pants and trousers at work these days having buggered that up a few times and had to sit there in lycra until the shops open
It's just a bike ride, don't get too hung up the detail of it.
Having said that, don't ride a rubbish bike just because it's 'only' a commute, it's the bike you probably do most miles/time on, so make it a decent one!
Need a lock and one of those cables that at least discourages thieves. One time I went to go home and someone had helped themselves to my front wheel.
I forgot a shirt once, jumped back on the bike, 20 miles later arrived back at work before 9am. Then someone said, why didn't you go to Asda at the end of the road. Doh !
Depending on route, some tyres with puncture protection. I rode many years without the need, but a change in route to a shared path full of glass shredded Conti 4 Seasons. Moved to Durano Plus and these were great. Currently on Lifeline Essential Commuters - cheap, roll OK and no punctures.
I did a canal route but at this time of year it was a mare with hedge cuttings - was getting thorns through the tyre at least once or twice a week with lightweight XC tyres.
Oh, CO2 just in-case. If you have a tight deadline - e.g. meeting first thing, this will save a few minutes pumping up the tyre.
<p style="text-align: left;">Single speed Surly Ogre, mudguards, rack panniers, dynamo lights, water proof panniers (Ortlieb) , puncture proof tyres small tool kit and pump.</p>
Waterproofs.
Don't cycle if it's very icy.
Have separate 'commuting' cycling gear - saves rummaging for stuff if you've gone and used it at the weekend on other rides. I've even got separate SPD shoes now. Oh and SPD's are a winner for commuting, especially if you have a walk to the bike stands/changing area.
Plan your route - you want one where you can make progress without being held up to much, and make it as pleasant as you can. I have a slightly different route on the way home as I've a "climb" in a quiet area of a park that's a known area for bike muggings - not an issue in the morning, but the scallys are out of bed by 5pm, and someone got robbed for their bike a few months ago.
@Bruice, only cycle if icy if you have studded tyres, otherwise sack it off.
Guards, rack, panniers, lights (always), quiet roads/times and the option for a frame mounted lock to enable pub/cafe/shopping stops.
Since everyone's here, what's the best commuting waterproof out there?
I would prefer to stick to wearing a rucsac as it's what I know and always worked for me, which unfortunately rules out wearing my Shakedry waterproofs (as does the matt black colour 🙄). Does anyone do a waterproof with thicker fabric on the shoulders, similar to my Arcteryx hiking jacket?
I can forgo fluorescent as I'll probably have a Hump rucsac cover or similar.
Robust, breathable, but not gucci. Does such a think exist or do I just pony up for whatever Gore is within budget?
Edit: oh and also, if I did have a rear rack + rack bag to carry some additional stuff, do I need to think about a more robust rear wheel than the Ultegra wheel currently on the bike? I have a memory of panniers and racks being a bit 'punishing' for nice wheels...
A flow mindset if riding in traffic. It’s not who is right that is important but getting to destination in a calm manor
This is just generally good advice, I get annoyed riding with other folk who just refuse to live and let live with drivers. I mean, they're not ALL Daily Mail reading frothers out to get you, some of them are just normal people trying to get to work 🙄
If you're not commuting in work clothes, I wouldn't bother with a waterproof, especially if less than an hour.
A flow mindset if riding in traffic. It’s not who is right that is important but getting to destination in a calm manor
+2
Doesn't matter who is right or wrong, if it's me that's getting a car in the face then the car has always got priority.
10 seconds late to work Vs a car in the face makes it a clear choice for me.
Spare underwear at work. You’ll forget one day.
Pack a set of dry gloves for the return ride if it’s raining
Less than five miles? Ride slowly and shower before you leave.
only cycle if icy if you have studded tyres, otherwise sack it off.
or three wheels ☺️
Not sure I dare say this, but when I replace my drivetrain, I shall be moving to a wax lubricant.
‘Flow mindset’ +3, no point being ‘right’ if you’re lying in the road.
mudguards, decent rack/panniers, either a dynamo or decent reliable lights and a proper routine to maintain charge.
proper kit is an investment that will pay you back many times over.
Robust, breathable, but not gucci. Does such a think exist or do I just pony up for whatever Gore is within budget?
Having tried some of the others, if it’s something for daily use, I’ve found it best to stump up for Gore. It’s not too much more expensive for massive improvement in durability. Two Endura waterproofs lasted less than (so far) one Gore jacket.
It’s a bit like Ortlieb. Try the alternatives, spend a bit more when they wear out, never go back.
I just use a Decathlon waterproof and slow down - in-expensive, and it spends most of the time scrunched up in a pannier.
As for wax, I just use Finish Line Ceramic wet lube and wipe the chain. Easy. Re-oil and wipe after a wet ride. Light oil protects the sprockets too. I regularly wipe the sprockets/jockey with an oily rag.
If you’re not commuting in work clothes, I wouldn’t bother with a waterproof, especially if less than an hour.
Fair advice, but between my morning wimpiness making the car seem more tempting when it's raining, and a sort of 'marginal gains' philosophy towards keeping the immune system topped up, I'd rather not risk getting soaked through or riding in sogged out Gabba/Orkaan etc. and THEN have a puncture or similar.
I've tried the sort of waterproof soft shell alternatives and feel they're a sort of all-or-nothing approach e.g. fine so long as you're moving and generating body heat, not so fine once you're stopped and cooling down. Plus I want to use the commute for Z1/Z2 sort of miles so I'll be pootling, probably not generating much heat anyway!
I bought an Aldi soft shell once.
As for lubricant I don't bother because belt drive 😎
@tthew if I was going to spec my ultimate commuter bike, then it would have a Rohloff with a belt drive.
Mines an Alfine. I'm not 100% sold on the reliability of if, there's the very occasional skip, like a flaky freehub pawl, (though it doesn't actually have these) but I don't think I'm ready to go quite so spendy as a Rohloff upgrade.
Putolined singlespeed, I might lube the chain again in a few years 😂
It was my CX race bike last year but I'm not racing it this year, will be a shame to convert it back to a commuter, it weights about 7.5kg right now before mudguards, commuter tyres, rack etc. 😭😭
Anyone else own a set of waterproof chaps? 😁
I seem to have ended up with two pairs, basically keep thighs and crotch dry (and warm). They roll up into a wee belt so if the morning looks iffy you can start with them stowed away but then unroll them.
Funnily enough they seem to have migrated to the very darkest deepest recesses of my kit drawer, I think I'm always too embarrassed to use them just because they're called 'chaps' 🙄
A flow mindset if riding in traffic. It’s not who is right that is important but getting to destination in a calm manor
This ^^
Never get involved in a confrontation - on a commute, chances are you'll be seeing the same drivers in the same sorts of places every day and the last thing you need is some sort of ongoing tit for tat.
On which note (although it was incredibly rare for me to have anything dangerous or outright antagonistic in my years of commutes), I found it quite useful having an idea of escape routes, safe areas and so on. That applied on towpaths and off-road cycle paths such as the Fallowfield Loop (Manchester) as well as roads - certain areas were known as ambush points.
Remember to enjoy it.
When I had to take a car to work it felt like I hadn’t finished till I got home. Now I’m back on the bike it feels like I finish work as soon as I’m on the saddle.
It doesn’t rain (heavily) that often
Store spares at work - clothes, puncture stuff, lights, snacks
Take the pretty route, not the fast one
Keep your bike light enough so you can occasionally detour and have fun on the way home
Find the prettiest spots. Every now and then make a flask of coffee as you leave for home. Stop for five minutes and appreciate it all
Much of what's been said applies - mudguards, tough tyres, its not a race etc. Whichever way you do it, getting stuff off your back on onto a rack is great. As a Brompton commuter rain or shine, and mostly in my work clothes, not having a sweaty back is great. Brompton bar bags work a treat. I'll add overshoes big enough to fit over work shoes for when it really rains hard was a good addition to the wardrobe. Light rain, use your jacket, heavier rain bung on the waterproof trousers, really heavy rain, whack on the overshoes as the rain runs off the trousers into your shoes. Need to be easy on/off so I had a non stretchy, velcro back pair of Gore ones that were ideal for the job.
Remember you're not racing. Use cyclestreets.net to find a quiet route, sit up and look around, it's a pleasure to use the time to explore your town, rather than just following a direct route you'd drive or bus. You'll probably still be there quicker. And Schwalbe marathon supremes are fast rolling but still very tough, I've not punctured them yet after about four years of bikeability.