Forum menu
-Leave as much stuff at work as you can, especially shoes they're too bulky heavy to transport daily.
-Full Mudguards make total sense, year round.
-Dynamo lights also make total sense. (battery jobs for extra visibility in the depths of winter)
-Avoid wearing all black if you can, contrast does help your visibility.
-Putolined chain just to minimise maintenance.
-Either a Pannier or a good bike mounted bag with at least 10L+ capacity (I have a Vaude seatpost mounted Klickfix thing that is brilliant) backpacks just make you a sweatier, uncomfortable mess.
-If showering at work and needing to transport a towel small microfibre jobs will get you dry.
-If you are transporting work wear, Roll it into a 'sausage' don't try to transport nice flat folded clothes in a bag.
-Sachet porridge is a good breakfast to leave at work if you ride in early.
-Check the forecast for the whole day (it might be lovely in the morning and piss down in the afternoon) take appropriate kit
-Arm/knee warmers, buff and a Gillet are very handy packable items in both spring and summer.
-Plan your route to avoid busier roads where you can, even if it takes longer.
-It's not a race (but you will probably try to chase the odd stranger down) remember you need to be able to function after you arrive (and probably when you get home).
take the pretty route, not the fast one 👍
I like it, this is the commute home for me taking the slow and scenic route, takes ninety minutes mind
I ride 8 miles each way on a part car/part bike commute. My bike leg is entirely traffic free.
Cache clothes at work when you take the car. Ironed shirts and trousers in a hanger bag, plus shoes, deodorant and a towel. If I need to I roll shirts and trousers for transport, less creases.
Don't shower unless you need to, so don't ride so hard on the way to work.
Hub gears, full mudguards, rack with rack top bag and a quick clip detachable bar bag. A simple and easy to maintain bike is key.
Tools including 15mm spanner for Alfine hub, CO2 plus a small backup pump.
Goretex shoes and extra flap on front mudguard.
I don't carry hardshell waterproofs. I have only ever had maybe 3 proper soakings in 5 years. One of those is was pissing it down but I HAD to get going. Within 10 seconds I was soaked, within a minute it had stopped, but I had a 34min ride to do absolutely dripping.
Studded tyres as soon as frosts start. My route is not treated.
Decent Lux stvzo front light. I am not on the road but do encounter lots of dog walkers who I thought were closet Nazis until I switched to a less antisocial light.
Get and use a bell. Smile. I say Hello!/Mornin'!/Evenin'! to everyone I pass. Say Thank You where appropriate. I consider myself an ambassador for all cyclists, but most importantly am ambassador for myself, so I am courteous and kind to everyone I encounter. I see a core of about 30-40 of the same people every day, and probably an equal number of randoms.
I have just moved to a Ebike (wow). Some weeks I was just too knackered to ride enjoyable, especially going home.
New bike has a kickstand (double wow). Get one!
Take time to look around you and watch the environment change as the seasons roll round. Appreciate the freedom to feel the sun on your face and the air in your lungs.
37 years cycle commuting here. now retired.
full mudguards, schwalbe marathon plus tyres, and strong wheels built by Spa cycles.
and ignore the weather, it is just a different coat day.
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!
Agreed but decent doesn't need to fancy.
Use Google maps to compare elevation change on different routes. I added a bit of distance to my route to avoid unnecessary elevation loss then regained, thus avoiding breaking a sweat and needing a shower on arrival.
For a short commute, ride slowly to avoid getting sweaty and needing a shower.
Have tyres and wheels that are ok going up or down the odd curb.
Don't dress to look like a cyclist. Seem to get along better with drivers and pedestrians as "man on a bike".
Short mud flap on the front fender, makes a big difference.
Not a rucksack, horrible sweaty back.
Separate helmet from your MTB one that doesn't get muddy and so sweaty, and you don't bash about your best helmet every day.
Carry a bright orange hatchet in a holster on your right hand side, no more close passes.
Sks guards, Ortlieb panniers, d-lock, waterproofs, durable tyres. It's a short commute so I use battery lights wear work clothes and pedal slowly enough to avoid getting too sweaty.
I've forgotten bits of my uniform on occasion when cycle commuting to work. When this happens I comically announce it to the supervisor as an honest mistake and they go hunting for some uniform in the store room.
I've been using my karrimor pannier for over 20 years. Some repairs are needed. The left hand pannier is in almost perfect condition as I only use the right one.
I can dry my stuff in my 'office' if I'm not returning back to base before going home.
Recently I've been using a waterproof dry sack which can be used as a ruck sack that has been great for keeping the important stuff dry when it's hammering it down.
Wrap a banana loosely in your rolled up clothes and remember not to squeeze all the air out of your drybag when you strap it to the rear rack to minimize bruising.
Spare pants and socks at work for those days when you ride in, in lycra, in the rain having forgotten your pants and also need dry socks.
Downside, or upside depending on how you look at it. is you dont actually need to stop at work. You can if you want just keep going, as I did once. Decided on the route in I didn't need or enjoy working at a shop any more and just rode past it and went on to Loch Lomond for the day instead.
The other workers saw me coming along the road, and just keep going 😆 It was a lovely autumn day too. Crisp in the air but not too cold.
20 miles in and 20 miles home again. Lunch by the lochside.
I live just over a mile from my work and about 500ft higher up. Commute to work is a half mile plummet to sea level and then half a mile along the waterfront the wind is generally behind me. The ride home is a pita.
I live just over a mile from my work and about 500ft higher up. Commute to work is a half mile plummet to sea level and then half a mile along the waterfront the wind is generally behind me. The ride home is a pita.
I'm a perfect 25km, mostly a gentle downhill (albeit into the headwind) in the mornings, and a gentle uphill with a tailwind in the evenings. In theory that should be perfect as I can get a gentle workout in the AM and an enjoyable smash (if I want it) in the evenings.
If you don't have a shower, baby wipes are great.
I tend to take more than I need, e.g. shoes and work clothes, but shoes are usually filled with wallet, 'civvy glasses' in a case, bike keys and work pass - easy way to check I've got everything - if I've not got 4 items in the shoes, I'm missing something. Same with work clothes, trousers, shirt, pants and socks - need 4 things before I roll it up. Puncture kit etc is all in a soft 'bottle case' and is rarely used, just stays in the bottom of the panniers.
Very much into finding the most pleasant route. I used to do the long route, or the short route, some not so nice. Following a number of accidents, I avoid the busy traffic now, and where it does get congested, just go with the flow rather than carving through it. My current route involves going through 3 parks, some road, and half on the Fallowfield Loop. In 15 years of using the Loop, I haven't had any trouble - it's a bit of a mugging area, but that's not usually at rush hour - I'm more wary if I finish at lunch time, as you'll often see gangs of 'hoodied' lads hanging about. The canal routes have also been good, very pleasant, but filthy in winter and they eat drive chains !
Fortunate enough to have a complete commuter set up. The bike, lights and clothing are all just for that purpose. Lots of lights even in daytime. Schwalbe Marathon tyres. Waterproof panniers. Full length guards. Ultimate would be belt drive, for now it’s plutolined!
Dynamo lights F+R are the real breakthrough for me, beyond the obvious stuff like long, well-fitted guards and reliable tyres. A good tourer/bikepacker is also a good commuter - with my Brompton as the exception, it's got the dynamo lights and bag carrying ability but it's not great for any real distances. Brilliant train-city-office commuter though.
I used to vary my commutes a fair bit where possible.
Commuting into Manchester from the south east of town, I had various road options - mostly shit but on a SS road bike it was bearable - and a couple of off-road options like towpaths and various off-road cycle paths. Fine in dry weather on a CX but a day of rain would usually render it unrideable for a week - or at least thoroughly unpleasant getting covered in gritty liquid mud for 15 miles.
The variation kept it interesting. Early summer mornings riding in along the canal were stunning.
At work I had a locker with a full set of clothes and shoes, I took in underwear, socks and a T-short each day but had spares at work in case I forgot anything. Towel etc stayed in the changing rooms; I'd take in a fresh towel each week on the days I went in by train or car.
I was a 2-3 times a week commuter, 40 mile round trip. I had an off-road to canal to river route and a road route. I left clothes at work, and showered at the gym opposite (£20pm) and used the gym on drive in days. With rides on Sundays and day off if I was building up to a big event type ride I could rack up 200 miles a week.
The rides home were 90% shit, rides in 90% ace, but I’m on feet all day so…