First time commuter. Tips please.

Mudguards.

a long commute, lots of traffic lights, disc brakes make a big difference, to your hands and wear on your rims

also some sort of puncture resistant tyres, schwalbe marathons may be draggy , but youll definately get punctures and that will slow you down more!, good pump, multitool and spare tube with you at all times.

eat a hearty breakfast beforehand- porridge is good

leave a chunky bike lock in work so you dont have to carry it (even with secure bike store)

army surplus goretex trousers for the really wet days, tough as you like! a good jacket too

I did 10miles each way across london for several years 5 days a week, saved me a fortune , and I was fit, but if I had a big ride at the weekend Id get the train on Friday to save my legs

also  leave an extra spare pair of pants at work, because 1 day youll forget!

Check you've taken your underwear. Then check again.

I did something similar for a few years and that's the advice I'd give myself now. As well as "assume every driver is trying to kill you - some because they're distracted/hungover/stupid, some because they don't like cyclists"

full mudguards. schwalbe marathon plus tyres.    and study cycle.travel for a better safer route.

I prefer to stash stuff at work, clothes etc, and swap them out, rather than take change of clothes every day, just leave them at work and swap them out however often suits you

Have everything you might need to fix a tyre/ get you moving, being stuck half way takes a fair amount of time to walk, even just 3 miles

As far as lights are concerned, at the very least a good pair of front/rear LED red/white flashing lights that have good enough batteries to allow them to be on all the time. Then check out something like the Lezyne Stvzo lights, they do f/r sets, the Stvzo designation is a German legal lighting requirement to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, the more expensive ones have a dipping facility, , just like cars do. As you’re going to be riding on main roads, this might well be worth the extra cost.

I’m planning on getting at least one of my bikes out and starting riding again, and I’ll need new lights, the Lezyne ones are what I’m going to get, as I’ll be riding on and off-road; it’s a technology I’ve been looking for for years, it’s surprising dipping lights haven’t been turned into a requirement in the U.K. Halfords, Amazon, and lots of bike retailers sell them, just do a search.

The "shifter" YouTube channel is dedicated to urban cycling and commuting with loads of tips and advice. It's Canadian based, but much of the content is relevant anywhere.

https://youtube.com/@shifter_cycling?si=nyCCAZk129vbBz43

Full length mudguards

Spare lights in your bag - you will forget to charge one, one will break, fall off etc

Clear lens glasses

Puncture proof tyres

Hi vis / reflective ankle velcro strap thingies

Bright coloured helmet - mine is flourescent green

A nice warm toasty base layer, pref merino if you are cycling both ways as they are ok to put back on in the evening even if they are sweaty

Keep some handcleaner at your workplace in case you end up with oil on your hands on the way in

I prefer a single pannier for on-road commute and a rucksac for off-road commute

The more stuff you can leave at work, the better. And panniers FTW. 🙂

Lots of tips from me,  I've been commuting on and off for years.

Why a cheap commuter bike? If you are spending lots of time on it, and if you have secure storage, treat yourself to a nice bike, you've earned it. Use C2W if you can or save petrol money and get a nice bike.

• Cycle every day. It is so much easier to do this, kit is in the right place, lights are charged under a routine, you know where everything is, you never leave the laptop in the car, always got a towel at work etc. The more routine it is, the easier it is. If you sometimes drive, cycling 'takes longer'. If you ride every day, that is your commute time and your routine.
• You'll be surprised how infrequently it actually rains, most of your rides will be in the dry
• You'll be surprised how often the roads are wet (contradictory to the point above). Get mudguards, they are essential
• Do you need to shower? I ride in slowly, don't sweat much, and just get changed into fresh clothes and spray of deodorant, I don't shower. Helps with reduced faffing time. No complaints yet. Merino tops make this possible.
• Leave shoes, and trousers at work, along with spare pants and socks. Bring in fresh shirt each day. Don't forget spare pants.
• If carrying laptop, panniers are ace. If just packed lunch and clean shirt, rucksack is fine
• Leave lock at work
• Get cheap LED lights and have them on the bike as spares

Change job

My commute improved massively once I left my Edinburgh city centre job and A road/city centre commute to one in Selkirk where my route home can include an EWS stage if I so wish, loads better.

Lights. Any lights. Road cyclists without any sort of lighting are the vast majority and they're a complete pain in the bollocks both as a pedestrian and a driver.

Insurance.

An understanding workplace which knows and accepts that you're riding in and might be delayed by a puncture / Range Rover / random act of dog.

Tools and ability to amend said puncture at the roadside.

Basic first aid kit to drag gravel out of knees and mop up pedal strikes to shins.

Some form of lightweight packable defence against the elements should a sunny early morning suddenly turn into a hoisting-it-down slightly later morning. I have a dayglo orange waterproof from somewhere budget like Decathlon or Go Outdoors which packs down to the size of a can of deodorant.

Deodorant.

I heartily agree with the mudguards and make it a decent bike comments above. I disagree with Schwalbe Marathon suggestions because they're hateful bloody things to pedal and other makes produce similarly tough tyres that roll really well. Continental Contact range is my choice, loads of different styles from slicks to MTB like tread.

Probably the only new point not noted above is try to find an alternative quieter route even if it adds a couple of miles to the trip.

Try a few different routes - it takes a while to dial in the best / most efficient route to get to work if you have options. Does it have to be on a busy A-road or is there a sneaky system of country lanes you could take? Longer yes, but probably considerably less stressful on a dark morning.

Bringing a lock and a very basic puncture kit (saddle bag with tube and levers, small multitool, and pump on the bottle cage) is all you really need unless you're very unlucky. They can just stay on the bike and hopefully not get used!

Spare clothes in a waterproof rucksack. I like the roll-top ones for commuting.

Lights out the wazoo.

Wash and lube the chain once a week but you don't need to go nuts. You wanna keep the bike reliable2 but probably don't need to treat it like your pride and joy. Mudguards also help.

I suspect you can probably find a route which isn't on a busy main road. Do a bit of research and be prepared to add a couple of miles.

Store what you can at work. Ride slowly and steady so you can often skip the shower till you get home if you don't sweat. If you're riding into the city, get glass proof tyres (or tubeless).

My commuting improved massively when I found a few alternative routes home that avoid the worst of the traffic. Used an online map thing, not sure if it still exists (will try to find it, or someone will know..? ) or bing maps is good for that sorta thing.

See.sense lights have been my best light purchase. Battery lasts weeks and they don't die having been left in the garage over the summer.

Tubeless tyres (Schwalbe G-One allrounds) have been pretty much puncture free. So much so that I'm not afraid of tempting fate by typing that here! 🙂

Been commuting to current office for 10 years luckily most is canal, good advice above, remember my dad telling me at 20 when I started cycling to uni work placement, assume everyone wants to kill you and don't wear tarmac coloured clothes, has served me well?

All of the above, frankly. But

Check you’ve taken your underwear. Then check again.

is the bit I wish someone had told me.

Cycle every day. It is so much easier to do this, kit is in the right place, lights are charged under a routine, you know where everything is, you never leave the laptop in the car, always got a towel at work etc. The more routine it is, the easier it is.

+1.

I don't think these threads are particularly valuable because every commute is different and everyone is different. (eg I carried different stuff commuting in London compared to my similar length one now, for all sorts of reasons.) All you're doing is getting on your bike to make a journey, so there's no need to overthink it, as long as you have everything that you need either with you or in work. You'll very quickly find out which lights work for you, which method of carrying stuff works and whether you need to stuff yourself with three breakfasts, as some do. Now if you want some advice about doing my 10 mile commute then I can help! Plus

Check you’ve taken your underwear. Then check again.

You can cope for a few hours in work going commando but might have problems if you leave your trousers at home...

And until you are in proper routine, get everything ready the night before. If you are in a rush in the morning and you can't find your gloves, it is dead easy to convince yourself that you might as well drive in.

I've been through a million iterations of light configurations; these days I have a Moon Nebula rear, lovely light, terrible battery life, saddle mounted, a Leyzne clip on rear too - you never know when one will fail/drop/run to empty, so ALWAYS double rear light. For front duties, external batteries are a pain in the butt, so I have one cateye for being seen, and an Exposure Sirius to see where I'm going. Much of my commute is on an unlit path and this setup really helps. It's easy to think commuting things like lights are expensive, compare them to the cost of a tank of petrol or diesel and it's easy to rationalise a light you'll use for years costing 1.5 tanks worth.

Schwalbe Marathon of a suitable variety as people have said, in addition to this, I find they wear well, but once you get one puncture they are usually done, so tend to replace at that point.

Weight on the bike not your back is far more comfortable IMO.

Layers, the pants thing above is important as you will forget as well all have at some point.

I'd always try and find a more relaxed route, strive to arrive, not hit KOMs on an A-road, everyone out there is literally trying to/happy to kill you. SMIDSY.

Someone mentioned a hearty breakfast above, I'm more of a before commute and after commute breakfast person, perhaps that's why I'm so heavy though 😉

Have a good look on maps and experiment with any route deviations that might add a bit of distance, but get you off hostile busy roads and make your commute far less stressful.

When I was a postie, heading in at 0600-0630, the A road wasn't too bad but it turned out that red traffic lights typically made the direct route slower than using a stretch of my commute home on quiet roads in reverse.

Direct, my commute was only ~4.5 miles, but the quiet back streets adding an extra mile were well worth it.

A locker at work to store spare work clothes, your bike kit if not commuting in work clothes, bike tools etc. is invaluable.

Check you’ve taken your underwear. Then check again.

My commute is 10km, I just wear my pants and commuting trousers, I don't wear chamois. Spare pants at work are in case I get wet riding in. (see point about lack of rain but prevalence of road spray, get mud guards.)

I don’t think these threads are particularly valuable because every commute is different and everyone is different

It's throwing ideas against a wall and seeing what sticks though. It's better "ooh, I hadn't thought of that" than "yeah, that doesn't really apply to me," surely.

Much of my commute is on an unlit path and this setup really helps. It’s easy to think commuting things like lights are expensive,

It might also be worth pointing out that if you're on an unlit path and have a squillion lumen front light then you've probably blinded the rider coming towards you. Be nice, use appropriate lights or turn the bloody thing down or cover them up.

I don’t think these threads are particularly valuable because every commute is different and everyone is different
It’s throwing ideas against a wall and seeing what sticks though. It’s better “ooh, I hadn’t thought of that” than “yeah, that doesn’t really apply to me,” surely.

Don't forget your clothes...

Remember to eat breakfast...

Put lights on your bike...

Hold on, you've got something on your face, let me wipe it off <licks hankie and wipes>

Whatever! 😀

And until you are in proper routine, get everything ready the night before. If you are in a rush in the morning and you can’t find your gloves, it is dead easy to convince yourself that you might as well drive in.

If you are in a rush in the morning and you can’t find your gloves, it is dead easy to convince yourself that you don't need gloves. Other than your skull, what's the first thing that's going to hit the floor in the event of a collision? I'd ride without a helmet before I rode without gloves.

traildog

Free Member

I suspect you can probably find a route which isn’t on a busy main road. Do a bit of research and be prepared to add a couple of miles.

Loads of great advice. But I'd second traildogs advice.

My commute is 1/3 longer because I take a longer route with much less traffic.

I have two lights front and rear and religiously charge them Friday night

Things I've forgotten

Trousers

Shirt

Pants

Socks

Lunch

Keys

The lock stays on the bike and almost never gets forgotten.

The waterproof trousers and jacket always stay in the back for the time when the forecast is wrong.

The deodorant always stays in the bag.

Paniers and full mudguards on all my commuting since 1997. I've never been sad about the slight extra weight. I'm always happy about the less sweaty back and dry shoes/ bum.

Sometimes it feels harder than it needs to be, still almost always faster than the car.

Lights out the wazoo.

And light-coloured/reflective clothing. It's scary how little of a dark-clad cyclist i can see when I'm driving.

Apart from all of the above, things became far easier for me when I started packing/ prepping the night before. My pannier is always packed straight after work (laptop, glasses, notebook, bag with ironed & folded shirt& trousers, underwear, clean towel. Lunch gets added in as i leave the house, but it's prepped the night before).

I keep a wash bag and shoes at work, along with a spare set of cycling clothes in case it's really wet on way in. Rarely have to use them.

My cycling gear is laid out the night before, lights are charged etc so I know everything is ready.

As well as the pannier bag, I have a saddlebag with a tube, levers and multitool. Mountain Morph is always strapped to the rack as I've found smaller pumps are shit when you're in a hurry.

I use a small frame top bag to put phone, lock keys and work pass in. It's much easier than having them in the big bag.

As everyone has said, mudguards are essential...I like the SKS full length ones.

Also as above, it's a mindset.

I’d ride without a helmet before I rode without gloves.

I think you typed that the wrong way around. I was thinking more about gloves to protect against cold hands than to protect skin following an off.

 every commute is different and everyone is different.

Too right. I bloody hate panniers, but everyone on here seems to prefer them to a backpack!

leave some spares at work, inner tubes etc.carry a pump, leave a pump at work. I have had a few occasions where I have picked up a slow puncture and just topping up a couple of time then fixing at work was more pleasant than fixing in the cold/rain etc. Also means if you have a puncture on the way in you can take one from the work stash for the ride home.

have a couple of sets of lights fitted , just in case one fails particularly the back, which you won'y know about.

Mudguards, rack and the obligatory single pannier.

No QR everything needs to be bolted - wheels, saddle/post

Never ever ever ever try to filter up side of a truck at the traffic lights.

Double lights F/R, plenty of reflectors, inc the pedals

Removable cameras F/R(just in case)

It's not the TDF you're on, so watch your speed.

Never wash the bike. The mankier the better

For 6 miles each way, I'd just ride in regular clothes. Maybe stash a spare set of clothes at work just in case you get caught in an unexpected downpour.

As above, carry minimum possible on the bike, and keep relevant kit in the office (bigger carry in and home Monday AM and Friday PM)

Pack of festival wipes in your desk draw in case no time for shower before that 9AM meeting (alongside shampoo, deoderant, aftershave)

Extra USB charging cables for the that time you forget to charge your lights (you will)

Office shoes under the desk

fresh towel on weekly rotation if you are showering

Try not to stink the office out with rancid cycling gear, so buy enough extra bibs and tops if you are bothering w changes of clothes

decent wet bag to go in the pannier to keep stuff dry if it rains

are you full time on site or will you need to take a laptop or other equipment back and forth? Last time I did (near) full time commuting I had a desktop at work. Backpacks make me sweat buckets, so was glad to avoid that.

have you got an alternative (car, public transport, WFH provision) for the days where its really grim or you are feeling under the weather?

6 miles each way - are you looking at taking a leisurely street clothes ride, or a 20 minute work-oout followed by a shower?

Get the kit ready the night before, have the bike set-up, the bags packed and a stack of clothing (in the order you put them on) in the room you get dressed. The bonus of this is your other half will get see you in the niche attire of HRM, knee warmers and arm warmers before you put on your base layers and shorts/trousers.

Mudguards are vital, proper ones, with flaps and reflectors.

Tyres are a balance between speed, comfort and puncture resistance, you have to make your on decision on where on the spectrum you want to sit.

Leave as much as you can at work. Shoes are heavy so I left a pair in the office, toiletries the same.

Don't skimp on kit. I read some people say to use crap kit for the commute, I take the opposite view as you spend more time commuting than you do on your weekend rides.

Versatile clothing is really useful as the temps in a morning are often much cooler than those in an evening. I know roadies get a bad name on here, but stuff like arm warmers, knee/leg warmers, gilets, cloth caps, toe covers, etc. are brilliant for this.

Have a saddle bag with your tools that lives on the bike. Check it over once every couple of months to make sure it's still there and still works. If you have presta values then make sure you get an adaptor that lets you use a Schrader pump as this means petrol stations become an good option if you get a flat.

Spare undies at work as you will forget them once.

I prefer panniers over a backpack, others disagree.

On which note, hi-viz is good, I like a gilet as it's wearable all year round. And if you're going to use a backpack, make sure that's hi-viz too. I don't like the ProViz stuff as it's grey when there aren't lights on it which is not ideal in low-light when cars don't always have their headlights on.

I like lots of lights rather than 1 or 2 big ones. My default setting is 1 constant and 1 flashing on the front, 2 flashing and 1 constant on the back. I also had a constant on the front of my helmet and a flashing on the back. Plus a rear flashing on the back of the pannier (on the outside of the bike). Don't give anyone the SMIDSY excuse. Make sure they're USB chargeable and you can charge them at work.

And if you can add reflectors to the above, I had them on my spokes, then all the better.

Geared hubs - mine's a Sturmey Archer - from the 60s.

Mudguards. - invaluable

Lights - nice USB rechargeables, try not to leave them outside and can be charged on the laptop while you work.

Look at the weather app when you get up - if it says it's not going to rain go for it. If it looks likely, sack it off and drive.  Life's too short to be wet at work.

Don't be scared of city/town traffic, you'll be faster than most of it if it's a city commute.  I personally would avoid anything with a national speed limit as it then gets a bit scary.

Filter - don't be traffic, cut through it.

I know you've just bought a road bike for it, but for short distance commutes, a folding bike is a revelation. Set up better for regular clothes (i.e. flat pedals and a chain guard), and stashes inside nearly everywhere without complaints - really convenient if you're popping out after work or whatever.

Even for the occasional longer commute (up to about 20 miles each way), I opt for the folder now.

I used to love my commute as I took the scenic route, got bored every day so tried every other day, meeting a few friends en route.  If I felt good I did sequential days to bank some days off.

Put the fuel savings into a separate account and treat yourself to something nice.

Panniers, full guards, good lock, don't overthink it.

+1 for Full length mudguards, also rack + pannier.

Keep a spare set of underwear and socks in your desk drawer at work for when, not if, you forget. "office shoes" in the office, then they can stay there. I normally kept a spare t-shirt too just in case.

Anything at all that ups the reliability of your bike is worth it, I generally commuted for decades on a SS for this reason, even for longer/hillier commutes. You only need one puncture/mechanical to write off months of marginal gains being slightly faster.

The logistical stuff:

Mudguards. As proper / full length as you can get, an ass-saver and crud catcher don't cut it.
Lights. Ideally with a spare set as well. They don't need to be full on 24hr racing things, just a couple of decent quality rear and something sufficient up front for whatever roads you're riding.
Leave as much stuff at work as possible - towel, work trousers, shoes and very definitely spare pants/socks/T-shirt. Use any days where you don't ride to replace old kit with fresh.
Keep a "commuting kit" of tools / spares etc with the bike or in the rucksack / pannier that you use. Otherwise you'll go to repair a puncture and realise that you used the allen keys at home, you used the tube on your other bike and so on.

The boring stuff that no-one wants to think about:

Know where you are. Know what escape routes are available, be that into a park / pedestrianised area, off through filtered streets / alleyways or into a busy area like a supermarket. It's very rare that you'll ever have to use these but it's well worth knowing what your options are before you have an irate BMW driver trying to turn you into a new bonnet ornament.

That makes it sound worse than it is. I only had cause to use that knowledge a couple of times during years of commuting in and out of Manchester on a mix of busy A-roads, back streets and canal towpaths.

I started commuting by bike in May last year, albeit ebike due to lack of showers at work. About a twenty mile round trip. Mainly off road and it is a muddy shit-fest this time of year.

Full length mudguards with extender flaps, a pair of warm waterproof shoes, Madison jacket and dungarees, decent warm gloves  and waterproof panniers have been my best investments. Just set up the wheels tubeless for less faff. I think it is definitely worth buying decent kit if you're doing it most days. I do between three and five days. Would prefer a normal bike but can't face it without a shower.