My route is 20 miles each was, half of which is on a segregated cycle path up a quiet a-road across a moor. The rest is through the south side of Glasgow. I leave my shower stuff and clothes in my locker at work. Usually drive in at least once a fortnight (once a week in winter) so swap over stuff then. I try to carry as little as possible on the bike/me so I have a seat pack for tools, tubes, etc and put sandwiches, any extra clothes (gloves, arm warmers, etc in my back pockets. If I need to take clothes because I haven’t driven in then I’ll take my camelbak – fine in winter but a bit sweaty in summer.
I use a Kona Jake the Snake with 32mm puncture proof road tyre.When I started doing it I tried my road bike, which was fine but not great in heavy traffic – road pedals and shoes aren’t great in stop/start traffic, tried my mtb with slicks but is was too slow so I bought the cx bike and it’s perfect – fast enough and I can fit full gaurds.
It works really well for me and the only tweak I’ll make is fitting a front disc to the bike. Puncture proof tyres and full gaurds really are a must though especially in winter.
I absolutely love it though, this was my first day back commuting on the bike since last Wednesday and I actually woke up early excited about it.
