6 Tips to Begin Commuting to Work by Bike

Commuting to work by bike has plenty of benefits. It'll save you money, help you to get in shape, and keep you out of freeway traffic jams.

But that doesn't mean the switch to cycling as a form of transportation is an easy one to make. Like any change in your lifestyle, it will take a lot of effort and plenty of alterations to your daily routine to make it happen.

Here's what you need to know to remove the excuses and make the transition to cyclo-commuting an easy one.

Why Commute?

Most likely, your drive to work will include multiple stoplights, busy intersections and long waits in traffic. A trip that takes 20 minutes in a car might only take 25 or 30 minutes on a bike.

More: Tips for Your First Commute

For cyclists training for a race, the commute provides the opportunity to fit an aerobic workout into a busy schedule. For many riders, weekdays slip away quickly, and it's easy to find yourself in the position of a weekend warrior. Commuting solves that problem.

The morning commute is also a great way to warm-up into the day. Depending on your plans, the morning ride can be used to brainstorm solutions to challenges you might face at work. On the other hand, the evening commute can be a way to unwind from the day and manage stress.

No matter what your reason is for commuting, remembering all of the benefits will help you on those tough days when its hard to get out of bed.

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Find a Good Route

One of the first things you need to do to begin commuting is to find a good route. You may or may not have access to a bike path. If you don't, there are still plenty of ways to find a safe way to get to work.

If you have to commute on the road with traffic, you may find that a higher-speed road with wide shoulders is safer than a slower-speed road with no shoulders at all. If you're a year-round commuter, one route might be better than others when it gets dark early or when the weather changes. Take these things into consideration when planning your route.

Plan Around Your Work Schedule

If possible, structure your work schedule so that early morning meetings or the use of a personal vehicle aren't required on your commute days. Plan ahead so you can minimize the obstacles.

More: Bike Commuter Horror Stories

Leave Supplies at Work

If you have showers at work, keep a small bag that contains all the morning essentials like shampoo, soap, deodorant, hair dryer, a shave kit, etc. If you're lucky enough to have a locker room, keep all your morning essentials there.

Begin by committing to commute one or two days per week. Good days to commute include Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. This will allow you to bring a change of clothes to work on your non-commuting days. You can also leave an extra set of work shoes at the office so you don't have to worry about transporting work footwear back and forth. Shoes are heavy and take up a lot of room in a backpack.

If you have to walk through the office in the morning, it might be a good idea to have a pair of flip-flops to wear. Other good items to keep on hand are a floor pump, a battery charger for lights, extra tubes and food options, like oatmeal and energy bars.  

More: 6 Tips to Solve Your Bike Commuting Roadblocks

Prepare for Your Ride the Night Before

The night before you commute, lay out your gear. For short commutes, it might be possible to ride to work in the same clothes you'll wear all day. For others, the commuting clothes are cycling clothes. Any ride over five miles will be more comfortable in cycling clothes.

If you're chilly when you first step outside, it doesn't mean you need to wear more clothing. Once you're on the bike you'll warm up quickly, and overdressing means you have to carry whatever you take off.

Get your bike ready to go the night before too. Make sure the chain is lubed, the tires are inflated to the proper psi and your water bottles are filled. In the morning all you'll need to do is get dressed and roll out.

More: How to Combine Commuting and Interval Training

What to Do About Food

Some riders like to grab a quick bite to eat before getting on the bike in the morning. For these riders, having breakfast ready or something that is grab-n-go makes the morning more efficient. Others might grab a quick cup of coffee or just drink water.

If you have access to a refrigerator at work, you can pack breakfast items to eat after you arrive. If not, use the company cafeteria. For commuters that don't stay in the office and use the company car for on-the-job transportation, breakfast can be found while you're on the road.

If possible, plan ahead for a healthy breakfast. Otherwise you might be the one devouring the donut platter mid-morning, which ruins all of your early-morning efforts.

More: 10 Things I Learned From Being Hit by a Car

Other Things to Think About

1. Wear clothing that helps you be seen. A jacket with reflective strips will help. Choose a color like red or neon green will be seen at greater distances too, and will be less likely to blend in with the scenery.

2. Blinking lights on your seat post and handlebars are a must. Even when it's not dark out, lights will help you be seen by motorists on cloudy days or on morning commutes when the light from the sun is low.

3. If you're willing to commit to riding in less-than-perfect weather, a removable fender will keep the water on your wheel from spraying on your back. It'll also keep your bike cleaner, which means less work when you get home.

4. Clear-lens glasses are also a good idea to help protect your eyes in stormy or low-light conditions.

5. If you carry a lot of gear to work, invest in racks. You'll be more comfortable than you would wearing a heavy backpack.

More: 10 Tips for Hard-Core Bike Comuuters

No Excuses

Rather than looking for excuses for why you can't commute, get creative and look for ways to make it possible. There's a good chance that your health, attitude, creativity and the quality of your work will improve because you're riding your bike to work.

Note: A big thank you to Ron Kennedy, Scott Ellis and Rob Klingensmith for sharing their commuting secrets with me for this article.

More: The Top 10 Bike Paths for Commuters

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