6 Tips to Begin Biking to Work

The snow is gone, the days are longer and the temperature is far above the dreaded 32-degree mark. And that means bike-to-work season has finally arrived.

Every spring, folks ditch their cars and bike to work to save money on rising gas prices, pack in an extra workout, or become more eco-conscious. Aspiring bike commuters take note: It's not as hard or complicated as it sounds.

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Meet Ignacio Rivera de Rosales and Daniela Diamente. The Tucson, Arizona, couple knows a thing or two about bike commuting. Diamente is executive director of El Grupo Youth Cycling, a non-profit organization in Tucson, and director of Cyclovia, an annual free event in Tucson, where several miles of roadway are closed to cars. Rivera de Rosales is Pima County Department of Transportation bicycle and pedestrian safety educator and is head coach at El Grupo.

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They've honed their bike-commuting skills over the years and have weeded out all of the unnecessary complications to make the activity fun, safe and stress-free.

Rivera de Rosales and Diamente break down how to successfully transition from car to bike in these six easy steps.

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Scope Out Your Route

Before hitting the road, investigate the best bike routes. Diamente suggests starting with city, county or state agencies, which typically have resources, such as bike maps.

She also suggests riders seek out off-road trails, an increasingly common option for folks in mid-sized towns and large metro areas. Rails-to-trails, a non-profit organization working to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines, also has a list of routes in each state.

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Diamente believes it's important to start to think like a cyclist and not a driver. That road you typically take when driving to work may not be the fastest or safest route on a bike.

"If you're not comfortable riding on a particular road, even if it's the one you use when driving, don't take it," Diamente says. "If you don't feel safe, and it's not enjoyable, you won't want to bike commute."

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Take a Test Run

It's as straightforward as it sounds. Go through the entire morning routine and route the weekend before the first official bike-to-work ride.

"This takes the stress out of that first commute," Diamente says. "And allows you to work out a few kinks in your schedule that maybe you hadn't thought of."

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Bring Tools You Know How to Use

Tire lever? Check. Multi tool? Spare tubes? Patch kit? Check, check and check. Too bad you never learned how to use the stuff. It's a common mistake among novice riders, according to Rivera de Rosales.

"Don't take along a whole set of Allen wrenches if you don't know how to use them," he says. "It's heavy and unnecessary."

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Instead, Rivera de Rosales suggests learning basic skills such as how to change a flat tire before starting that daily bike commute. Local bike shops often offer how-to workshops that cover basic repair as well the ABC quick bike check, a handy review used to spot problems before setting out on a ride.

Not available? Stop in anyway and ask one of those bike techs for a free tire-change tutorial.

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Be Realistic

Most people live within 10 miles of their office or workplace, but that doesn't make the distance any less intimidating. Diamente suggests starting small. Pick one or two days a week as designated bike-to-work days. Start with whatever day is the best fit.

"Drive to work on Monday and bring a week's worth of spare work clothes," she says. "Ride to work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Then on Friday, drive to work and grab all of those biking clothes and anything else you may have left behind throughout the week."

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Ditch the Backpack

Most folks who bike to work are restricted by weather. That means late spring, summer and fall are ideal bike-commuting seasons. But that also means warmer weather. A backpack may sound handy, but a large heavy bag can only lead down one path on a sunny summer day: sweat.

"I'd look like a swamp rat in two minutes with a backpack on," Rivera de Rosales says. "A much better alternative is to put a rack on, which allows you to install a basket—or even a milk crate—onto your bike."

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Get Comfortable

Here's a simple rule to remember: comfort and visibility trump all. There's no need to bike to work using cumbersome, uncomfortable and unwieldy gear. That means you should simplify your clothing.

"Don't worry about buying a bunch of new stuff," Diamente says. "If you prefer the spandex cycling gear that's great, go for it. But what you wear to the gym is completely fine."

The same rule applies to the bike. "Road bikes work, but you don't need to go out and buy one," Rivera de Rosales says. "Most bike shops have the inventory to test different types and models. Really all you need is a bike that you can put a rack on and that you'll have fun riding."

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