Making Commuting by Bike Easier
Why do we want to Cycle Commute?
Reasons may include: Fitness/ lifestyle/ be a green citizen / Save money
The Basic Needs of a Cycle Commuter:
- A reliable bike
- Secure bike storage at work
- Adequate shower facilities
- Storage for clean clothes / Not so clean bike gear/ Toiletries
Its important to have your bike serviced regularly. Try to do it yourself or if not pay the money ($80-$200).
There are also Bike Maintenance courses/ workshops or Bike Hubs (such as EcoMatters Bike Hub) where you can learn the skills; many of these community run and are free.
But make sure you can do the following
- Chain Health: clean & lube weekly if you ride regularly
- A few tips on Tyre Health: (Where the rubber meets the road):
- Prevent punctures by using Kevlar tyres and/or tyre liners
- Have a pump that works!!! Supplement your pump with C02 Inflator if you can.
- Occasionally check the glue in your repair kit hasn’t dried and that you have patches
- Carry a spare tube (who wants to fix punctures in the rain!)
- Learn how to remove a tyre/ fix a puncture in the comfort of your garage or a community workshop.
- Inspect tyres weekly and use a pointy knife to remove glass and any other embedded objects
- Gear Health (Lube and adjust cables to help prevent clunking gears and other problems)
- Brake Health (Daily check plus weekly visual of pads/ shoes/ rims/ cables)
- Overall Bike health (Quick daily functional check/ remedy clunks/ bumps squeaks/ lube)
(Don’t let these become excuses. You may have to be a little eccentric/ brazen to be a cycle commuter)
- Bike Storage: If you’re lucky your workplace is bike friendly and supplies the basic needs. If not be creative and brazen (remember sometimes it’s easier to apologise than ask for permission!). Stair wells, lobby, become incumbent, get your workmates used to bikes being there
- Showers. if not supplied at your workplace then at least basin wash. (Its about commitment)
Don't be a smelly workmate!! - Storage for personal stuff in the workplace
- Find and claim a wardrobe if you can.
- Buy and erect a portable wardrobe (Briscoes// Kathmandhu) expect to spend $60-$100
- Hang stuff discreetly somewhere in your office/ workplace (Hint: dry risers if you can find them....look for a cupboard)
Bike Stuff
First thing is spend the money if you can!!! Some mandatory stuff:
- Basic toolkit you can carry on the bike (Includes multi tool, puncture kit and a little pocket knife)
- Functional and safe Front and Rear lights (Led Lights to MTB Nite ride lights)
Make sure your lights are bright and have rechargable batteries (recommend USB) - Adequate clothing. My favourites are Ground Effect for tops and gloves and NZO or Cactus Outdoor for Shorts. Yes it all costs money, but really is worth it, and hey you get to wear cool looking stuff) I use summer and winter weight Merino base layers and tops, with shorts year round and leggings for winter.
You also need a water proof top of some kind, if you are riding in the rain. - A decent Helmet (spend the money for comfort and safety) & gloves
Ease into commuting (decreasing the Ouch Factor!)
You will always find excuses not to ride. Eg "15kms is too far to cycle" or "Its too wet"
Here’s a few tips:
- Once you get used to it and have gotten in the habit, the distance you ride will become relative. (especially when you start doing recreational rides)
- Like all exercise cycling can become addictive (endorphins)
- But it is still hard and there is a natural pain barrier to get through. Mine used to be 30 minutes!
You will not die!! Get objective about it & think of the benefits (see “why are you commuting” above) Push through the Pain. - The first 5 or 10 mins in the rain are a hassle, but once you are wet you can enjoy the ride (I’m afraid I can’t say the same about head winds!!)
- If you commute on a mountain bike try fully inflated slick tyres to reduce rolling resistance (go faster)
- Traffic is a very real danger. (As someone who still has the Titanium in my leg from a bad accident, I still think the benefit of regular exercise out weighs the risk from crazy drivers.)
-Be alert and develop that 6th sense.
-On the road be assertive, not afraid while obeying the road rules.
-If a driver is being a jerk avoid cycle rage but nicely and firmly remind them you have a right to be there if they were wrong.
-Use cycle tracks when possible. - If its all too hard try:
- Put the bike on the train and cycle some of the way
- Park in the suburbs and cycle in (need a bike rack)
- Use a folding bike and ditto
- Have a day off and swim or run instead so you don’t hate the bike
Is this compromise? Remember that applied consistency beats all the non applied grand intentions. These little tricks will still reduce your fuel/ parking costs and every km you ride is money in your health bank.
- Put the bike on the train and cycle some of the way
Above all stay on the Bike & Keep it Fun!!!