Starting a commute - things I should be aware of/need?

[helston90]

My commute is 17 each way but only manage it a few times a week due to meetings and commitments- as mentioned take your time building up to it and take your time on the ride itself- it's a cycle to work not a race.

It doesn't sound like you have the option but I often take my bike in my car one day to ride home in the evening and then vice versa- breaks it up a bit and allows me to have the car at the office if needs be.

 

[jonny jeez]

Glad you spotted the guide, we wrote it just for you so you should find a few answers there.

In reality, I have commuted over 20 miles (40 round trip) for many years along with a few others on here.
Whilst my current commute is half that, I am always looking to extend it (my last ride home ended up at 20 miles).

Its addictive. The way you feel when you arrive and the way it lifts your whole day, outweigh that daunting feeling that you may get on a cold winter morning when you climb out of bed.

My suggestions.

1 find a ride buddy to share all or some of the route, the dependency of sharing a ride is a fantastic motivator.
2. Start with 2 or 3 days a week and see how it goes .
3 don't miss the opportunity to start sometime between now and august...starting in the winter is hard work.
4 plan a route that follow rivers...rivers don't do hills. Extend the route if needed to achieve this. An extra mile is nothing.
5. Invest a few hundred pounds in a 50cc scooter and do the "off" days on that. It keeps your bike\ road sense head on and is fast and easy way to avoid public transport
6.if you ride in a city...keep calm..rise above everything and be forgiving, clear, confident but never aggressive. Read the guide on positioning and communication.
7 use strava, some people hate it but I love watching my miles clock up each month. It also allows me to show my buddies that I haven't ridden so gets me on the bike on those cold wet days. Just don't chase speed targets, that's a dangerous pursuit.
8....start.

Good luck. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, it has honestly opened up a whole new part of my life and lead to some of the best experiences i would ever imagine i would have .

Ps. I was 46 on Friday (13th) and am over 16 stone, although I am 6'2 so have plenty of space to hide all the weight. I am not fit but am bike fit. I also really struggle to motivate myself to ride in sometimes...but am always glad when I do.

 

[Drago]

Do you mean de-stressing?

Not the way he rides!

The boys have covered it pretty.much in the above posts. Try it.a.couple of.Times she.weekends leading up to your move, then aim to.do.it.perhaps.Tuesday.and Thursday when traffic is liable to be lightest. On Friday you can take your smelly clothes home in the car and on Monday take in fresh ones. Once you're into it you can up the days you ride in and It.ain't be Lon before it's a.journey you relish.

 

[biggs682]

Do you mean de-stressing?

mainly yes i do , but then this week there have been 2 road accidents involving cyclists within 200 yards of home and along my commute which i found a bit hard so have taken to cycle path commuting , although with loose dogs , deaf walkers amongst other hazards is still risky

 

[summerdays]

aim to.do.it.perhaps.Tuesday.and Thursday when traffic is liable to be lightest

I find Friday seems to be the quietest, perhaps people have a lie in or have taken the day off, certainly it's the quietest in the morning though it can be quite congested on the way home if the weather is good, but then you can filter past them!

 

[BigAl68]

As others have said start off doing it twice a week and build up to as many times you feel you want to/can handle.

I do a 17 mile each way commute 4 times a week. I have a system where I take shirts and trousers in on Monday and then bring home dirty ones each day. Starting out in the summer will make it easier as the dark winter months can be a bit of a grind but to be honest after 5 miles I tend to forget how cold and dark it is.

 

[jonny jeez]

mainly yes i do , but then this week there have been 2 road accidents involving cyclists within 200 yards of home and along my commute which i found a bit hard so have taken to cycle path commuting , although with loose dogs , deaf walkers amongst other hazards is still risky

Local incidents always have an impact but take them in perspective...millions,literally of people ride on the roads every day and more people are hurt and seriously injured as pedestrians ...walking.

Riding in a road always seems safer than shared paths to me.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Agree with a@jonny jeez. I prefer the road to paths as paths are often havens for broken glass, dog c**p, people walking with earphones in, wet slippy leaves etc and can be less well attended to by the corporation cleaning dept. Odds on @iancity you will hit/be hit by something doing a decent regular mileage, I'd be genuinely surprised if any of the regular commuters on here haven't, its in the nature of the game but the good rides, the health benefits & sheer damn joy of riding massively, massively outweigh the fear and fact of collisions.

Other than that, self adhesive patches are way better than an old style rubber solution toolkit, although punctures are a rarity - especially if you keep your tyres pumped up, routine maintenance is best done little and often, latex gloves are your friend, you will have an extensive collection of buffs - magazine freebies are just as good as shop bought. 99% of drivers are perfectly fine, I personally would advocate a mirror to help with all round vision without taking your eyes off the road in front, mudguards are a must in winter unless you enjoy looking like you've suffered an explosive bowel movement up your back, laptops can survive happily in a set of panniers, if you have a work dress code or uniform not.compatible with riding gear then use/get a locker and have a laundry day when you don't ride but take in laundered sets of clothes and bring back the ones for washing, if you don't use a helmet &/or high viz head to foot- expect comments from colleagues who don't cycle, likewise if any of them have any sort of irritation with bikes, you'll be told as if we all live in a big house together and you can have a word on their behalf- don't waste your breath arguing or explaining, however nice they may be normally some people become irrational bigots where bikes are concerned. You'll find on nice days that your route home can extend way beyond 16 miles, if you wish to use 'sports' drinks you can make your own easily with water/fruit juice/pinch of salt, speed and time are yours and yours alone - we're not all Strava warriors, commuting is great for mentally setting yourself up for the day (no coffee needed to kick start your work day) and to switch off before you get home, commuting is great for core fitness to build a healthy lifestyle routine onto or to let you drink beer & eat pizza without worry, commuting is great for being part of the world not cocooned away from it & allows you so much freedom its brilliant, commuting is great.......

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Agree with everything everyone else has said. I do a 20-mile commute (40 miles return trip) and have done so for many years (although not every day nowadays). Over that time my trip has (mostly) been a source of huge pleasure, although the trip back is often shattering (due to the hills and prevailing winds). Here's my advice:

• Absolutely warm into it. You'll need time before you can do it with ease.
• A pannier rack is essential, especially in winter. Get yourself some nice waterproof Ortliebs to go on them too. Both are a good investment. In winter especially, you'll have lots to carry and you'll do your back in if you try to carry it on your shoulders.
• Don't skimp on waterproofs. Get yourself a light, breathable one.
  
• Good quality tyres are a must. Just imagine getting a puncture when it's dark and went and you're tired. I have Marathon Plus, which have never let me down.
• Lights, high-viz jacket, reflective bands .. are essential. And don't forget to carry a spare light too.
• An alternative form of transport is hugely important on a long commute. There will be days when the weather is treacherous, or when you just don't feel like it. I like the idea of buying a small moped. I've been thinking of getting an electric bike for commuting on off-days (but I'd still need the car or train when the weather is bad.)
• Always take some form of sugar with you. Even after all this time, I still 'bonk' occasionally.

Good luck!

 

[vickster]

Get a rack, let the bike carry your stuff and avoid a sweaty back. Topeak do an Ingenious system with a bag with fold out pannier sides

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Get a rack, let the bike carry your stuff and avoid a sweaty back. Topeak do an Ingenious system with a bag with fold out pannier sides

+1 I've got an Altura one that does the same, pannier fold outs are not huge but big enough for large butty box, pair of shoes etc each side. It is a useful improvement over a bog standard rack bag.

 

[vickster]

I can get a 15" ancient laptop plus papers and power lead in one side and a day's work clothes and shoes in the other! Makes the bike heavy though!

 

[Cyclist33]

youll probably start eating more!

 

[Jimidh]

youll probably start eating more!

That's one of the reasons I love cycling

 

[ufkacbln]

Ride it on a Sunday when there is no pressure so you know the route

Look at places where you can find shelter to mend a p*nct*re on a cold wet rainy night

As above look at the routes, as some are not what they seem. A busy dual carriageway with traffic congestion may be safer than the quiet adjacent road being used as a "rat run"