With the spring racing season upon us, there is a lot of talk about the pros– what it means to be pro, how to look pro, and so on. There are two things that distinguish the professional cyclist. The first is talent, which is a mysterious thing and best left for another discussion. The second thing is that the pros ride every day. This is so simple that we forget its importance. We also forget that it is ours for the taking.
To be a commuter is also to ride every day. To do something every day is to experience it from all sides. Rules are broken, rides are fast, rides are slow, the bike is filthy– and we keeping riding. We ride to get somewhere, and then we ride to get back. We ride without a computer, without matching kit, without a training goal. We ride because it is simply a way to get from A to B. There is no glorious finish line and no support team, yet we share something with the cycling elite: every morning, we wake up, look outside, shrug at the weather, and get on the bike. The gesture is small but when accumulated over years it becomes sublime.
For those who are toying with the idea of commuting, some simple advice: go all in and do it for a full two weeks. At first, it will seem complicated and annoying. The logistics of your work clothes and your bike gear outweigh the enjoyment of the ride. You will think about how much simpler your weekend training rides are without all this stuff to cart around. You will find reasons not to ride – just for today, you will tell yourself. Doing it everyday, however, will breed efficiency, and after two weeks your routine (and the amount of gear) will become streamlined. With a set of habits in place (my wallet goes here, I leave me shoes under my desk, etc), things will seem easier. With enough time, the details of your commute will fade to the background and you will enjoy the ride itself.
Then your bike will not just be your tool to get from A to B, it will be your freedom…just like the weekends, except every day.
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Ok then, if there were a list of things that MUST happen in order to start a commute regimen (equipment? weather? shower? clothing? etc?) what would it consist of? I actually want to talk about this on a podcast this week. As one who has to 'dress' for work, I find the hassle of clothing alone holds me back. HELP!
Wish I could bike to work again. I used to ride the 15km each way every day. Then I took a new job where I work at home, and I can't commute any more. Now I do my best to get out and ride during lunch, but too often work gets in the way. Not today though. I'm putting the bibs on right...now...
A change or two of clothes at work plus shoes (carrying in every day is a pain in the ass).
Moist towelettes. (showers are rare and unnecessary in my book unless you are absolutely feline in your bathing needs)
Deodorant if one tends towards fragrancy.
A restroom stall to apply all the above.
Any carrying device (backpack, pannier) that doesn't scream bike messanger wannabe. (leave that to the professionals)
A safe (preferably inside) place to lock/store the bike.
Show your employer the article I linked to above to pacify management.
The direct route to my office results in 12 miles of urban hell - unfriendly drivers, crappy roads. In the first two weeks of commuting, I think I had 5 close calls with cars. I refuse to give in - so I adopted an alternate route. The new route initially takes me in the opposite direction from the office, but puts me on a combination of untravelled rural roads, parkways, and some bike path. The new route is 35 miles each way. Now, for reasons other than the danger, I hate those occasions where I have to take shorter route. That time to & from the office has become precious to me.
Great post and comments. My commute set up:
I shower when I wake up as usual - then get suited up. My ride is far enough to warrant the full kit. Saves time, showing at work (facilities are available) would be a hassle for me. I rarely arrive at work completely sweated out. Seattle tends to have cool mornings, even during the summer.
I keep a few pair of pants and shoes at work. Occasionally will leave a few shirts also. Spare underwear as well. Going commando a few times will remind you to keep some spares around. I carry everything else in a Timbuk2 messenger bag: Shirt for the day, underwear, rain jacket, lunch, cell phone, wallet (etc), spare tubes, patch kit, mini pump and a few tools.
Work supplies a secure bike room. I usually change right in my cubicle - look around, coast is clear - boom, done in seconds. Coworkers think I'm nuts. Way faster then carrying clothes into the restroom or wherever. I've also used a nearby storage room at times. I've hit my building with 10 minutes to spare before a meeting, then sit down with my heart still racing. Call me loopy.
Arriving at work completely soaked from pouring rain does throw a monkey wrench into the operation. I dry everything as much as possible with paper towels, turn off all screen savers on my PC and Macs (I work in IT), then hang my clothes over the monitors or machines. 8 hours later, dry and toasty. As mentioned, coworkers probably think I'm nuts.
Nice weather, I ride my carbon Ibis. Rainy weather, old school steel Ibis 'cross bike with fenders. Fenders are a must for commuting - trust me on that.
I'm damn lucky, since 90% of my commute is on the Burke-Gillman Trail that runs into Seattle. It's a killer sweet set up. Some days a I cruise and check out the lake views. Other days I run into fellow bike pals on the trail and we'll chat the whole ride. Other rides turn into full on hammerhead drafting sessions with people you don't even know. Huge fun. My commute is 17 miles each way. 34 round trip. With rush hour traffic, I can ride in about the same amount of time as driving. Sometimes it's faster.
The ride home is always sweet. Work is done and you're on the bike - feeling a bit smug about it all. Do it.
Jim is modest here. Their family is a one car family and the car stays with Jess. Jim rides every day all year long. Trench foot is more of an issue than frostbite in Seattle, and the roads are clogged with birkenstock/wool-sock wearing posers on fixies with 8 inch wide handlebars. It's enough to test a man's spirit.
When we both lived in Massachusetts and we both would walk dogs before work he asked me if I was riding in that day. Not so much, it's below my lower threshold (which was 25F), it was a clear cold-ass morning, maybe still in the high teens F. Oh, I'm riding in, he says, in his not so subtle, you are a pussy, way.
I passed him on the way in, my passenger window rolled down so I could give him a nasty taunting. I was happy to not be riding. He reported later he had to lie on his office floor for ten minutes quietly moaning until his hands warmed up enough to get any of his overwear off. Heheheheee. Kid is tough.
Have I stumbled onto the Bicycling forum?
@Oli Brooke-White
Can you help me find a new wheelset? I weigh 300 lbs, and am looking to only spend $300. Perhaps you can recommend some low-spoke count off-brand carbon clinchers from China?
@Oli Brooke-White
hear hear
The only bike setup worth mentioning today is Cadel's TT position - his bars are now BELOW his top tube. Great win in Tirreno-Adriatico... could his "less is more" approach this year bear fruit in July and/or September?
Rule 9 is much cooler commuting than it is on the road bike. Sorry, but it's true. Once you've got your routine down"”as Jim noted"”then showing up to work wet is as easy as coming home wet.
I live less than 3km from work. That was largely intentional; family of five and we're still a one-car family (and the car doesn't get a lot of kms put on it at the best of times). Quick and convenient to get to work (most of it along a rail trail), but options to expand the distance.
The lone addition I'd make is to make sure you have the right equipment. Good shoes, rain gear, gloves, etc. And, for the love of all that is Merckxy, obey the rules"”even if in this case they're municipal traffic laws. Nothing bugs me more than commuters who think they're a law unto themselves.