From A to B: A Commuter’s Manifesto
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.
fantastic post, i’m about to finish uni, and i really hope that i’ll live far enough from work(if i get a job in this god forsaken market) to commute for exactly this reason, i want the training, the legs need to be slapped into recovering faster
Awesomeness, Jim! Great guest article and very cool.
I like to think I’m a hybrid. No, not one of those awful contraptions that pass for bicycles these days, for some, but a hybrid cyclist. I’m a commuter, from around town, to out to meet friends, and to work. But I also pull my kit on and get out on my race bicycles most days as well. On the weekend I look the PRO part. I enjoy it. I ride every day, in all weather, both to work and around town, and also, just about every day I do a training ride. I sometimes feel like an outcast, especially when I ride to the weekend group rides and most others pull up in very expensive cars with their machine strapped to the top. That’s a cyclist?
I know everyone isn’t able, but I’ve lived without a car for quite a few years now. It is great. Plus, the debate is an easy win for me: my numerous bicycles still cost far less than your automobile.
Cool article, and the fact that the Keepers felt it was fit to publish just shows how varied the Velominati can be; we’re like Super Heroes – commuter bikes during the day, race rigs by evening!
@Ron
Though I can understand that it would be easy to overlook, allow me to remind you that Jim is a Keeper. Yes, he doesn’t surface very often to share his thoughts, but when he does, aint it grand? The guy rides like the dickens too.
Nice article Jim. Glad to hear from you.
@Sam, @Ron
Totally hear y’all about commuting. It’s been an ambition of mine since moving here, buy hasn’t happened for the very reasons Jim describes.
My commute is 45 km each way with a pretty awesome climb to boot; if I was doing that daily – or even every few days, I would be in fantastic shape and much less fat.
The perpetual gearhead that I am, I even have the lights, the bag, the bike – everything I need, even the intention, but it’s only materialized a few times.
@Jim, I think I’m gonna take this manefesto as my inspiration to really start. Awesome post.
My problem is that it only takes me about ten minutes to get to work by bike so it ain’t really worth it unless I’m riding after work.
Some serious cyclists tend to dismiss commuting as being Fred or not really training. They couldn’t be more wrong. As Jim points out, it gets you on the bike daily – or almost daily – even commuting just a few days a week rocks. It becomes almost like it’s own sport – dealing with the weather, logistics, what bike to use, how to carry stuff.
Time and money wise, it makes an insane amount of sense. I commute almost daily, but slack off from November though February (some years more then others), even so – mileage wise per year, put more miles on my bike(s) then my car. Being family guy, there’s no way I’d get that kind of riding time without commuting. My commute is 34 miles round trip, with a nice climb to get home. There’s also a sick sense of satisfaction knowing you have to ride home, no matter what. Well, that’s one of my personal rules anyway. All good clean, and sometimes loopy fun.
I’m no hero, anyone with an interest in riding bikes can pull it off. I’d assume that’s about 99.9% of people who frequent this (great) blog. Try it two days a week to start. Eventually you’ll increase the days per week and start hating the days you drive. At that point, you’re officially hooked – welcome to the club.
Use your best bike on nice days. Look pro if you wish. Use a messenger bag to haul stuff and keep the bike looking uncluttered. You always wanted a cyclocross bike? Commuting will justify it – just add fenders and use for rainy commutes. With all the summer commuting miles under your (shrinking belt), remove fenders and actually race ‘cross in the fall. It easy to justify bike goodies when used for transportation. If you don’t dig using your best bike to commute, use anything – old school road bike, mountain bike with slicks – whatever.
Work out a system – carry clothes, leave clothes at work. Shower at work, shower at home before you leave – whatever works for you. It’s not hard to figure out. Once you get in a groove with a routine, it’s gets easy and just part of your normal day. I can’t sell it enough.
Well said, Jim!
My commute is only 15minutes but they are 15 minutes very well spent on my black single speed!
Heck yeah! The only way I get in enough miles to keep me happy is the commute. And it can be flat, sprinting in traffic and fighting cars, or hilly, long, and no cars (except for the gravel trucks, alas).
I’ve always thought about commuting as well but never have. I even have the perfect cyclocross bike for it. We are currently looking for a house in San Antonio and I’ll have to add the “commuting-via-bike” variable into the house hunting equation and see what comes up! Super article. Really enjoyed reading it.
@Cyclops- the quick way to work gets you there in 10 min.
i have a 20 min commute that i drag over hills and through parks along rivers and then into the city. it usually takes an hour… but i always have the option of doing the short one for days i’m running late.
@Jellybean
yes, I think the logic “If I lived further from work i would ride more” can be quite easily solved by lengthening the journey…
Think Jim missed mentioning a few of the Rules that many commuters (non-velominati I hope) seem to follow religiously:
1. Every other commuter must be passed as soon as possible. Extra points for choosing a time to overtake that puts you and/or them in danger.
2. Never, ever let yourself be slowed down by a rider ahead of you. This especially applies if your ride takes you on a dedicated bike path that sees bikes going both ways in close proximity. A nice extension of Rule No. 1 is to move into the other lane to overtake at just the right time so riders heading in the opposite direction have to slow down.
3. If riding on a path also used by walkers and dogs make sure you speed up whenever they are nearby. They always act predictably so higher speed is better.
4. Every day is a new edition of the Commuter World Championships. Only you know the start and finish point of this race but everyone else is your competitor. Beat them all.
5. When on the road, act unpredictably. It keeps car drivers guessing. Make sure you ride in such a way that slows them down and if in doubt, break traffic rules so you get ahead of them. Cars are also Commuter World Championships competitors..
Ah, my apologies, jim. I’m sorry I was mistaken in not recognizing your were the Jim of Keeper fame.
I loved this article.
@ Dan O – woah, the sick sense of satisfaction from commuting. I have been commuting longer than I have been a road cyclist. I got my first road bike to zip to work in Washington, DC, after I realized while staring out the bus window that cyclists had a shorter commute than me. Plus, that they also expended some energy before & after being trapped in an office all day.
It is extremely satisfying when you realize as an afternoon storm kicks up that you have only one way to get home. Well, time to V-up for this commute, you realize. Fun to nearly puke from the exertion of a group ride, but also equally fun to have to leave your nice work clothes in the closet at the office and bike home in boxer briefs.
Nice post Jim and nice photo as well; sums up your post perfectly – the KISS principle – Keep It Simple, Stupid. Something I try to remind myself of….often.
Those excuses you gave as to why one doesn’t commute are the same reasons I have given myself for a number of years including traffic, time, logistics of clothes, kit, showers et al, have conveniently allowed me not to commute.
I do try to get on the bike most days, this may just inspire me enough to do it everyday
Ah yes Marcus, the “other” rules. Don’t they include those in the box their bikes come in from K-Mart?
I have been commuting for 10 months, 16km each way, I sometimes take a longer route home because I can.
When I can use a car again at the end of May, I think I’ll leave it at work and still ride in. I can’t face the traffic that I currently fly past every trip. My ride takes about 30 mins and you can’t do it that quick in a car most days.
I frequently beat a colleague home at night, as he has to wait for numerous lights. Luckily Adelaide is in the driest state, on the driest continent so I can count the number of wet rides so far, on my fingers and one foot. It gets cold but that’s easy to deal with.
The Commuter World Championships is an important part of most days. Epic training scenario trying to catch someone on a straight road, especially if they make it through one set of lights and you don’t. All the hard work has to be done again.
I love it.
Stick your cars……….
Great post and great comments. True commuting is such an art form. On any given day there are a million reasons not to do it. Especially if you own a car. I confess to being a fair weather commuter. I mainly use commuting as an excuse to own yet another bike, as well as a slightly less presumptuous kit. I probably average once per week overall, thrice in the spring & fall, and next to naught in the winter & summer. It’s so easy if you are in the groove but such a pain in the ass if you are toggling with the auto.
Chapeau to you, Mr. Pro Commuter!
When I moved to SoCal after finishing school, I purposefully lived “far enough” (18km) to get a decent ride every day. My co-workers, except a couple old roadies, thought I was a bit mad. I lived at the top of a 3.2km climb with grade up to 18%. Every day I had to get up that hill. That’s where I learned to love The V.
Now, living in Michigan, there are no real climbs and it’s only 7km, but I ride every day. I vowed to myself never to let the weather be a reason not to ride. The coldest evening was riding home at midnight at -6F. The most hellacious was two inches of ice covering the road. I was stuck on my only bike (poor bike #1), so 700×23 vs. black ice = 6 crashes over the winter, but you get back on, hope your frame is okay and carry on. I just got bike #2, a nice mutant cross/road bike, so next winter I’ll be more prepared.
There is nothing better than getting to work by bicycle. You arrive and the legs are warm, your brain is jiving, and you can justify that pasty sitting in the kitchen up for grabs.
Commuting can indeed be tricky to pull off properly. For me, I work in an office where I need to wear “dress casual” much of the time, so unwrinkled slacks and button-down shirts are a must. I find it easiest to take several days worth of clothes and leave them at the office, that way I can commute without carrying as much stuff.
I usually only commute in the late spring/summer/early fall, when it is light out during my commute hours. My office is in an industrial area with heavy and fast traffic, so I like to avoid riding in the dark or during heavy rain.
In the morning I cheat and take the train part way (about 9 miles of a 12 mile commute), so I arrive at the office without being all sweaty, since we don’t have showers. In the evening I change into kit and make the ride home anywhere between 12 – 30 miles, depending on how far I feel like going or if I just want to head straight home.
As much of a pain in the arse as it is, starting the morning with a brisk ride in the cold, and ending a busy (or stressful) day at the office by kicking some ass on a bike in the warm summer air is certainly more fun than driving.
For all the EVERYDAY commuters, how good does it feel knowing you have dished out a big Rule #9 before work while all your colleagues are asleep!
@Marcus
You have entered the Cat 6 zone. Taken hereto a more appreciable self-mocking level.
Subways are the boxcar concentrate of the dictum, “Hell is other people.” Commuting is sublime release.
Plus, King of the Mountain points are available twice daily at the top of the Manhattan Bridge.
sweet one Jim, thanks
my commuter is a sweet little lady, clad in bianchi celeste’, steel, 49t up front, 8 spd rear 21-12. open pro hoops, cheap tyres, but tough.
i have only ridden her til yesterday, pulled out the pinarello for the race, and did ok…made the breakaway and finished w/the headgroup. we knocked out 60k in 1hr 20min and change, not bad for only having commuter miles…ahem…k’s.
just ordered my castelli leggero rain jacket for rain.
won’t fill up the landcruiser all month
its a fair trade
I beg to differ. I think your neighbour Western Australia is the driest state. I haven’t seen rain for so long I can’t remember how to spell it.
Anyway, makes it easier to do the daily commute. To all those (and this has been said before) that say it isn’t long enough, my ride to work takes between 20 minutes and 2 hrs. I do training rides on the way to work (no not the CWC type either, but proper HR specific training) and I also do short rides. The worst rides that I do are the Train Rides when either the bike is out of action, or I have to carry something in to work that won’t fit in the backpack.
So take a different route to/from work and you will build up those KM’s.
Holy shit, Jim is alive!
Nice article mate, and strikes a chord with me as I’ve been a slacker in the commute stakes of late.
The “it’s too close to commute” argument doesn’t really hold ground, as it’s easier to ride than drive that sort of distance. Just wear your civvies. When I lived further away from work I’d kit up, but now it’s just the work clothes ( which is the LBS suit of shorts and t-shirt).
I did a week of commuting for my mate Kah’s study of commuters last winter, where I wore a helmet cam and recorded my to and fro each day. You can check it out here…
@Marcus
you joke but we’ve got a real issue in the UK in the big cities with commuters and cyclists, it ultimately breaks down to good/bad road users. it’s got bad enough that cyclists have started arming themselves with headcams in order to record abuse to cyclists, we’ve got a man hunt going on after this incident.
Sometimes it just comes down to somebody on a foldup bike who doesn’t know how to ride it, and there are some ejits out there who ride appallingly and most of the time it’s inconsiderate drivers who deem your life less worthy than the paint job on their car. Won’t put me off though
SHEER FUCKING GENIUS. There is a strip of road downtown Seattle that I call the Commuter Dragway. All these dingfoozles sit there at this one light, in their sit-up-and-beg positions and their YJA’s and wait for the ding of the green light. Then it’s off to the races, and they drag race eachother down to the next light. Absolutely nothing Casually Deliberate about it.
That said, they’re out on their bikes, in the rain and cold, doing something I’m not. Good on them, the wankers.
@Cyclops
I’m with everyone else here, mate – just add some K’s to the route! I’m struggling with the opposite problem, but like I said, I have to get off my ass.
Lots of great comments.
I’ve been cyclo commuting for around nine years now and I’m at the point where getting in a car, dealing with lights and traffic, and wacko drives chugging coffee is far more of a nightmare than the idea of heading out in rain or ice or snow.
I hope I never, ever have to drive to work. I don’t know if this will be possible, but I’ve been able to pull it off for awhile now. Fingers crossed, hope my luck continues. I can’t think of a worse way, for me personally, to start the day than to jump in a car and deal with road-raging cagers.
It’s been said, but for anyone considering it, just go for it! I normally have to work on my non-cyclist friends to commute, since they don’t like the idea of riding in traffic. But, if you are already a roadie you have to be used to “sharing” the roads with cars. Plus, you can definitely justify a new bike – rain bike, snow bike, ice bike, cyclocross.
@ Collin – woah, year ’round in MI on bike #1? I might shed a tear putting my top machine through that. Six crashes. Glad you lived to tell about them. Going down on ice and snow is just a given if you commute all year. But, you almost become good at crashing, knowing how to protect your face and teeth and use your hips, arse and side to take the worst of it. I can mentally call up the feeling you get when you are riding along, suddenly realize you are on black ice and say a little prayer and just hope you can keep it up, or not go down so hard.
@Ron
Yeah, it was pretty heart-wrenching at times. The guys at the LBS thought I was nuts, but what should I have done, drive? Terrible idea that. The ice/snow crashes typically aren’t too bad as you tend to hit and slide. I managed to survive the winter with only one bent deraileur hanger and destroying all the bearings in my rear wheel (but the replaced ones are soooo smooth, I’ll take it). Now with bike #2, it’s an all steel and aluminum cross bike, so I can throw proper tires on it next winter, and crash away.
Found this a couple of months ago.
So commuting by bicycle decreases employee absentee-ism, which improves worker productivity and lowers sick-day costs, thus increasing corporate profits leading to gains in the stock market thereby augmenting CEO and Wall Street bonuses and take-home pay, which leads to increased individual political contributions to business-friendly anti-regulation conservatives, who decimate worker protection legislation and defund OSHA, causing degradation of the workplace environment, declines in workplace morale, increased on-the-job accidents, and sky-rocketing absenteeism, which results in….
I think Cyclops got it right.
Brilliant – and true – post! Thanks!
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.
Hear, hear. You wonder what makes many drivers dislike cyclists? It’s (some) cyclists. Some cyclists are all cyclists’ worst enemies. It ain’t difficult to be courteous and considerate on the road – like indicating when you’re gong to turn or change lanes. It ain’t difficult to not do dumb, annoying things – like overtake on the wrong side, go to the front of the queue at the lights then take off slowly, etc. It ain’t difficult, in fact, to wave or nod the occasional “thank you” to drivers who give way to you – even when they are required by law to do so. It ain’t difficult, in other words, to take some modest steps to encourage drivers to think “Hey, maybe cyclists aren’t so bad after all”. And all this is worthwhile because it also ain’t difficult to lose badly in a confrontation with two tons of fast-moving steel piloted by a hostile.
@Marcus
Congrats to good cadel.
You may be on to something there. While I can only go off the pictures, he’s certainly looking more focused and determined, rather than the serious but disheartened that’s his usual display. There was even a hint of a smile/satisfaction with himself. Different ‘tude, better, nay full potential realised (?) rider this season? I’ll contemplate further after the Tour of Catalonia
^^^^ Good Cadel might finally be seeing the benefit of some better teamwork?
@Jamin
i think he is, they seemed more of a presence at the front of the peloton for the T-A, i hope he is in the form for july, i like the way he rides and as i’ve said before, i’d always prefer a competition between more than two individuals as is gives better racing
@ Oli & mcsqueak – ah ha ha, the Bicycling forum.
Don’t know if it is just me or not, but the more time I spend here, the less I spend on any sort of cycling forum. The Rules are all here…
Yes!
or I need a heart rate monitor with a GPS and blood sugar tester that weighs less than 20 gm.
@G’phant
A-Merckx!
@Ron
When I first started cycling I really found the various forums online pretty useful for learning a lot of good information, but eventually you just see the same questions posted over and over and over…