What you need to Cycle Commute
by: Ralph Shepard
Posted on: Friday, August 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm by: Ralph Shepard
Comments (3)
You can commute on your cycle!
I have been commuting on my bicycle now for two years my bike and my routine has gone through many evolutions as I have figured out what I need. this may not work for everyone, but I think it should be a good starting point.
Background:
I have a long commute by most standards (16.5 miles each way) but 75% of it is on bike trails so that makes it a little easier. I also have to carry a lot of gear, I’m IT professional so I have to carry computer gear plus a change of clothes a towel for the shower etc… I decided to start cycle commuting because I felt it was the right thing to do, plus I love cycling.
The Meat:
First the bike: for touring I ride a road bike with narrow tires drop bars… this is not right for commuting. to commute I decided to go with a mountain bike. done be afraid to spend a few bucks but dont break the bank either. I found a nice Giant Ricion for around $100 that is currently serving as my commuter. The important thing is to stay away from department store bikes. a good quality used bike will always serve you better than a brand new bike from wally world.
Bike Accessories : You’ll need to add a few things to your bike.
- Rear rack: carrying a back pack may sound like a good idea, but it sucks… make sure you get a real rack and not one of those seat post jobs. seat post racks are great if all you need is a trunk bag but you’ll need a full set of rear bags including…
- Panniers : you don’t need huge set but more storage is more better. consider what you have to carry… likely a change of clothes, a towel (if you don’t have a shower you’ll still want a towel so you can take a splash bath) etc… (more on the etc later)
- Fenders : trust me, if you commute you want fenders even if you don’t ride in the rain. if you ride a bike trail there is bound to be muddy spots and on the road some car will force you to hit a puddle. plus it’s great place to put your onelesscar.com bumper stickers!
- Trunk bag: this goes on top of the rack and will carry the stuff that you leave on your bike.
- Lights: early and late in the season it can be dark early in the morning. I use a cheap set of lights that picked up at walmart they don’t have to be fancy. and keep in mind these are less for you to be able to see and more so you can be seen. I recommend an led tail light that flashes.
- Cyclocomputer: again a cheap one will do, all you really need is a speedometer so you can keep your pace.
What to Carry: you will need to carry a few things on your bike all the time, if your lucky you’ll rarely need them.
- Spare tube: at some point you’ll have a flat this sucks, but it’s life… nothing stings worse then getting a flat and having to call for a ride. it can be demoralizing been there done that…
- Small tool kit : I carry a Topeak Survival Gear kit it has every thing I need to do minor repairs. If I need more in the way of tools than what is here then I need a bike mechanic and my ride is over.
- Air Pump : Gotta have it… you can pick a cheap frame pump. I don’t remember where mine came from but you can’t exactly fix a flat with out one.
- Bike Lock: I hope I don’t have to explain. even if your employer lets you keep your bike inside, what if you want to stop at the coffee shop? of grab a loaf of bread on the way home?
That pretty much covers what you need. later I’ll write about how to get started and how to pick a route.
3 Comments
September 6th, 2008
by BenSanford
Good list. I’ve bike commuted for 20 years, and distance and my equipment evolved quite a bit over that time. Initially my route was ~10 miles each way, but a relocation increased that to 15, and I often took more enjoyable routes that increased my way home to 20 or so.
The only thing I would suggest is to ride a bike you enjoy riding - even if it’s not an “ideal” commuter bike. Start with what you have, but then change to what works for you. I road a road bike for three years, and then switched to a mountain bike thinking it would be more reliable. I didn’t find that to be the case - reliability & flat tendency about the same. After several years commuting on a mountain bike, I found I was enjoying my commute less and less, and my average speed was dropping.
Then I switched to a fixed-gear track bike. While It wouldn’t accommodate fenders or panniers easily, it more that made up for that by making my commute enjoyable again.
Your mileage may vary - but make sure you enjoy your commute or it will be difficult to stick with it.
Ben
September 9th, 2008
by mhatresumeet
u said that buying a used bike is a better option. can u explain how?
September 20th, 2008
by skipster
What I’m saying is that a quality used bike is better than a new bike from walmart or kmart. department store bikes use low quality components and are usually put together by a high school stock boy not a qualified bike mechanic.
If you’ve got the budget to go down to the local Bike Shop and chunk down the bucks for a brand new bike for commuting thats great. if not go with a quality used bike store bike…
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September 6th, 2008 by BenSanford
Good list. I’ve bike commuted for 20 years, and distance and my equipment evolved quite a bit over that time. Initially my route was ~10 miles each way, but a relocation increased that to 15, and I often took more enjoyable routes that increased my way home to 20 or so.
The only thing I would suggest is to ride a bike you enjoy riding - even if it’s not an “ideal” commuter bike. Start with what you have, but then change to what works for you. I road a road bike for three years, and then switched to a mountain bike thinking it would be more reliable. I didn’t find that to be the case - reliability & flat tendency about the same. After several years commuting on a mountain bike, I found I was enjoying my commute less and less, and my average speed was dropping.
Then I switched to a fixed-gear track bike. While It wouldn’t accommodate fenders or panniers easily, it more that made up for that by making my commute enjoyable again.
Your mileage may vary - but make sure you enjoy your commute or it will be difficult to stick with it.
Ben
September 9th, 2008 by mhatresumeet
u said that buying a used bike is a better option. can u explain how?
September 20th, 2008 by skipster
What I’m saying is that a quality used bike is better than a new bike from walmart or kmart. department store bikes use low quality components and are usually put together by a high school stock boy not a qualified bike mechanic.
If you’ve got the budget to go down to the local Bike Shop and chunk down the bucks for a brand new bike for commuting thats great. if not go with a quality used bike store bike…
