Jennifer's Bicycle Commuting Suggestions

							The Slacker’s Guide to Bike Commuting April 10th, 2008 by Tim Grahl

This article is not for the detail oriented bike commuters. It is also not for the hardcore, race-to-work
riders either. This one is for those of us that do not like to plan. Bike maintenance is not our thing. We
consider rain showers washday for our bikes. In addition, we certainly are not using our daily commute
as training for a race. Commuting by bike is primarily supposed to be fun. Gas prices, ‘going green’,
and health reasons can get people into bike commuting, but it is the daily enjoyment that keeps us in
the saddle day after day. Moreover, let’s face it, planning and wearing Lycra doesn’t sound much like
fun to a good many of us.


Therefore, for my fellow slackers, here’s your guide to bike commuting:


    1. Ditch the patch kit, grab the cell phone - The worst thing about bike commuting is dealing with
        flat tires. Standing on the road next to your bike with a tiny, frustrating mini-pump trying to
        force air into your tire. So forget the patch kit and use your cell phone. If you are stranded on
        the way to work, call a friend at the office to come get you. If you’re on the way home, call the
        significant other. It’ll take less time than fixing the flat on the side of the road and you’ll get to
        use your floor pump in the comfort of your own workshop.
    2. Check the weather, consider the car or bus - Let’s face it, riding to work in a downpour causes
        many problems. It soaks you and everything you brought. Takes a lot more time to get ready
        for work. Overall, zaps all the fun right out of bike commuting. So if the weather sucks, don’t
        feel bad about grabbing your keys or walking to the nearest bus stop.
    3. Leave the Lycra, wear your normal clothes - When I see another bike commuter on their way
        to work in full body spandex, it just looks difficult. The time changing, the extra cargo to carry,
        etc. My normal commuting attire is what I work in everyday. I roll up my pants and head out
        the door. Simple and comfortable.
    4. Use lights that run on generators - Dealing with batteries in your lights can be frustrating and
        dangerous. They will always go out on you right at the darkest point in your ride home.
        Consider spending the extra money on some Reelights or Pedalites. Both are great options for
        adding visibility to your bike without ever worrying about batteries.
    5. Don’t be ashamed to walk the bike - Your morning bike commute is not the Tour de France.
        There’s no grand prize and yellow jersey at the finish line. There’s no reason to grind up those
        hills if you stayed up until 3am last night watching X-files reruns and eating cereal (am I the
        only one that does that?). Feel free to get off the bike and walk up some of those hills. We’re
        trying to keep this fun folks.
    6. Take the flattest route possible - Remember that the shortest route is not necessarily the best.
        By using a tool like www.mapmyride.com you can view the elevation map of your route. Play
        around with different variations to see what makes for the easiest way to the office.
7. For a long commute, consider driving part of it - If you have a commute that’s to long for your
    physical condition or time restraints, try finding a public parking lot where you can stash your
    car. Drive halfway and then bike the rest.
    A Guide to a Simple Bike Commute August 16th, 2007 by Tim Grahl

Designing your bike commute to be as minimalistic as possible will make it easier to opt for your
carbon free, two wheeled transportation on a more regular basis. It will also reduce the daily stress of
between waking up and walking out the door. The tips in this article take more planning to implement,
but are well worth the extra effort.


Benefits of simplifying A few of the reasons this is important…


       Minimizes morning excuses - Let’s all be honest, we’ve had those mornings that we woke up
        with the full intention of riding the bike to work, and once we saw the flat tire or realized we
        hadn’t packed the night before, we grabbed for the keys instead. By simplifying your commute,
        you’ll reduce the amount of excuses that can crop up to keep you off the bike.
       Reduces stress - Along the same lines as minimizing your excuses, nothing causes more
        stress than running around trying to do everything before work, especially if you overslept.
        When you wake up in the morning and everything you need is in place, it’s a much more
        relaxing way to get on the bike.
       Helps you enjoy the ride - If you’re frazzled when you jump on the bike, it’s much more likely
        you won’t enjoy the ride. Once you implement these methods to simplify your commute you’ll
        be freed to enjoy your commute. That’s really why we do this anyway, right?


How to simplify your bike commute There are several ways to simplify your bike commute. Even if you
implement a few of these, you’ll see a huge difference in your daily ride quality and an increase in your
frequency of opting for the bike.


    1. Ride simple bikes - Ride a bike that has tried and true technology that’s not going to cause
        many mechanical problems. A steel, fixed geared bike will probably go for years without major
        mechanical problems that will leave your stranded. Opt for a bike without all the bells and
        whistles.
    2. Check your bike every weekend - regular riding will cause wear on the consumable parts of
        your bike and you’ll want to make sure you catch any problems early:
             o   Tire pressure
             o   Tire wear and damage
             o   Tightness of quick releases and other fastenings
             o   Brakes for wear and stopping power
             o   Chain for stiff links, rust and dryness
    3. Clean your bike regularly - At least once a month, or after a particularly dirty commute, you’ll
        want to clean your bike of any dirt and grime that can cause problems in the long term.
    4. Always carry flat repair materials - Invest in a saddle bag, pack it with an extra tube, tire
        levers, patch kit, pump and hex wrenches and always keep it on your bike. This way you
        always know you have what you need to fix a flat and keep moving.
    5. Store hygienic necessities at the office - Keep an extra of everything you need to clean up
        from your commute (deodorant, towels, wipes, etc) at your office. No need to carry them back
        and forth every day.
    6. Leave a pair of shoes at the office - If you ride with clip less pedals or need to wear more
        dressy shoes at work, store a pair at the office. Again, no need to carry them back and forth
        each day.
    7. Take all your clothes for the week on Monday - I’ve heard suggestions of driving on Monday to
        take everything in for commuting the rest of the week. However if your bulkier items (shoes,
        towels, etc) are already at the office, then five changes of clothes will easily fit inside a normal
        sized backpack or panniers.
    8. Always keep an extra set of clothes at the office - Keep an extra belt, pair of pants, shirt, pair
        of socks, bra, underwear, etc at your office at all times. There’s nothing worse than being
        halfway into your commute when you remember you forgot an essential.
    9. Pack the night before - By packing your clothes and lunch the night before you’ll reduce your
        stress the next morning. You’ll also be in a better state of mind so not to forget something.
    10. Only pack the essentials - Do you really need three tubes, the Sam’s club bottle of gel and an
        extra helmet? When packing your bag the night before, ask yourself if each item is a
        necessity.
    11. Carry smaller sizes - If you don’t have a place to store your hygienic items at the office, try
        going smaller. Put your liquids like gel and shampoo in smaller bottles. Purchase travel sized
        deodorant and toothpaste. This will reduce your daily bulk to carry.
    12. Plan your route ahead of time - For most commutes, there are several different ways to get
        from your house to the office. Use a tool such as Google Maps to plan a route that is more
        scenic, avoids dangerous roads, and skips roadwork.
    13. Check the weather nightly - Keep an eye on your local weather so you can plan to dress for
        the temperature and precipitation.


Implementing these tips to simplify your bike commute will reduce the stress of getting out the door
and ultimately help you enjoy the ride more.[Accessed 4/28/08 at http://commutebybike.com/             This
article was inspired by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, the guru of simplifying your life.]