Commuting by bike: route planning, what to carry, staying fresh at work and locking up
TUREFF• •0
Cycling to work turns dead time into exercise, often takes about as long as driving or public transport in a city, and is a cheap habit to keep up. The first week is the hardest, mostly because of the logistics. Sort those out and it soon becomes routine.
Planning the route
The fastest route for a car is rarely the best one for a bike.
- Use a cycling route planner or the cycling mode in a map app, then adjust it to favour quiet streets, cycle lanes and paths.
- Ride the route on a weekend first, when there is no time pressure, and note awkward junctions, hills and places to stop.
- A slightly longer route on calmer roads is often quicker in practice and far more pleasant.
- Have a backup: a train line or bus route you can switch to if the weather turns or the bike breaks down.
Allow extra time for the first few trips; you will speed up as you learn the route.
What to carry
Keep the essentials in one bag that lives packed:
- Puncture kit: spare tube, levers and pump
- Lock and keys
- Front and rear lights, even if you leave in daylight
- Lightweight waterproof jacket
- Phone, cards and work pass
Panniers on a rear rack take the weight off your back and keep you cooler than a rucksack. A rucksack is fine for short rides and light loads. Mudguards make a big difference to arriving clean.
You do not have to carry everything every day. Many commuters leave shoes, a towel, toiletries and a spare outfit at work, and swap clothes on a quieter day of the week.
Staying fresh at work
This is the part that puts most people off, and it is easier than it seems.
- Ride at a conversational pace. Commuting is not a race; a gentle ride produces far less sweat.
- Wear breathable layers and take one off before you warm up.
- If there are showers at work, use them. If not, wet wipes, a towel and a change of clothes are enough for most moderate commutes.
- Hang damp clothes somewhere to dry for the ride home.
- Give yourself ten minutes to cool down before changing.
In some countries, employers offer schemes to help staff buy bikes, such as the UK's Cycle to Work scheme, which lets employees spread the cost through salary sacrifice. Ask your employer what is available; terms vary.
Locks and security
Bike theft is common in many cities, and a cheap lock is often the reason.
- Use a sturdy D-lock or a heavy chain. Thin cable locks can be cut quickly and are best used only as a secondary lock for wheels.
- Lock the frame, and ideally a wheel, to something solid and fixed that cannot be lifted over, in a busy, well-lit place.
- Fill the lock with as much of the bike as possible, leaving little room for tools.
- Take lights, bags and anything easy to remove with you.
- Record the frame number and keep photos of your bike. Some countries have bike registration schemes that help police return recovered bikes.
- Check whether your home contents insurance covers your bike away from home, or consider specialist cover.
Secure indoor parking at work is the best option if it exists. Ask your facilities team; demand from staff is often what gets bike parking built.
Rules vary by country
Road rules for cyclists differ a lot from place to place, including where you may ride, whether helmets are compulsory, which lights are required and how you should turn at junctions. Look up the official guidance for where you live. In the UK that is the Highway Code; elsewhere, the national or local transport authority usually publishes a cycling guide.
Whatever the rules, a few habits work everywhere: ride well clear of parked car doors, make eye contact at junctions, signal clearly, and never pass large vehicles on the inside at junctions.
What does your commute look like, and what made the difference in sticking with it? Share your tips and questions in the comments below.