Going to work by bike questions.
Discussion
Those of you who cycle to work, how do you go about it?
Do you cycle in work clothes like Boris in his suit or do you get changed at work? Does your work have showers etc? Do you wear high vis clothing at night or just some lights? If you are on well lit roads do you just use strobes or are you all lit up like christmas trees? Do you come in on road bikes like some kind of twice daily TT or are you on hybrids and mountain bikes? Do you have to carry much 'work stuff' like laptops etc with you? Tell me all about it, I'm thinking about giving it a go.
Do you cycle in work clothes like Boris in his suit or do you get changed at work? Does your work have showers etc? Do you wear high vis clothing at night or just some lights? If you are on well lit roads do you just use strobes or are you all lit up like christmas trees? Do you come in on road bikes like some kind of twice daily TT or are you on hybrids and mountain bikes? Do you have to carry much 'work stuff' like laptops etc with you? Tell me all about it, I'm thinking about giving it a go.
I've got 17 miles to get in so
Christmas tree.
High vis
Lycra
carry clothes on bag on back, change at work. Sometimes shower@work, othertimes not
It's an awesome ride, long enough to make it worthwhile as a proper spin - would be a pain getting all done up for a 15 min sprintaroo each way.
Christmas tree.
High vis
Lycra
carry clothes on bag on back, change at work. Sometimes shower@work, othertimes not
It's an awesome ride, long enough to make it worthwhile as a proper spin - would be a pain getting all done up for a 15 min sprintaroo each way.
Lycra, Hardtail MTB with slicks lights and some reflective bits, back pack with clothes towel and shower stuff as we have a shower at work, no laptop as I work on a desktop.
My only tip is leave some shower stuff at work if you have one and leave smart shoes or some shoes at work if possible.
My only tip is leave some shower stuff at work if you have one and leave smart shoes or some shoes at work if possible.
I used to everyday for 7 years before I moved, it was a straight 8 miles , too short to be a good workout and too long to do it in your work clothes.
Most of the time I just found an alternative & safer route that turned it into 10 miles.
Lockers & showers (and an Iron and they provided fresh daily towels) at work with covered and secure bike parking in the work car park.
Wash kit and a change of cycling gear at work in case I got drenched on the way in (nothing worse than putting on damp cold bike gear in the winter). Left 3 suits and a pair of shoes in the locker at work, brought new a shirt & underwear/socks in everyday.
They had a dry cleaners/laundry service at work so I used that on a rotation basis with the suits when required.
Actually the bike support at my previous place was pretty much hailed as the one of the best around, there was even a bike shop onsite and you got £1 worth of vouchers for it (or evans) every time you cycled in. I never understood why everyone who lived closer than 10 miles and physically capable of it didn't cycle in.
Bikes were a road bike for BST and a slick shod hardtail with hydraulic discs for GMT
Most of the time I just found an alternative & safer route that turned it into 10 miles.
Lockers & showers (and an Iron and they provided fresh daily towels) at work with covered and secure bike parking in the work car park.
Wash kit and a change of cycling gear at work in case I got drenched on the way in (nothing worse than putting on damp cold bike gear in the winter). Left 3 suits and a pair of shoes in the locker at work, brought new a shirt & underwear/socks in everyday.
They had a dry cleaners/laundry service at work so I used that on a rotation basis with the suits when required.
Actually the bike support at my previous place was pretty much hailed as the one of the best around, there was even a bike shop onsite and you got £1 worth of vouchers for it (or evans) every time you cycled in. I never understood why everyone who lived closer than 10 miles and physically capable of it didn't cycle in.
Bikes were a road bike for BST and a slick shod hardtail with hydraulic discs for GMT
Edited by OneDs on Friday 29th October 10:21
OneDs said:
I used to everyday for 7 years before I moved, it was a straight 8 miles , too short to be a good workout and too long to do it in your work clothes.
Most of the time I just found an alternative & safer route that turned it into 10 miles.
Lockers & showers (an an Iron) at work with covered and secure bike parking in the work car park.
Wash kit and a change of cycling gear at work in case I got drenched on the way in (nothing worse than putting on damp cold bike gear in the winter). Left 3 suits and a pair of shoes in the locker at work, brought new a shirt & underwear/socks in everyday.
They had a dry cleaners/laundry service at work so I used that on a rotation basis with the suits when required.
Actually the bike support at my previous place was pretty much hailed as the one of the best around, there was even a bike shop onsite and you got £1 worth of vouchers for it (or evans) every time you cycled in. I never understood why everyone who lived closer than 10 miles and physically capable of it didn't cycle in.
That sounds pretty bloody good where was it if you don't mind me asking ?Most of the time I just found an alternative & safer route that turned it into 10 miles.
Lockers & showers (an an Iron) at work with covered and secure bike parking in the work car park.
Wash kit and a change of cycling gear at work in case I got drenched on the way in (nothing worse than putting on damp cold bike gear in the winter). Left 3 suits and a pair of shoes in the locker at work, brought new a shirt & underwear/socks in everyday.
They had a dry cleaners/laundry service at work so I used that on a rotation basis with the suits when required.
Actually the bike support at my previous place was pretty much hailed as the one of the best around, there was even a bike shop onsite and you got £1 worth of vouchers for it (or evans) every time you cycled in. I never understood why everyone who lived closer than 10 miles and physically capable of it didn't cycle in.
Edited by OneDs on Friday 29th October 10:14
Showers at work.
Ride in cycling kit with SPDs although baggy MTB stuff usually, work kit in a rucksack, leave work trousers and shoes at work.
Road bike, but with tyres wide enough to withstand jumping over potholes and emergency hops onto curbs when I encounter homicidal drivers.
Lots of lights, helmet, gloves, glasses with yellow lenses at night.
Ride in cycling kit with SPDs although baggy MTB stuff usually, work kit in a rucksack, leave work trousers and shoes at work.
Road bike, but with tyres wide enough to withstand jumping over potholes and emergency hops onto curbs when I encounter homicidal drivers.
Lots of lights, helmet, gloves, glasses with yellow lenses at night.
The Walrus said:
OneDs said:
The Walrus said:
That sounds pretty bloody good where was it if you don't mind me asking ?
GlaxoSmithKline in Brentford on the great west roadThey had a rota parking system, first every other week , then 3 out of 4, then 7 out of 8, with lotteries during low period (school holidays) they probably don't even need it now unless the Greenford & Stockley Park guys have moved in.
Edited by OneDs on Friday 29th October 11:36
I'm lucky that
1. Have secure underground bike parking
2. Good Showers
3. I'm the FM manager so have cadged myself a number of lockers and full size wardrobes to hang all my stuff
I normally take the train 1 day every couple of weeks, take all my shirts,suits,towels etc etc into work. Then I just wear my lycra and get changed at work. I know I'm fortunate, I couldn't stand me or my cloths being smelly. Keep all my cycle gear in diffrent lockers to my fresh cloths etc, think I have OCD!
1. Have secure underground bike parking
2. Good Showers
3. I'm the FM manager so have cadged myself a number of lockers and full size wardrobes to hang all my stuff
I normally take the train 1 day every couple of weeks, take all my shirts,suits,towels etc etc into work. Then I just wear my lycra and get changed at work. I know I'm fortunate, I couldn't stand me or my cloths being smelly. Keep all my cycle gear in diffrent lockers to my fresh cloths etc, think I have OCD!
At the moment - shirt rolled up in bag, wear thin base layer, mid layer if it's cold, jacket. Gloves. Hi-viz on top if it's dark. Regular underwear/trousers and normal shoes. I don't have to be especially smart though - shirt and trousers is fine. Change into fresh shirt when I arrive.
Work bag normally just has odds and ends, notepad, kindle, portable HD, etc plus a pair of Rainlegs in case it tips it down. I can take my laptop if necessary but as I'm at the same customer for months it tends to stay on the desk there.
Ride on a Brompton with the front S-bag - about 5 miles to the station, on a train then a mile or so at the other end. For lights I have a knog gekko (three bright LEDs) on the back and a knog frog on the front (little single-LED one) which stay permanently on there and are OK if I got caught out in the summer. Now it's darker I dug out my Cateye Tripleshot which is a lot brighter and the battery pack sits nicely in one of the rear pockets of the bag.
I used to do about 8 miles each way when I had a perm job in once place, which would be much the same setup except I never needed to carry a laptop so I used a regular hybrid-type singlespeed and a courier bag with waterproofs and top to change into. Left work shoes under my desk and used SPD shoes for riding. I'd tend to wear cycle shorts under my trousers and change at work - meant it was a bit more comfortable, especially if I took the long route home.
Work bag normally just has odds and ends, notepad, kindle, portable HD, etc plus a pair of Rainlegs in case it tips it down. I can take my laptop if necessary but as I'm at the same customer for months it tends to stay on the desk there.
Ride on a Brompton with the front S-bag - about 5 miles to the station, on a train then a mile or so at the other end. For lights I have a knog gekko (three bright LEDs) on the back and a knog frog on the front (little single-LED one) which stay permanently on there and are OK if I got caught out in the summer. Now it's darker I dug out my Cateye Tripleshot which is a lot brighter and the battery pack sits nicely in one of the rear pockets of the bag.
I used to do about 8 miles each way when I had a perm job in once place, which would be much the same setup except I never needed to carry a laptop so I used a regular hybrid-type singlespeed and a courier bag with waterproofs and top to change into. Left work shoes under my desk and used SPD shoes for riding. I'd tend to wear cycle shorts under my trousers and change at work - meant it was a bit more comfortable, especially if I took the long route home.
Lycra, lights, helmet, no hi-vis. Clothes in backpack (casual, no suit required).
Or in summer: fakenger outfit, no lights, no helmet, no hi vis.
Use basin in toilet at work to clean myself up. Works out fine, since it's clean first thing in the morning.
I like wearing suits. Occasionally.
Or in summer: fakenger outfit, no lights, no helmet, no hi vis.
Use basin in toilet at work to clean myself up. Works out fine, since it's clean first thing in the morning.
I like wearing suits. Occasionally.
I must admit im a fair weather cycle to work type of guy its 8 mile or so each way I use my hybrid, helmet, backpack with casual work clothes shower in the gym (Next to work) change and walk over to the office.
If your not going down the hivis route I would suggest flashing lights as well as fixed, the more the merrier, saw one guy last night who had a flashing light on his helmet plus another on his handlebar plus a fixed set of lights, the more the merrier when your cycling at night.
If your not going down the hivis route I would suggest flashing lights as well as fixed, the more the merrier, saw one guy last night who had a flashing light on his helmet plus another on his handlebar plus a fixed set of lights, the more the merrier when your cycling at night.
About 9 miles each way in lycra for me with shower kit and smart work clothes in a waterproof bag inside a rucksack as there's a shower at work and a drying room for PPE (or cycling gear).
In the darker months, I sling a hi-vis jacket over the rucksack and have 2 rear lights and one front. Gloves and helmet no matter what the weather/time of year.
I use something I put together especially for the commute - an old steel racer frame with one ring up front & 5 gears at the back which is (hopefully) old enough to be relatively unattractive to thieves...but well maintained and slick enough to maintain 20mph-ish on the flat so it takes me about 35 minutes all in.
Despite the odd close call and one accident involving another car, I love it, and arrive at work feeling much better than if I get here by any other means. It's great stress relief at the end of the day too....
Cheers,
Tom
In the darker months, I sling a hi-vis jacket over the rucksack and have 2 rear lights and one front. Gloves and helmet no matter what the weather/time of year.
I use something I put together especially for the commute - an old steel racer frame with one ring up front & 5 gears at the back which is (hopefully) old enough to be relatively unattractive to thieves...but well maintained and slick enough to maintain 20mph-ish on the flat so it takes me about 35 minutes all in.
Despite the odd close call and one accident involving another car, I love it, and arrive at work feeling much better than if I get here by any other means. It's great stress relief at the end of the day too....
Cheers,
Tom
Have commuted by bike for years (working in 4 different locations London, Reading, Camberley and Hook) - sometimes alternating with tube or car. My personal tips would be:
1. Powerful front light even in dawn/dusk. Esp. important if overtaking queueing traffic so drivers don't turn in front of you, open doors into you etc
2. Travel as light as possible (take work clothing in in advance plus if you think you may need change of cycle clothes eg if raining then have spares at work - I also have stuff like spare tube/gear & brake cable at work just in case I get puncture/snap cable on way in and have no spare for return journey)
3. Have both a flashing and constant rear light. I think it's still illegal to have JUST a flashing rear light but I like them as they pick you out to motorists as a cyclist so they can act accordingly. Secondly if batteries go in a rear light on journey home you won't know so having second rear light is a safety net.
4. Plan what you're going to take night before - that way you won't forget something crucial like your work security pass, desk or lock keys or even lights (if you commute in when it's daylight).
I use a road bike but mtb with slicks pretty good too. I dress up so I can be seen, making sure my shoes or overshoes have reflective bits on (as they are rotating they are more likely to be noticed in dark and identify you as a cyclist).
Hope this helps.
1. Powerful front light even in dawn/dusk. Esp. important if overtaking queueing traffic so drivers don't turn in front of you, open doors into you etc
2. Travel as light as possible (take work clothing in in advance plus if you think you may need change of cycle clothes eg if raining then have spares at work - I also have stuff like spare tube/gear & brake cable at work just in case I get puncture/snap cable on way in and have no spare for return journey)
3. Have both a flashing and constant rear light. I think it's still illegal to have JUST a flashing rear light but I like them as they pick you out to motorists as a cyclist so they can act accordingly. Secondly if batteries go in a rear light on journey home you won't know so having second rear light is a safety net.
4. Plan what you're going to take night before - that way you won't forget something crucial like your work security pass, desk or lock keys or even lights (if you commute in when it's daylight).
I use a road bike but mtb with slicks pretty good too. I dress up so I can be seen, making sure my shoes or overshoes have reflective bits on (as they are rotating they are more likely to be noticed in dark and identify you as a cyclist).
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I've now got the following lights.
Rear - Cateye TL-LD1100, Knog Boomer
Front - Knog Boomer
Helmet - Front Knog Frog white strobe/Red strobe rear (they're quite good at fitting into the vents and only cost £7)
I wonder if it might be overkill, my wife said she thought the combination of lights might actually aggravate fellow road users. Does anyone think there's a risk of having too many bright lights on your bike at night?
There appears to be some odd laws about reflectors at night (of which I have none)
http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=40...
I've now got the following lights.
Rear - Cateye TL-LD1100, Knog Boomer
Front - Knog Boomer
Helmet - Front Knog Frog white strobe/Red strobe rear (they're quite good at fitting into the vents and only cost £7)
I wonder if it might be overkill, my wife said she thought the combination of lights might actually aggravate fellow road users. Does anyone think there's a risk of having too many bright lights on your bike at night?
There appears to be some odd laws about reflectors at night (of which I have none)
http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=40...
cycle laws said:
Rear Reflector
One is required, coloured red, marked BS6102/2 (or equivalent), positioned centrally or offside, between 350mm and 900mm from the ground, at or near the rear, aligned towards and visible from behind.
Pedal Reflectors
Four are required, coloured amber and marked BS6102/2 (or equivalent), positioned so that one is plainly visible to the front and another to the rear of each pedal.
Are these just rules that nobody ever follows? I've never had any reflectors on a bike and my pedals are all clipless.One is required, coloured red, marked BS6102/2 (or equivalent), positioned centrally or offside, between 350mm and 900mm from the ground, at or near the rear, aligned towards and visible from behind.
Pedal Reflectors
Four are required, coloured amber and marked BS6102/2 (or equivalent), positioned so that one is plainly visible to the front and another to the rear of each pedal.
They do apply to any use between sunset and dawn (so a bike you'd only ride at daytime is fine to not have them) - but given it seems many people get away with riding at night with no lights or reflectors at all, it would be a very pedantic policeman to pull you up on not having reflectors on an otherwise well-lit bike.
The item that a bike shop now has to fit from new but that isn't legally required is a bell.
The item that a bike shop now has to fit from new but that isn't legally required is a bell.
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