Cycling to work advice
Discussion
Right, I've decided my time is much better spent on a train reading a book for half an hour than sat in traffic for the same amount of time. It doesn't help that when sat in said traffic I see the train waft by.
If I cycle the mile or so to the train station in Naaarch and then the 2 miles from Yaaarmo station to work my commute will actually take the same amount of time as it does if I drive.
I've never commuted by bike before, any tips?
I don't want to turn up with road s
t all up my back, will I be horrid and sweaty at the other end?
Should I cycle in normal clothes then bring work clothes in a rucksack?
I have lights but that's about it.
The bike is a cheapy Halfords one, but it's all I've got at the moment. I did have a nice one that got nicked. If it all goes well I may buy a better one.
Cheers,
Dan
If I cycle the mile or so to the train station in Naaarch and then the 2 miles from Yaaarmo station to work my commute will actually take the same amount of time as it does if I drive.
I've never commuted by bike before, any tips?
I don't want to turn up with road s
t all up my back, will I be horrid and sweaty at the other end? Should I cycle in normal clothes then bring work clothes in a rucksack?
I have lights but that's about it.
The bike is a cheapy Halfords one, but it's all I've got at the moment. I did have a nice one that got nicked. If it all goes well I may buy a better one.
Cheers,
Dan
You should check to see if you can you take your bike on the train during rush hour.
I take a rucksack on Monday with 5x shirts (folded in an Eagle Creek shirt folder), 5x boxers, 5x pairs of socks and a fresh towel. I keep my suits at work so I have enough kit to see me through the week. We are lucky to have lockers and showers in the office. On Friday I take it all back home for the wife to wash/iron over the weekend.
I couldn't contemplate cycling in work clothes as it's 8 miles each way.
Mudguards are useful to keep the crap off you.
Helmet is a must - I recently had an off and my helmet saved me from serious head injury.
I take a rucksack on Monday with 5x shirts (folded in an Eagle Creek shirt folder), 5x boxers, 5x pairs of socks and a fresh towel. I keep my suits at work so I have enough kit to see me through the week. We are lucky to have lockers and showers in the office. On Friday I take it all back home for the wife to wash/iron over the weekend.
I couldn't contemplate cycling in work clothes as it's 8 miles each way.
Mudguards are useful to keep the crap off you.
Helmet is a must - I recently had an off and my helmet saved me from serious head injury.
I have all my suits (plus emergency towel, socks and kegs) at work and just take a shirt in daily. Its a 5 mile journey and generally wear combat shorts, tshirt and altura breathable yellow jacket (the best bit of clothing I have found). I get to work with a slight glow on, use wet wipes, deo and aftershave.
I guess with a 1 to 2 mile journey you could get away with wearing your work stuff, you'll have to try what you are comfortable with. For that sort of distance you could get a couple of cheap run abouts, one for each end.
Definitely agree with helmet and lights, mudguards are a must with any wet weather.
Stick with it though, it takes a while to get into the routine and your resolve will be tested in the dark, wet and cold!
I guess with a 1 to 2 mile journey you could get away with wearing your work stuff, you'll have to try what you are comfortable with. For that sort of distance you could get a couple of cheap run abouts, one for each end.
Definitely agree with helmet and lights, mudguards are a must with any wet weather.
Stick with it though, it takes a while to get into the routine and your resolve will be tested in the dark, wet and cold!
Hackney said:
I see loads of blokes cycling to work in a suit and it never ceases to make me cringe.
How can they turn up at work like that?
Even if it's a couple of miles, get some gear to change into / out of before puttting on your work attire.
Please, do if for thekids colleagues.
I often go past people in full clothing, heavy coats, scarves, hats and gloves when I am in short/t-short and wonder what state they arrive in the office in; and this isn't in the winter when I can understand the heavy clothing.How can they turn up at work like that?
Even if it's a couple of miles, get some gear to change into / out of before puttting on your work attire.
Please, do if for the
But for a short hop like that when the sun isn't beating down, I would go in work clothes.
its all realative, you can cycle and not become a hulking mass of sweat, its a technique called....... riding slowly! a one mile journey, then a two mile journey after a train ride shouldnt cause you to work up much of a sweat.
as others have said, you may need to check if you can take the bike on the train first of all, if not, leave a really crappy bike (£20 from the free ads) at the other station.
lights, mudguards etc are a must but on average, it doesnt rain that often, no, really...... if they are well lit roads, you will only need lights to help you be seen rather than to see so you shouldnt need to spend too much and you can get brackets separately so you just take them off one bike and put them on the other bike. That and a hi-vis/reflective jacket should see you straight, the reflective "snap bands" that runners wear are pretty good too, i normally have one around my right ankle, £2 from decathalon....
as others have said, you may need to check if you can take the bike on the train first of all, if not, leave a really crappy bike (£20 from the free ads) at the other station.
lights, mudguards etc are a must but on average, it doesnt rain that often, no, really...... if they are well lit roads, you will only need lights to help you be seen rather than to see so you shouldnt need to spend too much and you can get brackets separately so you just take them off one bike and put them on the other bike. That and a hi-vis/reflective jacket should see you straight, the reflective "snap bands" that runners wear are pretty good too, i normally have one around my right ankle, £2 from decathalon....
Hackney said:
I see loads of blokes cycling to work in a suit and it never ceases to make me cringe.
How can they turn up at work like that?
Even if it's a couple of miles, get some gear to change into / out of before puttting on your work attire.
Please, do if for thekids colleagues.
2 miles on a bike is 8-10 mins at a very slow, steady pace. You can't get all sweaty doing that.How can they turn up at work like that?
Even if it's a couple of miles, get some gear to change into / out of before puttting on your work attire.
Please, do if for the
Eddh said:
voicey said:
folded in an Eagle Creek shirt folder
You may have just revolutionised my life!I take a new freshly ironed shirt in every day only for it to be creased to buggery when I get there!
My.
Gawd.
I need one of those! I travel a lot anyway so it would be perfect. Also, thanks for the cycling tips everyone, I'm a proper numpty on this.
I reckon I can manage a slow cycle without turning into a sweaty wreck. I'll get a mudguard, helmet and some of those thin overtrousers someone mentioned. And a shirty folder thing.
The train does let bikes on, there's a proper cycle rack and everything
That's what kind of cemented the idea in my mind. I had to take the train (to and fro on foot) last week and it was fine but the walk either end meant I'd get to work a little too late (40 min walk vs 10 min cycle) and leave home just a little to early.As for "doing it properly". One step at a time mate!
oyster said:
Hackney said:
I see loads of blokes cycling to work in a suit and it never ceases to make me cringe.
How can they turn up at work like that?
Even if it's a couple of miles, get some gear to change into / out of before puttting on your work attire.
Please, do if for thekids colleagues.
2 miles on a bike is 8-10 mins at a very slow, steady pace. You can't get all sweaty doing that.How can they turn up at work like that?
Even if it's a couple of miles, get some gear to change into / out of before puttting on your work attire.
Please, do if for the
Nothing wrong with taking it steady though, just not me.
I thought I'd be clever and use a dual suspension mountain bike on slicks due to the potholes around here. My commute is between twelve and sixteen miles depending on the route I take and varies between thirty six and fifty minutes depending on the weather, route and how much sleep I've had.
Twenty six inch wheels aren't a lot of use unless you have enough time. Flat out on my bike to keep pace with the 700c Lycra lot cruising is frustrating but 1/ You don't have to wear Lycra on a mountain bike. 2/ I only had two punctures in 4,000 miles and one of the lycra guys had six in one day. 3/ The Lycra guys tend to hunt in packs much to the annoyance of other road users who feel cyclist should ride four abreast on country lanes.
It doesn't actually matter what kind of bike you ride and you can wear all the hi-viz you like you will still be completely invisible until you wear something like this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330616616271?ssPageName=...
...it helps people notice you, keeps road muck, spray and other pollutants from your face. You'll also need something like this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1800-Lumen-CREE-XML-T6-L...
...and...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Abus-Urban-I-Yellow-Refl...
...with lights strapped to it as well.
Welcome to the world of cycle commuting be sure to do a blog thread on here because the forum have been a great encouragement to me over the last year or so I've been doing it.
Twenty six inch wheels aren't a lot of use unless you have enough time. Flat out on my bike to keep pace with the 700c Lycra lot cruising is frustrating but 1/ You don't have to wear Lycra on a mountain bike. 2/ I only had two punctures in 4,000 miles and one of the lycra guys had six in one day. 3/ The Lycra guys tend to hunt in packs much to the annoyance of other road users who feel cyclist should ride four abreast on country lanes.
It doesn't actually matter what kind of bike you ride and you can wear all the hi-viz you like you will still be completely invisible until you wear something like this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330616616271?ssPageName=...
...it helps people notice you, keeps road muck, spray and other pollutants from your face. You'll also need something like this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1800-Lumen-CREE-XML-T6-L...
...and...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Abus-Urban-I-Yellow-Refl...
...with lights strapped to it as well.
Welcome to the world of cycle commuting be sure to do a blog thread on here because the forum have been a great encouragement to me over the last year or so I've been doing it.
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