Cycle commuting to the office Newby.

[Slyjoe]

Gents, I change jobs soon, which will enable me to cycle to the office.

Half the journey is on a disused railway track (mettaled path) and half on the road, total of about 2 miles.

This sounds a bit silly, but:

1: What gear do you reccomend for carrying my stuff (clean office clothes and sarnies).
2: This will be an all year thing, could someone point me in the right direction for clothing - I guess gloves and waterproofs.
3: Lighting for the off road bit?
4: Helmet choice?

Anything else that you can think of to prepare me for this.
Many thanks.

[TonyHetherington]

There's a few threads covering everything you'd need really, have a look through these;

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... are YOU wearing for your commute?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... me a commuting backpack................

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... is the best way to use my commute?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... around 17 miles

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... miles commute. Motivate me!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Distances

But in addition to them, I'd say that 2 miles really won't take you long at all. Almost it will take longer to get changed at the other end It will be fun though, and you should certainly do no less because of the distance with regard to lights and helmet. What sort of times will you be commuting? Because at the moment, you probably won't need a light.

[warp9]

Lots of useful info in the post/links above. I have a similar journey along the tow path (when it's not too wet) of about 6 miles each way. I go for:

1) Cheapish clip on Altura paniers which are completely waterproof. I know they are cos I fell in the canal with them, but thats another story. I personally prefer panniers as my back would get sweaty with a back pack.
2) I'm lucky to have in effect a wardrobe at work, but unlucky enough not to have a shower. I store all my suits/ties, plus emergency pants/socks in case of proper downpour at work and just bring in a shirt and lunch daily.
3) I shower before I leave the house then use wet wipes to get rid of the 'glow', then lots of deo. No stinky complaints yet.
4) Clothes. Some old trainers, baggy shorts unless really cold then wear outdoors comando trousers. T-shirt, plus maybe a long sleeve if its cold and always an Altura bring yellow, wind proof jacket. This is the best £40 of clothing I have spent. I do have a completely waterproof jacket, but it makes me sweat and needs to be really nasty for me to wear it. Generally if it rains, deal with it.
5) Helmet a general Giant bike helmet.

6) Lights. A static LED red on my helmet and flashy LED red on rear of seat post. Flashy white LED on handle bars, plus spent £15 on a rechargable 900 lumin LED torch for the front. Brialliant in the winter.
7) I have a spare inner tube and pump at work and home. This has caught me out a couple of times.

Thats about me. Enjoy, I'll never go back to sitting in a car for the commute, plus I've saved a fortune as we're a one car family now. You'll not loose any weight though....!!

[Miguel Alvarez]

warp9 said:

Cheapish clip on Altura paniers which are completely waterproof. I know they are cos I fell in the canal with them

Even though it's happened to me on my old commute

[TonyHetherington]

warp9 said:

4),,, plus maybe a long sleeve if its cold and always an Altura bring yellow, wind proof jacket. This is the best £40 of clothing I have spent. I do have a completely waterproof jacket, but it makes me sweat and needs to be really nasty for me to wear it. Generally if it rains, deal with it.

when I first started commuting, I was looking at the full on Altura Night Vision Evo jacket - bright yellow, and you could probably dive 10 miles in it and still come out dry. But I never actually found I needed one and so didn't go for it. If it rains (which it is at the moment, d'oh!) then i'll get wet, but not cold because I'm cycling. too much on and, regardless of weather, you get too hot which is not a fun feeling!

[Slyjoe]

Thankyou so much for the info everyone!
This is the first time i've ventured into the "Bike Bit" of PH, (sorry I never even thought to do a search)

I'm really looking forward to not giving the government £200 odd a month.
Interestingly that £200 per month equates to a £5000 pay rise as a 40% tax payer.

It will also be the aid to giving up those last few fags I have, and I was also hoping it would help me tone up a bit.

[robpearson]

At that distance, if you use decent mudguards and clips on your ankles to save your trousers from a chainy doom you could probably get in at a sedate pace without breaking into a sweat and needing to store clothes at the other end. Paniers are definately the future if you dont want a soggy back.

[TonyHetherington]

You might need to cycle in a circle to get to work for it to really help, which would be nice to do and really give you a nice start to the day - 2 miles could take 6/7 mins to do, which would barely get you out of breath, so think of a way you could extend the route if you wanted to

[Slyjoe]

robpearson said:

At that distance, if you use decent mudguards and clips on your ankles to save your trousers from a chainy doom you could probably get in at a sedate pace without breaking into a sweat and needing to store clothes at the other end. Paniers are definately the future if you dont want a soggy back.

I did wonder about this, I guess on warm days its do-able if I don't break sweat.

TonyHetherington said:

You might need to cycle in a circle to get to work for it to really help, which would be nice to do and really give you a nice start to the day - 2 miles could take 6/7 mins to do, which would barely get you out of breath, so think of a way you could extend the route if you wanted to

I am hoping to build up to that, however the longer routes are dual carriageway around Brackley, my current route is downhill through the estate and onto the flat railway line at morning commuter times, its quite busy on the town roads.
I'll be a bit later going home than most, however there are 8 pubs on the way home through town

[Slyjoe]

Part of my commute

[Gizmo!]

Slyjoe said:

Part of my commute

Jealous

[ewenm]

Slyjoe said:

Gents, I change jobs soon, which will enable me to cycle to the office.

Half the journey is on a disused railway track (mettaled path) and half on the road, total of about 2 miles.

This sounds a bit silly, but:

1: What gear do you reccomend for carrying my stuff (clean office clothes and sarnies).

I use a small rucksack (22 litre fell running one from Inov8) and keep shoes, trousers and jacket at work.

Slyjoe said:

2: This will be an all year thing, could someone point me in the right direction for clothing - I guess gloves and waterproofs.

Proper cycling shorts (baggies if you're shy), long-sleeved technical t-shirt (so a cycling or running one) and a waterproof, breathable jacket (Gore Bike Wear for example), decent gloves (Sealskinz for example).

Slyjoe said:

3: Lighting for the off road bit?

Go and talk to your local bike shop

Slyjoe said:

4: Helmet choice?

Anything else that you can think of to prepare me for this.
Many thanks.

I use a Giro helmet and Oakley Flak XLJ glasses with interchangeable lenses.

[Xerstead]

said:

...have a spare inner tube and pump at work AND at home.

Or just carry them with you but 2 miles (max) isn't too far to walk if it does happen.
Swapping out the inner tube is easier than finding and fixing. I used to fix them years ago but after going over some glass and getting a puncture, fix it, find another... I used a whole pack of patches that day before giving up

You shouldn't need to worry too much about warm clothes, as you'll soon warm up if pushing on a bit and too hot and sweaty if wrapped up. The exception is a good pair of gloves is a must in cold weather. And knee pads if you try riding in the snow, not reccomended

[TonyHetherington]

Oh yeah; padded shorts. best things I ever bought. I don't do lycra at work, it's like walking through the office naked, (but I do at weekends, it's fun!) anyway....I have these, padded boxer shorts, absolutely essential;

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/endura/padded-...

[warp9]

Slyjoe said:

I was also hoping it would help me tone up a bit.

I hoped this also. However, even doing a 12 mile a day round trip, 5 days a week and trying to ‘push on’, I’ve lost at best a couple of pounds over 18 months. My legs are a lot firmer, but my gut and moobage hasn’t gone anywhere. I do feel much fitter generally though and am now barely sweating when I finish the journey vs. being utterly fked previously!

BTW – as a general comment, hang in there! I found when I started that the motivation to kit yourself out and get on with the commute ebbed and flowed, particularly with bad weather. I’d find myself watching the late night weather report and wondering if I’d bother cycling the next day. After a while I’d get really frustrated at myself for giving in and driving, then sitting in loads of traffic and getting really peed off, wishing I was on the bike. After now doing a full winter and not being that bothered by what the weather is doing, there is no turning back!

Xerstead said:

I used to fix them years ago but after going over some glass and getting a puncture, fix it, find another...

Ditto. I’ve always committed myself to the journey though! I find no joy or pride in fixing a puncture, better to be absolutely fastidious in checking the rim and inner tyre before banging in a new tube and be gone!

[covmutley]

i used to cycle to work and we didnt have a shower. I would take it slow on the way in to work but some light sweat was inevitable. I used non-scented baby wipes (and deodrant)to freshen up and have to say it worked very well. I always changed clothes- wouldnt fancy staying in the same ones.

[WarrenG]

Slyjoe said:

Part of my commute

looks like the path along centurion way AICMFP.

[Slyjoe]

WarrenG said:

looks like the path along centurion way AICMFP.

Frayed knot.
Thanks to The Beeching cuts, this is the old Brackley to Banbury line.
http://g.co/maps/7yrtr
the railway line is parralel to the Banbury Road section, and I pop out at the lake.
This is the bridge in the photo. http://g.co/maps/ngzd9

Edited by Slyjoe on Thursday 12th April 22:00