The Great Bike Commute

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Bike commuting is a great way to be green. You’ll reduce your carbon footprint, traffic, noise pollution and our dependency on foreign oil simply by leaving the car at home and doing what you like to do in your free time anyway. 

The extra saddle time will get you fitter than your weekend riding buddies. You’ll sharpen your bike handling skills. You’ll arrive at work earlier and more energized for the work day. You’ll wiz by rush hour traffic jams in the city and possibly even get home faster than you could by car.

Sounds good, right? Well, before you head out to work on your bike consider the stark differences between bike commuting and your local club ride. Your ultra-stiff frame, thin racing tires, and tiny lightweight under-seat bike bag will suddenly become less of an advantage, and perhaps even a distinct disadvantage on the commute. Commuting is not about optimal aerodynamics or the most efficient power transfer of each pedal stroke. Commuting is about getting from point A to point B with all the stuff you need to cart back and forth to work. Just like any other kind of cycling, having the right gear is critical.

If your budget can support a second bike, buy one. Keep your weekend bike configured for club rides and country roads, and build up a rugged commuter bike to handle the rougher city streets. Pick one that is sturdy and comfortable. Go with wider and heavier tires to handle potholes and debris that is more plentiful on city streets and harder to avoid when holding your line on heavily trafficked roads. Install front and back fenders, lights and reflectors. Consider positioning your seat and handlebars for a more upright position to improve visibility. A rack will be useful if you’ve got to carry a laptop computer or other items back and forth. If bike storage or security is an issue at work, consider a folding bike. Folding bikes have many great commuting features built right in, can be stored under your desk or in a coat closet, and can easily be carried on the train with you or thrown in the trunk if a car to accommodate last-minute changes in your travel plans.

If you can’t get a second bike for commuting, consider a few key upgrades for your weekend machine. A second set of wheels will allow you to easily switch to your commuting tires during the week. Swapping wheels is easier and faster than swapping tires and has the added benefit of preserving your good wheel set for weekend riding. A set of traditional 36-spoke wheels will work well and can be had for a reasonable price. Find a set that has the same width hub as your weekend wheels so that swapouts can be made quickly without any derailleur adjustments. Snap on fenders are also available for quick and easy installation without tools. Squeeze in some extra storage space with a large bike bag and consider more creative carriers like the Cage Rocket, a clever storage case that fits into your second water bottle cage.

Having the proper gear will make your bike commute a more pleasant experience, which will hopefully encourage you to keep riding to work and help to make the world a little bit greener. Now get to work!

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