How to Commute by Bicycle.
There are reasons to commute by bike. You may want to help the environment, save money, or be active. Commuting by bike is easy once you know the basics.
Find a bike that fits you.
Go to a bike shop and get fitted for the correct frame size. This may seem odd, but having a bike that fits your body is of utmost importance. A bike frame that is too small will hurt your back. A bike frame too big isn’t agile.
How much should the bike cost?
You don’t need to spend the family fortune to get a decent bike. A Walmart bike for $100 will get you from A to B. However, you get what you pay for. Spending $400–600 will go along way towards beginning your commuting career. Spending this little chunk of change will get you set up. Go to your local bike shop and be honest about your goals. I bought my first commuter bike from my local shop in 2014. It was a Surly Long Haul Trucker for approximately $1100. It’s a steel frame that can take a beating. It wants to get knocked around. Even at 5 years old and nearly 5000 miles, the Surly is in immaculate shape. It is also capable of attaching a rack for hauling cargo. If you need to bring supplies to work, think about buying a bike that can have a rack installed. There is no need to spend $2000+ on your first bike.
“Don’t buy upgrades, ride upgrades.”-Eddy Merckx (5-time winner, Tour De France) once said,
If you want to get stronger on the bike, ride it. An expensive bike will not make you superhuman. You have to train to become superhuman.
Get a good lock.
Don’t skimp on the lock. Buy a good bike. Buy a great lock. No reason to save a few dollars just to have your bike stolen. If someone wants to steal a bike they will steal it. A good bike thief can steal any bike in less than a minute. They may use bolt cutters or an angle grinder. Most bike thieves can only steal one or two bikes at a time, so lock your bike up better than bikes around you.
Choosing a lock comes down to preference. Here are a few trusted brands.
Kryptonite New York Lock Fahgettaboutit (not affiliated) U-lock
A good U- lock through your frame and your front wheel will make it harder to steal your bike. Do not lock to only your wheel. Go through the frame and wheel. U locks limit your locking locations to bike racks and street signs. Always use a bike rack if possible and lock in an obvious location. Thieves are not going to bust out an angle grinder in front of a busy coffee shop. Never lock to a wire fence.
AKM Security Lock ( Not affiliated) Chain lock
Chains are the most cumbersome lock. But they offer the most flexibility. You can lock to bike racks, street lights, and even trees. I use a chain lock. If you want to save some money. Go to the hardware store and have them cut some chain for you. Then buy a high-quality master lock. You can get a solid lock set for around $30–40.
Abus Bordo Granite (not affiliated) Folding Lock
Want the best of both worlds. Look no further. Folding locks lie somewhere between U-lock and chain. They are lightweight and flexible.
Rules of the Road.
Riding a bike on the road is the same as driving a car. It may seem counterintuitive at first, but you do not belong on the sidewalk. When you are cycling, be a defensive driver. You should stop at stoplights and stop signs. A lot of cyclists will roll through stop signs; be cautious. You never know when another car might roll through the same stop sign.
Tips
1)Do not leave your bike outside overnight.
2)Don’t leave it unattended for long periods.
3)Mind your surroundings.
4)Assume everyone else knows nothing.
What if I get hit?
It’s not a question of if, but when.
I have commuted 4 days a week for nearly 5 years. I’ve been in three accidents. Only one of which I had to go to the hospital. In general, the best way to avoid being hit is to ride at a normal pace of 10–14 miles per hour. A commute is not the place to break the speed record. Going slower will help you observe more of what is happening.
Be aware.
Cheat out when passing parked cars so you do not get doored.
If you see a gap in cars that you are passing know that another car may turn through the gap, slow down.
Follow your line. Don’t swerve randomly or make hasty decisions. The cars and cyclists around you are going to assume you are going to maintain your current course. If you jut out into the road to avoid a pothole you may get hit by a car.
Wear a helmet.
If you take one thing away from this. Wear a helmet. Protecting your brain is cool.
