Ten things you need to Do to Commute to Work on a Bike

Cycling to work has always been an amazing mode to save money, stay healthy and take care of the planet. Maybe you are considering cycling to work for the first time, or you haven’t cycled since childhood. In reality, cycling to work is typically economical, faster, and more fun compared to other kinds of transport. There will still be times when everything does not go as planned, but like always, good preparation is the key to success.

Once you get into the habit, you will learn all the tips and tricks and become a seasoned bike commuter quickly. Following are some of the tips for using an e-bike for commute:

Begin early

Though you can smoothly cycle past other traffic, one of the most crucial things to do is to begin early every day. This helps you to cycle at your own pace, unhindered by other riders. Because you are riding to work, you will desire not to ride fast and arrive at work tired and sweaty.

Carry spare clothing

You would never like to arrive at the office in ruined clothing. So, it is good to cycle to the office in activewear and carry a spare change of clean, formal office wear. This is a highly useful tip. Activewear will feel comfortable, contributing to a smooth workout routine. Secondly, when you change outfits in the office, you can stay fresh for the rest of the workday, avoiding sweaty clothing.

Hanging cycling outfits

When you change into work wear, you should also be able to find facilities in the office restroom for hanging and air-drying your activewear. This is because cycling clothing is mostly sweaty and dusty and needs to dry. Hanging them to dry will protect them from odour and dampness so that you are fresh when you ride home.

Use deodorant

This item is a must-have in the bag to work. It is pretty obvious that when you cycle to work, you are likely to sweat it out, so a deodorant helps you smell fresh all through the workday.

Carry a useful bag

Cycles usually do not have extra boots for your stuff. Therefore, ensure you have a compact bag that is spacious enough to hold all your vital belongings. Stay organised by packing your clothing and other accessories compactly for cycling to work.

Find reliable bike

When you are commuting to work daily, you require a bike that you can ride through all kinds of weather, which is road-worthy while needing minimal maintenance. Mudguards are a useful feature, and they will keep you safe and clean on a wet day. The bike must also have wide tires, which will spread the load, provide better grip on wet terrain and ensure much comfort. Dynamo lights and hub gears are other attractive additions.

Safe locking

No one would like to find their bike stolen at the end of their workday. Of course, no bike is infallible, but a good start would be one with quality features. It is good to use one lock on the frame as well as a cable lock for your wheels when they are attached by skewers with quick release. It is also important to leave your cycle in a safe and secure parking space.

Wise choice of luggage

The easy choice of luggage while cycling is a backpack. It can be slung over your shoulder with ease and needs no fittings or fixtures. But on a hot day, the backpack will leave you with a sweaty patch on your attire, and heavy luggage will strain your shoulders. In case you are transporting a heavy kit, try to fit a pannier rack such that you can load the extra weight to the bike and not your shoulders.

Confident riding

You should ride the bike in traffic with confidence. When you hug the curb, it encourages drivers of other vehicles to pass by closely, which will only enhance any existing nervousness. Avoid this and maintain a safe distance, which allows you to swerve around a pothole or any other barrier.

When you approach a junction, take check of traffic behind you and move into the centre of the lane when it is safe to do this. This prevents any other vehicle from overtaking you in a not-so-safe position. You need to ride confidently on the bike to be able to look behind you and indicate your direction with one arm.

Check the lights

There is a legal stipulation that you must use a white front light and red rear light, especially for riding at dawn and dusk. It is also good to use them, particularly the red light, all day for safety.

You must check that your lights are charged in advance before undertaking a commute to work. Also, take some backups, simply in case your current lights fail during the journey.

Practice route

Making a plan and ascertaining a route to work is a great way to ease any stress on your first ride for commuting to work. There are many great cycling apps, and Google Maps also works well - simply remember to alter your transport mode from car to bike. Using these, you can ensure a safe and short ride. Planning the route helps you to find quieter routes if you wish to avoid any busy roads.

After planning the best route to take, it is good to have a practice run on a quiet day, like a weekend. This provides an opportunity to double-check everything, with less traffic causing pressure and avoiding the need to ask for directions constantly.

Take time

Avoid the temptation to sprint to work. Otherwise, you will arrive at your workplace all sweaty and with a speedy heart rate, both unpleasant and dangerous.

Proper communication

Though experts advise bikers to stick to special cycling lanes while commuting as much as possible, most cyclists take the main road. It is vital to communicate with other drivers, using hand signals and making eye contact. Also, don’t forget to wave a thank you wish to other vehicle riders who gave you room. This goes a long way to enhance good road behaviour.

But if you encounter unfriendly drivers, stay calm, take a deep breath and let things be. By this, you can avoid pointless arguments with uncaring individuals. It is simply not worth it.

In sum, cycling to work is a freeing experience. So, relax, enjoy the fresh air and avoid cramped and sweaty public transport and traffic jams for hours on end. A bonus is that you are helping the planet and getting fit, all simultaneously.