How to ride your bike to work
A smaller carbon footprint and a thinner waistline are two of the best results of choosing to bike to the office.
WELL-SUITED COMMUTE: Burn calories and not gas on your way to work. (Photo: jordanfischer/Flickr) - 12 urban bicycles that will be a fine substitute for your car
- 7 U.S. employers that go all out to support biking employees
- And on the lighter side: Mayor of Lithuanian town takes biking seriously. How seriously? Well, this video involves an armored personnel carrier.
Comments
Couple more suggestions:
--Get fenders for when it rains.
--Cold is not a factor if you have the right clothing. A good North Face base layer and a light wind resistant jacket gets me thru PA winters down to around zero degrees. REI has some great stuff if you don't mind spending the $$
--You can get studded snow tires for about $50 each if you look online.
a few things they missed
1. get a haircut that a helmet won't mess up
2. buy a used bike and tune it up yourself or take it to a local bike shop. A new bike shipped usually from china has a decent carbon footprint in itself.
Long-time bike commuter here.
Sure, there are plenty of folks for whom it's just not safe, practicable, etc. to commute by bicycle, but there are probably millions more of us who could be. When we relocated from temperate PA to subtropical OK, we specifically looked for homes within a couple of miles of my place of work. Even on days when the mercury is over 100 degrees, I can ride to work in the morning (shirt and tie) without getting all sweaty. In the evenings when it's hotter, I'd.... More
I bike to work 8 miles one way 2-3 days a week and I love it. It's helped me lose weight, too. I wish more people would bike, and I understand many of the problems that interfere. As the article states, planning is important. I have different routes going to and coming from work because the traffic is different. I recently made changes to my morning route because the areas around schools were too chaotic and dangerous.
I don't understand the objection to having to shower when you arrive.... More
My husband recently sold his car because it was too small for our growing family. We were planning to buy another car, but the night before a conflicting schedule, I decided to go buy a bike and rode it to my client site on the beach the next day. It was the best choice I ever made! I get to enjoy my beautiful neighborhood, get exercise and we are saving over $400 a month on a car note. So happy I did it!!
Ironcelt, they not only make snow tires, they actually make snow bikes. Salsa's model is the Mukluk, Surly makes the Pugsley, and other brands have them as well.
Pretty much any mountain bike will do alright in snow if you lower the tire pressure. Or the cheapie way to make snow tires (as long as you cross your fingers for no flats) if you have disc brakes, is to put zip ties around the tires.
If it's warm, you'll need a good deoderant. Otherwise, get a moped.
So, do they sell snow tires for bikes? And how does one navigate the snow plow berms and the ice? We seldom get less than 150 inches of snow per year, and there's generally no melting between December and March, so the roadsides are actually walls....
They do. They have little metal studs in them. I put them on my bike during the PA winters and they work like a charm.
My work is 27 miles from home. I don't it makes much sense to my ride a bike.
With no bike lanes, sidewalks or shoulders on the road on which to ride a bike, I'll keep driving the 20 miles to work each day.
Your right Tish, Not many people are really warm to the idea of getting run over by a car that ha no respect for cyclist or chased and or bitten by some dog...
They could do the bicycle lanes and then the government would want compensation for it as always...Which is understandable......
And there is laws against loose pets but thats not gonna do us any good for someone who doesnt obey the laws...Dog bites are not funny...
But I would love to be able to get out and ride......I.... More
I love riding to work. I used to ride every day, 15 miles each way, almost all of it on bike paths. The office provides shower facilities, so I would just wake up, get dressed, hop on the bike and go, and shower when I got there.
Then the kids came along. Now, with kids having to go to school or daycare, riding is out of the question. No way I could get to the office at any kind of reasonable time. And I would have to leave work early to pick them up in time. I really miss the.... More
Riding a bike to and from work will never be a viable means of transportation as long as people feel they need a shower and change of clothes.
People around the world use bikes for daily transportation and they don't wear those silly special riding clothes and require a shower and change at the end of every leg.
and for best of everything you will probably have to order online if you are unlucky enough to live in the US in 2011.
US has very little for bikes, for motorcycles etc...
even stores carry very little...99% of bikes sold in US are chinese made POS.
it is how oil cos. discourage you from biking..so do your own research.
buy a quality bike which will last...chinese cos. are just wasting your money and then after it falls apart you are back to wasting more money on oil.... More
overseas I purchased a really cool fold up bike and rode every single day and there are elevators so you don't need to lug it up and down stairs.
for lady above, does your building not have elevators or do you live in a very dangerous neighborhood where you can't lock your bike outside?
my school and my apt overseas have elevators and I just fold up bike and carry it.
even in US, you can do it...it is very easy.
be the change you wish to see.
americans are.... More
I've ridden a bike for transportation all my life, from biking to school as a kid, to more of the same during college, to riding to work, and even using my bicycle at work, as an adult. I've displaced at least 150,000 'basic transportation' car miles so far, and I'm still riding strong.
I can't offer valid advice on how to "get started." I've never had to transition from a car-centric lifestyle to bike-centric lifestyle. But I can offer some advice about the riding itself..... More
I agree. but I would add bikers need to be ON the road.
in my area bikers use no helmets on the road and then most just ride on the sidewalk.....makes no sense...some where all black, etc..and wonder why they are hit.
bikers have every right to use road like anybody else...
I wear reflective vest, helmet etc..and I take up the lane...
I will be glad to express myself to anybody who honks at me for biking IN the road where I belong.
if you are overseas and bike,.... More
I live here in Clermont Fla,west of Orlando, we have a great bike trail,its about 12 miles to work,its easy, i have raced in triathlons from 1985 till 2002,yet still ride, i have found the most important part is a good lighting system, i use a bella light,heavy tires,strong rims,this is not a race, but getting to work safe and sound,rain gear,practice at home changing a flat tire, gook luck, be prepared
Well. first you gotts to have a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd ride my bike to work, but the corner between the bedroom and the dining room table is too tight a turn.
I would love to ride to work. It's only 8 miles and I am a pretty avid rider so it would be really easy to do. My only problem is I live in Memphis and though we are starting to get really nice bike lanes and trails, they only run East to West. I work in the southern part of the city at a nice office park near the airport, but there is no way to get to the office without riding through some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. It's scary driving through them in a car, I couldn't.... More
oh just do it you big wussy.
oh just do it you big wussy.
oh just do it you big wussy.
Is this author serious? Let us see. First you ride your bike to a gym you have joined. Take a shower. Opps! First hide your bike somewhere so it doesn't get stolen from the gym. Then ride from the gym to work. Hopefully you won't work up too much of a sweat. Then hide your bike at work and remember your co-workers might be offended because your bike is greasy (!). If you can't find (or afford) a gym you either do a shower at work or rub yourself with witch hazel (!!!) or just stink for the.... More
And have knee problems for the rest of your life. The article also mentions the League of American Bicyclists. They have a program that coaches businesses to be bicycle friendly, including secure bicycle parking, shower/locker facilities, etc. If only a small number of people get involved, the response is typically positive from employers.
I live on the third floor of an apartment building, so biking is difficult because I have to lug the bike up and down the stairs outside the building. I'm an out of shape woman with lots of weight to lose! Once I figure out how to transport the bike without hurting myself, a neighbor or the bike, I'd be thrilled to bike the short distance to my job every day.
I hear you, but you should think outside the box a little. Check out bikes by Brompton and Dahon. You are not constrained to a full-sized bike!
Should have added I bike ~5miles to work then ~10 miles to school then ~10 miles home. It's easy after doing it for several months.
I'm 37 and not athletic in the least. More people should bike. Obesity in America would only be found in history books.
I've been riding a bike daily my entire life. I'm 38 and unfortunately the exercise does very little to cut down on the size of your gut! Big misconception about bikes there...
Only problem/question I have is weather! I love the idea of biking but in rain, cold, snow, sleet- whatever- not too much.....does anyone bike year round in all weather? What is your advise?
In places like the Netherlands, where significant portions of the population commute by bike year round (snow), the saying goes, "there is no bad weather, just bad clothing." I ride in the rain/snow/ice, and as long as I'm properly dressed and layered for the occasion, it's quite enjoyable. I live in Wisconsin, so the winters can get quite harsh, and even still it's not bad riding in the winter. Good luck!
I commute on my bike everywhere. From getting groceries to work to school...everywhere. I do it cause I'm poor. I do it cause it's the only exercise I get. I bike in the rain, snow and 107 degree heat.
Automobiles undermine our society to no end. We would all be better off if automobiles were banned.
I wanted to bike to work but it's pretty hilly and I am out of shape. So, for my birthday I googled "electric bikes" and lo and behold, there's a bunch just coming on the market in all price ranges. The one I bought in July from Target is already $100 cheaper. I started three weeks ago and it's been great, although it's taking awhile for my muscles (and certain bits) to adjust, as I haven't been on an upright bike for years.
Chris, Check out this great article on electric bikes: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/blogs/greener-gear-the-pedego-co...
I have been commuting by bike for two years now - in between the snow in Mpls, so I have only a six weeks to 8 weeks left. I am not a "fit" biker, I am an obese woman who uses the biking to get into shape and improve my mood for the work day. My commute in the morning is 5 1/2 miles, luckily Minneapolis has wonder bike lanes and bike trails, meaning that I only ride with traffic in my residential area, then I am on a bike path or dedicated bike lanes the rest of the way in. I also have the.... More
I've been biking to work 2-3 times a week. 11 miles one way, I use about 6.5 miles of bike path, 4.5 of road, this is in Tucson so I've had a couple of hot rides. I drive Monday and take in all the clothes and food for the ride days, I would also say budget about an extra 15 mins in case of a flat tire. I use a 600 lumen handle bar light as well as a 120 lumen helmet light and a rear strobe. Lights I purchased for our local 24 hr off road race, so I get some use year round.
I have been bicycling to work for 33 years, year-round. With all the money I have saved I could retire and live like a king - except that my wife spends all the money as fast as she can. At least I can say that the air is cleaner because of all that cycling!
Nice article. I ride my bike 2-3 times a week to work in summers. As pointed out the shortest route is along the main street. So I picked up a county bike trail map from the internet and ride along Lake Michigan. It's refreshing. Good workout and you get to enjoy the outdoors (weather permitting) as you get to work.
No panniers or baskets. I wear a backpack with a change of clothes and a spare tube, tire pullers, and a hand pump.
We are adding on to the plant I work at and currently have no showers. I mentioned this to the project manager that it would be nice to have for bike commuters and they agreed to put one in.
Reflective clothing is important too.
Benefits - excercise (which itself has many benefits), eco friendly, relaxing for the mind (instead of getting frustrated in trafiic), cheap, helping reduce traffic, etc.
I bike to work more than I drive. I work in 2 buildings. 0.5 miles to one building and 2.5 to the other. Small town traffic, reasonably level. I have been doing this for 5 years. It doesn't really save that much gas (1 or 2 gallons a month), but it isn't good for your car to drive it half a mile then shut it off. Also a few thousand people work with me so if I drive I still walk a long way in from the car. When I bike I park right by the front door in a covered bike rack. I like it because.... More
I've pedaled to work for years, and recommend that you try out your route when there's less traffic (weekend for downtown workers) so that you understand the hills and turns before an SUV driver irritates you.
The BIG RULES I recall:
- Be Visible (bright clothing, lights); and
- Be Predictable (ride with traffic, signal your turns).
When I turned 58 I decided to start riding to work again after giving it up for 26 years. My biggest problem was my route which was now 35 mi rather than 24 mi. in typically windy Dakota conditions. I decided the only way I could guarantee a reasonable commute time was to get an electric assist bicycle. I bought the most expensive model I could find and I've completed 4000 mi in the last two summers. It's a lot of fun and even with a 20 mph headwind I can still get to work in a reasonable hour.... More
I really wish I could commute on bike! I am so jealous! I have a 30 mile commute with the kids! Anyone have any advice on biking with a 3 and 1 year old in tow? I don't know if I put much faith in those kids seats for the bikes, and what about the bulk of those trailers? Ah, to be a single city-dweller again!
Check out Madsen bikes, or, like you mentioned, a well-made trailer. Burley and Chariot, for example, make light and safe trailers for little ones. Good luck!
