Quick Guide to Bicycle Commuting
Many people ask how I ride daily to work and I thought I would collect some of my experiences and thoughts here. I have posted some of these ideas on forums and in my own comments section, but I thought it would be good to have them in one blog post. So here goes.
1. THE CLOTHES
It is not practical to cycle all the way to work in business clothes. Not in Singapore weather. Unless you work near your home.
Many bicycle commuters I know leave a set of clothes in the office. They may carry a week’s worth of clothes to work on Monday, and cycle in lighter clothing (e.g. t-shirt and shorts) from Tuesday to Thursday. Then on Friday, they carry the clothes back. Or they carry home a day’s clothes every day when they cycle back.
Some people leave the bulky items in the office. Like a pair of work shoes and belt. Then they carry just shirt and pants in their backpacks or panniers (bicycle rack-mounted bags).
2. THE BIKE
Contrary to popular belief, a relatively ok bike does NOT need to cost $2,000. Sure by all means buy one if you like but you can get by on much less. A $500 mountain bike with slick tires will do fine, or if you like, a hybrid costing around $750 will be more than adequate. My brother-in-law rides a $200 no-brand mountain bike to work every day. I started on a $500 Kona mountain bike.Because entry-level mountain bikes tend to come fairly cheaply, it is very often the first bike people buy. If you do get a mountain bike, bear in mind that the knobby tires are not very efficient on roads, and will make your bike slower and heavier. It may be better to change those tires to “slicks”.
3. THE WEATHER
When it rains, or I am tired, I just fold up, and take public transport or a cab. Foldies are also easier to “park”. No need to worry your bike will be stolen. Prices start at $300 for decent entry level ones, and go beyond $2k for premium ones.
4. THE DISTANCES
Distance is relative. It is very often all in your mind. Of course don’t ride a 25km distance for your first time or you will shack yourself out and lose interest. Eventually, that distance will not feel that bad, as you get fitter and more road-wise. The first few weeks riding to work is the hardest, especially when you have not exercised for a long time. But the human body is a very adaptable machine.
5. THE PAINS
The most common pain for people riding longer distances for the first time is Butt Pain. There are several reasons for butt pain:
Most people ride with their feet touching the ground when they are seated on the saddle. That is too low. Correct height is legs must be almost fully extended when at lowest pedal point. This means when you stop, you need to get off the saddle. Takes practice but once you learn it, you will never cycle the old way again.
2. General fitting of the bike
Saddle height, saddle angle, handlebar height, size of bike. All these need to be fitted to you. Also saddle design. I went for saddle fitting before, everyone has a different butt and bone structure there. Also relevant is the KIND of cycling you do (upright or aerodynamic) and posture, which impacts the riding position and saddle you will need.
3. Most likely cause? You are out of shape
Most people who do not cycle and suddenly cycle a lot will feel butt and general ache for a while. Because cycling uses muscles you usually don’t use in walking and running. The tendency for new cyclists is to put all your weight on your ass (hence ass pain). As you get better at cycling and stronger, you will learn to distribute your weight between the arms, the butt, and the legs.
6. THE ACCESSORIES
There are some essentials you will need to budget for when you get a bike to commute. Basics include bell, front and back lights, and a helmet.
There is a lot of controversy over the need for a helmet and I won’t go into them here, but I wear one because I have seen it help in a fall.
Other things you may add over time: