Biking to Work: What to Know Before You Hit the Road

When asked about biking to work, I had a bagful of excuses as to why I didn't do it, despite living less than 10 miles away from my job. "I'm not a morning person, I don't want to get up any earlier," I'd whine. I'd cite many reasons including the big hill in between my house and the office, the traffic, the weather. When I realized how much my health and being kind to the environment lined up in my priorities, I decided to finally give it a try. I'm now an avid biker, and I love biking to work each day. I've put together a few tips for anyone thinking of biking to work. It's a lot easier than you think, and the more it becomes part of your morning routine, the easier it becomes.

Do I live close enough to bike to work?

While a number like 10 miles sounds daunting, it is actually quite short on a bike. I would say that it is reasonable for someone to bike 15 miles or less to work, though I have read stories about people who are dedicated and bike almost 30-40 miles to work each way. Keep in mind that you won't always be pedaling hard the entire trip, but that some of your trip you could be coasting pleasantly, at a good speed. I find that on average it takes me 10 minutes to go 1 mile if I am not making much of an effort, just biking normally. You could probably go faster than this, but it's a good guideline. If you live farther away, sometimes there are other options. Some public transportation allows you to put your bike on the front of a bus or train, so it is possible to turn a long commute into one that uses a combination of mass transportation instead. Your city chamber of commerce may also have additional information about public transportation.

Think about the savings

If you already own a bike, your costs are already paid for. You may need the occasional tune-up, but it's far less than having to fill up all the time. Some people argue that if your commute is short to begin with, you're not saving a lot of money if you don't drive to work. Actually, the reverse is true. The short drive on the highway where your car is at cruising speed for a short period of time, or a commute through a city area with lots of stops and idling are when your car will be its least fuel-efficient. It is these types of commutes that are best replaced with bikes. (Not to mention the fact that you can easily go around car traffic jams on your very small, maneuverable bike!). If you have a car with average fuel efficiency, every 20 miles you bike is 1 gallon less gas used. So, if you live 10 miles from work you're saving a gallon of gas a day!

Check the biking laws in your area

These vary greatly by state. For example, in New York state you are required to have a bell or horn on your bike to alert people of your presence, but in the current state of New Hampshire, you don't, but you have to have a light on your bike if you're biking past 7 p.m. A great place to look for bike laws is actually by searching your State's official government pages for bicycle rules. Know the rules before doing your test run to work, and practice safety at all times. You'll want to make sure that you have all the gear you need before you start biking to work, especially safety equipment like a helmet.

Dress

The keys to dressing for a bike to work are comfort and safety. You'll want pants that are comfortable and fit well, but are not very baggy at the ankles so that they do not get caught in the pedals of the bike. Usually dark colored pants work best because of their ability to hide any grease or dirt that may get on them as you ride. I usually dress in layers as it is cold in the morning where I live, but can warm up quickly especially when you're working hard. I wear a t-shirt and a thin fleece jacket most of the time, and I'll pack a light windbreaker just in case it's a little wet out. I wear shoes that are both light and have grippy bottoms. Thinner track shoes or biking shoes in particular work well. If you're biking at night or dusk, you'll want reflective or bright clothing to wear.

Be prepared

Pack a small bag with your work clothes, work shoes, personal items (like wallets, cell phones etc.). The best bags for cycling are backpacks or one-shoulder bags. They stay in place and carry everything without anything dangling from your handlebars. Don't forget your health. You should always bring something to snack on, and plenty to drink in case you get dehydrated. A cell phone is also very important for safety should anything happen to you on the road.

Map out your path

The expressway that you normally use to zoom to work in the morning is not an option on a bike, so you'll want to take out a map and try and plot out a reasonably direct route, preferably through a residential or rural area. If you're new to your town or city, you may want to take a little bike tour around the area to familiarize yourself with the back roads and shortcuts. When looking at a map, remember that it's only a two-dimensional representation of the area. There may be a mountain in between you and your job, so you'll need to scope out the streets ahead of time to pick the best route. My route includes a residential area and a trip through the center of town. I like this because I know that if I want to stop for a break, I have the option to sit or get something to eat while in town. Rural areas have the advantage of reduced traffic and traffic crossings, but keep in mind that you may be farther from help if you need it.

Take a dry run of your route

After mapping out and checking out your path, you may have a good idea of what to expect on the trip to work the first time. But I would recommend taking a "trial run" before the first day. You'll know how long it actually takes to get there (so that you don't have to stress about being late on your first day of doing that), and any unexpected obstacles. For example, on my dry run I realized that I had to cross railroad tracks over a pedestrian bridge, something I hadn't noticed on my drive-bys. I also took note of traffic patterns, crosswalk locations, and safest ways to cross the street.

Other benefits

There was a time that I used to think that if I woke up one minute earlier in my morning routine, I would be a groggy zombie all day due to lack of sleep. When I first thought about biking to work, getting up earlier was the part that I dreaded most - not even the evil hill in my way! However, it took less time than I thought (so I didn't have to wake up at dawn like I feared) and I found that I was actually more awake after the bike ride than I was normally after getting out of my car! If you're trying to improve your fitness, a consistent routine is key. If you bike to work every day that weather allows, you're adding valuable exercise time to your routine that you wouldn't normally be able to fit in. Bicycling is a great exercise for your legs, glutes, back, and even abdominals. Working this exercise into your commute is a way to do two things at once; save money and stay healthy.