Thinking of starting commuting tips welcomed

matthewdunn

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking of starting commuting to work on a bike. The distance will be about 10-13 mile depending on what route I take. I'm planning on doing this once or twice a week to start with and hopeing to build from there.

Can anyone recommend a good backpack,lights,waterproofs for commuting?
Any tips on buying a road bike?
Any other tips that you have for a newbie to commuting to work on a bike.

Many Thanks

Gussio

Don't filter down the inside of HGVs.....

cjcp

Good man. Welcome to the party.

Try the DHB clothing on Wiggle for good value clothing. Altura make a very good NightVision jacket - about £60, mind. It's toasty warm and waterproof.

Road bike: what's your budget?

Backpacks - again, see Wiggle. How much will you have to carry? Get one with a gap between your back and the pack itself. It's supposed to help airflow and make you less sweaty. For me, it's purpose is to stop sweat soaking into the backpack, drying and giving off that a smell that could floor a man with a blocked nose from 100 paces.

Lights - see the separate thread going on at the moment.

matthewdunn

Thanks cjcp I will check wiggle out.

My budget for the bike is about £500ish

lost_in_thought

Welcome!!

I'd go for cheap and cheerful to start off with, look at Altura, their night vision stuff is good, and they also do a wide range of very reasonably priced kit, from panniers to undershorts!

I would also give up now on trying to waterproof your legs - waterproof trousers are sweaty and disgusting things, I started off with them and quickly went over to water resistant trousers like the Altura Winter Cruisers for really cold days, or wearing shorts in lycra or other quick-dry fabrics. Bib trousers are also good. If you're really keen on waterproofing, try rainlegs - i found them very handy for cycling with work clothes on.

As fo rthe lights, depends where you are really. Cateye are good, SMART superflash are good, there are also lots of threads on commuting lights.

For the rucksack, depends on how much you are planning to carry really, if it's serious weight I'd advise panniers for the good of your back, or if it's not then have a look at wiggle.co.uk and chainreactioncycles.com for some bargains. Get a 'hump' hi-vis cover, for waterproofing and visibility.

For the road bike, sizing is a big deal - get to a shop and get fitted. Other than that I'll let the experts convice you that £1000 is the minimum spend!

Me? I bought the cheapest one I could find in my size - that way if I hated it I hadn't lost too much - and I still haev it!

matthewdunn

Thanks for the links lost_in_thought will check them out.

The rucksack/backpack will have to big enough to get my pack up in and a change of clothes as I reckon I will need one by the time I get to work. I think 10 miles is probabbly to far to commute to work without a change of clothes what do you think?

matthewdunn

Also at the bottom of your posts you both have FCN what is this?

lost_in_thought

It's our 'Food Chain Number' ooooooooh you have a LOT of catching up to do - read the Silly Commuting Racing thread!!

10 miles is definitely too far to go without a change of clothes, and cycling in work clothes is a pain.

Kieran_Burns

I have a change of clothes and bits and bobs in my pack and swapped to panniers - and glad i did. You are a lot cooler by the time you get to work.

10 miles is too far without getting changed.

What facilities do you have at work and have you checked to see if your employers do the cycle to work scheme? You would save a fortune and be able to buy ALL your kit through it

R25 Flyer

Welcome.

If you can shower at work then you can take in a bulk supply of fresh clothing to change into. This will help keep the typical daily weight down. That said I still bring my lunch in my backpack so have a sweaty back by the time I get in.

For lights, packs, bikes there is a lot of good advice on some of the other threads.

Main advice is: Good decision to start. Just don't stop. It's addictive - again the threads will enlighten you as to how seriously some people take it! Keep smiling (especially when it's raining) at the people you pass. They'll think you're mad but you'll know different I can think of no better way to grab some quality thinking time.

Littigator

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I have a change of clothes and bits and bobs in my pack and swapped to panniers - and glad i did. You are a lot cooler by the time you get to work.

10 miles is too far without getting changed.

What facilities do you have at work and have you checked to see if your employers do the cycle to work scheme? You would save a fortune and be able to buy ALL your kit through it

There is no WAY panniers EVER involve the word 'cool'

On the questions raised, bin bags sellotaped to your legs for waterproofing. a carrier bag on the handlebars to carry stuff and spend EVERY remaining penny on your bike!

il_principe

matthewdunn wrote:

Also at the bottom of your posts you both have FCN what is this?

Welcome to our parlour...

Clever Pun

Also well done on starting to commute at the 'wrong time of year' it means you'll have less cyclists to worry about although having to contend with the dark

good luck and expect cars to do the stupid thing in front of you and you'll be ready should they actually take the dumb course of action

matthewdunn

Thanks for the advice so far.

R25 Flyer
I have access to a shower at work so was going to shower when i arrived at work. Plus the gym is around the corner and there is a shower there as well. I don't really want to leave my work clothes at work as not really anywhere suitable to leave them.


Kieran_Burns
OMG I've just checked out that cycle to work scheme looks like I will save a fortune if I can persuade them to sign up to it.

biondino

Matthew, I bet you'll not save a fortune, but spend the same and get twice as good a bike...

matthewdunn

hahha very true. Hopefully work will go for the scheme.

Clever Pun

matthewdunn wrote:

hahha very true. Hopefully work will go for the scheme.

you'll spend a grand get it tax free inc kit... enjoy

linsen

definitely agree with the whole get changed when you get there thing. When you read the thread on silly commuter racing and if you get addicted you will arrive to work in no fit state to glide gracefully to your desk / whiteboard / factory floor / (insert location of working activity here). And you will also doubtless spend all your days looking at this forum instead of working anyway ....

biondino

Linsen, how do teachers manage to spend all day on the forum? Do you give the kids some grammar to study, then flip open your laptop and try and hide the sniggering?

linsen

I wish. I am actually a dosser and don't work whole days

When I'm in class I am obviously giving it my all. But I only teach two lessons a day.

I decided more playtime was worth the paycut

Kieran_Burns

matthewdunn wrote:

Kieran_Burns
OMG I've just checked out that cycle to work scheme looks like I will save a fortune if I can persuade them to sign up to it.

Good luck with that mate - my work (who are a huge FTSE 100 company) won't due to people bailing on the Home Computer thing. You need to sell the whole fit and healthy work force / environmental impact (at least that utter tosh is good for something) angle

Just remember that your company owns the bike, so you will NEED full insurance for it and it won't be yours until fully paid back.

sem69

Definitely get some proper cycling gear (jersey, padded shorts, waterproof jacket, gloves). You don't have to spend much , though it is tempting! DHB at wiggle, altura, lusso, are all good value, and even Aldi do really cheap cycling clothing. (Anyone know if they still have any in stock?)

Consider panniers / rack pack / carradice saddlebag instead of a rucksack – better for your back.

As for the bike there's loads of which bike threads on here. For £500 have a look at the Specialzed Allez and the Giant SCR if you're after a road bike. Best to try out as many as you can.

Get Cycling Plus magazine for reviews of gear and bikes.

Enjoy!

girv73

13 miles might be a big ask if you've not cycled much before. Have you tried going that distance in an evening? Better than setting out on your first day and not making it!

I'll offer a tip for motivation: once you're into cycle commuting, any day you don't feel like cycling, take the bus/car/whatever. You'll soon realise once more why you take the bike

jjojjas

good move
For the record, I'm a true petrol head, big classic car fan with a long string of motors to my name......but if I was forced to choose I'd cycle...in fact, Just thought about it and I haven't drove a car to work for about 4 months (and I have a parking space!)

For me, its practical things that keep me getting on the bike instead of in a car in the morning.

Bike: I use a tourer as I like the lazy pace, comfort, panniers (carry lots of paperwork, computer, books, clothes, food) and its set up for year round riding with lights, spares and guards.
Accessories: a Lock, a good front light and two good rear lights...and two cheap flashing backups incase. a decent pump, minitool, patches and a spare tube.
Clothes: perhaps even more important than the bike (possibly?) Decent Jacket (2 year old yellow Gill keeps me seen and dry) selection of base layer tops a neck scarf/tube thing and a helmet with a light on the back does the top half....not forgetting GOOD gloves. Cold hands really puts you off. The bottom half is hummvee shorts, I wear padded shorts if I'm planning over 30 mile or so. Otherwise I stick with baggies. I can only do this with a particular saddle though, I have the same saddle on all my bikes. I carry water proof trousers in the pannier, only really put them on if its lashing down.

If I'm on the road bike I like glasses. 20mph on the road bike gets the eyes watering, 13mph on the tourer isn't as bad

Finally, ignore fashion If its really cold (as in minus) then I have been known to cycle in an old pair of jeans. I'm no different when I get to the end of the journey, except my legs are warmer.

Finally. If its snowing and you have a hangover/cold...just take the car/bus/whatever. Cycling isn't compulsory. But I promise once your sitting in the traffic you'll wish you were outside on your bike.
Enjoy.
Jas

Feltup

My top tip is make sure you can be seen. You forget when you are on a bike, because you can see so well, that drivers have lots of glass and metal around them that causes blind spots and impaired vision.

symo

Get an alpkit gourdon 30lire in Orange. It's bright, waterproof and has space for a bladder. Plenty of room for my laptop, shirt and lunch. On the days when I have to take more I have one of those setpost mounted racks. It only holds 7kg but that makes for a lot of stuff with my Gourdon.

For clothes I use RonHill tracksters and a waterproof fluro yellow top.

matthewdunn

Kieran_burns
Thanks for the advice i will try and sell it to them. No harm in trying.

Sem69
Do Aldi really sell cycling gear? I thought they sold food ? lol!!! Specialzed and Giant do look good bikes but will have to see as budget may change if I can convince work that the cycle to work scheme is good for them and me

girv73
13 miles shouldn't be to much a problem as I'm reasonably fit and got a old MTB that I've done similar distances on in the summer.

jjojas
Forgive me if this is obvious but why do i need two rear lights? Is one a spare?

symo
Whats a setpost mounted racks? Can't seem to find one.


Guys do you think i should get a helmet and if so is there any make that is better than others ?

Thanks

tailwindhome

matthewdunn wrote:

Guys do you think i should get a helmet and if so is there any make that is better than others ?

Thanks

Like yourselve Matthew I am new to the forum, but best not ask the helmet question as it seems to get people all worked up.

As does any mention any mention of Lance Armstrong on the Racing forums

biondino

Personally I would get a helmet, though please be aware that it is not guaranteed to save your life in a serious accident or at high speed and, in a small number of cases, might be linked with increased risk of rotational brain injury.

I have two rear lights so I can have one flashing and one on steady. The spare factor is important too of course.

Feltup

If you go down the helmet route buy one that fits is the only advice I would give. The more expensive the helmet generally the lighter and better ventilated it is.

p.s. I never used to ride with one but now do for two reasons

1) it keeps friends and family happy for some reason
2) on fast descents I figure it might just help if I got a blow out

I don't notice I am wearing it anymore.

linsen

aah the great helmet debate rears its ugly head once again.

I wear one. It helps when your head hits the ground. It won't help when a lorry hits you. I mostly wear one to set a good example to the children, who often tumble off. That is the kind of thing a helmet is good for.

Oh, and they are of course an ubercool fashion statement. We are leaders, not followers - in so many respects