Bike To Work Month: Let's Get Ready

Now that it is April, I would like to tell you about Bike-to-Work Month. The month of May is National Bike Month and what better way to celebrate than by challenging yourself to ride. Even if your challenge is only to ride on Bike-to-Work Day, which this year is Friday, May 16th, that is better than not riding at all.

Whether you are a regular bike commuter or you cannot remember the last time you were on a bike -- keep calm, do not panic -- there are several ways to challenge yourself. We know the time frame; one month to prepare and one month for the challenge. So let us talk about how to get ready.

Equipment
Yes, you will need a bike and a helmet. I would also recommend flashing front and rear lights for safety.

Are there other components to buy in order to commute? Sure there are - Fenders, neon jacket, bike rack and panniers, clip-on bike shoes and their pedals. Should you buy them? Some of them are definitely smart purchases, but you do not necessarily need them.

Commute Route
Most of us are used to getting around in cars so we just go with the fastest or the most direct route, and never really think about anything else. You could do the same with your bike commute but you might want to think about yourself and the type of commuter you are, or would be.

So consider the following to get the utmost enjoyment out of your ride. How much time do you have to get to work? Does your route include hills? Are you fine with going up those hills? How much traffic are you sharing the rode with; Do you feel safe and comfortable? Will you wear your work clothes or change at the office?

Friends
There is hardly a situation when friends are not part of the mix, and for good reason. Friends help each other out and while they cannot physically put you on a bike and push the pedals, they will support you if you ask. Ask a friend that has been bike commuting for a while for tips. Or, is there a coworker that lives near you; Maybe you can ride together for part of the route. A friend might even be able to help get you started with some essential items.

For instance, my husband was the first of us to try bike commuting and bought the equipment (padded gloves, panniers, etc.) but for his own reasons he stopped. So when I started commuting I asked him if I could use his stuff and that saved me from having to buy my own gloves and panniers.

Still Not Sure You Are Ready to Bike to Work?    Here's an example of my set-up.
Equipment:
1) Kona commuter bike.
2) Helmet.
3) Bike rack for panniers on back wheel. - I started out with a Timbuk2 bag but switched to panniers when my commute had me leaving home before 7:00 a.m. and arriving by 7:00 p.m, which meant I was packing clothes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
4) Rear flashing lights; back of helmet and on bike rack.
5) Front lights; one flashing for being noticed the other is a spot light for seeing in the dark. - The spot light are for those short winter days when it gets dark before I leave from work.
5) Clip-on bike shoes and pedals. - I got these because they make going up hills easier and I do not have worry about my feet slipping off the pedals on really rainy days. 

Jeff & I helping on Bike-to-School day.

6) Neon yellow bike jacket.
7) Bike clothes; jersey, shorts, tights.
8) Bike lock.
9) Mirror attached to helmet. - This I bought when I first got my bike because the bike shop recommended it. I took it off recently for a triathlon and forgot to put it back on on Monday, it was strange and a bit unnerving not being able to see the traffic coming up behind you.

Commute Route:
My commute takes me 15 minutes and while it may be short, I do have two hills on my route. I do not bike in my work clothes because the combination of the hills and always being short on time tend to leave me sweaty. Then there is our Pacific Northwest rainy weather. I would be miserable working in wet clothes if I failed to predict the weather for my morning ride.

While I do not have to deal with city traffic anymore, I did when I first started biking to work as I was employed at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. Not having biked since I was in grade school I was definitely unsure of myself. However, I felt safe enough to try it because I spent a couple of months observing the bike commuters along my route. I noticed that they boarded the ferry via the car ramp, how they moved with and through traffic, and how they communicated with each other, pedestrians, and motor-vehicles. My first time, all I really did was follow other bikers.

Hopefully now, after discussing the equipment you would use, the commute route you might take, and seeking advice from friends, you are ready to bike-to-work. If you would really like celebrate bike-to-work month, Seattle's Cascade Bicycle Club puts on a commute challenge where you can participate as a group through your work or an individual rider. And, if you need someone to test ride your route with, I would be happy to help. Just let me know.

Happy Riding!