My top 10 bike commuting tips are probably pretty basic.
- Have your bike checked and ready to go the morning before you leave.
- Always pack a spare tube and mini pump. A bike multi-tool is nice to have too in cases of problems.
- Bring a full bottle of ice water and stay hydrated. For longer commutes and/or really hot days, I’ll pack two full bottles.
- Leave early. Depending on your level of rest, weather, temperature, wind, air quality, etc, commute times will vary. Also, a little extra time buffer allows for a break or repair if needed.
- Bring a change of clothes, shoes, towel, deodorant, etc to the office a day or more ahead of the ride. It’s a real drag to haul a backpack on a long commute.
- Buy and carry a prepaid bus/transit pass. You can often buy a 5 or 10 ride pass for cheap. If you run into issues, often times you can easily cut over a few blocks to a transit route.
- Avoid major arteries (heavy-traffic roads) whenever possible. It’s not just the cars but also the poor air quality which is worth avoiding.
- Don’t eat a heavy breakfast. As with any workout, you’ll probably do best to eat somewhat light before heading out. I often eat a banana or granola bar and down a glass of water while prepping for my. I almost always pack an extra granola bar for as needed.
- Always check the weather. You can readily purchase really small and light rain ponchos which strap easily to a bike frame.
- It may sound a little ghetto but if you see a good, even well worn, solid leather belt at a second-hand store, grab it. They’re great as straps for securing things to a bike frame.
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