Bike Commuting For Beginners

Everything You Need To Know About Bike Commuting For Beginners

Bike commuting is going to become a much larger part of how the world gets to work, especially Americans. The high price of fuel in terms of money as well as impact on the environment will eventually cause more and more people to ditch their inefficient automobiles for clean, natural human powered transportation.

With this great shift in transportation will come a deep need for high quality and reliable information about commuting by bike. At first glance it can be intimidating for someone just starting out with bicycling to think about riding on roads next to hundreds of pounds of speeding aluminum (cars). A simple tumble in the wrong direction or a unobservant driver could spell disaster for the bike rider. I mean people have died while riding to work. Knowing proper bike safety is very important for beginners.

Still others have concerns about their cycling equipment. Will their bike be "good enough" to get them to work quickly, comfortably, and safely? Those that do not have a bike yet want to know what it is the most efficient way of getting into bike commuting - should they buy new or used? What type of extra equipment do they need?

In this article I hope to address both of these concerns and explain how a beginner should approach bike safety as well as how they could go about getting their equipment.

Bike Safety For Beginners

Bike safety should be the very first concern of those just starting out with bike commuting. No amount of positive impact to your wallet or the environment is going to be worth it if you lie dead on the side of the road because you did something stupid. Your family will mourn you, your friends will miss you, and you could be deterring someone from getting on a bike and taking your place. All of these are bad and should be avoided!

Here are some safety tips that you should definitely follow:

1. Wear a helmet. It is not okay to ride around without a helmet on. It is probably legal to not wear a helmet while riding your bike (if you are over 16 that is), but just because it is legal does not mean that it is okay. The human skull is sturdy, but the gray matter on the inside isn't - anything that can help soften the blow done to your brain by a fall or a collision is going to be worth any hassle that you have to go through in wearing one.
   
2. A bicycle is a vehicle, treat is like one. This means that you should follow all traffic laws and posted signs. Stop at stop lights and stop signs (even if no one appears to be around!). Getting T-boned is a completely different experience in on a bike than in a car. You do not want to get T-boned! You also want to clearly signal what you are doing and where you are going just like you would if you were driving a car. Those around you need to know what you are doing.
3. Let yourself be seen. Making yourself as big and visible as you can is pretty important, especially when conditions are less than ideal. Wear bright colors during the day to make sure people will notice you. If you look like a complete dork then all the better for your safety. People will look and say, "What a dorky bike commuter!" But at least they will look. At night be sure to use lights on both the front and back of your bike. I use a flashing red light on the rear and a bright, light on the front. These are also important in rainy conditions as well.
   
4. Make your presence known. Make eye contact with other drivers when trying to switch lanes or when you come up to a busy four-way stop. Make sure that you know that they know that you are there. Another important part of this is making sure that you ride on the correct side of the road. This means ALWAYS ride with traffic and never against traffic. You will also need to look behind you before you make a turn or lane change in addition to signaling with your hands (like you learned for your driving test). This will help alert drivers around you of what you are up to and make you more visible.
5. Be prepared for your route. Make sure that you plan a quick and safe route. Very busy streets or places that have high speeds ought to be avoided when possible. Also, if you make sure that there is a bike path available on all your routes it will make your ride that much safer.
   
6. Let your ears listen to the road. Headphones can be nice for helping pass the time, especially if you have a long commute, but they do create a safety concern which I would rather avoid. They can really limit your ability to hear things in traffic - and I want to know about the trailer truck coming up behind me if you know what I mean. They also hinder your ability to hear the sound of emergency vehicles or scretching tires - both things you are going to want to know about!
7. Take the lane where appropriate. Flying past a bunch of cars stopped at a stop light is a great feeling, but when you are turning left it really is much more appropriate to act like a car and take the lane than it is to ride up along the left hand turners waiting in traffic. It will make things safer for you and them. Another instance where taking the lane is a good idea is when there is an insufficient shoulder or bike lane to support you and you are getting pushed off the side of the road by drivers passing you on your left. Your safety demands that you get in the middle of the lane and let the drivers fume.
8. Get off the road when appropriate. With the above said, it can also be safest to get off the road and let traffic get past. You want to be considerate as well as safe.
   
9. Watch for opening doors and people. Parked cars can sometimes be your worst enemy. A door opened at the wrong time can destroy you bike and your body in one fell swoop. To avoid this type of "person collision" keep your eyes open for people inside cars and along the side of the road by looking into car windows and otherwise being observant.
10. Watch out for the sun. It can be really bright commuting if you are riding into a rising or setting sun. Be careful that you don't get knocked off course because you can't see. Also, if you can't see, what do you think is happening to the motorists behind you? Take sun safety seriously, but this one is often not a problem for most bike commuters.
11. Be vocal, be heard. Using a bell or horn can be useful for alerting people on a bike path that you are there and coming up behind them. Always pass on the left. Yelling is much more effective when traveling on the streets. So is a hearty slap on the body of a vehicle. You will scare the crap out of a motorist who is trying to cut you off by giving the side of his car a good whack - getting his attention and saving you some pain.
12. Error on the side of caution. When coming up to a stop light or need to change lanes always error on the side of caution. Don't go if you think you might run a red light or cut someone off.
    

If you follow these 12 basic safety tips you should have a pretty safe ride when bike commuting. Just remember that there are three common scenarios that lead to car-bicycle collisions and each is easily avoided by following the above steps:

1. A driver turns left in front of an on-coming cyclist who is going straight through an intersection
2. The driver doesn’t stop at a stop sign
3. Driver passes a cyclist and turns right, directly across their path.

Remember when bike commuting that safety comes first, speed second.

Bike Equipment For Beginners

Now that we have the safety talk out of the way we can turn our attention to bike equipment. Getting this right is a good thing because it can save you money and time - both of which we have in short supply.

The Commuter Bike
Getting a good bike is important. For most commuters who travel on the roads you are going to want to get a road bike. This type of bike has a thinner tire, generally lighter frame, and better spin than a mountain bike. Depending on your financial resources I would recommend going with the best bike that you can afford. This will prevent you from having upgrade fever later on and will give you smooth comfortable ride. Bikes that cost $2,000 should be good enough to last you your entire life and will give you plenty of speed to cut down your commuting time.

When I started bike commuting I did not have that type of money. Instead, I bought a used road bike on craiglist for $160. It is old (maybe 20-30 years), but it gets me where I want to go. I may end up getting a newer, better bike in the future - but right now it works great for my budget and commuting needs.

When going the used route make sure that you get the right sized bike. The wrong sized bike can mean more discomfort on the saddle and more discomfort means you will like your commute less. There are plenty of bike fitting guides out on the internet so avail yourself of them and find out which one makes the most sense for you.

Bike Commuting Seat
One of the big issues with my used bike was that the seat was painfully uncomfortable. It ws so hard that it felt like my sit bones got bruised everytime I made the 11 mile ride from work to home. I didn't like sitting on it and it made me not want to ride my bike to commute.

Luckily, I have a really nice brother who bought me a very comfotable seat for about $40. I have not had any soreness since and I am still able to ride well.

The one thing that you want to look for in seat is comfort. However, road bike seats are designed with a little bit of discomfort in mind. They are meant to be narrow and not to be a seat per se as much as a place to support your backside while you pedal. Your action on the pedals keep your bottom up and the seat just helps in the process. Avoid wide bike seats as these reduce pedaling efficiency.

Bike Commuting Tires
When I first started out I thought Walmart and Sears were good bike shops. I bought tires there and pumps. They all sucked. I don't use any of the things that I bought there and they were a complete waste of money.

I prefer Specialized Armadillo tires. These things are sturdy and last a long time. My two tires set me back $100, but if they last all year (around 3000 miles) they will be well worth the expense. I was previously going through a $25 tire in 2 months which would end up costing me $150 in a year. So I am saving by going with the better, sturdier tire.

The problem with the Armadillo tires is that the don't roll as well as some other tires and give a little rougher ride, but I like them so far after a month of use and would recommend it to those that need strong, sturdy tires. What you need to look for in your tires is thorn protection and sturdiness.

Bike Commuting Pedals
Clipless pedals are by far the most efficient way to cycle. Clipless pedals let your foot clip into the pedal so that you can get power from your legs in the entire 360 degree motion. This is huge for getting to work quickly and efficiently. It is also a safer ride once you are used to clicking in and out of your pedals.

The reason it is safer is because it lets you get more power quicker when you need to quickly sprint to change lanes or avoid a thoughtless driver. It also prevents slipping feet when the weather is wet.

Bike Commuting Lights
These need to be bright and useful. Your local bike shop will know what works best so consult them. I only got lights when I absolutely needed them so if you only commute in the summer you may want to skip getting lights all together. Only get what you need if you ask me.

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Bike commuting is fun, safe, and environmentally friendly activity. Those that are just beginning should not feel intimidated by any aspect of the commuting process - whether it be buying a road bike or learning how to change lanes on a bike. Bike commuting is for beginners too!

My Bike Commuting Journey

My bike commuting journey started in August of 2008. No check that, it began in January of 2008 when my wife's 1985 Volvo XLS died on us - a thick smelly smoke emanating from under the hood. It was in January that I gave up my 1995 Toyota Corolla so that my wife could get to work. It was in January that I started to ride the bus.

You see, my bike commuting journey began when I gave up my car - not when I started riding my bike to work.

After my wife's car died I rode the bus for the next 8 months, making the slow, winding journey that metropolitan buses take their passengers on toward my place of employment. Buses can smell. Buses can be crowded. I get dizzy when I read in a moving vehicle. There are a lot of crazy people who ride the bus. And worst of all, riding the bus took about an hour and half to get to my destination.

This was mainly due to the fact that I had to walk about 1 mile from the nearest bus stop to my office. Walking a mile can take about 20 minutes and when you add that on top of a hour long bus ride the daily commute begins to wear on you.

Sure, it was cheap and it got me where I needed to go, but it took so long and got really boring despite my learning how to read in moving vehicles.

After a few months of this, I began to notice on my mile long walk bikers speeding past me. Their effortless pedaling taunted me. Their speed dazed me. I had to become one of them. One of the bike commuters.

There was one man in particular who stood out me among the many cyclists. I would see him almost everyday - a man probably in his mid-40s to mid-50s. He wears one of those fluorescent yellow windbreakers that makes him both more visible to the driving public and keeps him warm as he rides. His shorts were appropriate (i.e. did not show off the curves of his butt or the shape of his manhood).

But the thing that really shocked me was how old he was for how fit he looked. He was thin, but solid and his legs looked like they didn't have an ounce of fat on them. Surely this was a man who had been riding for a while.

This man inspired me to get into bike commuting so that I could get back into shape.

Getting Fit With Bike Commuting
Getting fit again was probably the greatest single factor in getting me to bike commute. In high school and college I was heavily involved in athletics. In high school my sports were Wrestling and Football. I even earned an Athlete of the Year award my senior year (though I undoubtedly didn't deserve it). I like being active and I loved competition.

In college I continued my Wrestling career. Wrestling is a very physically demanding sport, requiring both strong muscles and extreme endurance. I don't share this to brag but to just get the point across that I was in pretty decent shape.

Well, like most ex-athletes, I lost a lot of my physical fitness after leaving the world of competitive sports. I didn't get fat - I lost about 20 pounds (mostly muscle mass) and almost all of my cardiovascular strength.

In considering bike commuting as an option for me I felt like it would be a great way to get back into shape. I could regain some of that cardiovascular strength I once had and maybe rebuild some of my muscle mass as well (if only in my legs). I also decided that bike commuting would work for me because it was something new and challenging and I missed having new challenges that pushed my physical and mental limits.

I remember several of my early rides thinking that I couldn't wait until my commute was easy! I used to hate dipping into the canyons that my commute takes me on because though the descent was nice on the legs the climb out was miserable. The sun was hot, my legs were burning, my seat was hard, my chest was screaming. Those early days really pushed me physically and mentally and I am really glad that they did.

Saving Money With Bike Commuting
Another one of the big factors that prompted me to begin commuting by bicycle was that I believed it was going to save me money. The difference in pure costs between commuting by bike and by car is about $150 per month (not taking into consideration time elements) according to some recent calculations I did. That means that in the course of 1 year I am saving around $1800 on the cost of getting to and from work. That is like giving myself and $1800 raise. This was huge.

But I have to admit, I think that my calculations were very conservative when considering the lifetime costs of driving as compared to bike commuting. Think of all the good the exercise is doing my heart, lungs, muscles, and bone structure. This could be saving me thousands of dollars in long-term care as I get into my 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Help the Environment with Bike Commuting
I am not especially environmentally conscious, but I do recognize that by cycling in to my place of employment I am reducing the amount of resources that I am responsible for consuming. I am making all car commuters trip a little bit more efficient (one less car on the road).

I even try to consume as little water as possible before, after, and during my commute. I only shower once a day (after my ride into work) and that shower only uses about 1.5 - 2.5 minutes of water. I drink water sparingly on my rides and when I get home from work. I certainly don't let myself get dehydrated, but I don't over consume either.

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My bike commuting journey began by giving up my car and eventually turned into my way of increasing my fitness level, saving money, and helping the environment. I now wake up excited to go into work (well, not really - it is still hard to leave my wife and son, but I like it better than driving!). I hope to share more about some of the important things I've learned so far in my journey. Wish me luck!