Our Top Tips For Cycling To Work
11 June 2018
This week (9 – 17 June 2018) is Bike Week, a week dedicated to encouraging everyone to get out on their bike and enjoying the benefits of cycling. As part of Bike Week, which is delivered by Cycling UK, there are lots of events taking place around the country. You can join an organised ride in your local area, attend a bike clinic so you know how to repair and maintain your two wheels, or raise money for charity by taking part in a cycle challenge.
However, the main aim of the week is to make cycling an everyday activity, and what better way to do this than to cycle to work? In fact, many employers are hosting Bike Breakfasts during the week, rewarding those who cycle to work with breakfast when they arrive.
If you’ve been thinking about cycling to work, why not let Bike Week spur you on to take action and start your new commute? Here we share our top tips for cycling to work.
7 Tips For Cycling To Work
1. Make sure your bike is roadworthy
The first step is to check that your bike is fit for purpose. Many bike shops will give your bike the once over, and there are also ‘Dr Bike’ clinics being hosted around the country as part of Bike Week. If you haven’t got a bike or yours is not up to the job, your employer may offer a cycle to work scheme to help you get a roadworthy bike.
Before getting a new bike, consider what it needs to do. You could be riding it in all weathers, all through the year, and over time it will clock up a lot miles. So choose a bike that is low maintenance and suitable for a variety of conditions, a bike shop like Evans Cycles will be able to advise you on what’s best for you.
2. Get the right kit
A well fitting cycle helmet is essential, and so are lights and suitable high-vis clothing. You’ll also need a bike lock to keep it safe while you’re at work; make sure you lock both the frame and the wheels (if they are quick release). A backpack for carrying your work clothes, devices and other commuting baggage is practical, although you may want to consider panniers if you carry a lot of heavy kit.
If your bike isn’t fitted with mudguards consider fitting these too, as they’ll help protect you and your clothing from mud and road spray. A small wash kit for getting cleaned up is also a good idea; and you may want to keep your work footwear at work so you don’t spend the day in your trainers or cycling shoes.
3. Learn to ride with confidence
If you have a busy commute with lots of other road users it’s really important to learn to be assertive and confident when you ride. By doing so people will see you and keep a safe distance. Don’t hug the kerb as drivers may try to pass you in tight conditions, and you may also hit roadside storm drains and potholes that could cause you to swerve or come off.
Also make sure you’re confident indicating with your arms, and can look behind you without swerving. Never cycle up the inside (left hand side) of slow or stationary traffic and be very careful when vehicles – particularly lorries – are turning left, they may not see you.
If you don’t feel confident or perhaps you haven’t ridden a bike before, Bikeability offer courses for adults.
4. Build up gradually
Don’t go all out if you have a long commute. If you’re not used to cycling regularly you need to build up gradually, otherwise you may get put off altogether. Initially you may find that cycling a shorter distance to a station where you can lock up your bike and carry on with your journey on the train is a good option. Perhaps you can then extend your cycle route week by week.
You could even hitch a lift to work with your bike (perhaps a colleague can help) and then cycle home at the end of the day. Or cycle to work on one day and leave your bike overnight to cycle home the following. Or you could alternate cycling every other day until you feel fit enough to cycle to work day in day out.
5. Try out different routes at the weekend
You may find that some routes are more hard work going in one direction than the other. For example, going down a hill on the way to work is great but not so fun when you’re coming home after a long day. There may be a different route that is easier for your return journey. You will also get an idea of how long your journey is, whether there are cycle lanes or bike routes you can take, and how much traffic you’re likely to encounter.
6. Learn how to change a flat tyre
If you become a regular cycling commuter then at some point you will need to change a flat tyre. Practice how to do it so that you can get going quickly again, and always carry a spare inner tube, pump and repair kit.
7. Carry a mobile phone and let people know what route you plan to take
Most of us carry a mobile phone with us every day anyway, but in the event of an incident it becomes an important way to let others know what has happened to you. Hopefully you will only need to use it to give work a heads up that you may be late while you change a flat tyre. Also let people know what your route to and from work is. That way if you don’t turn up and they can’t reach you, they know where to look.
If this as inspired you to start cycling to work and you need the wheels to do it on, find out here whether your employer runs a cycle to work scheme.