If I Can Do It, ANYBODY Can Do It
Oct 24 '05 (Updated Jan 11 '06)
The Bottom Line This is an alternative whose time has come. It’s not that tough and it’s worth considering. Check it out!
Why Do it?
There are plenty of good reasons for commuting by bicycle if you are able. Depending on your interests, some of these will be more compelling than others.
1. Environmentally friendly, as compared to driving, since you are burning calories as opposed to fossil fuel.
2. Gas prices have moderated in my area to $2.60 a gallon after cresting over $3.00. However, depending on what you spend on bicycle equipment, you may not be able to save all that much if you keep your car.
3. It’s healthy and has exercise value.
4. It can be a lot of fun. I have a route that works well for me, and I occasionally see a deer or two when riding to and from an office.
How I did it
I’ve been doing it on casual Fridays, off and on, from late Spring to mid-Fall since the spring of 2004. The commute is 10 miles each way. I got the idea during my longer weekend rides, which can get up to 20-25 miles. I figured if I could do that, then commuting was a possibility. Once I was open to the idea, I worked through the following issues:
1. Equipment
Obviously, you start with a bike in good operating condition and various safety and protective equipment, including a helmet, horn or bell, rear view mirror, padded seat cover, cycling shorts with padding, and gloves. I wear sunglasses that provide coverage for the sides of my eyes as well as the front. You should have a light if you are going to ride at night. Most people recommend carrying a hand pump and inner tube to fix a flat. I just can’t fix a flat and I’ve tried often enough, so my cell phone is there to call for help if I have a flat. Unless you can leave your bike inside your office, then a lock is necessary, and, of course, a water bottle. I take my clothes for changing in a backpack. I also have a bicycle computer and heart rate monitor that I use to record and evaluate my activity. I also have a small seat bag for the cell phone and other small items.
2. The Route
This is key. Depending on where you are headed, there could be a lot of vehicular traffic. I choose a route that minimizes the amount of traffic I have to deal with. Fortunately, about half of the ride is on a park district trail, where there is no vehicular traffic. The rest of the route is primarily residential streets.
These have their own issues, though. Bike trails through parks don’t have street sweepers. A wet pile of leaves could lead to a wipe out.
I’ve also noticed that the busses around here have space in front to hold bicycles. So, using a bike, with public transportation is an alternative depending on where you are going.
3. Concentration
Even with bike trails for half, I find concentration is key because there are more hazards than in a recreational ride. There are more vehicles around during morning drive. Once of the communities I travel through has garbage pickup on Friday, so the sidewalk can be an obstacle course in a short stretch where the street is just not a good alternative. Train crossings and traffic lights go across my route. Sure, I know they are there but the focus necessary on a commute is much more.
4. Getting Ready To Work
Unlike an exercise ride, the commuting has to get to you to work in time to be ready to work. So, the first thing you have to worry about is getting there with time to change before you start work. Then, there is hygiene. Some offices have showers, mine doesn’t. I deal with this two ways: First, I don’t kill myself out there, the way I do on hard exercise rides. I work toward a steady pace and try to maintain it. Not only does that get me through each way in a reasonable amount of time, but I’m not exhausted once I arrive. Second, I carry a change of clothes in my backpack and I clean up first using soap, a washcloth, a towel and baby wipes.
I usually spend a couple of minutes cooling down in my cubicle then head to the rest room to spruce up.
I haven’t considered using the bike on days I have to wear a business suit. I don’t have room to store clothes at the office.
5. Getting Home
It’s easy for me. I go back the way I came at a steady but not exhausting pace. I’m usually pretty tired for the trip home, but it’s slightly downhill and usually with the prevailing winds.
6. Other considerations
Weather is important. Bicycling on wet pavement can be hazardous, bicycling on icy pavement is. Bicycling in a thunderstorm can get you killed by lightning. The good news is that, with enough hydration, it’s not that tough to ride in very hot conditions because of the wind resistance. The bad news is that the wind is your enemy in colder weather because it makes the temperature feel a lot colder than it really is. This means that layering is necessary in colder weather. I also use full-finger liner gloves under my regular gloves and a neck gaitor (neck warmer) or balaclava depending on how cold it is. Once November rolls around, there is much less light and it’s much too cold to commute for me, living in suburban Chicago. The timing of sunrise and sunset can be a concern.
Lunch I usually bring my lunch. There’s not much room in the backpack and it would be difficult to keep it cold during the summer. I generally bring my lunch, along with some extra water bottles on the day before.
I’m not in tremendous shape, nor particularly athletic, nor particularly young. If I can do it, anybody can.
Thanks for reading. God bless!
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