Cycling to work is a great way to exercise and save both time and money. Commuting by bike can seem daunting the first time, so here are our top tips to make your journey as easy as possible:
Make sure your bike is ready
If you haven’t used your bike in a while you should check it over a couple of days before you plan to use it:
- Give the bike a clean and check for cracks of signs of damage in the frame
- Inflate both tyres – flat tyres don’t always mean a puncture, pump them up and see if they hold air overnight
- Spin both wheels to check they rotate freely without any wobbling or rubbing on the brakes
- Check both sets of brakes work. Test by holding the brakes and the opposite wheel should lift off the ground
- Head out for a short ride to check all the gears are working smoothly
If you have any concerns about your bike, we can take a look to make sure everything is in working order.
Clothing and staying fresh
- For shorter commutes you may be happy to cycle in your work clothes, for longer journeys just make sure you are comfortable, protected from the Great British weather and there is no risk of clothing getting caught in the chain.
- If you have colourful or hi-vis clothing wear them to make you more visible to other road users.
- If your office has a shower, you may want to keep a bag with towel and shower essentials at work. Alternatively use cleansing wipes and deodorant to freshen up with.
- Don’t forget to pack your work clothes!
Plan your route
- It’s always best to research the best route to work and to do a trial ride on the week to see how long it takes and if there are cycle paths you can use. If you’re stuck we can help you plan your route – drop us email at hello@cyclehub.org.uk
- It’s also best to check that there is somewhere secure you can leave your bike at while at work. Don’t forget you don’t have to cycle the whole distance, you can always cycle part of the route and the jump on a bus or train.
Stay safe
- Wear a helmet
- Be aware of a driver’s blind spot, especially trucks and buses. It’s often safer to hang back
- Pay attention and be aware of what other road users might do
- Obey traffic rules – don’t break red light, signal clearly to turn left or right, use lights when it is dark
- Ride in a straight line past parked cars, rather than dodge between them
And finally…
Keep it going! It may take a little while to get used to, but once you start commuting by bike you may find yourself wanting to cycle more often!