Choosing your cycle route

Even when facilities are provided, some cyclists prefer not to have to change their clothes when they get to work. Sometimes it’s just not practical. For example, if you have to attend a morning meeting at an office just a few blocks away from your workplace and decide to cycle straight there, you will want to be able to walk from the cycle rack to the meeting room without making any adjustments other than putting your cycle helmet in your backpack or cycle carrier. Even if you rarely attend meetings away from the office, you may still not want the bother of having to change your clothes when you arrive at your destination. One of the tricks to arriving feeling fresh and looking professional, is to make your ride in as effortless as possible. While what you wear is important, how you get there is too. Take the easiest route you know. This isn’t necessarily the shortest route, but often the one with the flattest terrain. Some of the most stylish cyclists in the world can be found in Amsterdam. It’s very rare that you see anyone riding in Lycra in the cycling capital of the world. These commuters cycle in their everyday business attire. And they’re able to arrive at work looking polished because they don’t ride up hills (admittedly, they’re lucky enough to live in a city that’s very flat). So do as the commuters in Amsterdam do and cycle leisurely if you want a perspiration-free commute to work.

Another trick to arriving at work looking as though you’ve done little more than ride the elevator to your desk is to equip your bike with a device of some sort to enable you to carry what you need on your bike rather than on your person. This is especially important if you want a crease-free shirt; there’s nothing that’s going to ruin a freshly ironed shirt quicker than a heavy backpack thrown on top of it. A basket on the front of your bike will work but whatever you put in it may not be that secure (it’s likely to jump out should you ride over any bumps). Furthermore, a basket doesn’t provide any protection from the rain (unless it’s covered), and it’s a difficult look to carry off unless you’re an elderly spinster cycling in 1940s England. A much better option is to get a simple rack fitted to the back of your bike and fix carriers (panniers) to it. You can get one or two depending on how much you need to transport. If you’re going to be carrying a lot of items, it’s probably best to get two to even up the load (a bike can be difficult to manage, not to mention a little dangerous to ride, if there’s a considerable weight on only one side of it). These carriers can be easily and quickly lifted off and carried around with you. They come in various shapes and sizes, some of which are very smart looking and similar in design to a brief case. A good quality carrier will be made from durable, waterproof material and have some sort of reflective device fitted to it to help other road users see you in the dark.

As for clothing, wear multiple layers of loose-fitting items which you can take off and put back on depending on how warm or cool you get. If you’re wearing pants, use cycle clips to prevent the hems getting covered in grease or caught in your cycle chain. Make sure no item of clothing is flapping about as you cycle (e.g. an unzipped jacket), because if any part of it gets caught by another vehicle, the consequences might not be too good.

Read more: Necessities for your cycle commute

Work facilities for the cycling commuter

Before you start mapping out your cycle route, find out what facilities your employer offers in the way of showers and change areas. If you’re going to be cycling only a very short distance, and will have a relatively leisurely commute to work, then you probably won’t need much in the way of change facilities – you’ll be able to just park your bike and walk to your desk fresh as a daisy. However, if you don’t want to cycle in your workplace clothes, then you will need at least somewhere to change. While it’s easy to change in the washroom, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to keep your cycling clothes in there, which means that you’ll have to pack them up and take them with you to your desk. It’s much more convenient if there’s a change area where you can safely leave your clothes ready for when you change back into them for the return ride home.

Some employers are a little more enlightened than others and encourage their employees to use environmentally friendly modes of transport for commuting, such as cycling, and to this end offer their employees full facilities, which usually include a change area, and showers. This makes life very easy for the cycling commuter as she can shower once at work after her ride in, thereby not only saving her blouse from getting all sweaty and creased, but also saving on her household water bill.

As an aside, if there are no showering facilities where you work, you might want to draw your employer’s attention to the importance, and benefits, of encouraging employees to leave their cars at home and take alternative modes of transport to work. One way an employer can do this is by offering adequate facilities (e.g. showers and change areas for those people who wish to cycle, run, or even walk). The very least an employer can do for those members of the workforce who wish to cycle is to provide a safe and protected area in which to store bicycles. It’s difficult for an employer to refuse such a request given the need to reduce our collective carbon footprint, which we can do by using less motorized transport. Not only that, but any employer worth their salt will recognize that healthy employees (those that exercise for example) tend to have fewer days off work because of illness. Furthermore, if there’s limited car parking at your workplace, then this is yet another good reason for your organization to offer its workforce cycling facilities.

Read more: planning your route

Benefits of a cycle commute

• You will get fitter.
• You will lose weight (providing you don’t increase your current calorie intake).
• You will be doing your bit to help protect the planet, and, as a result, feel less guilty when you use your car.
• You will be able to avoid all the inconveniences your fellow motoring colleagues will have to deal with. For example, there’s every probability that when there’s a major incident on the roads in the vicinity of your workplace, and everyone’s arriving at work late, you won’t be affected (you can always get off your bike and wheel it past the difficult spots).
• You could very well inspire your colleagues to start cycling to work, which is a great feeling.

These are just a few of the many benefits of cycling to work. Once you give it ago, you are bound to find more. And when you see others following in your footsteps (or tire tracks), you might not be so bothered about the small grease stain on your pants or the few creases in your shirt. You’ll want to wear those badges of honor with pride!

Cycle commute necessities

A helmet should conform to current safety standards, be light in weight, and provide adequate ventilation.

If you’re commuting in winter, then you will almost certainly need lights. Again, lights should conform to current safety standards and be fit for purpose. For example, if your cycle route is mainly off road (along unlit trails), then choose a light that’s designed for cycling in such conditions and not one that’s designed for road cycling (the former will help you see where you’re going, while the latter will help you be seen by others). If in doubt, go to a reputable cycle store and ask for advice.

Make sure your bike is fitted with fenders (mudguards) if you’re not changing your clothes once you get to work. A rear fender will help keep your back free of grime when cycling in wet conditions.

And if you’re still not entirely convinced, consider the benefits…