Make the ride easy to repeat
A daily commute lives or dies on how little effort it takes to start. If getting out the door requires hunting for a missing glove, pumping a soft tyre and deciding which route to take, you will sometimes choose the car or the train instead. The most useful “tricks” for commuters are not about handling at all. They are routines that remove small obstacles.
Everything here is general information. Adjust it to your own journey, your workplace facilities and your local rules.
Pack the night before
Evening is when you have time to think. Morning is when you do not. A short checklist the night before saves a surprising amount of stress:
- Put your work clothes, shoes and lunch in the bag you will carry or in the panniers.
- Charge your lights and phone, and put them where you will see them.
- Lay out cycling clothing suited to the forecast.
- Check that your bike is ready to ride, with the tyres firm and the lock where it belongs.
Keeping duplicates of a few items at work, such as a spare shirt, shoes and a towel, means you carry less each day. If you do carry a load, a rack with panniers generally keeps the weight low and off your back, which many riders find more comfortable than a heavy backpack. Heavier loads change how the bike handles, so allow extra braking distance when the bag is full.
Stick to a consistent route
A route you know well is quicker mentally even when it is not shorter on the map. You know where the potholes are, which junctions have long waits and where drivers tend to cut corners. Because you do not have to think about navigation, you can spend your attention on traffic.
It is still worth having a plan B. Roadworks, closures and weather can change things, so know one alternative that you have ridden before. If you like to experiment, try a new variation on a weekend rather than on a morning when you have a meeting.
Over time, a consistent route also lets you notice change. A new pothole, a broken streetlight or a parked van that is there every Tuesday are the sort of things you can plan around once you recognise them.
Time your lights and junctions
Traffic lights are less random than they feel. After a few weeks you will know which ones are long, which change quickly and which tend to catch you if you arrive at a certain moment. Use that to ride smoothly rather than sprint and stop.
Some ideas that work for many riders:
- Ease off as you approach a red light that is likely to stay red, so you can roll up and keep momentum instead of stopping fully.
- Use a lower gear before stopping so you can pull away easily. Choosing a sensible gear when starting off makes the first few pedal strokes smoother and keeps you steady when traffic moves.
- Leave a little extra time for the junctions you find stressful, so you never feel pushed into taking a gap you do not want.
Obey signals and local rules at all times. Time-saving is a bonus of smooth riding and not a reason to take a risk.
Arrive fresh
Many people hesitate to cycle to work because they worry about arriving sweaty. A few habits can help, though comfort varies from person to person and from season to season:
- Ride at a pace where you can still talk. A slightly slower pace often costs only a few minutes over a short journey.
- Shed or add layers as you warm up, rather than starting out too warm.
- Use a lower gear and keep your pedalling light instead of grinding in a hard gear.
- Allow a few minutes at the end to cool down, change or freshen up if your workplace has facilities.
If you have a longer route, look at pacing your effort so you finish with something in reserve. In hot weather, carry water and consider starting a little earlier or choosing shadier streets.
Keep the bike ready
A bike that is always ready is a bike that gets used. A couple of small habits keep it that way:
- Keep a pump and basic tools at home or in your bag, and know how to fix a flat so a puncture is an inconvenience and not a disaster.
- Wipe the chain and check the brakes now and then. Follow the manufacturer’s advice and see a bike shop for any repair you are not confident about.
- Store the bike somewhere dry and easy to reach. If it is difficult to get out, you will find reasons not to.
- Have a backup plan, such as a train or bus route, for days when the bike is out of action.
Mudguards and a chain guard make a surprising difference to how you feel on arrival, since they keep the worst of the spray off your clothes.
Treat it as a routine, not a challenge
The best commuters often look unhurried. They set off a few minutes earlier than needed, ride a route they know, and have their kit sorted. Start with one or two of the ideas above rather than all of them, and add another when the first has become automatic. A commute that is easy to start and pleasant to finish is the one you will keep doing.