The logistics of a cycling commute.
Discussion
A little background. I work in London, I live in Bristol. I get no mid week time to exercise. At the moment I ride a motorbike to the station and park for the day. I would like to cycle instead but the logistics have me finding excuses.
I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
Unless the trip to the station is particularly long I don't see the issue.
If it is downhill to the station so you don't sweat on the way to work, just buy a cheap waterproof oversuit (jacket and trousers) to wear on the wet days and bundle them into a carrier bag and take them with you on the train. They don't need to be breathable particularly, since you will only get hot and sweaty on the way back.
Decent lights (assuming you are on lit roads, about £25 should be plenty). Mudguards. Remove lights when leaving bike. Big lock (cost depends on how much your bike is worth) and remove and lock front wheel to frame (assuming it has a quick release) and whole lot to something solid.
If it is downhill to the station so you don't sweat on the way to work, just buy a cheap waterproof oversuit (jacket and trousers) to wear on the wet days and bundle them into a carrier bag and take them with you on the train. They don't need to be breathable particularly, since you will only get hot and sweaty on the way back.
Decent lights (assuming you are on lit roads, about £25 should be plenty). Mudguards. Remove lights when leaving bike. Big lock (cost depends on how much your bike is worth) and remove and lock front wheel to frame (assuming it has a quick release) and whole lot to something solid.
+1 for mudguards. Keep them on year-round on my commuter bike.
Plaster the bike in reflective tape and get some of the thin 3m spoke reflector thingies. You can't be too visible, especially as the light is fading fast this time of year.
I keep a towel, a pack of wet wipes, hairbrush, deodorant etc. in my desk drawer, couple of pairs of trousers and smart shoes stay at work, so I just have to take a fresh shirt and underwear on the train rolled up in a small backpack. Works fine. Cycling in work clothes is rubbish- hot, uncomfortable and chafy round the saddle area
not to mention when it rains. You don't want to be stuck in the same smelly clothes all day.
Check the restrictions on bikes on the trains you need to catch. I know from where I get the train in the morning they don't allow bikes (unless its a folder) on the train London-bound until after 9:30am, luckily I go coast bound so it's fine.
Plaster the bike in reflective tape and get some of the thin 3m spoke reflector thingies. You can't be too visible, especially as the light is fading fast this time of year.
I keep a towel, a pack of wet wipes, hairbrush, deodorant etc. in my desk drawer, couple of pairs of trousers and smart shoes stay at work, so I just have to take a fresh shirt and underwear on the train rolled up in a small backpack. Works fine. Cycling in work clothes is rubbish- hot, uncomfortable and chafy round the saddle area
not to mention when it rains. You don't want to be stuck in the same smelly clothes all day.Check the restrictions on bikes on the trains you need to catch. I know from where I get the train in the morning they don't allow bikes (unless its a folder) on the train London-bound until after 9:30am, luckily I go coast bound so it's fine.
Edited by lufbramatt on Wednesday 24th September 20:03
Put simply:
Do not leave an expensive bike at the station - buy a snotter
Get a decent lock - even for a snotter
Mudguards should be essential for you
The trip 'there' sounds a formality - I cycle to work and go for the nice and easy non sweat approach
A showerproof jacket/top would be a good idea, also Google "rainlegs" - nice bit of kit IMHO
Assuming your commute is lit buy lights to be seen, not for you to actually see - in particular a strobe on your helmet
Consider a small backpack (not ideal on a bike) to swap work gear for working out gear on the trip back home
Enjoy
MuffDaddy said:
A little background. I work in London, I live in Bristol. I get no mid week time to exercise. At the moment I ride a motorbike to the station and park for the day. I would like to cycle instead but the logistics have me finding excuses.
I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
I'm not a cyclist (yet) but I see no need to worry about a change of clothes or getting sweaty. Surely this only happens if you exert yourself, probably by going faster than you need to? I'm not going to be one of the lycra clad drones busting a gut blasting everywhere. Take it steady, more like our continental cousins - the Dutch seem to manage okay.I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
LordGrover said:
MuffDaddy said:
A little background. I work in London, I live in Bristol. I get no mid week time to exercise. At the moment I ride a motorbike to the station and park for the day. I would like to cycle instead but the logistics have me finding excuses.
I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
I'm not a cyclist (yet) but I see no need to worry about a change of clothes or getting sweaty. Surely this only happens if you exert yourself, probably by going faster than you need to? I'm not going to be one of the lycra clad drones busting a gut blasting everywhere. Take it steady, more like our continental cousins - the Dutch seem to manage okay.I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
I used to fight wearing lycra (years ago) now I realise it is the best tool for the job & life is too short to give a fck what people think
Plus its great costing along wearing normal clothes, then it rains, which it does alot!
Having said that I often pop down the shops or ride to mates houses in normal clothes and it is fine , but day in day out over 5miles then Lycra/or even shorts tshirt are best.
LordGrover said:
I'm not a cyclist (yet) but I see no need to worry about a change of clothes or getting sweaty. Surely this only happens if you exert yourself, probably by going faster than you need to? I'm not going to be one of the lycra clad drones busting a gut blasting everywhere. Take it steady, more like our continental cousins - the Dutch seem to manage okay.
In theory that is okay, but Bristol is rather hillier than Amsterdam. I doubt I'd get up Brislington hill on my way home on a standard Dutch bike.LordGrover said:
MuffDaddy said:
A little background. I work in London, I live in Bristol. I get no mid week time to exercise. At the moment I ride a motorbike to the station and park for the day. I would like to cycle instead but the logistics have me finding excuses.
I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
I'm not a cyclist (yet) but I see no need to worry about a change of clothes or getting sweaty. Surely this only happens if you exert yourself, probably by going faster than you need to? I'm not going to be one of the lycra clad drones busting a gut blasting everywhere. Take it steady, more like our continental cousins - the Dutch seem to manage okay.I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
lufbramatt said:
You don't have to wear lycra. MTB baggy shorts are a great compromise, padded sweat-wicking liner and dry quickly but look like normal shorts.
Indeed, sometimes wear a Karimoor running tshirt, some padded lycra shorts, with some football/running shorts on top job jobbedTwistingMyMelon said:
LOL, try riding the 10% hill out my village without exerting yourself, then there is 5 miles on a main road which I want to get done as quick as possible. The last few miles of quiet back lanes are great for coasting along.
I used to fight wearing lycra (years ago) now I realise it is the best tool for the job & life is too short to give a fck what people think
Plus its great costing along wearing normal clothes, then it rains, which it does alot!
Having said that I often pop down the shops or ride to mates houses in normal clothes and it is fine , but day in day out over 5miles then Lycra/or even shorts tshirt are best.
Congratulations. You seem to be in a totally different situation to either Lord Grover or the OP. Not really sure what the relevance in sharing that here is?I used to fight wearing lycra (years ago) now I realise it is the best tool for the job & life is too short to give a fck what people think
Plus its great costing along wearing normal clothes, then it rains, which it does alot!
Having said that I often pop down the shops or ride to mates houses in normal clothes and it is fine , but day in day out over 5miles then Lycra/or even shorts tshirt are best.
MuffDaddy said:
A little background. I work in London, I live in Bristol. I get no mid week time to exercise. At the moment I ride a motorbike to the station and park for the day. I would like to cycle instead but the logistics have me finding excuses.
I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
Slow and steady on the way to the station, unless its more than a few miles you won't have time to work up a sweat (don't overdress though - no big winter coats!)I don't want to carry much with me on the train. So change of clothes is probably a no. There are no showers at work. On dry days this is fine. The station is mostly downhill so I stay nice and fresh. In the evenings I can sweat in to my work shirt and throw it in to the laundry.
But days are not always dry, so what to do then.
Also, lights. I assume these should be powerful and removed whilst the bike is locked up?
A waterproof jacket and trousers will look after your clothes if it rains and pack down tiny, you'll likely only need them a few times a month anyway. Might be worth stashing a spare shirt and trousers at work somewhere in case of emergencies, but aside from that you shouldn't need too much kit.
Cycling for transport is a very different thing to cycling for sport. I'd advise copying the dutch rather than your typical UK MAMIL/10+ mile ubercommuter.
Mr Will said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
LOL, try riding the 10% hill out my village without exerting yourself, then there is 5 miles on a main road which I want to get done as quick as possible. The last few miles of quiet back lanes are great for coasting along.
I used to fight wearing lycra (years ago) now I realise it is the best tool for the job & life is too short to give a fck what people think
Plus its great costing along wearing normal clothes, then it rains, which it does alot!
Having said that I often pop down the shops or ride to mates houses in normal clothes and it is fine , but day in day out over 5miles then Lycra/or even shorts tshirt are best.
Congratulations. You seem to be in a totally different situation to either Lord Grover or the OP. Not really sure what the relevance in sharing that here is?I used to fight wearing lycra (years ago) now I realise it is the best tool for the job & life is too short to give a fck what people think
Plus its great costing along wearing normal clothes, then it rains, which it does alot!
Having said that I often pop down the shops or ride to mates houses in normal clothes and it is fine , but day in day out over 5miles then Lycra/or even shorts tshirt are best.
Thanks for all the replies. Yes the route to the station is easy, 3 miles, all downhill. The payback is the route home is 3 miles, all up hill. As I live in Bristol all of those hills are challenging (for a fat forty year old like myself). However, with your help and advice I feel ready to make the transition. Mudguard and light shopping this weekend, bike riding next week.
MuffDaddy said:
Thanks for all the replies. Yes the route to the station is easy, 3 miles, all downhill. The payback is the route home is 3 miles, all up hill. As I live in Bristol all of those hills are challenging (for a fat forty year old like myself). However, with your help and advice I feel ready to make the transition. Mudguard and light shopping this weekend, bike riding next week.
Nice one, good luck, lovely weather at the moment and not too cold, great for commuting by bike And it is worth checking the Aldi bike specials https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-25-...
bbrook said:
And it is worth checking the Aldi bike specials https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-25-...
Definitely. The Aldi stuff is from a company called Crane and it's generally all pretty decent, although the pad in the shorts is a funny shape. Fine for a few miles commuting, probably wouldn't wear them for a 20+ mile ride. The tops are brilliant though, better than some of the karrimor/berghaus/fox gear I've got.Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 25th September 13:28
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