spare_wheel

Most of the people who post here are "experienced" cyclists who do tend to complicate things.

As long as your route is not hilly you can buy a city bike with bomb-proof tires and bike slowly in your work clothes.

https://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/details/uptown-ex-ls

Breezer Bikes - Uptown Fleet - LS - Bike Overview

kickstart

LOL,
I can't begin to count the times I've been chastised here because I ride a heavy Dutch bike with a center stand, and folding Wald baskets in regular clothes, even though I don't have any difficulties doing so, and do virtually no maintenance.

Ghazmh

Do at least 1 trial run.
lights, lots of lights. I use 2 taillights. One solid and one throbbing(not quite blinking). A 1500 lumen headlight. 700 lumen light on my helmet and a small blinking light too.

Andy_K 

I hate to see someone choose not to bike to work, but these reasons do kind of point that way. That said, I'll add my voice to the counter-point.

1. Flats

Some perspective here: I ride 3000+ miles a year and average about 4 flats per year. There are tires I could choose that, without question, would reduce that number. When we say you should be prepared to change a flat, you should understand that it doesn't happen often AND (as tjspiel noted) changing the flat isn't necessarily the only option. The reason that so many of us express this as an urgent consideration is that we've had the experience of getting a flat tire when we didn't have a plan. Usually the worst result is embarrassment (the "call of shame") but human brains are wired in such a way that embarrassment is disproportionately represented in our memories.

If you get good flat resistant tires and being late for work once or twice a year isn't disastrous, you really don't *need* to worry about flats.


2. Sweat

This really depends on the weather, your local topography, your physiology and your riding style. For me, my commute is also my daily exercise. I show up at work dripping with sweat even in the middle of winter. But you might be able to avoid this. Some of us have a tendency to think that avoiding sweat would take too long. I think this way. It's probably not true.

How hard you can work and not sweat is where your physiology comes in. For most people, though, there is some speed at which you can ride a bike without sweating. Let's say for you it's 10 mph. That would get you to work in a little under an hour (figuring 5-10 minutes for stop signs and traffic signals). At a more vigorous pace, say 15 mph, you do the same 8 mile commute in 40-45 minutes (again, accounting for stopped time). So, if you leave home 15 minutes earlier, you can maybe avoid sweating.

3. Clothes

This is a corollary of the sweating point. If you ride at a pace that doesn't produce sweat, you generally can wear anything you like. You will still produce a bit of extra body heat, so you might want a lighter jacket than you would normally wear, but the reality is that casual cycling does not require special clothing.

I would bet that everyone on this forum who changes clothes at work rides at a "workout" pace. It's a choice, not a requirement.


One final consideration, not to be overlooked:

spare_wheel

Not by me!

Daniel4

Why do you think there's so much to consider? Have you considered how much you have to learn just to drive? I've probably changed more flats and jump started more cars for everybody than my own flat on a bicycle. You carry a spare, a tire iron and a jack with you in your car. Carry spare tools when you bike.

When your car breaks down, you have to wait for a tow truck or something. If your bike breaks down, hop on a bus with it.

Have you ever taken a bike ride and then stopped and locked to go somewhere like McDonald's? Whether you're biking on the road or through a recreational trail you'll need a helmet, lights, mirrors and a bell.

If you're worried about sweat dress lightly and peddle slowly. Even in the dead of winter at -20C I found myself dressing less than the people taking the bus. In Denmark I've seen people all dressed up on bicycles. Remember those photos of all those cyclists in maoist china? No lycra.

kickstart

My comment wasn't directed at you,

Its just that your statement amused me, going by a lot of comments on BF, it often seems "experienced" enthusiasts are the most fragile of all people riding bicycles. IMO the worst thing that ever happen to cycling in North America was it becoming a "sport".

bmthom.gis

@BrockLee - don't be put off!! Your climate might be conducive to not sweating and having to change. Down here, you sweat just standing around in the sun come summer. Fixing a flat is definitely important, but you can minimize the time it takes by carrying a tube and CO2 (as well as a pump for backup!!). Just do a complete tube replacement, it takes literally a second or so to inflate a tube using CO2, then patch the original tube at home. But flats really aren't that common, especially if you watch the road in front of you.

IMO, your biggest obstacle will be riding in traffic. It only takes a few rides to build your confidence enough where you don't worry too much about it. The rest you figure out as you do it, based on your own needs. Don't write it off without at least trying a dry run on the weekend! You get to work full of endorphins rather than full of stress

BrockLee

I'm in recovery mode. I may still do it. I just have to think it through and be prepared. And somebody mentioned that I should do the ride on my day off just to get familiar with it, etc. I may do that.

alan s 

I agree with the OP's decision to not bike commute. It is quite challenging to dress right, maintain the bike, negotiate traffic, deal with the weather, change flats, and clean up after the ride. It takes a lot of time and effort, and is clearly not for everyone or even for most people. If you happen to love riding, the outdoors and getting a workout twice a day, and hate traffic, then it can work. I generally try to discourage people from bike commuting. I have never convinced anyone to bike commute by example or by talking to them. Bike commuting is for the elite who can figure out all the aspects and deal with all the difficulties to receive the reward. And believe me, those of us who bike commute regularly know what the reward is.

scroca

If you have a place to park part way, you could carry your bike on your car/truck and ride from there. If that works for you then you may find that as you gain fitness the total distance is less of a chore. Shorter commutes also give you more time to deal with issues, like flat tires, should they occur. Less sweat too, I suppose.

You said you don't want to change tires, but I don't know if that means you don't know how and don't want to learn or that you do know how and don't want to do it. If it's the former, then you could learn to change a tire in the comfort of your home before you get a flat out on the road and have to deal with it, which is a terrible time to learn.

I'm not sure what you have against changing clothes.

spare_wheel

Paging ILTB!

noglider 

I look at it this way.

I have to exercise. That's a given. To exercise, I could take time out, jog in the park, join a gym, or do something. It takes taime.

I have to get to work somehow.

By combining the two, I am killing two birds with one stone AND SAVING TIME! My bike commute used to take longer than the drive, but for a half-hour time cost, I got an hour's workout.

But now, my choices for getting to work are (1) NYC subway or (2) bike. As luck has it, they take the same amount of time, so I get to ride at no time cost at all. I decide how to go each morning. If I feel lazy or want to read, I take the subway. If I want a workout and some fun, I ride. Both trips take 70 minutes each way, which is a lot, but such is life.

alan s 

That'll get things locked down pretty fast.

If you are not the kind of person who likes to face and overcome challenges, public transportation, cars and trains are the best way to get to work and back. Push a button and go.

kickstart

The only real challenge to cycling is the physical exertion, the rest is nothing more than the trappings of being an enthusiast.

Many of us had it figured out as adolescents, just hop on a bike and go, its later in life where we get sold a bill of goods and lose our way.

caloso

Don't over think this. It's a bike ride, which happens to end at work. Later in the day, you'll take another ride, which happens to end at home. Everything else is details.

alan s 

Life is a little more complicated as an adult with many responsibilities. Some of us are expected to show up at work on time, ready to work, not smelling like a sewer rat, and then go home to a family, not get hit by a car on the way, etc. If only life was so simple as when I was a kid.

SouthFLpix

My primary consideration if riding off-road (implied in your post) would be tires. I'd put the widest ones I could fit on my bike. Off-road riding is a lot more taxing than road riding unless you're on a full suspension mountain bike, imo.

wolfchild

Stop over-analyzing, stop-overthinking and start riding your bike to work. As you continue to ride you will find out what you need and what you don't need, and what works and what doesn't work.

kickstart

Life is more complicated, riding a bicycle isn't.
All the considerations you mention are basic life skills one must practice regardless of transportation mode.


Millions of people do it every day.

Daniel4

It took me 14years to find a safe way to cross the highway on my way to work. When I started I thought I was only going to ride a few days a week. But once I started I couldn't find a reason why I could not ride everyday. I ended up riding throughout the entire winter. I'm still making adjustments.

Don't take too long hesitating or you'll miss all the fun.

Engineer

OP do not be discouraged, it is only as complicated as you make it. This is a good time of year to start. It is cool in the morning, if you ride at a reasonable pace, you will not be all sweaty by the time you get to work. On the way home it doesn't matter you can shower when you get home.

As someone said the most important thing is safety, ride predictably, be visible and signal or point where you are going.

Once you start you may enjoy it and then you will want to commute on days that are not perfect, then it can get complicated.

Roody

Do all the little kids who commute to elementary school know how difficult it is?

alan s 

I have no idea. How about you find out and report back when you have the answer?