As of today, I will be "escorting" three of my coworkers 13 miles on bike to work day (May 21)

One of them came to me, a second joined the conversation and the third was invited afterword. I'm not quite sure what I got myself into but....

None of them really ride so, I told them to brings bikes and helmets and I will bring, tools, tubes and anything else that I think we will need. The ride takes me an hour so we will leave a half hour earlier than that and get to the office when we get there; no rush.

Any advice on what else I should do to make this a pleasant experience for all?

Cool!

Make sure to schedule a good stout tailwind for that day.

In both directions.

I don't think you could pay any of my co-workers to ride to work

i was thinking it will be my easiest ride of the year. I'll be in the back

The funny part is, in two years I have never asked anyone to join me, they all think I'm a nut. (sound familiar)

I would suggest a group ride on a weekend before then to do a dry run. If possible, ride the entire route to work, plan to have a time to rest (maybe have lunch and relax a little while), then ride back. They will probably be dragging by the time they get home, but stress to them that you did a quick turnaround on the dry run, and the actual commute will be separated by the workday of 8 or 9 hours. If this is too far for the first ride, maybe ride halfway there, then halfway back, and schedule a ride of the whole distance at a later date.

Also, go over appropriate cycling gear. If they do not have cycling shorts, I would advise going to Target and getting a pair of the wicking cyclist style underwear and wearing that under shorts. Also, if it were me I would make sure they have helmets. If they are not regular cyclists, they are most at risk of taking a spill in the first few days of riding again.

If you are riding on the roads, they will probably need some brief instructions on how to do so safely. CommuteOrlando.com has some great diagrams and flash animations showing how to navigate to make turns and stuff, including how to do so in groups. (Let me know if you need help finding the good stuff.)

I think you said you expect to cover the 13 miles in one hour. That might be overestimating their speed. Figure more like 10 mph.

Consider that you'll need tools you don't ordinarily carry, tubes of different sizes and kind (presta/schrader).

So these are first timers.... on a 13mile commute?
Better read up on some book about encouragements. Take it easy and try to make it more as a pleasure ride instead of getting to work on time.

Just watch the first 15 minutes of Full Metal Jacket. You'll learn all sorts of verbal encouragement techniques.


I should ask around if anyone at my office/lab wants to ride in with me. There are 3 other bike commuters, but not regularly; usually just one of them rides 2 days a week, and I'll see the other bike in the locker room once every couple of weeks.

I figure more like an hour and a half for the group and if we don't make that, so be it, we'll be late.

I already covered the helmet thing with them, and I will carry enough tools to get us through.

The training ride thing is something that I didnt consider, good idea as is the traffic training. In my head I was going sit in the back and take the lane on turns to let them in and out of places. Good Idea on the training.

Thanks for the laugh!

That sounds like crazy talk. If any one of them doesn't ride much at all, they'll never make 13 miles, even if it's all downhill. Heck, even on level terrain, 13 miles is too much for a person without the appropriate leg muscles and cardio. I wouldn't make them peddle more than 5 miles the first time out, unless they're cyclists.

don't forget water

cue: R. Lee Ermey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wijlLEriWYg

Make sure they all have their tires pumped up to the appropriate psi to avoid pinch flats--I see that happen to a lot of commuters. Also, I'd go over some basics about where to position themselves on the road and at stop signs and lights. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

What he said.

The group ride is a great idea - and an excellent opportunity for you to look over their bikes, inflate tires, make sure gears and brakes work, etc... If your LBS is near your route, you might consider riding past, and acquainting your colleagues, so that you don't become head mechanic...

That is an awesome movie! Kubrick at its peak IMHO!

We don't want the OP to see one of his riders at the office washroom looking like this do we?

Don't be silly. Anyone can do 13 miles. How long it takes varies with leg muscles, but even a couch potato should be able to move the distance.

I have had problems with trying to have newbie cyclists "take the lead". For some reason they feel more comfortable following you, like you have some sort of magic saftey bubble in your wake. I reccomend explaining how it is safer for you to be behind them rather than in front (call out instructions block traffic when changing lanes etc. not to mention riding at a pace beyond what they are capable of, which can be a lot easier than you might think.

when I ride with my kids I'm in front and we play follow the leader. as much as I would like to run block for them, it is safer for me to lead the way, pick the track and make the stops.

Remember they will likely have 26" tires with schrader valves, when you pack the tubes.

Plan B if they poop out on you have you got a Sag Wagon ready to gather up the dead?

I say do a trial run or two. That way you all have an idea what you are in for.

Um, no. A typical 13 mile commute in NJ can easily include multiple 5 and 10% grade hills. Getting in 1000 feet of climbing in on a 5 mile ride can be totally normal. Heck, as a teen? My 3 mile trip to the library had about 600 feet of climbing. If I biked to work and back, it was 3 miles and more like 800 feet of climbing. Most of that distance was on the valley floor too, so it was a pretty flat route by local standards.

Hopefully the OP is more in the Pine Barrens, but... most of the East Coast can have some pretty nasty climbs.