Originally Posted by
weepingwillow
*DISCLAIMER* - I'm a total newbie (and quite a talker) so bear with me.
My boyfriend bought me a gently used MTB from his favorite bike store. I have decided that commuting to work by bike would do me a lot of good (physically and financially), even if it's only once a week to start. My planned route is abt 13 miles one way on busy roads with wide sholders. I plan to make trial runs on the weekends so I can see what routes work best for me.
I have been lurking on the boards for awhile now and I have learned a great deal from your opinions and experiences. There is so much information on special clothing and gear and parts and types of bikes and nutrition, etc - I am totally overwhelmed! I have a bike, a helmet, a handlebar bag, a seat bag, an extra tube, a multi-tool thingie, a frame pump, and a tire guage. My next purchase will probably be lighting. I feel like I am missing so much... and money is very tight (hence the incentive to ride my bike to work) so I cannot go crazy buying a bunch of gear / clothes right now. Should I make sure I outfit myself and my bike with the proper clothing and equipment first or can I make it using what I have? Is there anyone who bikes with only the bare essentials like me?
I'm so excited to get started but I feel like I need to take a commuting 101 course first!
I haven't read the rest of the replies...
But, you don't need anything. Once a week? You don't need rain gear or fenders or tools. Bring a cell phone and/or some change, if you get a flat grab a bus or call a friend.
Don't ride in the rain. Eat whatever you want. You're just riding to work once in a while, it's not an adventure.
Pick up some cheap blinkies, your idea to make trial runs is a good one. You're fortunate to have wide shoulders on your route.
If you like it enough to start doing it more often, you will eventually start to resent not being able to ride in the rain. So, you will want rain gear and fenders. You will know when you need them. Similarly with clothing, as you start to ride faster and push yourself a little, because you find it fun, you will start to wish for more appropriate clothing. When you need these things, you won't have to ask anyone for advice. Because you will know you need them, and exactly why.