so i start scanning through here looking for some tips on commuting to work on my bike but some of these topics are scaring the crap out of me, lol. teenagers aiming at you, people getting hit by cops, everyone arming themselves deathrace 2000 style, haha. i mean i'm worried i may die before getting to the office.. and not from exhaustion.

seriously though, any tips for a newbie commuter? i'm still trying to build the best path to the office which is 20 miles each way. i have to go through my urban area, then downtown, get across the river to kentucky then either travel straight (making it 18 miles to work) which consists of what look to be neighborhood streets and 1 busy road but also goes way up a hill then all the way back down. or i can take the more scenic route through a busy area than onto more rural road, it's flat and follows the river, but it's 2+ miles longer.. is there a website that's good for planning routes? any tips on staying alive? lol.

TIA

You can use google to map your route, or any of the various bike route sites (bikely.com, etc.). Try to find streets that are less traveled.

Bright clothing, lights, be predictable, and follow the law. 20 miles is a long way. Eat accordingly.

Be careful.

yeah, i ran a marathon earlier this year, i plan on eating well.

i also remapped a little just now. the new route is on slightly less busy roads, but the busier roads are through areas of town i know to be bike friendly as i always see bikers through that part of town.. now taking my mileage to 22.. eek. but i know the stretch would be easier to navigate motorists.

Yep, route choice is very important. Some routes will be more pleasant than others. Once you ride your route multiple times you will get much better at handling any trouble spots. Plus when you ride the same time every day motorists who are also commuting will get used to seeing you. At least this is how it worked in my area where I can go days without seeing another bike on my route.

Do the route at least once on a day off to see how long it will take and if there are any surprises. Watch out for areas that might have broken glass, construction debris, etc. Decide how you want to go over the bridge (does it have a bike lane? If not, I, personally, recommend the sidewalk since cars topping the bridge won't be able to see you and they can come across at quite a clip).

Decide how you're going to handle the change of clothes. Are you going to stage clothing at work? Carry it with you? Do you have a shower?

Other than that, just use common sense and stay paranoid, at least until you're really comfortable with the route and the drivers are used to seeing you.

You might want to have a look at Fred Oswald's Bicycle Commuter's Guide and Ken Kifer's Bike Commuting and Transportation articles (one of those is titled "How to Find a Route to Work by Bicycle").

don't let the nightmare stories throw you. We all tend to use these forums to vent about our worst experiences and worst fears. In reality on an every day basis the commute is the best part of your day. Basically, after a few weeks of riding you'll start to wonder why everyone doesn't commute by bike and you'll start to wonder why you had any hesitation.

But do be ready for some adjustment periods- first time it rains and you get soaked because you weren't prepped. Your first flat when you're barely going to make it on time anyway. That day you work late, barely slept the night before, hardly had a minute for lunch and you get out onto the bike into the fiercest headwind you've ever encountered and suddenly it feels like you're on an Arctic adventure and all you really wanted to do was get home and have a cold beer and watch tv.

But in the end you'll feel like you're on top of the world.

- so pick your route carefully

- carry what you need and only what you need.

- know what you need for a flat, for basic repairs and for changes in weather.

-make sure your bike is a good fit and in good working order.

-be visible- day & night. have good lights and wear bright colors.

- ride responsibly. keep your head up and eyes open, be alert- (the world needs more lerts)- anticipate road hazards and driver errors. ride predictably and assertively when necessary and watch for car doors. don't get alongside the right side of stopped trucks, buses, vans or any vehicle you suspect may not be aware of your presence as they may be taking a right turn and you won't be where you can see their indicator signal or get out of their way if they haven't seen you.

wow! great tips guys! thanks for the input! i'm going to check out those sites when i get time today. in regards to crossing the bridge, i've been debating that one for a while and i think my best bet will be to make an early left and cross a pedestrian bridge. it used to be used for traffic but was then closed for an extended period of time and reopened a couple years ago as a ped bridge for getting across the river easily, therefore i know there's plenty of room to avoid disturbing pedestrians. we do have showers and stuff at work. i work in IT but i work at a manufacturing plant so we have a nice locker room and all that fun stuff. what kind of stuff should i carry with me to be prepared? i have a new fixed gear that i will be riding so it's pretty minimalist and all components are new (maybe not the best quality, but new anyway). oh and i have a jeep with a hard top i remove all summer long. i've been caught in some heavy storms multiple times. i'm pretty used to the soaking.

How often do you plan to commute. Daily? Then be prepared for an adjustment period. You be may be fit, because you run a lot, but still 40 miles a day is loooong. the first few weeks you will be tired once you get home. Eat enough, get enough sleep. After 6 weeks or so you will start to feel better about it

You could consider driving to work one day and taking all your clothes and food for the week. That will make your ride a lot easier. If that is not an option, then invest in a good rack and trunk or rack and panniers to carry your stuff. 20 miles is long way to carry stuff in a backpack

Also, know your own limits. There is no shame in driving to work if the weather is too cold or there is snow and or ice on the road, no matter what some of the hardcore BF'ers say
Duppie

yeah, i would definitely say i'm a little crazy and even more so a glutton for punishment, (just ask my fiancee who thinks i should be content 'riding around the block') but i won't be making the trip daily. between really bad weather and the days i will be going snowboarding right after work, it's not too feasible. i figured up the numbers, each day i ride my bike, i will save roughly $9 on gas which adds up pretty quick and i'll get some good exercise and time to 'reflect' while doing so. i'll be snowboarding a lot this winter, so i plan on making the trips more regularly after the season. i would like to have established a good route and the energy to ride whenever weather permits at that time. as well as pick up the required skills to not die in the meantime.

I have found google maps https://maps.google.com/ to be the best for getting satellite views of the route. Microsofts live mapping site, https://maps.live.com/ has a collections feature that lets you draw a path and tells you how long it is but didn't have as high resolution satellite images as google for where I live in south Florida. While I used the two above for my route planning (~16 miles) I recently found https://www.mapmyride.com/ which also may be useful. I would plan multiple routes for variety, errands and how you feel that day. (In south Florida it comes down to how many overpasses to climb and how much traffic to tangle with.)

Good luck.

Were you following me yesterday?

You should always have a flat repair kit at a minimum, and a spare tube if you can. A flat repair kit consists of tire levers, patches, patch glue, sandpaper, and some way to reinflate the tire (I use CO2; some people prefer pumps). You can get little bags that attach to the seat post that will carry all this nicely.

I also recommend a cell phone. You never know when you'll taco a wheel or get a really bad cramp and need a ride home.

I also carry a small first aid kit, water, clothes, etc. Other people carry other stuff. You'll find what works best for you.

Leave the temper at the door. Hard to do, but worth it.

Dress light. I ride hard but only for 8 miles each way, and I don't wear long sleeves unless it's in the low 50s. I don't wear long pants until it's in the 30s; tights under shorts for the 40s. You get the picture. You'll warm up pretty quickly. Coast for the last quarter-mile, and bring a bandanna to wipe away the sweat as soon as you stop. That way you won't stink.

+1
Learning to brush it off when someone buzzes you, curses you, flips the bird, or whatever, is one of the hardest things about commuting, at least for me.

Have you been riding your bike for recreational purposes or is this the first time you will be on a bike in a while?

"i have a new fixed gear that i will be riding so it's pretty minimalist and all components are new (maybe not the best quality, but new anyway). "

"Coast for the last quarter-mile"

hmmmmph

I dont know how good a rider you are but since you have a fixie, Ill assume you can track stand and manouvre OK.
With cooler weather, rain can be a serious issue so be prepared. Dress for the weather.
Punctures can let you cool down so carry some extra insulation and put it on when you stop for repairs.
Make sure your bike is suitably equipped for your route with sufficient tyre width, rack, fenders, lights as needed. A fixie needs at least a front brake for commuting.
Get a detailled street map, dont be afraid to explore but do note any rough neighbourhoods or crime hotspots. Generally you are OK as long as you keep moving.
As a plan B, carry some taxi phone numbers / bus route info etc.

No slight intended! I ride fixed myself. And by coast, I meant coast as in the way Manny Ramirez plays outfield. I skimmed too quickly.
But. . . 40 miles fixed is a hell of a commute.

I started by diving halfway for two reasonsne I was not in shape, and also to get used to the clothing switch routine. I think I did it for almost a month.
Things to always leave at work.
belt, shoes, deodorant,comb, and "adult" wipes"
I have not tried bringing in a weeks worth of work cloths yet, but have learned to have some dry cycling cloths at work when you come into work soaked. Have Fun!

My tips:
-- Study google maps and find a safe route that avoids heavily traveled or otherwise unsafe roads, even it makes your commute longer.
-- Wear brightly colored jerseys and/or vests, and of course a helmet and gloves.
-- Use a rear view mirror.
-- Get a rack with panniers or a large seat bag to carry gear, but don't overdo it. Carry what you need, not enough to open a small bike shop.
-- Put some good, flat resistant tires on your bike that are reasonably light.
-- Get at least one good taillight such as the Planet Bike Superflash, as well as a headlight if you are commuting during low-light periods.

Have fun. Once you get started, you'll wonder why you haven't bike commuted before. I started last April intending to bike to work one day a week, and now I generally ride about 4 days a week.

One more thing: There is a sticky thread in this forum "Advice for New Commuters." Read it.

I guess I'm lucky I don't have too many encounters cause I've yet to master that part.

Great advice though!

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/90213-advice-new-commuters.html

Everyone you see on a bike is racing you

The bridge may have expansion joints, which may be cooler than the air and have condensation.
Wet metal can be slippery!

All of the previous is good, experienced, reasoned, practical advice. My commute is 40 rt rural w/rolling hills. I'm laid off at present, but will be back after the holidays. I work 2nd shift and on my ride home, once clear of the factory may see 8-10 cars total. The mental part of your commute may be draining as 40 rt urban has got to be pretty intense. Especially on a fixie! Like others have said make sure you get plenty of sleep and take a protein supplement. Soy powder w/some some choc or vanilla flavoring is my choice. Also, I consume POUNDS of brown rice on a weekly basis.

Flats are best avoided by using airless tires, but expect to sacrifice some speed/effort for the peace of mind. The fact that you have a shower/locker room facility where you work is a HUGE plus. Have fun!