hiyer1

I live about 10 miles from my office, and my job sometimes requires me to go to a client office, about 4 miles from my main one (or 14 miles from my house).

Everyday, I sit in traffic for 90 minutes, then come home and run in a big circle for another 90 minutes...this seems wasteful and inefficient, so I'm thinking of biking to work. I normally ride a Fuji Finest-AL road bike, but for commuting I would probably use my Brompton folding bike because of it's fenders (ridden it through the mud in a suit before, no problem!). I also have a super bright headlight, so biking at night shouldn't be an issue...I'm going to buy a vest too.

I do however have a few concerns. I'm not too worried about the physical demands, more with logistics...I read a few posts on the "Advice for new commuters" thread and found them very helpful. Still have a few more specific concerns though, was hoping to get some advice.

Here are my concerns:

Navigation - I found a number of bicycle GPS units online...do these offer audio turn-by-turn navigation? Also, are GPS's designed for automobiles, or smartphone GPS apps, suitable substitutes to dedicated bike GPS units?

Speed - I get the feeling that during rush hour on public roads I can't bike as fast as I do on trails...or can I? I can go 20+ mph on a trail, but probably can't safely do that on roads with traffic lights and other cars, so would it be better to take trails? Here's a route between all three locations: https://g.co/maps/mupu... (A-house B-Office C-Client site). As you can see, there is a trailed alternative for most parts of the route...should I take the trail or stick to main roads?

Consistency of commute - Driving to work can take as little as 20 minutes or as long as an hour, depending on traffic. I get the sense that biking would be less affected by traffic conditions, but more so by things like weather conditions. How consistent is your commute on bike?

Practicality in the workplace - My building has no shower facilities, so I'd be showing up to work, and possibly the client site, all sweaty (more of a concern in the summer). I work for a govt contractor so people are generally laid back. I'd rather not have to change when I get into the office, carrying a change of clothes just seems to over-complicate things. My question is, do business clothes look okay once the sweat dries?

Sorry I know it's a lot of questions...but thanks in advance for your help!

Zrane

Google maps does bike directions. They're not 100% there yet, I usually manually map my routes and ride them on the weekend to make sure they're good. I do occasionally take a lark and go on a detour on my way home.

I have a lot of stop signs on my route, so I don't get super fast. I do have some stretches where I get up to 20-ish for a bit, but they aren't long. If you have a trailed alternative, I'd take it. I don't have that option(Or bike lanes, or shoulders!)

My commute doesn't vary much. The only big change in it is if the train is going through(Who runs freight trains at rush hour through multiple major arterial intersections?!)
I change at work, because it's quite practical for me. I also sweat a lot, and it gets horrifically hot here in the summer. No shower here. If you are against changing, invest in some wicking undergarments(like underarmor or something) and lightweight synthetic clothes. Polos made for golfing are great for this, and lightweight, synthetic summer slacks are also very good(Frequently sold next to the golf shifts). Make sure to have some deodorant and wet wipes for doing a quick clean up.

Seattle Forrest

My Garmin 800 will beep at me, and show a giant arrow over the map. I'm sure you can get the same thing with a smartphone app and open street maps. Or Google's bike directions. The customizability in the phone might lead to better routing several years from now, when there's more data about good and bad routes for cyclists.

I assume this is for getting to client sites? While I've had my Garmin for most of a year, I've almost never used the navigation feature.

Enough that I can make social plans and be known for my reliability, when I commute by bike. But not by car. This is one of the main reasons I commute by bike.

Merino wool is your friend, when it comes to sweat. Can you stow the outer layer of your business clothes and put them on when you arrive?

Surrealdeal

I'm like you in that commuting by bicycle is a sensible use of my time, combining transportation with excercise. I am not trying to make a car-free statement and thus I can still enjoy the benefits of owning a car and still reap the rewards of not using it so much.

Figure out your route on google maps for free. Test it out on a weekend ride, adjust as needed. Don't cost nuthin'.

I clicked the link.. Are you in Columbia? There was no B or C on the map. Try both. It's good to have alternate routes.

The only variables that really affect my commute time are wind, mechanical breakdowns and/or flats and how tired I am.

10 miles is a ways, and if you're worried about speed you probably plan to push it. I'd recommend either changing your clothes or riding a lot slower. Also, there's no way I'd show up all sweaty at a client's office on a bike; I'd plan to drive those days.


I don't know if any of that helped. Good luck!

wphamilton

This "I can go 20+ mph on a trail, but probably can't safely do that on roads with traffic lights and other cars, so would it be better to take trails? " is not reasonable in conjunction with "I'd rather not have to change when I get into the office, carrying a change of clothes just seems to over-complicate things."

Anything even in the ballpark of 20mph for ten miles in business attire and you'll likely be soaked, any time of year. I think you'll have to scale back the expectations of speeds to a leisurely pace, or plan on taking at least a fresh shirt and freshening up in the men's room. Or both - that's exactly what I did last fall and winter. I never brought in a weeks worth of clothes like some advise, but keeping one change of clothes at work for emergency use is just about necessary.

My commute time for 9 miles doesn't vary more than a few minutes, and even that depends on how hard you want to go on a given day. The effort is really optional. There's not that much time difference in 10 miles at 15 mph or 20 mph - 10 minutes or so. You could spend the same 10 minutes cooling off, or going 10 minutes slower. (I now choose to go faster since I have access to a shower at work).

Rob_E

It sounds like you're making the same two trips over and over again. I wouldn't try and get a GPS for that. There are smartphone apps that will give biking directions and there are bike-specific GPS devices, but none are better then your own experience on your route. Map it out, ride it a few times, and then you'll know it. Then, if you're like me, you'll just keep refining it to eliminate this intersection or that hill.

That's another one to try and see. I almost always find roads faster, but then I never do 20+ mph on trails. If I could do all of my commute on bike paths, I would, but if you're talking unpaved trails then it's hard to say. It's what you're comfortable with and what's faster for you. In my case, most destinations do not have direct trails between, so roads are usually faster.

Mine is pretty consistent. If traffic varies, then it's largely a matter of whether or not you can go around traffic. I have enough wide roads, bike lanes, and bike paths on my commute that I'm not often stuck in traffic, but there are some places I ride where it's easier/safer to be a part of traffic, at which point traffic can slow me down.

Again, it'll depend on what works for you. During some times of the year I can bike in my work cloths. Sometimes it's easier to change when I get here. Usually I will carry clothes a couple of times a week and leave them at the office. I do not wear suits, so I can't speak to that. I will say that my clothes usually dry well enough, but too much sweat and/or the wrong fabric can result in salt stains. Even if I am wearing my work clothes on my ride, I still try to keep one change of clothes at the office just in case.

I will say that if I were riding 20 mph off-road for 10 miles, those clothes would not be business clothes, at least not by the time I arrived. But if you don't sweat much and can find durable, quick-drying fabrics, maybe you can pull it off.

Good luck.

ChrisM2097

As far as consistency...my commute is exactly 10 miles. It takes my 270lb self 43-45 minutes of riding time on my MTB-converted-to-commuter. I figure I sit at lights for about 4-6 minutes of my commute. For most of my ride, I'm averaging 14mph, but certain parts I'm cruising at 22-23mph (excluding the 30+mph downhills on freeway overpasses).

I don't wear my work clothes on my bike. I bring them (and a washcloth - since I don't have access to a shower) in a backpack, or in my bike trunk/panniers, and give myself 15 minutes to clean up and change before punching in.

I have access to a fleet of company cars, in case I need to head out to a remote/client site...it doesn't sound like you have that option

matimeo

I agree with everything Zrane said. I would change if you're going 10 miles. I only go five one way and I definitely don't like wearing my work clothes. I bring in extra shirts, pants and shoes whenever I drive- carry anything else I need in panniers.

Moozh

If you have the option of leaving clothes at work that would be great.

One option I heard of was to wear a cycling base layer or merino wool (wicking properties), have your work shirt in your bag (or whatever you carry your stuff in) along with those sealed-pre-moistend washcloths. Take off the base layer, give yourself a vigorous "w#ore bath", a thin microfiber cloth will also dry up your damp spots rater quickly, febreeze your self (deodorant or whatever..), put on your workshirt and your golden! If you have a way to lay or hang your baselayer out so that it dries and is ready for your return trip home that could work.

No new magic to climbing steep hills but to bear down and get to it but if at all your cycling commute can be undertaken earlier so as to allow you to pedal in a more relaxed fashion that may help quite a bit on sweating for some.

For those days where it is simply not sensible to show up anywhere in a heaving ruffled sweaty mangled mess just drive..

BridgeNotTunnel

I highly recommend changing at work. Even if you need to do a sponge bath/bird bath in the sink. You will likely sweat a lot in a 10 mile ride.

I have an android, but for my commute i found using google maps in advance, and trying different routes on different days, is what found the best route for me.

I add 2 miles to my morning route to avoid dangerous area's. I would put safety as your top concern when riding daily. I leave close to 6am to avoid rush hour, also for safety. Some nice clean trails sound awesome to me....

Using a GPS sports tracking app on my phone, Ive found my times vary by less than 2mins on average, and maybe 3-5 mins in heavy rain/poor weather conditions.

I believe that bike commuting was one of the single best decisions ive ever made.
Just be safe, and smart, and get a taillight too!

hiyer1

That's weird...something must have happened to the link, I'm actually in the District of Columbia haha. I commute from Northern VA into DC.

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Testing a google maps route over the weekend seems like the best option, then I can also see how sweaty I am by the end of the commute. Might as well wear work clothes to see how it feels.

I did a 7 mile commute fairly regularly a couple years ago, though that was in London in the winter. I wore work clothes and a pea coat and had minor perspiration...but this time it may be different. In the spring/summer will probably have to change, towel off, and deodorize like a lot of you have suggested, though that's a long way off.

Anyway, thanks a lot for all of your advice. I'll probably start in November after my Marathon...don't think I can keep up my running drills while also biking to and from work.

Thanks again everyone