If your bike doesn't have fenders, get some. You will be amazed at the difference they make. You need FULL fenders. And you need them on both wheels. That will eliminate at least two thirds of the splash.

I recommend wool or synthetic socks. Then your feet won't get cold when they get wet. I wear wool socks every day of the year, unless I'm wearing no socks at all.

Thank you

Newbie commuter
 

*edited

Let me add something in this post: there are some routes that may require you to ride the bus. If you find this more favorable on your part, you can actually ride until the next stop then continue doing your commute. There are actually a lot of buses that have bike racks installed on them to make transportation easier for bike riders. However, if you find it the bus ride distracting to your routine, then you can also opt for commuting all the way.

Though you have a point about an easier life without cars and traffic lights, I guess we all have to learn to make this work for us.

Route review?
 

Hi, amigos. I joined Bike Forums today because of this thread. There is an incredible wealth of knowledge packed in these 27 pages. Thank everyone so much for all the info, both to the questioners and the answerers.

I have wanted to start bike commuting for a long time now, and I think I've almost built up the gumption to do it. Because I'm a student, my ride is a standard issue Target hybrid/comfort bike. Below is a link to the route I plan to take; it is approximately 3 miles in either direction. You'll see that I've done everything possible to avoid the two main roads that would be the most efficient (including some cutting through parking lots!), because both sport a 45 mph speed limit and are heavily traveled during the times that I need to make the trip.

Would someone be willing to check out my planned route and see what you think? Any advice/criticism is welcomed!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...06899&t=h&z=17

I'd love to eventually build the confidence required to share the main roads with motorists, but I know I'm not there yet. Thanks in advance!

keep your commute time consistent so that the regular car commuters can get used to you

Re: Route review
 

rmcray08: Given your point A and your point B, you route looks like the best one I can see on Google Maps. There's always the "try it on a weekend" suggestion. In my estimation, since so much of your route is through a gauntlet of hellish suburban strip malls, if you can do it on a Saturday, you can do it on a weekday for sure!

I'm sure if you've read this thread and anything else in the Commuting forum, you're aware of the plethora of options for carrying things, mirrors, etc., etc. Lots of discussion of those items (sometimes over and over again) in the myriad threads of this forum...

Good luck with the commute. Just stay aware of what's around you and be safe.

Thank you both for the input. I believe that I will do a dry run this weekend and go for it next Wednesday.

I'll let you know how it goes!

the earlier the better and the lighter the traffic. I left late and had to deal with a whole ne crowd of drivers and TRUCKS! if you leave early enough you can avoid the trucks ... :)

Not as important a tip as wear a comfortable helmet and that fenders are very practical to add to a commuter bike, but I've had several times where my water bottle would wiggle out of its holder when I'm traveling at speed and hit a bump wrong.

I thought recently, and it seems to be working, that a couple/three rubber bands rolled down towards the bottom of the water bottle has kept my bottles more secure and that none have popped out or nearly popped out of their holder when I'm zipping down a bumpy road.

I've found, too, that having a notepad and pencil or pen comes in handy for noting places with glass or debris I want to call and notify the road crew about, or if a light won't cycle for me. This way I don't have to ride home trying to remember these notes in my head.

I just started commuting to work by bike a few weeks ago and it's pretty great! I totally agree with someone here that said that the route you drive may not always be the best route to ride. I ride the bus in the morning and bike for 2 miles so I don't show up all sweaty to work. Then I bike all the way home and while my driving route is the shortest in terms of mileage, I opted for a longer route that is 75% on a bike only trail. I don't like stressing over all the cars so the bike trail has made me feel more confident about going to work by bike. The other 25% is on a very busy street but it has a wide bike lane with enough room for parked cars and several bikes.

Stop at red lights, follow traffic rules and signals, and it's all good!

I just want to add a question. How do people handle left turns? Right now I dismount at the intersection and walk my bike across. What's the safest way to take a left turn lane? Do you take the entire lane?

graciela, glad you're enjoying the commute. Welcome to the ranks of the cycle commuters! You seem to have a well-reasoned out plan and route in place for getting to and from work.

As to your question, I'd say that once you're in the left hand turn lane, signal your intention to turn and stay positioned squarely in the middle and take the whole lane. If you move too far to one side of the turn lane or the other, you risk motorists trying to squeeze around you somehow, including once you enter the intersection. Signal your intention to turn and confidently take the lane.

It takes a little practice and experience to feel comfortable on the streets surrounded by quick-moving two-ton steel cages, so it may seem a little weird at first. OTOH, if you find you're really not comfortable there or feel unsafe, there's nothing wrong with your current strategy of dismounting and crossing.

Good luck and happy pedalling!

I never signal. I do take the entire lane. I hold my position at all times while riding on the road. Once you get used to it, it'll be much easier. Don't let cars/drivers intimidate you. Good luck and ride safe. I know I don't. :D

every intersection is unique. on some I take the lane. on some I'm between the lane turning left and the lane turning right. sometimes I jumo through the intersection while everyone has a red just before my lane gets the green making sure it is safe. sometimes I let the lead car know I'm waiting for them by looking over and down at their right front wheel.

this is commando on the job training. it doesn't take long for you to learn what to do at each intersection. if you're ever unsure then wait and try to follow a car through the intersection.

Well written.

Thank you everyone for all the advice provided on this post. Today was Day One of my commute to work on my Trek Soho and it was a blast.
I had everything I needed when I needed it if I needed it and that alone is a great feeling.

When I started commuting by bike, I pedaled to the bus stop and then took the bus up a steep hill that I couldn't handle. 2-wheeled all the way home (down the hill).

After a few weeks, I was waiting for the bus with my bike one day and looked at that hill and thought, I could be at work by now if I just rode up the hill.

The next day I pedaled the hill. Never looked back.

My point (which I forgot to type): Bus/bike for a few weeks allowed me to become fit enough to tackle the hill.

Walmart also sells a Bell water bottle cage that uses an adjustable rubber strap. Accomodates bottles of different sizes and keeps them from slipping out - $6 I think.

Not sure if this has been posted, but:
invest in a pump with a PSI reading, after I got one, I realized that I had been under inflating, which I suspect had been leading to more flats and a slightly more strenuous ride.

Good instruction here: http://www.youtube.com/user/CyclistLorax http://www.youtube.com/user/CyclistL...14/rU4nKKq02BU

Take the lanes. Signal to the traffic behind you and make sure you have plenty of space to get up to speed to commit. Worst thing you can allow to happen is make your merge too short. Just be predictable and consistent. Might be a little intimidating at first, but once you've done it a couple of times, you'll see why this is better than crosswalks. Some left turns are a given from the other side of the intersection, but I've got a few that drivers hesitate at unless I signal to them. From their vantage point, they can't tell if I'm turning left. Not to mention, most cyclists are NOT predictable (at least around here), so I can understand the hesitation. Besides, hand signals are proper and friendly riding IMO.

i'm gonna start commuting the 24th, with a 12 mile drive and a 5 mile bike ride on MUP to start. i'm unfamiliar with the area the college is in, though, so i'm going to scout out some more possible park and ride locations when i take it for a test run on sunday

Hopefully, in time, you'll want to bike the entire distance. And if you haven't already made use of it, Google Maps includes bike route information.

Congrats and good luck!

Congratulations. I assume you've already checked out maps of the area (Google maps are pretty good). Sometimes with exploring you can find some amazing routes that aren't obvious from maps. The maps don't always make the hills obvious either. There's no substitute for a bit of exploring by bike. Test runs on the weekend are an excellent idea. It sounds like you're on the right track.

How to stay safe when you're on the roads.

5 miles each way is a good start for a beginner. 17 miles each way would be a very long distance for most beginners. The entire distance also might be more by bike if a big chunk of his drive is freeway.

I just bought a bike and am so excited to begin half-commuting. I started my 11.5 roundtrip commute on Wednesday, 8/18. It's all on a bike and hike trail. ( I'm still driving my car to reach the trail.)

Ideally, I'd like to do this 3-4 times per week.... what are strategies on building up to do this commute more often? Should I gradually go from 1x/week to 2x/week, etc? Something else??

Any advice is appreciated!