Equipment
The Bike: Here’s some good news. It doesn’t really matter what kind of bike you have. The co-worker I mentioned previously rides a rather heavy hybrid bicycle. Is it the fastest thing he can buy? No. Does it matter? Not necessarily. The only reason I don’t give a definitive “no” is that I can see the case where maybe someone might want a nicer or more performance oriented bike. In my co-worker’s case, his wife complains about how long it has been taking him to do his (largely uphill) commute home in the evenings so he can help with the kids. While I think to some extent this problem will be alleviated in time as he gains more fitness, I cannot help but wonder how much time he might save on a lighter, more performance oriented bike.
Does this mean he needs a Tour de France machine like Lance Armstrong? Hardly. Many bike manufacturers now make a variety of machines to suit almost anyone’s riding style. Personally, I commute on a road bike. My reasons for this are 1) I am used to the road bike position and handling and 2) It was a cheap option, since I had an older bike that had once been my main racing machine, but had since been upgraded with a newer ride. I was able to refit my old racing bike to suit the needs of commuting without spending much money.
My personal favorite for the novice commuter is the “flat bar road bike.” The design is akin to a hybrid bicycle, except that the tires are not as fat, the gears are a little bigger, and they are much lighter bikes. Unlike road bikes, however, which tend to hunch the rider over the handle bars, “flat bar road bikes” keep the rider in a more upright position so that they are more comfortable and can better keep their eyes on traffic.
The main thing to consider when picking a bike is your route. Is it hilly? Is it long? Is it paved all the way? Do I have to dismount and carry it up any stairs? Is my spouse going to get pissed if I take too long to get home? If your commute is long and on roads that are in good condition, you might find a traditional road bike is your best bet. If you have to ride on smooth dirt or gravel paths during your commute, you might find a flat-bar road bike is a good option. If you have to ride through city streets with bad pavement and potholes and curbs to jump up on, a hybrid or even a mountain bike might be best for you. You local bike shop can help you choose a bike that is best for you.
Helmet: This is a must. Maybe you grew up riding bikes before we had helmets and love the wind blowing in your hair, but chances are you have too many people in your life that care about you and would be devastated if you got hurt in an accident. Even the pros in the Tour de France have to wear helmets now. There are many lightweight models that are designed to keep your head cool. While not as cool as the wind in your hair, they are definitely cooler than an ACE bandage wrapped around your head in the hospital.
Accessories
Bike Shorts: These are also a must. I know some of you are thinking, “There’s no way I’m squeezing my fat ass into bike shorts and showing up to the office.” The main benefit of bike shorts is the padding, or “chamois” that is stitched into the seat to give your bum a break. While your coworkers might laugh when you start riding, after a few months of commuting your butt will look like it was chiseled by Michelangelo himself. Then who will be laughing? If this isn’t enough, there are padded bike shorts that are not made of Lycra and look more like a pair of swim trunks, but in my opinion they are not as comfortable.
I should point out, however, that bike shorts are not a 100% preventative against a sore bum. I call it the “ass callous.” Much like a guitar player’s fingers or a carpenters palm, the human butt will toughen up after being put to such use. Initially, your bum is likely to give you some misery until you develop your own “ass callous” Happily, that tends to happen in about the same time it takes to get your legs and the rest of your body up to speed on the physical requirements for commuting. Again, when I was out of the country, I lost my own “ass callous” It took a few weeks to get it back. In the mean time, any good skin lotion is good for treating chafing or other tenderness. There are also special creams designed to be applied to the padding in bike shorts to alleviate discomfort. Trust me; it’s not as bad as it sounds.
On a side note, you should know that bike shorts are not designed to be worn with underwear. They are a self-contained unit. Leave the skivvies at home. They will only cause you more pain.
Fenders: I think this is one thing that is almost a must for commuting. They spare you from tire spray when you ride through mud puddles or if you are on a wet road, which means no unsightly “rooster tails” going up your back. If you get caught in the rain, they keep your front tire from throwing water up into your face as well. Thankfully, my former road racing steed had enough tire clearance to accommodate fenders, but keep in mind that many road bikes do not have enough space to do this. I remember as a kid I thought that fenders were the dorkiest things in the world and that I would never have them. Now, I can’t imagine not having them.
Lights: If you commute year-round and if you’re reading this I hope you plan to, then you will need a good light system. Unfortunately, the little light powered by the C battery is not going to do the trick unless you happen to live in a city where all the streets are very well lit at night. The good news is that there are many companies that make very good quality rechargeable light systems that produce impressive amounts of light – sometimes brighter than a car’s headlights. These systems can be recharged from a regular outlet in your house. The bad news is that many of these systems are quite expensive. In my experience, I find its better to buy a good quality light rather than get something cheap. As with most things, you get what you pay for, but by no means do you need the most expensive options that are so bright they could light up a Hollywood film set or a crime scene. If anything, you’ll only piss off other cyclists riding towards you at night when you blind them. A cheap light often ends up forcing you to buy another light, and in the end you wind up spending more than you would have if you had just coughed up the money for a decent one. On the other hand, taillights are cheap across the board!
Backpack or Panniers: An age-old question among bike commuters. Which one is better? Again, this is a question of preference. Personally, I like the backpack, but I think that is because I am much more conscious of how my bike handles underneath me. After years of racing, panniers make my bike’s handling feel “weird” to me. Many panniers have the added bonus of rain covers that keep the contents of your bag dry. That way if you get hit with any rain on your way to work, your suit won’t be a mess. Of course panniers require that a rack be installed on your bike, which is an added cost. Keep in mind that many road bikes are not built with the required fixtures on the frame to accommodate a rack.