[Closed] commuter kit

Another tube. I managed to rip the valve off one as I was putting it on the wheel - you always want at least 2 with you!
Are your wheels QR? If not, an adjustable spanner.

Water and possibly a banana, in case you caught in a downpour/ headwind?

Make sure you keep some spare pants at work, you will forget your pants!

Gatorskins - assuming its a road ride.

Shoes that are comfy, but you don't really care about as they'll get trashed.

+1 for an additional tube and pants at work.

I wear glasses for reading but not riding so keep a spare pair at work.

clothes/shoes will already be at location if s+*t hits the fan i work next to a masive tesco lol

Drive in one day a week and leave spare clothes and some food at work. I'd try and avoid carrying a bag full of stuff if you can. How hard is the ride?

Shoes that are comfy, but you don't really care about as they'll get trashed.

What? No they won't.

Water and possibly a banana, in case you caught in a downpour/ headwind?

Yep, you can shelter behind your banana in a headwind, and pour the water on yourself when it rains to avoid delaying the inevitable 😕

Commuting is no different to normal riding, particularly if you leave clothes/stuff at your destination. You need exactly what you'd carry for a 12 mile ride, and nowt else! I don't bother with anything to drink over that distance, but do usually take 2 tubes. Don't use lights in summer. Add mudguards for winter.

No special equipment it's only riding a bike.
Trainers, Jeans/Shorts, T-Shirt/Jersey, Baseball cap to deflect sun/rain. Clip on mudguards if it looks like being wet. Lights if dark.
Beetroot and Spinach salad with either Chicken or Tuna protein.
Wallet, keys, phone and occasional change of shirt.

Mine is only six miles though.

longmover - Member

Make sure you keep some spare pants at work, you will forget your pants!

THIS!

And socks.

Best sitaution I saw was a friend sitting in the changing room at work post-commute, all showered and in his suit ready for the day, staring at the floor with his head in his hands..
Me - "What's wrong Mark?"
Mark *poiting at pair of nice black leather brogues* "two left shoes. Sob."

Brilliant! He clacked about work all day in his Sidis.

Mudguards, rack, pannier.

Obviously it depends on what your job is and what facilities are available at work but I leave trainers,trousers, underpants and socks at work. I pack underpants and socks in a dry bag. If I forget either then I've still got something at work to use. I also have a micro-fibre towel and deodorant at work so I don't have to carry them.

Just needs a bit of planning really.

Keep back ups of stuff at work (boxers, socks, belt, cufflinks etc)
Think about your lights and how the batteries get charged, I have chargers at work
I try to plan in advance so I carry my basic tools on the bike in a seat pack, and my own stuff in a bumbag (wallet, phones, keys, security pass, breakfast etc)
Some people like to leave a spare lock at work but I carry it on my bike for those rare instances I have to stop or leave the bike somewhere
Mudguards are great
Carry spare lights

I only cycle once a week but its 16 miles each way

If you read this bit:

I will have work wear and shower kit at location may have to rucksack some food in on the odd day.

It really is just like a normal ride, so you can ignore about 2/3 of the posts!

Stuff like charging lights in winter isn't hard, just do it at home. It's a leisurely 50 minute ride, you don't need to plan for a multi day epic!

Clif Bars in case you get hungry

true that you shouldn't buy expensive kit to ride in because the repeated wearing/washing trashes it

jeans are never good for riding in - go to aldi and get some of their shorts and a pair of shoes if they still have them - run them with SPD520 pedals for cheap and robust

have a coat and pair of shoes at work for going out at lunchtime

Build up a front wheel with a dynamo hub, also have spare lights, just in case the dynamo breaks down. The cheaper Shimano hubs are £50 or so, the Schmidt SONs are things of beauty but at £200+ they aren't cheap.

I would rather consider the care and wear on the cycle you use.

Can I join in?

I think you'll need full team support, with spare wheel and 'raceday' frame on the roof rack. Tarp, meths burner, hydration tabs, water purifier, 2 jackets, spare cleats.
And definitely a banana in case it's windy.

DrP

I also keep my work shoes at work. Although not in trhe same league as forgetting your work trousers (which will happen), a day in the office wearing SPDs is a pain. Less weight too

Two tubes, definitely. I also carry a CO2 inflator, saves a lot of time if I get a puncture and I'm in a rush to get in or home (which, inevitably, I will be). And a waterproof. Also I run Exposure Flash/ Flare lights year-round and bigger lights on dark nights. Otherwise it's just a short road ride really.

Commuting 24 miles everyday all through the year is not like just going out for a weekend ride and its clear that some posters here have never tried it.

Waking up at 6 when its windy, dark and raining outside and knowing you have to get on your bike, ride into a headwind for 12 miles, dry off and get changed (normally in some disabled toilet or other), clean your face of mud splatters etc etc and then stroll downstairs to do a days work, then put on your wet kit again can be daunting until you build up a routine - its all about the routine

Take some washing up gloves in case you need to fix mechanicals - nothing like rolling into a client meeting with black fingernails!

You are starting out at the right time of year as winter commuting requires more planning.

Unless you have limitless kit and full shower facilities at work, mudguards and decent wet weather gear are essential

Three things:
Mudguards
Mudguards
Mudguards

Oh, and lights

Will your bike be in a covered bike shed? Mine used to be locked up outside and as the saddle had fabric scuff pads on the side it would soak up water in the rain, leading to a soggy arse ride back home even if it had stopped raining by then.

I also work opposite a monstrously huge Tesco and M&S, but when I forgot to bring in pants and had to go commando to go shopping I was terrified of being run down and taken to hospital with no underpants on - weird the way your mind works.

Keep your work clothes secure, it's bizarre what people will walk off with. The manager of another company that we used to share our building with pinched the belt out of my trousers in the shower room. Once confronted he got his secretary to return it.

Worth noting if you pass any bike shops and if they are open when you pass

Commuting 24 miles everyday all through the year is not like just going out for a weekend ride and its clear that some posters here have never tried it.

No idea if you're including me in the latter part of that, but I assure you I do, and IMO it really isn't that difficult and plenty of people are over thinking it, particularly in the case of the OP who was the luxury of leaving all his 'stuff' at work, and the implication is that he has a shower. Agree it's different if that's not the case.

You don't need "limitless kit", two days worth will suffice, wear one, wash one. Not hard. Mudguards are a definite in winter, personally I don't bother with waterproofs, YMMV. In winter I find a softshell adequate, in summer I just get wet.

It's more a state of mind than specific kit. I ride most days, either 6-7 miles or 15-17 miles each way. Best tip is to sort kit out in the evening - everything packed/ laid out. Saves time in the morning and less chance of, ahem, omissions.

Hate getting wet in the morning and then having wet kit to ride home in too, hence waterproofs. Evening, not so bothered.

A car for when you can't be bothered.

Altura Night Vision waterproof, jersey and possibly windproof.

Or any other kit that lights you up like a Christmas tree.

I am of course assuming its a road commute.

Tube * 2
Pump
Spare patches
Multi tool
Quick links - plus a small length of chain
Tyre levers - just one for me
Lights

I also carry c02 inflater, strip of groundsheet to patch a sidewall rip, couple of zip ties, jockey wheel bolts, bolt cage bolt, emergency chocolate bar in case I get the bonk (not nice on a 20 mile commute in winter in pishing rain. Think that's it.

njee20, I didn't say you needed limitless kit - read the post.

It also depends where you work - rolling into an up market office building and having to walk through a number of rooms etc before you get to the changing area covered in mud and soaking wet would have been a no no in my last job - hence mudguards and good waterproofs which can be taken off before entering the building

However if you work somewhere like a shop etc that hasn't opened then you can come in how you want

A knife incase a tramp tries to steal your bike.

It also depends where you work - rolling into an up market office building and having to walk through a number of rooms etc before you get to the changing area covered in mud and soaking wet would have been a no no in my last job - hence mudguards and good waterproofs which can be taken off before entering the building

However if you work somewhere like a shop etc that hasn't opened then you can come in how you want

I work in the City for a multinational financial services company, sounds like your old place was just stuffy. Plenty of folk wander around in cycling/running kit in the morning/evening/at lunchtime.

I agreed on the mudguards anyway, but personally (and I added YMMV), don't see much point in waterproofs. You still don't need limitless kit, as was your original suggestion, even without mudguards and waterproofs you don't [i]need [/i]more than 2 sets.

Defo leave the lock at work, carting around a D-lock and cable gets tiresome IMO. I'm lucky as at work I have a shower and drying rail, so wet clothes not too big a deal. Mudguards and decent lights are a must.

Clothing wise, I use DHB commuter shorts over DHB padded liners, Helly Hansen base layer, and a Montane Pertex windproof high vis. I then add knee warmers or tights as necessary if it's cold. I also have a waterproof top for wet days, although to be honest if its peeing down first thing, I'll tend to take the car.

I used to carry 12 tons of everything for my 15mile each way commute despite having showers etc at work. I’ve finally stripped it down to..

2 tubes, mini-puncture repair kit with tyre levers and some cash all stored in a seatpost bag then a 15mm spanner for the Alfine hub and a pump on a bottle cage mount.

Bike has some armadillo wired commuter tyres, no mudguards and I use an exposure race maxx coupled to a flash? Rear light (the one that uses the smart port) along with some smart 1W jobbies for riding at night (oh and a hope vision 1 on the helmet). I can basically strip the bike of nickable stuff in 30 seconds.

Commuting kit includes some 10 year old sets of the black on-one black bib tights, gilet and a aldi baselayer, I have spent money on some nice pearl izumi thick winter gloves though.

I really don’t think you need anything else if you have showers at work, not sure what else I can pare down either.

wow calm down chaps 😆
did a test ride today and its around 50mins each way/12 miles with my mentioned kit loaded which i plan to get down to around 45 its very up and down with some cycle paths i can get some speed up on i have full shower and storage at work allong with kit drying area i hate mudgaurds so just a little badger stripe protector on the rear i have loads of kit and access to more if needed and bike is always mechanicly sound i think it should go down prety well think il probably sort out my co2 as mentioned tho as seems better option

I've clearly got mental issues because I've been laughing for hours about the "banana in case it's windy" comment 😀

Sod carrying loads of kit.... Tubeless wheels filled with sealant is the way forward, no need for tubes n stuff. Never had a flat in 2 years with tubeless wheels and that was riding thorn strewn canal paths most days. Just used to pick them out every few days. This is where your going to say but it's a road bike and not tubeless compatible or something.
Multi tool, decent riding gear, good bag, proper waterproofs, somewhere to dry the blasted clothes and a phone.
I work I a tiny little office with no central heating only a heat pump ceiling cassette and no heater in the toilet. Wet clothes are a major pain in the arse for me. Work moan if I leave dripping clothes in the office and the toilet is minute so there's no where to dry them. I now wear the bear minimum in an attempt to keep the wet stuff off the back of my chair.

heated wet room can deal with those bits throu the day, never really thought about tubless on the road tbh

"banana in case it's windy" comment

(admittedly, makes a heck of a lot more sense when mtbing)

A rack, pannier & full guards just makes it more civilised.
Muc-Off Dry Shower works well if you've no actual showers, & Arrid XX body spray is good too.
Cheap babies nappies are good for stuffing inside wet shoes, they draw the moisture out, but tissue / newspaper works well if changed regularly. Overshoes are your bestest friend though.
Keep the drivetrain well oiled too.
And tone down the speed for the last mile or so, to cool down a bit.
My shirts get folded around a magazine, so they slip inside the laptop bag, once folded they can be rolled if needed, & come out pretty crease less. Trousers, again, fold along the crease line.
Leave a set of shoes at work.

Making do, with no guards & a rucksacks etc, is ok but single digit temp wet commutes are that more bearable with the right kit.

hate carrying rucksacks on tbe road bike espesh when commuting when i get all hotso its just emergency bits il be carrying

If you have a dedicated commuter bike and you're riding all year round then you will want to fit mudguards. You'll soon get over your irrational hatred.

If you are planning to commute right through the winter then tyres with some sort of puncture protection are a godsend and a light on your helmet is not just useful for helping people see you but also for seeing what your doing if you have to fix a puncture or mechanical problem. I was really surprised how many punctures I got during my 1st winter of commuting. I can go all summer without a single puncture but come winter you can easily pick up 2 or 3 on a commute.

If you have a dedicated commuter bike and you're riding all year round then you will want to fit mudguards. You'll soon get over your irrational hatred.

not as of yet iv slicked my cross bike while i sort a drivetrain for the roadbike which will be a full time commuter its a fair bit lighter and faster

looks like some 4seasons may be on my first staff purchase then

I ride a hub geared pompetemine with full mudguards and rack. Slime tubes in some kind of toughened tyres. Two pannier bags:

Bag 1: laptop, charger, mouse all in neoprene sleeve. Work notebook and whatever paperwork I'm having to carry around. Pre ironed shirt folded round towel (I take a small one in every day, they stink the office out otherwise) with underwear and tie - all in waterproof bag.

Bag 2: lunchbox, some old waterproof trousers for inter office rides during the day, small toolkit with 2 tubes, multi tool, levers, patches, spanner. Pump. Very small lock. Everything else like bb, pass, wallet, phone, etc.

Moving to panniers after years of carrying heavy laptop on back has been a revelation.

I leave a couple of suits, pairs of shoes and wash kit at work. And have just ordered a brompton to leave in the office for journeys during the day.

Agree that preparation is everything. I lay everything out the night before...like many above I have forgotten things (cuff links the main offender)

Kit wise, old padded shorts, humvees (3/4 all year), whatever Jersey I put my hands on, showerproof coat. As above, spend money on really good winter gloves if you feel the cold...have a couple of buffs ready for the cold months, and sealskin socks can be good unless you go through flooded roads.

I enjoy it more in the winter...love the feeling of being up against it.

Got some marathon plus tyres no punctures in 4 years doing 100 miles a week in London
Muktitool fresh pants socks T-shirt + lunch
Keep trousers wash kit towel shoes in work

looks like some 4seasons may be on my first staff purchase then

Yep, good choice. I got one flat on mine all winter. Get some clip on mudguards for winter though, not just for commuting, all winter riding.

I ride a hub geared pompetemine with full mudguards and rack