[Closed] Commuting - So it begins! Plus some Questions.

Well done!
My commute is also 13 miles but not flat and all shared with cars so quite unpleasant. I ought to start doing the drive in/ride home/ride back in the next day thing to take one fat person out of a car a couple of times a week.
I snapped a chain once riding to work a couple of years ago and that was a pita. So quick links need to be in the bag

Quick response between meetings:

- For small handy bits (phone, keys, work pass ETC) a top tube bag is a good call (you can get bolt on ones), or something like a 'bagel' bar bag a la Straight Cut Designs.

- For me, tools and small spares live in a tool roll under my saddle, inner tube strapped to the frame with a Voile strap and Lezyne micro-drive (or similar) pump goes in my bag.

- Commuting is great, I appreciate it more now after 2+ years working from home, it's a great way to start and end the day.

My only initial observation is that small items like work phone, watch and house keys have nowhere to live securely, they just rattle around on top. What is the best solution for these?

I have a life venture wash bag/toiletry bag which is ideal for keeping stuff like that in. Sits in top of whatever else is in your main compartment.

A spare tube, pump, multitool (inc rudimentary chain tool) is all I carry. 2xCO2 would be fine instead of a pump, but roadie pumps can be so small and light that CO2 doesn't seem to save much weight.

Tubeless tyres seem very reliable for commuting. At least, once they properly sealed (which took weeks in my case).

Enjoy it, it's a nice time of year to start with the weather being better and more light in the evenings. Keep it up and you'll just be in the routine of doing it by the time the miserable winter rolls around!

small items like work phone, watch and house keys have nowhere to live securely, they just rattle around on top. What is the best solution for these?

A pencil case

I was always too paranoid to carry co2 alone, because what if you have two punctures?

carry everything...
being 6.5 miles from work or home is a long distance to cover pushing your bike
ive got a topeak ninja pump in my seatpost
currently a small frame bag with tube, tyre boot, multitool, levers and co2, i need to chuck a link in there.. well reminded
id rather move all my tools around the bike, thinking a oenup edc in the steerer.. maybe some tyre plugs in the bar ends, keep my frame bag for waterproof jacket or something...

small items like work phone, watch and house keys have nowhere to live securely, they just rattle around on top. What is the best solution for these?

better attached to you, so pockets, but there plenty of easily removable tt bags

riding without any tools

something you always leave on the bike and forget about until you need it, e.g. saddlebag, bottle, etc. and always pump.

ridged bike with the tyres pumped up hard.

don't pump your tyres up so hard

One of those bottle cage tool bags is great for carrying a tube, keys, patches, multi-tool, etc.

There's quite a choice of them on the PlanetX site or just see if you have an old sunglasses case which fits snugly.

After some advice on here I ended up with a rack and thule panniers. I always take a tube/pump/multitool. Last week saw 3 punctures after the local farmer did the hedges on the cycle path. I've since invested in some kevlar inners to sit between the tube and tyre.

I had an under-saddle bag that had a tube, puncture kit, quick link and a multi-tool in it, and a pump mounted to the bottle cage.

Phone/keys/pass/wallet etc went in a little drybag in my jersey pocket.

Tubes and multi tool stay in the carradice saddle bag which is only used with that bike so they’re always present. Two tubes, tyre levers, multi tool (and 15 mm spanner for the fixie)
Zefal frame fit pump rathe than micro pump. Nothing worse than faffing around trying to inflate a tyre with a crappy pump. Keys, glasses, emergency jacket, house pass for getting on site at work and phone all go in a bar bag

I've a top tube bag for tools, inner tube, pump and buff. It lives on that bike anyway. Lock stays on bike rack at work.

A single pannier is enough, even on days I lug laptop in with clothes and lunch. So much easier to load / unload at each end, unclip and wander to loo to get changed.

I have 10km ride - usually in morning if I am early enough I go via main road (mainly downhill) as I keep up with traffic. However on way home I always go the higher route due to traffic, and I will be climbing at so much slower than the cars. I also in the morning have to 'hold back' on pedalling so I don't arrive a sweaty heap.

I only managed it a couple of times a week, and through winter the weather can dictate it a lot for me.

Edit: I should add that the higher route is also traffic free for about half of it, through SSSI woodland and gorge.
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Good stuff.

Thanks for all the feedback folks. Looks like i need to buy a few bits and bobs to cover all bases.

i appreciate the info and experience.

Buy a frame pump. Way better than CO2 or minipumps.

I've had tools rot in a commuter saddlebag (I think even good ones give in to constant road spray every day). I kinda stopped with permanently attached saddlebags as a result.

I use a waterproof, zip open tool bottle in one of my cages for commuting. I can swap it between bikes, I can easily remove it so it doesn't get stolen and it's large enough for tubeless kit, pump, multitool with chain tool, tube , tyre levers and zip ties. 4 years and everything is still shiny and dry. Does look a bit rubbish, but better than a saddlebag/toptubebag which would hold all that.

My only initial observation is that small items like work phone, watch and house keys have nowhere to live securely, they just rattle around on top.

Keys go in a jersey or jacket pocket - preferably on the front, if on a jacket. Watch goes on the wrist - where else? Phone goes in a Lezyne phone wallet, along with sone spare change and any debit card that I need. This provides a decent amount of protection from weather and crashing.

Everything else is either in a slimline backpack, or left in work. (Shoes, jumper, contact lens stuff, etc). I ride around 9 miles in, and anything from 10-25 miles home with a choice of full on black style MTB tracks if I choose them, hence the backpack.

Welcome to the gang. You're going to love it.

I can't recommend the ortlieb panniers highly enough. They're brilliant. And bombproof. Most days I get away with 1, today I was doing an event so needed both to carry the extra stuff. Mine have a wee mesh bit that I throw my phone in.

Mudguards. Seriously, full commuter mudguards are great for keeping gank off you and your stuff.

I've got a topeak mountain morph under the down tube. It's in a plaggy bag to keep the last of the mud off.

I made my own bottle toolkit with a cheap water bottle, a tube, some tubeless poo sticks, a multi tool, split links and a pair of nitrile gloves. Works a treat.

I only have a short commute (8km a day), though I wish it was a bit longer (nobody who drives to work thinks that), so I don't bother with tools or puncture stuff but I would for a longer commute. I also just ride in my work clothes.

My takes:
Not getting a puncture is better than fixing it quickly, so puncture resistant tyres are a must for me. I run Schwalbe Marathon Plus on my commuter. Just two punctures in ~10000km of commuting on them, one of which was because I let them wear too much and a small piece of stone embedded in a cut worked its way through, despite me just riding through any broken glass on the route.

Full mudguards, with flaps.

Keep lights/tools/etc on the bike and use different sets to your other bikes so you don't forget to transfer them back.

Two front lights, three rear lights. That way one can die without you noticing and it's okay. (Three on the back because you're less likely to notice.)

If possible, have a second bike that you can commute on just in case.

@miketually - thanks for the tip about tyres. Someone did mention them to me recently as well.

I am not up to speed on road/gravel bike tyre sizing... my current ones are 700 x 37c. The schwalbe's are available in 700c 35mm or 700c 38mm (amongst other sizes), would one of these be the closest equivalent to my current tyre? i am just unsure if the mm replacing the c after the width is basically the same thing?

Regarding the pump/co2 question......pump for sure.

I've stopped several times to help stranded cyclists and either they have no spares at all or they have co2 inflators that haven't worked.
Only last week I dropped off the guy I lift share with and there's a bloke on the grass verge trying to sort a puncture. I asked if he wanted a hand (although didn't really have anything to help him with) and he told me that his co2 inflators wasn't working and he had a puncture.
I ended up offering him a lift to a nearby bike shop so he could get sorted there.

@v7fmp Yeah, they're the same (approx) sizes.

I've loved commuting this winter. It gets easier if you do it lots and it becomes a habit rather than organising it from scratch each time. Riding in the dark morning and night is the best.
My tips - Leave as much stuff as you can at work. One day a week drive in with clean clothes and take home dirties. Tools and tube in saddle bag as usual. Sandwich and an apple in jersey pocket. Water bottle on bike. Lights charged at work but stay on bike at home.

And if you are driving and see a stranded cyclist, stop and offer a lift on your roof rack for extra karma points!

@robbo - i am hoping to commute enough over the good weather months that when winter comes round, it is as you say habit, so i will soldier on.

I have an Endura onesie for the grim winter, so i can always wear that when it gets proper wet and cold.

That's a similar distance to mine. My approach is: carry as little as possible. So I leave a selection of clothes in my desk drawer at work and lock/chain attached to the rack in the bike shed at work. Tools/spares under saddle (although now I'm worried about them rotting!), phone (=train ticket) and keys in pocket, no wallet. Some days I have a rucksack (laptop, clothes refresh etc) and wish I had a pannier, but the best days are when I find a way to go without.
I try to go slow on the way in.
Puncture wise? I go tubeless, with a repair kit and mini pump but no tubes. But I had a 4 mile walk when a tyre unseated the other day so don't copy me.
And I love my moon aerolite. Totally convinced in low light that it buys me space from passing cars.

I've just ordered a tool pouch to go in my pannier to stash my keys, wallet, phone. It's a PITA at the end of your ride trying to find them amongst all the spare clothes, butty box, tools etc. as they invariably work their way down to the dark bottom corners of the bag. Thanks for the prompt!

Also, Continental Contact Speed tyres for the win, Schwalbe Marathons are a pig to pedal. Full mudguards. Pick the better days weather wise if you aren't doing it every day.

This pump is freaking awesome VFM.

Riding in the dark morning and night is the best.

I've been doing it for so long now that it's routine to set off in any weather, dark or light, but it's really nice when you start noticing that you need to use your lights less and less, and then start noticing buds on the tress and finally, like this week, can start discarding layers for the ride home.

Well done !
I'm missing my commute whilst I'm still WFHing. Looking forward to going back to the office for that reason.
Here's a couple of thoughts ....
Do you have to leave your bike outside at work unattended ? This may affect your choice of attaching more things to your bike, the more you attach the more you have to remove once at work. Maybe easier to keep with the minimum panniers, or a backpack like I got to using.
I had lights, saddlebag, Garmin, pump etc etc attached, all of which I had to remove once I got to work which became a PITA. Luckily I wangled being able to take my bike into the building so it was no longer a problem.
I have a few of these in various sizes for keeping the smaller stuff in :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233530632578?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item365f82a982:g:hEcAAOSwnu1ecQoj&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA4HECeZyXntT4HvyL2pyiKEgtaU18aBY2MWYjpMIwXk1UqkQ4fyiOEt3%2FLYQ0NcnQlahIF1sdPtsUaZiBlg05j0VKU5BmnwKCHNzpvfYqH3IliI8JRo0QBFoATLj1dr9TSKmE2IJWUMQ2fTEqspYIRLI%2B8sXVATwRqZ5ypwBg%2FkBl5ybXw081sikfN5leEeezg1%2FpMaPanWUOSkiNIH2J9bFoHMxE6GIE0IbkFc%2B65H%2F4rY%2BjA7b4IAoxBlgXvo9wapUdabElNVxYbTVBtpBBGDYI7EL3WI38gjmaZi8N%2Bgkd%7Ctkp%3ABFBM6ILP9PZf

If you also ride outside of the commute, then have second toolkit etc so that you don't have keep transferring it between bikes / bags, sooner or later you'll forget something.

Leave as much stuff as you can at work, shoes, clothes, glasses, laptop, washkit etc etc. Replenish on those days where you have to drive in or make a special trip once a week.

Add some small (e.g. Leatherman) pliers to your kit perhaps to deal with those pesky nuts on tubless valves which get stupidly tight. Also some zipties, a small roll of tape (or a length of tape wrapped round your pump (or Co2 cart) and a spare battery for your lights/cadence thing if you use them.
Perhaps a knife for chopping off the end of those tubeless repair worm things.
I always use a CO2 inflator, but usually carry a pump too, just in case, somewhere in the bag.
Go tubeless if you can, far fewer punctures in my experience, irrespective of bike/wheel/tyre choice.
Mudguards, definately for the winter.

Mudguards do make a big difference when you're going to be out in all weathers, definitely worth considering. An emergency fold up waterproof is a good one to have with you, or left at work just in case.

Some basic tools are useful but definitely one spare tube, tyre levers and pump at a minimum. None of this needs to be fancy, just reliable and will work after being neglected for a while.

Leave frequently used work stuff on site, such as a washbag, towel, lock, work shoes if possible. If you have a laptop, can you ask IT support for an extra powerpack and leave that at work? Minimise what you need to carry as much as possible.

Once a week try and do a basic bike wipe-down and check for splits or foreign objects in the tyres.

My commute is similar, about 10 miles / 45min each way by bike on usual roads apart from the last mile or so which is an A-road with an appalling standard of driving.

Convenience trumps everything when commuting, I leave the saddle bag of spares, frame pump, trouser clips etc on the bike so it's just ready to go. For the same reason, it has dynamo lights. Because if anything is left to being sorted out in the morning, it'll go missing, you'll be 5 minutes late and end up having to drive to make up the time.

Work stuff for the day goes in a 10l drybag that I bungee to a front rack.

Wallet, phone, keys, security pass, just go in my shorts pockets.

My commute is 6 miles, and I only tend to do it when it's dry anyway. No tools or puncture repair kit - have heavy duty commuter tyres and slime-filled inner tubes, plus my commuter is hub-geared, so SS chain. Backpack with work clothes in, and I keep a wash kit and towel at work for having a shower. Two each of front and rear lights, plus mudguards just in case it rains.

I got back to commuting in September whilst in the office. Did it for years into Manchester City centre, but too many broken bones, and a broken spine, stopped that 6 years ago. I've got rid of the fixed gear road bike (with rack and panniers) and I'm now using my old 90's XT equipped MTB 13 miles down the canal, with same panniers.

One side it's waterproofs, laptop (in a shockproof wallet) and tubes repair kit. Other side goes shoes, clothing, wet wipes, deo, pump etc. I've the front roller classics, so have a couple of pockets. My normal glasses go in a case inside my shoe, then in other shoe goes wallet, keys and security pass. Phone is wedged between shoes. They are heavy, but I don't have anywhere to store stuff at work. At a pinch I could leave shoes.

Bar the laptop (as I'm WFH and office) I used to carry the same on the road bike as I was also at different offices too.

I carry CO2 for emergencies - e.g a flat if time constrained, where 10 minutes delay would mean missing a meeting. Not used them in ages. The pump is a copy of my Lezyne off Amazon - it's a mini track pump with gauge and get's the MTB tyres upto 40 PSI without issue, despite being cheap as chips (if it had been rubbish I'd have used the Lezyne). Only issue I've had is in Autumn was the canal hedge trimming - got hit by thorns nearly every ride, so switched to Schwalbe Land cruisers with extra puncture protection strips. 13 miles via canal takes about an hour

Add some small (e.g. Leatherman) pliers to your kit perhaps to deal with those pesky nuts on tubless valves which get stupidly tight.

This is actually a very good shout. I had a puncture a couple of months back, and I couldn't get the valve core out so even though I had a spare tube, I couldn't fit it. Had to admit defeat and call for a lift home.

(As it happens, I could undo it even with workshop pliers and had to drill it out. But that's gotta be pretty rare).

Convenience trumps everything when commuting

And this ^^^

Cars are, for most people, still more convenient than riding. Assuming you have the option to drive, if you're getting repeatedly delayed by gathering little things then the car becomes an attractive option.

Mudguards are essential. I've fitted a long home made flap to my front guard to keep the mud spray down.

a never ending onslaught of absolutely top notch info and tips. Much appreciated everyone.

I have a small shopping list to get the essentials on the go.

awesome stuff!

As others have also said, different repair kits etc. Have the commute stuff separate. I have kit for road, commute, proper MTB, and just pottering - saves 'forgetting' anything.

As others have also said, different repair kits etc. Have the commute stuff separate. I have kit for road, commute, proper MTB, and just pottering – saves ‘forgetting’ anything.

+1 to that, same here with a dedicated repair kit for my commuting setup. No rack in my case, everything goes in an EVOC Explorer Pro 30 rucsac inc 14" laptop - works better than a rack for the mostly off-road routes I use. Plus that particular bag has the usual EVOC amount of pockets etc for stashing stuff in place.

Tubeless plugs inc one pre-loaded on the prong
Mini pump
Spare tube
Puncture repair kit
Chain quick links
Multi-tool inc chain tool

I keep another spare tube plus a cheap track pump at work which is more a throwback to before I went tubeless.

Regular readers will be aware I'm a huge tubeless fan but not on a commuter bike.

I'm going to be back to commuting a couple of days a week from April - used to do 6 miles each way every day, but with job changes and Covid I've not done it for a few years.

Will be doing 11 miles each way, but on a much nicer route (and I'll probably take the scenic route home at least occasionally).

Really looking forward to it, perfect time to start. Need to get some new mudguards as I actually managed to break my old ones!

All my spares fit a screw top caddy that sits in the cage comme ci. I just use a courier bag for lunch, shirt, waterproofs etc. My commute is just 8 miles both ways, but it's still a great way to start and  finish your day.

Full mudguards are a must and also can recommend Schwalbe tyres; just 2 punctures in 18 months, and although it's nearly off road (yey) it's covered in broken bottle (boo)

Small sharp knife. My rear wheel once jammed soild with twine and I couldn’t remove it with fingers.

11 miles each way over a hill so up and down each way.About 7 on gravel etc. Bike is disc braked steel CX (Cotic X) . 35mm near slick tyres so fine for the forestry commisson gravel and muddy single track or home via the Forest of Dean graded blues and reds. Bottle cage tool box lives on the bike. (two bottle bottoms rammed together) 1 tube, 1 lever, spare links, SPD bolts, cheap multi tool. Fit and forget plus frame fit pump. Tubeless set up but I occasionally swap wheels if bearing need work etc. Mudgaurds with huge flaps.Dynamo. Brilliant! Carradice bag on SQR mount so it goes inside with me. Room for daily jumper, shirt, pants. Trews go in to work about every 3 days plus room for sarnies etc. No water bottle. it's an hour and either way the uphill is at the start. Full change of kit to ride in except socks. Spare sock, pants at wrok in case I forget. Occasionally I drive for other reasons so then I swap out other things at work like a fleece jacket, polished shoes etc. Phone is intergral pouch in saddle bag but as I don't switch it one from one week to the next it may be flat. Meh. Watch on wrist and bank card in phone case. Door keys "hidden" at home.
The only thing I forget is my ID badge/door fob even though it hangs on the front door.
Leaving home in the dark in January in slashing rain is tough at times but from about 3 weeks ago until November it's light.

I go with an undersaddle-bag with tools/tube etc, and use an Ortlieb commuter bag ( https://www.ortlieb.com/uk_en/commuter-bag-two-urban+F70664) which has a laptop sleeve and lots of pockets for phone, wallet etc. I leave work trousers etc in the office and just take in what is required day-to-day. We have showers so I take a clean towel every now and then, and just use a standard pannier on the other side to the commuter bag when I need more capacity.

Another upvote for schwalbe marathons and full length mudguards. Not had a puncture in 4 years of commuting (that's tomorrow screwed...).

When you get into the routine it becomes second nature and no hassle. Apart from the day when you forget to take clean clothes in and end up sitting in meetings in your bibs...

I don't think I'd run mudguards all year round for commuting.

For tyres, I don't think I'd go with ultra puncture proof ones. Too slow rolling. But as soon as you start getting punctures, replace them.

Other useful hacks are keeping a small set of spares/tools at work. Tubes/cables/batteries/half reasonable set of allen keys.

Oh, and at least a spare set of cycling socks/gloves in the office too. Makes it much more pleasant if you get soaked going in.

Oh and consider Putoline chain wax. Far more durable than normal lube and your components will last a long longer. Yes, more trouble to apply but for most of the time your bike is maintenance free which for me is a big plus for a commuter.

Leave whatever footwear you need for work, at work.
Even the best mudguards don't keep your shoes clean/dry in bad weather so make sure you always have appropriate/dry footwear at work.

I'm firmly in the "travel light" category and don't have a shower/changing facilities at work so ride very slowly to work so I'm not a sweaty mess. Generally, if the weather forecast is good, I'll try to skip using a jacket but I leave a cheap waterproof cycling jacket in the office in case I ride in without a jacket and then the weather goes downhill during the day...

I'm lucky to have two workplaces with interesting commutes and good facilities at both locations (locked swipe card access and good changing rooms with lockers).
One is 30km pretty flat with 2/3rds gravel and some single-track options.
The other is closer to 40km, 1000m climb (some nasty 20% stuff too) but all asphalt.
I use an MTB regardless and carry all the stuff I would normally (plus epic amounts of lunch). EDC Pump, dynaplugs, tube, snake bandage, TP in my Henty backpack or Cotic framebag.

I love it though, aim to do it once or twice a week, the flat route in particular is so peaceful. Roos and trees and me.

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This is my solution to the loose phone, keys etc:

View this post on Instagram

works well with Ortlieb panniers.

lots to absorb here, but seems like common themes running throughout.

Today was day 3 of the commute and thus far, no issues and really enjoying it. As folks have said, sets me up for the day and gives me something to look forward to at the end.

I like the looks of the tool 'bottles'. I dont carry a drink, so can use the existing cage or if needs be get a second. I assume its probably better to get a larger, more efficient pump than a stumpy one that might fit in the bottle (assuming they even exist).

Or on the flip side, i do have a spare one-up EDC tool, so could combine this with a one-up pump (assuming they can still fit in the handle), then put a tube and levers elsewhere?

So many options!

Work shoes stay at work, so thats one less thing to carry. Thankfully i get away with working in jeans & t-shirt, so i dont have too much to carry, clothes wise.

I am also learning the art of pedalling at a sensible pace, keeping the heart rate between 130-140, which appears to allow me to have sufficient pace that i can get to work on time and not be soaking wet with sweat.

And also learning that my average speed over the first half is lower that the second half, due to navigating roads etc, so i can claw back 'lost' average speed on the second half of the journey.

although i could be totally overthinking it.... 😀 😀

keeping the heart rate between 130-140,

That’s not a commute, that’s a work out! 😉

Today was day 3 of the commute and thus far,

You've really picked a plum week to start! It's not quite so much fun in the middle of December. 😱

We'll revisit this again in 6 months time to properly discuss lights and reflective/waterproof gear. 👍

That’s not a commute, that’s a work out! 😉

It can be both. Since you mentioned it, I checked and my HR is around 120-130bpm average for my commutes. But on Monday I was running VERY late for my kid's parents' evening so I was absolutely gunning it home. HR was above 170 for large parts of the ride! I made it in time, just. Despite my heroic efforts, my wife was still not impressed. Weird.

Great day today. I came in the long way through some woods on the outskirts of town. Lovely.

My commute is 25 miles each way, including @matt_outandabout 's high/low route choice, for the same reasons. Usually do it once or twice a week, and take about an hour and a half. I'm lucky as scotrail provide a get-out of the ride home if needed.

Multitool, glueless patches & CO2 is in a saddle bag. From experience, I can fill two road tyre's with enough air to get home from one cartridge - they hold alot less than an MTB.
I keep a tube strapped to the frame of each bike (then I always have the right size for the bike I'm on), and a bag under the top-tube for phones & keys. A towel & change of clothes live in the office.

I haven't done it yet this year due to COVID, then hurting my back on a BMX enforcing 2 months off the bike. I've got an e-bike arranged for next week (thanks to Donnie at Synergy 🚲) to ease me back into it, and I can't wait, but my wallet hopes I don't like the e-bike too much 😂

I don’t think I’d run mudguards all year round for commuting.

If you get a decent set then there really is no downside to them. And they make riding in the occasional summer downpour less miserable.

So many options!

Don't overcomplicate it.

Seriously, just get blackburn frame pump.

Fiddly hidden multitools and tiny pumps sound like the absolute worst idea ever when combined with cold hands and late for meeting on a drizzly January morning. You want a nice chunky easy to use tool, tyre levers, and a frame pump.

That’s not a commute, that’s a work out! 😉

I do mine fairly flat out on the fixie so any small hills are attacked by default.

To end up with BO you need both bacteria and sweat for them to live in. If you shower before setting off and use a deodorant you won't get smelly on the bike however sweaty you get, there isn't time. Just time your efforts so you're not still sweating when you put your clean clothes on at work.

That does depend on your work though. I'm lucky that I work in a portacabin on site so with the windows and doors wide open it's a nice cool temperature today. When I used to work in a corporate office with its horrible recycled air and constant 21C the only solution was a freezing cold shower otherwise I'd just not cool down and sit there sweating all morning even though my commute was only 3 miles!

-

first time back bike commuting this year. I drive halfway and then green lane it into the office. the main roads into totnes are horrible. takes about an hour.

despite the sun, it was bloody cold in some of the shaded valleys this morning.

Welcome to commuter club!
My setup:
saddle bag
2 tubes
crank bros 17 multi tool (chain tool & spoke keys inc)
puncture kit with spare quick links inside
tyre lever
spare disk pads
duck tape
pump on a bottle cage mount (lezyne, alloy drive medium)
shower proof & overshoes strapped into bottle cages
full mudguards
bell
phone/wallet/keys in jersey/jacket pockets.
Pack any bike attached toolbags carefully, constant rattle or soakings can cause problems (threaded valves sawing through tubes, multitools seizing up etc) Using a bumbag prevents rattle issues and allows you to easily swap bikes but at the cost of a sweaty midriff.

Tubeless or marathon/similar tyres are a good shout, but Ive struggled with tubeless on my CX and land cruisers are a heavy, dead ride with not much offroad grip. I find puncture rates acceptable if I use decent tyres. The folding version of tyres (usually conti) tend to be better materials all round and fewer flats, wired version = punctures galore.

On days like this where temps fluctuate a lot, arm warmers and gillets are great, add remove on the fly and stash in jersey pockets. Over relatively short commutes I prefer quick drying shoes over "waterproof" so mid-weight shoes, with the overshoes option when its chucking it down.

I prefer to carry as little as possible, so use train once a week to drop off clothes for the week, but not an option for some.

I don’t think I’d run mudguards all year round for commuting.

If you get a decent set then there really is no downside to them. And they make riding in the occasional summer downpour less miserable.

I usually take my mudguards off and change to more off-road compatible tyres (for the longer off-road routes that summer permits) in ~April and change back in ~October. I would also consider full guards an absolute requirement in winter, but in summer I'm happy to take my chances. Off-roading is quieter without guards, and there's something satisfying about seeing a spinning tyre under you. Just me?

It's tempting to make the change this week but the long-range forecast has snow next week so I don't want to jump the gun.

That’s not a commute, that’s a work out! 😉

Let's face it, commuter racing is fun. I passed a guy on his road bike a few weeks ago, on a gentle rise. Exchanged hellos, etc, and wouldn't have been annoyed if he'd re-passed me, but he sat on my back wheel, so I had to give it some beans. We had a 4 mile 2 man TT, with me on the front into the wind all the way, trying not to show that I was putting any effort in. 300W average for that part of the commute and tired legs the next day. 😀

Ha - me too this afternoon. From Connah's Quay college to about half way up the route 5 to Chester. He won, but I was on my panniered up commute bike and he was on a carbon race whip.

Got to give it a shot though eh? 😃

20 miles each way. Have done it 5 days a week but mostly 3/4 now. Don't take any more than I would on a regular ride during the summer but I carry a bit more kit in the winter. I take a folded-up space blanket (a square about 5 cm a side and weighs nothing) after I crashed once and whacked my hip. Luckily it was just outside work but it was proper cold and I wondered what state I'd been in had it happened on a back road in the dark miles away from anywhere at just over zero degrees.

Always a pump but CO2 as well in the winter to potentially minimise time spent standing on the side of the road if the fairy visits. Almost never happens, and I reckon I've had one in maybe five years if not more - tubeless on the gravel bike and decent winter tyres pumped fairly hard on the road bike.

Put a spare pair of socks, shorts and gloves in work in case you get soaked on the way in. Jersey and base might dry on their own, but putting the other bits back on wet in the evening is no fun...