You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Lots of good advice for the OP to take or leave. I would add 1) don't ever clean or maintain your commuter and 2) don't ever spend any money on your commuter
(unless absolutely necessary of course)
Do you have any leeway on the times you ride in?
also, rain radar. If you have any flexibility leaving a bit early/sharp/or working a bit late (or sitting and reading a book for a while) is a sensible alternative to riding in a short heavy shower.
have an emergency change in work in a plastic bag just incase you forget something. I have trousers, shoes, towel, a coat that live at work so I don't lug them.
I change at work because work clothes are invariably the wrong amount of layers for riding and it's a nicer experience to have a fresh shirt
Dynamo lights if you can, multiple sets of usb rechargeable also to make sure you have backup. I have one solid and one flashing on the rear because permanently on is better for other road users to perceive position but flash gets their attention
I use a backpack because you feel panniers swinging round (which is fine for touring but commuting is a pita) and it's easier to get from the bike shed to showers to desk. If you pack smart you don't carry that much - roll your shirt around the pants/socks
A really tough rear tyre, something nicer on the front like michelin Pro4 endurance or similar - the toughest tyres use a hard rubber compound but they don't grip and in the wet they feel sketchy. Full mudguards obvs.
cycling cap keeps the low sun in the morning out of your eyes, keeps the rain of specs, cap stops the helmet getting sweaty (nothing worse than putting a wet helmet on )
I do 5.5 miles each way and don't change - this time of year I can go pretty much as fast as I like and I might be warm when I turn up but I'm not sweaty. In summer I go slower. I treat it as a transport option in the same way the Dutch do. no special cycle clothing other than a wind proof top, helmet and gloves (at this time of year those are 100% Briskers).
Only thing I would say is budget for more trousers as the seat will go shiny over time.
My bike is a 1960s sit up and beg and my commute is across Cheltenham town which is pretty flat. It's fast enough and comfortable with enough (3) gears. for the terrain and looks like nothing interesting so is in no danger of getting nicked. I've got a Dutch lock fitted which swings through the wheel and is a great deterrent as it's almost invisible. It's got cheap plastic flats and a few more modern lighter bits and is reasonably well maintained but it still looks pretty crap to most.
I wouldn't want to ride a nice/proper bike as I'd always be worried about it and I'd have to carry a lock.
Charge your lights and Garmin at work.
Double up on front and rear lights, put both rears on in case one fails, front leave second one off until you see usual one has failed.
Has anybody said mudguards? Mudguards.
Redundancy on lighting
Spare socks at work
I've got work boots at work so always dry footwear, don't rely on your riding shoes being dry enough to wear all day
Try and find a quieter route
Other than that trial and error dependant on your commute, mine's a hilly 15 miles so needs cycling clothes a pan flat 6 might be doable in work gear, start worst case and work backwards and it'll vary season to season, day to day
Eat.
I've been thinking about the change of clothes thing, and, once above say 3 or 4 miles, it boils down to this:
Are you a sweaty disorganized night owl?
Or will your route include off-road sections where you might get dirty?
YES - take a change of clothes for when you get to work
NO - cycle in your regular work clothes.
@Speeder - also a Cheltenham commuter although my ride is only three miles.
I use a 20+ year old Specialized Langster fixie which needs minimal maintenance. For commuting fixies are great if your route is not too hilly.
For lights being seen is more important than seeing for me as my route is well lit. I use an Osprey messanger bag and have one rear light clipped to that and one to the seatpost.
Commute in normal clothes with a DHB softshell jacket which I bought in the Wiggle clearance. I do have some MTB trousers which I wear if it is raining and then change into at work.
There are a few others who commute so our workplace bought a track pump and some bike tools to keep in the office for minot repairs. No under cover storage for bikes though so they live outside and get wet when it rains - another reason why a simple fixie is a good fit for me.
I have just bought a new flashlight which has both white and red modes and can be bodged onto the bike with zipties is one of the bike lights fails. It is also useful for investigating any bike issues when in the dark - link below.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BFVTGGK3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
A few people have said puncture resistant tyres, they're not for me, but I don't necessarily disagree if that's what works for you/them. I would say though, that whatever you run, as soon as you start getting punctures, it's time for new tyres - don't try to get every last mile out of the rubber.
https://www.condorcycles.com/products/beryl-pixel-light?variant=45572300636481
Beryl pixel is a good emergency 'be seen' back up light - can use it white or red so front or rear. Seems to hold charge a long time if not used as well.
I commute on an old single speed, tatty but functionally fine. Big fan of the Specialized pannier box things, just drop an Alpkit waterproof rucksack in it with my laptop inside.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54232520139_43453e5b2f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54232520139_43453e5b2f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2qCkQNF ]Commuter[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Lots of good advice for the OP to take or leave. I would add 1) don’t ever clean or maintain your commuter and 2) don’t ever spend any money on your commuter
(unless absolutely necessary of course)
I don't get this attitude. For me my commute bike is by far the most used in both distance and frequency, therefore it's actually my most expensive bike, offset by diesel savings and bike to work tax efficiency. And I don't want it letting me down with a maximum 6 mile walk so I bloody look after it too.
light yourself up like a christmas tree. flouro, reflective, the works.
a radar taillight (single best thing for road riding I reckon)
eat before riding home.
Part time commuter here: 2-3 days a week, @40 miles each way depending on route, mostly train back in the winter months.
1) The earlier you can stomach it the quieter the roads.
2) Mudguards, decent lights (I use Exposure Strada front, Garmin radar rear plus a second static rear on the pannier). Prefer pannier to backpack (Tailfin is personal choice). Proviz jacket or similar is a good investment.
3) Lightweight head torch as backup front and to use when doing roadside repair in the dark.
4) Make a note of the temperature and what you wore on that day for future reference. Always have one extra layer in backpack/pannier.
5) Laptop at work, separate laptop at home, files in the cloud.
6) Look after your bike - I love eggbeater pedals, hate their reliability. Check the things regularly.
7) Tried loads of tyres, settled on Schwalbe Marathons (not the plus version).
8) Dedicated toolkit which stays on the bike. Don’t ‘borrow’ stuff from it for other rides.
9) Prep everything the night before, charge everything before every ride.
10) Dont forget your underpants. Don’t walk around the office in full lycra.
I don’t get this attitude. For me my commute bike is by far the most used in both distance and frequency, therefore it’s actually my most expensive bike, offset by diesel savings and bike to work tax efficiency. And I don’t want it letting me down with a maximum 6 mile walk so I bloody look after it too.
Same. My commuter bike was just a SS road bike but it got looked after. OK, it might have had a couple of weeks worth of accumulated grime on it but it had decent parts that lasted well and were reliable.
There are two schools of thought with commuting it seems. The scrattiest most cobbled together bike possible (for anti-theft reasons) and just ride it into the ground or something decent that's at least reasonably well looked after because it's the bike you'll be on most so you may as well enjoy it!
My new commuter bike (actually e-bike!) definitely fits the latter category.
My commute was 20miles each way, 10 miles of it on unlit fast wide A roads but with good sight lines, so the mega bright exposure rears were perfect, and the Tracr on flash is a pulse so doesn’t go out.
My other top tip (and this is a belter) is to put a cheapo rear on the top tube facing down. It lights up the water bottle and chain set, great for side visibility and marking you out as a bike, so you don’t blend in to the car lights but also so you can see it all in the dark.
I also have a reflective helmet, again lifting the visible bits away from car rear lights.
I loved commuting as it was a real mental challenge and I’d be buzzing when I did it.
Also Camelbak forge insulated mugs fit in the bottle cage as well for cold mornings.
Depends on the set up at work, but I had to walk through an office to get to the shower. Wearing overshoes meant that I could leave them with the bike and get to the shower without leaving muddy footprints across the carpet.
My commute was about 20 km, half off road so always muddy in the winter.
Now retired, cycle commute is the only thing I miss!
My other top tip (and this is a belter) is to put a cheapo rear on the top tube facing down.
That is a good tip, and I have an Orb light for the same duty. Blimey it's expensive now though! https://orb.bike/product/the-orb-mkii/
Make your home set up as efficient as possible to have relevent kit ready, easy to get bike in ,out , unlocked, cleaned, relocked etc ,etc
Depending on where you live, search out the quieter roads, the less likely glass strewn bike paths.
Depending also on length of commute, vary it once in a while.
Bike security at work is usually the biggest issue so you have that solved.
Vary pace if you want to get fit or you will start over training.
Easy days and very very easy days !
For 6 miles each way, I’d just ride in regular clothes
Thats what I did for a similar (flat) commute for a few years. After a year, with the money saved, treat yourself to a dynamo hub front wheel and a set of lights to suit, to avoid battery charging/lost light issues.
Many many thanks for the replys everyone. So much great advice. Thank you.
Extra undies!! Great tip. I'm sorted for lights, I've a lezyne front and exposure rear.
Tyres are a good shout, the bike has very basic schwalbe lugano tyres, so I'll swap those out for some with some puncture protection.
I'll definitely be showering in work, the set up is brilliant so it'll be daft not too. I've space to store a towel and shower kit too.
Thanks again.
Conti contact tyres are not horrible to ride on like marathons. Nice soft grippy rubber but still virtually puncture proof. I pulled a dozen bits of glass out of mine once
Latex gloves and a clean up rag for the inevitable filthy puncture repair. I don't think I've ever fixed a puncture in the sunshine... A clean chain helps...
TF is the problem with Marathon+?
Heavy and gripless. I don't want a tyre that will do a million miles. I want grip. Conti contacts are puncture proof and grippy.
Imo marathons are dangerous. If I had them on a bike I bought they would be taken straight off. Hateful things
The only thing that I haven't seen mentioned is a headtorch. Excellent if you have a mechanical problem/puncture; you can get by removing a bike lamp, but fighting a broken bike in the dark is made much easier
You'll work out what you need after a few trips and slim down the lists ^^ accordingly. I was quite happy with bike spares in a frame bag and lunch in a backpack, but I started with a pannier bag
Get a key to the server/plant room, excellent for drying cycling kit 🙂
Imo marathons are dangerous. If I had them on a bike I bought they would be taken straight off. Hateful things
Marathon and also Continental Gator Skin tyres are horrendous. By making them virtually puncture proof, they're also heavy and draggy yet manage to be incredibly slippy on wet surfaces.
Problem is that they've acquired this reputation, a sort of default "oh if if you don't want to puncture, you *need* Marathon Plus".
It's worth looking beyond the Big Two tyre manufacturers, cos the likes of Specialized, Pirelli and WTB all have excellent winter/commuter road tyres, grippy and durable.
I have a Marathon+ on the rear, and an ancient Kenda Nevegal tubeless on the front. Punctures are very rare. Rear isn't draggy, front has grip, perfect compromise 😉
Conti contacts are grippy and not draggy. They do wear relatively quickly though.
Continental Grand Prix 4 Seasons (or whatever they’re called now) are grippy, tough, comfortable, and not too heavy. I (accidentally) wore one to the canvas on the back of my commuter without it ever puncturing. It suddenly got very slippery indeed as the last rubber wore off the centre.