A Guide to a Simple Commute
by Tim Grahl
Designing your bike commute to be as minimalistic as possible will make it easier to opt for your carbon free, two-wheeled transportation on a more regular basis. It will also reduce the daily stress of between waking up and walking out the door. The tips in this article take more planning to implement, but are well worth the extra effort.
Benefits of Simplifying
A few of the reasons this is important…
- Minimizes morning excuses – Let’s all be honest, we’ve had those mornings that we woke up with the full intention of riding the bike to work and once we saw the flat tire or realized we hadn’t packed the night before, we grabbed for the keys instead. By simplifying your commute, you’ll reduce the amount of excuses that can crop up to keep you off the bike.
- Reduces stress – Along the same lines as minimizing your excuses, nothing causes more stress than running around trying to do everything before work, especially if you overslept. When you wake up in the morning and everything you need is in place, it’s a much more relaxing way to get on the bike.
- Helps you enjoy the ride – If you’re frazzled when you jump on the bike it’s much more likely you won’t enjoy the ride. Once you implement these methods to simplify your commute you’ll be freed to enjoy your commute. That’s really why we do this anyway, right?
How to simplify your bike commute
There are several ways to simplify your bike commute. Even if you implement a few of these, you’ll see a huge difference in your daily ride quality and an increase in your frequency of opting for the bike.
- Ride a simple bike – Ride a bike that has tried and true technology that’s not going to cause a lot of mechanical problems.
- Check your bike every weekend – regular riding will cause wear on the consumable parts of your bike and you’ll want to make sure you catch any problems early:
- Tire pressure
- Tire wear and damage
- Tightness of quick releases and other fastenings
- Brakes for wear and stopping power
- Chain for stiff links, rust and dryness
- Clean your bike regularly – At least once a month, or after a particularly dirty commute, you’ll want to to clean your bike of any dirt and grime that can cause problems in the long term.
- Always carry flat repair materials – Invest in a saddle bag, pack it with an extra tube, tire levers, patch kit, pump and hex wrenches and always keep it on your bike. This way you always know you have what you need to fix a flat and keep moving.
- Store hygienic necessities at your workplace – Keep an extra of everything you need to clean up from your commute (deodorant, towels, wipes, etc) at your workplace. No need to daily carry them back and forth.
- Leave a pair of shoes at your workplace – If you ride with clipless pedals or need to wear more dressy shoes at work, store a pair at your workplace. Again, no need to carry them back and forth each day.
- Pack the night before – By packing the things you’ll need the night before, you’ll reduce your stress the next morning. You’ll also be in a better state of mind so not to forget something.
- Only pack the essentials – Do you really need three tubes, the bottle of gel and an extra helmet? When packing your bag the night before, ask yourself if each item is a necessity.
- Plan your route ahead of time – For most commutes there are several different ways to get from your house to your workplace. Use a tool such as Google Maps to plan a route that is more scenic, avoids dangerous roads and skips road construction.
- Check the weather regularly – Keep an eye on your local weather so you can plan to dress for the temperature and precipitation.
Implementing these tips to simplify your bike commute will reduce the stress of getting out the door and ultimately help you enjoy the ride more.
