The hardest part, honestly, about commuting to work on bike is the amount of preparation that goes into it. It’s not like I can just wake up and get on my bike when I feel the whim and head on into work. Or maybe I can, and I just inherently over-plan everything. So this post is about how I prepare for my commute. I’m forever tweaking things to find a better, more efficient way to do it, but for now this is it.
The Day Before
The day before, I take my change of work clothes to the office and leave it at my desk for the next day. When I first started commuting, I was carrying everything in a backpack for the day–my change of clothes, my shoes, my lunch, etc and it was way too much stuff. Instead, I take as much of my stuff I can the day before to lighten my load. I also keep a spare change of shoes and pants in the office. I also keep a little makeup bag with things to freshen up with once I get to work. Baby wipes are awesome.
If I can, I also take whatever I am going to have for lunch the day before. The key here: take as little as possible in my backpack! If you bike with saddle bags, this might not be an issue for you.
I usually have some snacks and lunch alternatives stored in my desk anyways. Just in case!
The Night Before
I lay out everything I need and get everything ready for the next day. This is crucial because I have the tendency to forget about things…and it would be bad if I forgot to pack my bra or something! My first commute of this year? I forgot my water bottle, and the temperature got up to 80. I had to buy a bottle to get me home.
I pack my backpack as light as possible to alleviate the strain on my back and shoulders. What goes in the backpack: my wallet with ID and money, my work ID, my lunch, my “undergarments”, my keys, and my headphones for work.
I also lay out my helmet, gloves, jacket or arm-warmers, sunglasses, Road ID, heart rate monitor and my cycling shoes.
The Morning Of
I get up earlier than normal and have a lighter breakfast than usual. I learned the hard way that eating my normal high protein and high fiber breakfast makes me want to vomit on the bike.
I’m usually scrambling. I MUST be on my bike by a certain time in order to get to work on time. Sometimes I can make up time on my bike (especially on the Springwater trail where there are few stops) but I don’t count on that. I like to have a buffer of a few minutes. You just never know what’s going to happen.
Getting dressed in the gear is what takes the most time. And of course, going outside with said gear to test the weather and see if I need more layers…then going back inside to change or add clothes. This part never gets easier.
I pump my bike tires–before every single ride–and make sure everything looks okay to go. Finally, I am off.
Success
The routine for going home is easier. I leave my morning “cold weather” gear at the office with my work clothes, change into my warm weather gear that was underneath my layers and head out. It takes about 10 minutes to get ready to go home, compared to at least 30 minutes in the morning.
As you can see, it’s not quite as simple as just getting on my bike and going. With practice it becomes second nature and I forget less and less. One final tip: drink a TON of water before, during and after biking and also eat something small as a recovery when you are done. Your muscles will thank you.
QUESTION: If you are a bike commuter, how do you prepare? Do you have any suggestions or tips that have worked for you?
Jill E.
I totally understand. My husband as been commuting on his bike for the past couple months. It takes a little more work such as getting up at 5am instead of 7am to beat the heat since we live in Florida but he does not have to deal with the layer issues because its either hot or hotter.
Lisa Eirene
How does he deal with the heat on the way home? How long is his commute?
Weather is definitely an issue. Living in Oregon, our temperatures can change so much throughout the day that it really is a completely different wardrobe commute in and out!
Jill E.
He is a big sweaty mess! His commute is just under 6 miles. I am the work out nut and I have tried to make him to get into things I like, yoga, running, lifting weights but nothing stuck until he started biking to work. He even said to me the other day he might take an extra mile or two because he has gotten so much faster!
Lisa Eirene
That’s awesome that he found something he loved.
Jodi @ Jodi, Fat or Not
I would LOVE to be a bike commuter – I’m only about 3 miles from my office, but I have the kind of job that requires me to sometimes go around to different towns during the day without notice, so I need my car :(. Maybe one day!
Lisa Eirene
That makes it difficult! Luckily I work at a job where a car is not required and the few times I’ve had to use a car, I was able to check out one from the fleet.
Laura is Undeterrable
Someday when I’m brave enough to commute by bike, I’ll have a routine similar to this. Though, some of the bike commuters in the office have taken over an empty closet and filled it with work clothes so they just store everything in there.
Lisa Eirene
That’s so awesome that your coworkers do that. What a neat idea!
I keep a change of clothes at my desk including a small makeup bag with toiletries to freshen up. Or I can use the locker room shower. I used to do that when I ran at lunch time.