Cycling to work - kit ideas

angie_baby

Snippa wrote: »

Remember to always take water or some other liquid (I know that sounds stupidly common sense, but I frequently forget!). You can get those backpacks that store water, or a water bottle. Also good energy foods like bananas that help with slow release energy.

I have a list at home that I made after taking off on a bike with my tent last summer. It was the first time I’d done anything like that distance on a bike and there’s about an A4 page of “things I should have brought”. I’ll dig it out tonight and see if there’s anything on it no one else mentions

Ohhhh, if you dont mind cam you post or PM that list to me please? When i do go i wont be going to far and will be using trains. But a rough list of what to take would be great.

thanks and sorry for butting in

catflea

Butt in all you like. A solution shared is a solution doubled or somesuch.......

Mids_Costcutter

From my experience you'll definitely be a lot more comfortable carrying your gear in a pannier than in a rucksack. Also it's safer as weight on your back is higher = higher centre of gravity.

freakybacon

joolsybools wrote: »

P.S. Get over to Cycle Chat or Bike Radar forum or any other cycling forum of your choice!

What they said.
Helmet,
Spare tube, mini pump(lidl have special offers on cycling gear at the mo)
Rucksack,
Waterproof top,
Gloves are nice,

Thats the bare minimum. On a 10- mile round trip, if your car does an average of 30 mpg, you will save £1.65 per day(that was my daily saving when petrol was £1.11 a litre- its more now!)

Expect it to take about 30 minutes when you first start- I have got my commute down to 20 minutes on a good day.

ailuro2

Just remembered a woman that used to cycle into my work brought talc with her and popped into the shower room with her clean clothes and the talc. I would have though it would be quicker to have a shower, but 5 minutes with her talc and she seemed to be sorted for the day.:eek: I have to add she was cycling over 18 miles each way. I know I'd want a shower after that.:p

NafUk

Lock - see if you can leave it locked to something at work to avoid carrying it on your commute.

Rain gear - most important is mudguards. Surprisingly as an all year commuter (only 4 miles each way) I rarely get very wet, and light rain is actually cooling and refreshing.

Lights Cateye -Cateye EL530 and LD1100, £64, http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ra/cycle/7/129/?gclid=CJut_OeF0aACFRqX2Aod8Ejdzg

Clothing - depends on how fast you go! Wear as little as possible so that you are cold/cool when setting off so that when you arrive you are not a sweat bucket. Shorts season is almost here (I'm in the north). Keep some spare socks at work for wet days, and some Ronhill Bikster's (or similar) over-trousers for wet commutes to stop your legs getting covered in wet grime from the roads.
Clip in cycle shoes are great, such as Shimano mountain bike boots. Don't get racing style shoes where the cleats stick out from the sole of the shoe and make walking difficult.

Deodarant - you get smelly cos of bacteria in your armpits. Wash these before leaving and use baby wipes when you arrive if necessary, but see 'clothing'.

Tyres - invest in some Schwalbe Marathon Plus; made a big difference to my glass strewn commute.

Buy some spare brake blocks, brake and gear wires, inner tubes, chain oil from ebay.

Get some cheap panniers from ebay- mine cost £14 four years ago. They stay on the bike and my computer etc. goes in a plastic bag which I carry into work. Another plastic bag for protection from the rain stays in the pannier. The other pannier holds my pump and spares (wrapped in another plastic bag).

sillywilly

Hi - I really don't think that getting a pannier and carrying that extra weight is necessary especially if you have a few steep hills. You are not going on a tour of the alps just a 5 mile each way journey.

The things that you need - just in case - don't take up that much room and are fairly light. A bottle cage on the bike is a good idea.

I have experience of these "puncture proof" tyres Shwalbe marathan plus and Specialized armadillos and they were great. Haven't had a puncture in over a year whereas with standard tyres got one nearly every week.

Not sure if they do these tyres for road bikes as mine were on my mountain bike. HTH

terized

I cycle 5 miles each way up to 3 times a week. If you can bring in your clothes to work when you drive it really helps. I also leave my heavy padlock at work so I don't have to carry it. My best purchase though was anti punture tyres, or you can put in anti punture liners to the tyres which are cheaper. I haven't had a punture since - they are brilliant. I also bought panniers, as it can get very hot with a rucksack on your back and it covers the high vis. You will struggle at first, but don't give up, you will start to feel so much healthier, the savings on petrol are fab and I arrive into work in a much better mood!

Generali

I carry:

2 tubes
2 tyre levers
water
'bike tool' (like a Swiss Army Knife but with allen keys, chain tool and screwdrivers)

The distance you're riding may seem big now but in a month or 2 it'll be a breeze.

Pegase

I second the person that said wet wipes.
I cycle 6-7 miles each way (couple of steep hills along the way), and with those don't need a shower.
Boot's Fragrance-Free have been on sale for months.