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Cycling to work tactics

Ewarwoowar2
Posts: 322 Forumite
I’ve been cycling to work for just over a year. It’s 6 miles down a canal tow path and thenon roads (about 50:50). All flat; allpaved. I enjoy it and it’s preferable tobeing squashed inside of a tram. I’m afair weather cyclist and tend to avoid the cold and, especially, the rain.
It would be interesting to hear fellow cyclists tactics forgetting to work clean and presentable. Here is mine:
1. I leave a couple of suits at work
2. At the start of the week I bring in a couple ofshirts in a specially made carrying case;
3. I carry a small rucksack with change ofunderwear, socks and a towel;
4. We have showers at work, but they tend to bebusy in the morning
5. I usually have a towel wash in the disabled loosbefore work and then a shower at lunch.
I find I actually smell much better with the above then if I’dbeen on a tram then worked all day.
My other tips would be to borrow or buy a cheap bike to givethe route to work a try before buying something expensive. It’s also a good chance to work out your routeto work and what kind of bike you will need.
I am an employment solicitor. However, my views should not be taken to be legal advice. It's difficult to give correct opinion based on the information given by posters.
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Comments
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I definitely agree about leaving stuff at work if you can so that you're not routinely carrying as much stuff back and forth. At this time of year keep bag space and weight for waterproofs and lights and when lights are in use at least spare batteries in the bag.
I disagree about a ruck sack. I accept many use them happily but I much prefer pannier bags or, if carrying just a little, a courier type bag.
You're point about borrowing is good. Buying a cheap one is tricky... How cheap? Too cheap and you end up hating cycling because things stop working quickly, for example the brakes on my nephew's toy bike are almost impossible to adjust as they wear down.0 -
I've been cycling to work most days, year-round, since March 2011. It's about 7 or 8 miles each way and I don't mind rain/dark/cold really.
Before March 2011 I hadn't even been on a pushbike since an accident in 1999, although I've happily been riding a motorbike since 2005.
I still ride a really rubbish MTB that cost £60 in Halfords in Jan 2011. However, I've just placed an order for a 2013 Specialized road bike, which I'll hopefully collect in a couple of weeks. I've also signed up to this! http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/fundraising/missing-people-cycle-challenge Eeeek!
My new bike will have panniers, but currently I use a rucksack and saddle bag. The saddle bag carries all my bike repair kit, batteries etc. I carry dry underwear each day, plus deodorant, 'handbag stuff' and a change of clothes. We have a shower at work, which means I can do a full change when I arrive.
So far I've learned lots about the cycling and the bike maintenance, but am hoping this new forum will help with the money saving side as, so far, I am a bit clueless about getting a good deal with cycling kit0 -
Don't get knocked off by a lorry
I did at the end of Feb, and am petrified to get back on my bike. I've not been back on, partly because I'm still injured, partly the bike isn't fully fixed but mainly because I am terrified (really angry at myself for being scared too).
I loved cycling to work, it really woke me up and is great exercise!
The shower at work is terrible though!
A good set of lights is a must, my ld man swears by a 1200lumen front light, cars think your a motorbike so leave more room!0 -
I would like to move away from the rucksack, but panniers are so expensive. I hadn't thought about the courier type bag, but doesn't it unsettle you with the weight being on one side?
I ride a Specialised Hardrock, which cost about £350 from a local bike store. In retrospect, I should have got something lighter, like a hybrid. I was planning to cycle all the way to work down the canal path. However, when it's wet (which is most of the time in Manchester) the second half (unpaved) section is slippery and muddy as hell. I now cycle half down the paved canal path then the rest on road.
I am worried about trucks. However, I'm only on the road for three miles and the traffic is mostly cars commuting to work.
DEkazer - where did you learn about cycling maintenance?I am an employment solicitor. However, my views should not be taken to be legal advice. It's difficult to give correct opinion based on the information given by posters.0 -
I only use a small courier type bag if I'm taking a bit too much for a saddle bag or too much to be comfy in pockets, i.e. not very much so don't have the weight problem. I also prefer the bag to sit more behind me than on the side but I find any weight is lower than a ruck sack, which I prefer.
Pannier bags and racks come in a huge range of prices. I started with very cheap bags which made me realise the benefits but didn't last too long or attach too well.0 -
Ewarwoowar2 wrote: »I would like to move away from the rucksack, but panniers are so expensive. I hadn't thought about the courier type bag, but doesn't it unsettle you with the weight being on one side?
I ride a Specialised Hardrock, which cost about £350 from a local bike store. In retrospect, I should have got something lighter, like a hybrid. I was planning to cycle all the way to work down the canal path. However, when it's wet (which is most of the time in Manchester) the second half (unpaved) section is slippery and muddy as hell. I now cycle half down the paved canal path then the rest on road.
I am worried about trucks. However, I'm only on the road for three miles and the traffic is mostly cars commuting to work.
DEkazer - where did you learn about cycling maintenance?
I run a bike bin on my commuter
http://bikebins.com/
plus a top pack on the rack
it makes a big difference not having a back pack whilst commuting0 -
When I was at school I had a bag which was a bit like a thin satchell, and I hung it longways on the bike by opening it and doing it up over the top tube.
You'd need to find one thin enough not to hit your legs on it, no metal parts inside the top to scratch the frame, and be confident it's not going to get in the way if you have down tube gear levers.
Or you can get satchells with two short straps to carry it just behind your shoulders like a rucksack, but that's not too good if it's heavy.0 -
Ewarwoowar2 wrote: »DEkazer - where did you learn about cycling maintenance?
Mostly by having a cheap old bike that breaks a lot. My husband's very good with that sort of thing, and always makes me fix things under instruction rather than doing it for me. Its's annoying at the time but I've learned an awful lot.
I find it quite intuitive because you can see everything and how it links together. There aren't any electrical components like it new cars to complicate things.
There seem to be quite a lot of free cycle maintenance courses jn London where I am, I would imagine there should be some in Manchester too. I highly recommend it0 -
Ewarwoowar2 wrote: »I would like to move away from the rucksack, but panniers are so expensive.
I have a set of panniers on my bike that i got from Argos, they were a bit over £20Liverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
What it may grow to in time, I know not what.
Daniel Defoe: 1725.
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Ewarwoowar2 wrote: »
DEkazer - where did you learn about cycling maintenance?
This is by me in Knowsley but perhaps one of the links may give a place closer to home, or get in touch with your Council leisure services.
http://www.letstravelwise.org/content236_FREE-Bike-Maintenance-sessions.htmlLiverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
What it may grow to in time, I know not what.
Daniel Defoe: 1725.
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