Put it this way: It’s never a bad time to start cycling to work. With the right gear and an appropriate level of confidence, you can tackle a cycling commute in pretty much all kinds of weather. But with spring’s arrival, more people will be thinking about trading their car keys for a commuter bike.
With that in mind, we asked 14 riders from all over the U.S. to share their best bike commuting tips. Some have been cycling to work for more than two decades, some just a few years or less, but all have great info to share. Between them, they’ve racked up thousands of miles in the heat, cold, snow, sleet, and rain. Their advice can be game-changing for both newcomers and longtime bike commuters who want to take their trips to the next level.
Take More Time Than You Need
Commuter Expert: Mia Moore
Location: Chicago
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Moore learned to commute in San Francisco nearly two decades ago, but today finds herself speeding to work and class in Chicago on a Keirin track bike she’s modified over the years. She’s settled into a group of commuter buddies who aim to arrive at the office 10 minutes ahead of start time. Leaving this early, she says, makes the vibe of the commute more laid back.
“I like to leave a little extra time so that I can commute at my own chill speed and be less bothered by the harried energy of the rest of the commuters—both bike and car,” Moore says. “I prefer to be more relaxed about my commuting and save my racing for racing and group rides.”
You Do You (Find What Works)
Commuter Expert: Leslie Ethridge
Location: Boulder, Colorado
After moving to Boulder four years ago, Ethridge started riding to work. While Colorado’s harsh winters put the Texas native on a learning curve, she seldom misses a day of bike commuting and really loves to ride with company.
“My coworkers think I’m insane for riding 16 miles in, but it is actually what keeps me sane,” she says. “There is no right way to commute. You can ride with a comfy backpack and your ’cross bike.” Ethridge’s favorite? “For longer commutes, my absolute must-have is my Topo Designs [Mountain Pack]. I commuted with it for 15 miles in and out of the office, and it fit all of the essentials.”
If you’re still not totally comfortable toughing it out yourself, try to find a riding buddy. “I got through the winter by my best friend riding in with me to work,” Ethridge says. “It was a blessing, suffering together. She would drop me off and then go do her base miles. Now, my boyfriend and I will commute in together, and he drops me off and then goes to work. I’ll go swing by his job and we will ride home. It’s awesome.”
Prepare for Flats
Commuter Expert: Kenny Fetsurka
Location: Philadelphia
Before spending years commuting to his 9-to-5, Fetsurka was a Philly bike messenger who made his living, he says, by not being deterred by flat tires. He also didn’t have a car, so biking to work was never a question when he scored a job as, ironically, a highway inspector.
“If your bike has the eyelets and ability to have full fenders, go for it,” he says. “It’s the best bang for your buck in keeping you dry on the bike, and some decent tires with flat protection. And always have a spare tube or two and the stuff for a roadside flat-fix.” (A mudguard is a good plan B if your bike doesn’t have space for full fenders.)
Friendliness Is Underrated
Commuter Expert: Frank Cundiff
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cundiff swaps commuting stories with his coworker, a runner who sneaks in morning workouts, at the Washington Navy Yard when he arrives each day. Often, they end up discussing the hectic pace of D.C.—the traffic, the cyclists, the pedestrians—which can affect the communal mood.
“Wave to people, or at least a smile and nod,” Cundiff says. “I can’t tell you how many times I pass people and give a smile and nod or just take my hand six inches off the bars to say hi, and get race-faced in return... Being nice for no reason might not only get you out of a foul mood, but also the person you’re being nice toward. A race is one thing, a commute is another.”
Invest in Gear
Commuter Expert: Rich Dillen
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Thirty years ago, Dillen started biking to class at Youngstown State University, “home of the Penguins and gray snow.” The longtime bike messenger has been commuting on two wheels ever since. After a brief stint—three months—at a “normal job” in 1997, he got tired of offices and went back to a bike life. “I’m much happier in my abnormal world where I belong,” he says. ”Who wants to wear pants for a living?”
Dillen recommends picking up enough commuter gear to make a long-term commitment to cycling sustainable. “It may seem expensive at first, but when you start adding up all the money you’re no longer spending on gas, eventually you’ll make it all back,” he says. “Not to mention, that same gear can be used for recreational cycling as well. So, bonus.” His go-to: the Gore-Tex Shakedry jacket. “It’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever used in all these years that I’ve been out in it.”
Best Bikes for Commuting
Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB
Blix Vika+
Civia Lowry Step-Thru
Raleigh Redux 1
Have a Back-Up Plan
Commuter Expert: Eric Budd
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Living in Boulder probably makes bike commuting easier than in most places: People in the area are used to cyclists, and the weather doesn’t (usually) get too terrible. But Budd, who’s been commuting for 12 years, has dealt with every kind of situation, including some days where the temperature dropped to 15 below.
“Having a consistent fall-back—using the bus, carpooling, or driving a car if necessary—is great to ensure you can consistently get to work without making your bike commute a burden,” Budd says. “If you want to commute year round or live car-free, it’s much easier to have more than one bike. Having two or more means you have a backup in case something breaks, and you can choose which bike might be best for various distances, places to lock up, and weather conditions.”
Be a Role Model
Commuter Expert: Katie Macarelli
Location: Golden, Colorado
Macarelli started spottily commuting nine years ago while teaching bike safety at elementary schools.
“As our kids got bigger—elementary-school age—I wanted to give them a good example,” she says. “It’s pretty cool when I roll home and they pop their heads out in the garage and ask, ‘How was your ride?’”
But also: “You’ll mess it up. Big time... You’ll wear the wrong thing, you’ll forget underwear or shoes, you’ll show up to work wet, late, cold, hot, hungry—but what you’ll gain, even if it’s one day out of every month that you ride, is immeasurable. The more you do it, the better you’ll get, the smarter you’ll pack, and the more Matrix-like your bike skills will become.”
Start Small
Commuter Expert: Clark Evanitus
Location: York, Pennsylvania
Evanitus, who’s been bike commuting for over three decades, knows that starting a daily commute can be a huge challenge. So start small: Ride to work one day a week, and carpool home if you need to. A few weeks later, try to ride to and from work. Then, add another day.
“I really started back in junior high school, riding my BMX bike to school,” he says. “Later, I started riding to work a couple days a week... A couple years ago I set a goal to ride more the 80 percent of the time. That year I only missed seven days all year. The next year I had to beat that. So the next I didn’t miss a day.”
4 Bike Locks to Keep Your Ride Safe
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Kryptonite Fahgettaboutit
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Be Seen
Hiplok Superbright
A strong, reflective lock that you can wear around your waist.
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Great Deal
Kryptonite KryptoLok
A solid lock for most riders, at an affordable price.
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Preride Your Route
Commuter Expert: Doug Antelman
Location: Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Antelman has been commuting all over the country—from the warmth of San Diego to the wintry mix of Boston—for 30 years. As a scientist, he’s been lucky: Several of his managers have been cyclists, and oftentimes his offices are equipped with showers, so cleaning up after a sweaty ride is easy.
“My best advice is to try out your commute on a Saturday or Sunday to see if you can handle the distance and make sure it’s a safe route,” he says. “The shortest route is not always the safest. And pick the right bike for your commute. For a longer commute of 15 or 20 miles, you need a road bike. But for a shorter or flatter commute, you may enjoy it on a three-speed or a singlespeed bike. There may even be an off-road option where you can ride on dirt or gravel.”
There’s one thing Antelman never commutes without: a fanny pack. “Not wanting to carry a heavy backpack, the fanny pack allows me to carry all my important stuff.”
Prepare Mentally and Physically
Commuter Expert: Cait Dooley
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut
Dooley has commuted in Boston through some of the worst snowstorms in recent history. Now settled in Greenwich, her pink hair can be spotted under a bike helmet as she rides to an extremely commuter-friendly job where nearly all of her coworkers ride to work—including her boss—and her commuting approach is dialed.
“Be prepared for anything: Have fenders; keep [your] hands, feet, and face warm; and layers, layers, layers,” she says. “You really don't need the fanciest stuff to get through a rainy or snowy commute. You just need to dress warmly and invest in a few smart pieces to help you stay dry.”
And don’t forget essentials like, well, your clothes. “I try to keep one full emergency outfit in my desk, in case I forgot to pack something,” Dooley says. “I had a presentation earlier this week and forgot pants—oops!—but I had an outfit stashed and it saved the day for me. I do ride in cycling kit, change at the office, and change back into the kit for the ride home.”
Try to Make It a Family Activity
Commuter Expert: Dan Seaton
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Seaton knows bike culture. He’s a physicist who writes about cycling on the side, and living in Belgium for work gave him the chance to explore both passions. Now that he’s back in his hometown of Boulder, his commute takes place solely on bike paths, making it safe for family bonding.
“Every day, I commute with my kids and I get to spend 20 or 30 extra minutes with them, doing something we really enjoy,” he says. “It’s helped us forge a special bond and helped my kids get interested in something that’s a huge part of my life.... We’re really engaged, together, in a way that we probably would not be in the car.”
One thing that helps Seaton’s commute—and makes it safer—is his Bontrager Flare R bike light. “More than one person has actually stopped to tell me how well they could see me and how much they appreciate that,” he says.
Plan Safe Routes
Commuter Expert: Jon Suzuki
Location: Oakland, California
Some longtime commuters are just lucky. Since opening the Missing Link Bicycle Cooperative in Berkeley, California, in 1999, co-owner Suzuki has been able to ride to work in one of the mildest climates in the country. He and his wife were both struck by drivers in 2014, but even that hasn’t put a damper on his love of riding.
“If you live in an urban or city environment, figure out what the safest route is to where you want to go,” Suzuki says. “Aim for streets with dedicated bike lanes or minimal traffic. When riding in traffic, be hyper-aware of your surroundings, and watch for parked cars that may swing open their doors; this happens far too often.”
Bike & Helmet Mirrors
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Watch for Cars—And Pedestrians
Commuter Expert: Ryan Starbuck
Location: New York City
Starbuck has collected some wild stories after eight years of commuting in Manhattan, including the time he had to haul his skis as he pedaled to work. But he says the biggest danger isn’t always cars: Pedestrians account for many of his most difficult obstacles. When he’s not using a Citi Bike on bad-weather days, he shreds to work on a Raleigh Furley singlespeed that he loves more than pretty much any other possession.
“You just have to bike like you’re a car and don’t let anyone come up on you,” he says. “Take the lane when you feel unsafe. Tap on cars when they are turning and don’t see you. A lot of drivers are annoyed by the bikes and don’t treat you well. But if you’re a defensive cyclist and pay attention—no headphones—you can do just fine. Also, watch out for pedestrians. They are not paying attention at all. They’ll walk across the street.”
Ride What You Want, When You Want
Commuter Expert: Armando Luna
Location: Portland, Oregon
Luna has stayed a happy commuter since high school—easy to do in the cycling mecca of Portland. It helps that his job is quite bike-friendly: He actually gets paid to ride to work, and his boss provides free valet bike parking plus bike lockers and showers.
“Ride when you can and want to,” Luna says. “I realized when I would go back to mass transit or driving, I would always regret not biking instead. But sometimes, you just don’t want to get drenched in cold rain. You have to enjoy your ride.”
Make it more pleasant by riding with a friend, or stopping for coffee on the way or a beer on the way home. (It’s super-clutch to know how to bike while drinking coffee.) “Say hi to the regulars you see on your bike commute,” Luna says. “And I promise, it really does make you feel happier to commute by bike.”
