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Bike commuting (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Dave Atkinson:Flickr) 03Cycle commuting: 14 hassles to avoid so you get to work easily
Cycle commuting is immensely satisfying and there are lots of positives, from the obvious health benefits to beating public transport delays and queues and the freedom it provides. But there are a few things people don’t tell you about cycle commuting.
1. The weather isn’t always on your side
Cycle commuting is lovely when it’s a fine spring morning and the daffodils are out and you’ve got a light breeze on your back and a lovely blue sky to admire. But the weather won’t always be this picture postcard of perfection and there will be times when you’ll be battling howling winds and horizontal rain and endless hours of darkness which will test your mental fortitude.
2. Punctures! (and other mechanicals)
The great thing about commuting by bike is you’re in complete control of how long it takes you, so you can generally time your commute to the minute. However, there’s nothing worse than the cruel blow of a major mechanical or puncture to ruin your commute. You’ll arrive at the office even sweatier, flustered, hands covered in grime and late.
3. Red lights are SO annoying
If you’re a law-abiding cyclist, then traffic lights will be the bane of your life because they rob you of all of your momentum and it takes considerable effort to get back up to speed. There’s nothing like getting a nice run of green traffic lights to put a smile on your face and save you a few seconds or minutes, but some days it can feel like you are constantly stopping at every light. I don’t think I ever got a full green run along the embankment when I used to live in London.
4. Being shoaled
The second annoying thing to stopping at every traffic light is getting shoaled at the lights. Shoaling is a term that describes that moment when you’ve stopped at the lights only for other cyclists to come along and stop in front of you. They’re queue jumping basically, and that's just not sporting.
5. Other road users
Ever seen an angry commuting cyclist and wondered what’s got their goat? It’s probably because they’ve been cut up for the 50th time that morning by a bus, taxi, lorry, car or even another cyclist. Cities and towns are congested places and lots of people using too few roads and it can get a bit stressful as everyone is trying to get to work as quickly as possible. Tempers will fray.
6. Getting sweaty and smelly before a day sitting at the desk
This one totally depends on the length of your commute, if it’s short you might not work up a sweat. But if it’s a reasonable distance and you’re going quite fast you are going to get sweaty. Obviously you could ride at a slower speed to avoid getting a sweat on, but all commuting cyclists know you ride at terminal velocity.
Which leads to the problem of how to avoid stinking out the office all day. If you’re very lucky, your office will have a lovely hot shower and you can freshen up before a day sat at your desk. But often that shower can be out of order, or there’s always a queue, or there just isn’t an office. Which means you have to get creative with freshening up and learn how valuable baby wipes, dry shower wash and body spray is.
7. You’ll forget your underwear at least once
Forgetting some vital bit of clothing is a rite of passage for cycle commuters. So our best advice is to pack some emergency clothing at the bottom of your desk drawer just for that time when you will inevitably forget some of your clothing. Or if you're organised you take all your clothes into the office on one day you're not cycling to avoid this. Which leads us to...
8. Carrying stuff is a bane
Where commuting differs from weekend cycling is that you’ll need to carry stuff. Laptops, shoes, spare clothes, lunch and other essentials all need to be transported to and from the office, and whether you do it with a backpack (what way a bad back lies) or with panniers, you’ll feel bogged down by the extra weight. Just think of it as extra training. Or do as some organised people do and bring all the clothing they’ll need for the week on one day, so they can travel light for the rest of the week.
9. Getting sucked into commuter racing
Cycle commuting can be a relaxing time to unwind from a stressful day at the office, or it can be highly toxic lactic acid inducing race all the way home. It’s frighteningly easy to find yourself gradually upping the pace to keep up with faster cyclists around you, and before you know it you’re smashing along the ride at 40kph trying not to let a gap open up. Great for training, not great for your hair.
10. It can be expensive
One of the great things about commuting is that it’s often a lot cheaper in the long run than other forms of commuting. If you're facing a short commute you can likely get away with just wearing normal clothes and shoes. But if it’s a long distance commute you might want to embrace the typical Lyrca and special shoes outfit that cyclists wear, which if you don’t already own is an investment you’re going to need to make. Plus, you might need to factor in essentials like lights, spare tubes, tools, a pump, and, possibly, a helmet.
Then there are the consumables. Commute daily and you’ll wear out tyres, brake pads, chains and other mechanical parts on your bike.
11. Remembering to charge your lights
Uh oh! You’ve wheeled your bike out onto the street and your lights won’t turn on. We’ve all been there, forgetting to charge our lights or forgetting the USB cable needed to charge them up at the office desk.
12. You’ll be hungry all the time
Cycling to the office can really get your metabolism going and it’s not uncommon to find yourself hungry all the time, especially if you commute daily and over a reasonable distance.
13. Soggy cycle kit for the ride home
Ever pulled on a pair of wet padded cycling shorts? It’s a horrible horrible thing to do. It can happen if you’ve got soaked riding into the office in the morning and obviously your kit hasn’t properly dried out for the ride home. It’s enough to make the entire ride home misery. Mudguards and good waterproof clothing help here.
14. Close passes
We don't want to put you off, but unfortunately close passes are a risk that all cycling commuters face. For the past couple of years road.cc has been running a Near Miss of the Day, and it’s about making a point about driving standards and the lack of consideration for vulnerable road users on UK roads. Some police forces have been campaigning close pass initiatives to increase awareness amongst road users, and in a recent update, rule163 of the Highway Code states that when passing cyclists, drivers should give "as much room as you would when overtaking a car".
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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55 comments
Gatorskin Hardshells for the road bike. I've tried less puncture proof tyres in London, than Gatorskins and instantly regretted it. They aren't that heavy and the downsides in rolling resistance (they aren't that bad) are more than made up for in the time gained in not having to change an inner tube at the side of the road, in the rain.
I had them. Punctured in the first few days although it was because I had somehow missed a hulking huge silver bolt lying on the road and the thread had embedded in the tyre and actually wedged enough that it clonked the chain stays as it came around.
I'm just selling a commuter bike (a Trek 7.7FX hybrid) set up with Gatorskin hardshells.
It's interesting to look at how it differs from a bike I'd ride for leisure. It's about 14 years old, but it ticks several sensible boxes:
- v-brakes, reliable and effective stopping
- 25mm G/H tyres - efficient, not overly heavy.
- great tyre clearance, easy mudguard fit.
- flat bar with bar ends - more control but still a change of scene for the arms and more upright for good observation.
- a triple. These days you might go with a dinner plate cassette, but you have to get there and back and a crawler gear for exhaustion can be a get you home bonus. Trouble with big cassettes is that it is too easy to destroy an expensive cassette by sitting in one gear - see it all the time on MTBs. The Trek has road gearing+ so you are unlikely to top out or bottom out on gearing.
- panniers of course - why use energy to hold up a backpack when the bike can do that for you?
- at least 2 robust locks to attach every single removable piece to the other. How many sad and lonely unicycles have you seen chained up to a fence?
My commute is 16 or so miles on a small hilly B road across country. Its a lovely ride, except for the 1km 15% climb at the start. That's not so good. I only do the ride between Apr and Oct.
its interesting how quick cycling actually is... I drove the same route this morning for a change, and was held up by two HGVs for much of the journey, then urban traffic at the end. Took about 6 mins less time than cycling and I arrived at work in a bad mood!
Possibly not the best day to re-publish this article! Personally, I've not commuted since March, and it seems unlikely I'll be doing so again anytime soon. I'm surprised by how much I miss it.
I'm in a similar boat, at least 2k miles less then normal and a stone or more heavier. In September they were about to let people come back to the office on a voluntery basis and was planning to go in 2-3 out of four days (Friday was a nogo to allow the time for any missed bugs to die). Then just before it started the area went into local lockdown again(prior to the Tier systems) and they canned the plan.
Well, I can see the logic - there are plenty of people who do still have to commute, and may well be looking again at alternatives to crowding on to public transport right now, but it doesn't seem a particularly helpful article, and doesn't really deliver on the headline: "14 hassles to avoid" - then goes on to list things that you mostly can't avoid ('weather', 'red lights', 'other road users',...) and doesn't offer much advice on how to mitigate against them.
I used to love my daily rides in to the City from Tunbridge Wells - even Ide and Sundridge Hills, but now having moved back up to London I ride my road bike around the parks in the morning instead: then home for a shower, breakfast and a change of bikes to become a Brompton warrior! Looking forward to more cycling commuters once the lock-down ends.
I have commuted for many years and it is a joy! 30 mile round trip.
To avoid the wet towel on the back of the desk chair scenario I use a Speedo PVA swimming towel. Basically a super absorbant cloth which can be wrung out and put back in it's plastic case. Works great.
Many years ago I used to commute from Tunbridge Wells to London, 76 miles per day, I worked on Sainsburys projects and could use their canteen - first class food two full trays at lunch time - no one could believe my food intake. I used to change either in my office or with a family of cyclists in Waterloo area - the Casserleys! I used to get up at 05.00, if it was dry then I would ride out irrespective of forecast. Coming home always against the wind was very hard and exhausting but the ride to London was superfast
Yes, I used to keep a full change of clothes, towell, spongebag and shower gel in my desk drawer. Puncture resistant tyres and decent lights are a must. Believe it or not I found most motorists were fine. OK "most". One of the biggest problems was coping with people I know telling me what a risk I was running. I was never sure if they were trying to be helpful or just didn't like the idea of people cycling.
I am extremely lucky on my rural commute that I have only one set of traffic lights for the whole 23 mile journey - and those are within 5 minutes of starting so once I'm through those, I'm out of town and out into the sticks.
What I have noticed recently, and it must be the time of year for it - road works with temporary traffic lights. Sometimes they are fine, but sometimes the (lack of) sensitivity of the sensors mean they don't react to something as small as a cyclist, which means I either have to wait for a car/van to turn up, or if it's obvious there is nothing coming through, RLJ.
A further comment to the one above. Most people - slow/fast/utility/lycra clad are absolutely fine and cause no problem to anybody, they just wanna get to work and back stress and hassle free. A minority of humans in any group are more selfish - they shouldn't ever define that group - let's not fall into the Daily Mail trap of doing exactly that and demonising all the people from that group.
Commuting by bike is funking great else most of us here wouldn't be doing it!!!
Bigfoz, it might be that the StVZO regulation compliant Lupine lights, have enough ooomf for you, and I am very interested in how the new StVZO Exposure lights measure up.
Trying to find a light that will allow me to see safely on the 50mph drop down off the moor into Glasgow... My commute is 10 miles of unlit lanes followed by 10 miles of Glasgow subburbs and city centre.
So many modern lights heave shedloads of lumens down the road to no great effect. My current aquisition, a 1600 Lumen Ryder piece of junk, I can see cows in fields, fence posts inside hedges, and no road surface beyond 15m. Which is not very far at 50mph, but far enough on the way up the moor at 12mph... Next stop 150Lux German B&M light with proper focussed reflectors or a dynohub and proper German light.
I use lights made by Fou4rth (spelling?) they are amazing, never let me down after years of use, especially good is the rear scorpion light - all UK made.
The risks are real and idiots abound and many simply have no sense of spatial awareness. Ride carefully and embrace all that commuting throws at you; the sun, the rain, the wind and the freedom.
The increased risk while commuting shouldn't be ignored. Cycling in dark, cold mornings presents all sorts of risks. Half awake motorists trying to see through misted windows while trying to avoid being late presents a major risk to the cyclist. Dodging buses and pedestrians emerging from everywhere. Icy, untreated roads . Poorly lit roads. Badly designed road systems which fail to consider the need of cyclists. I'm sure there's many more risks. I've endured them all in the past but haven't needed to do it for years now. Cycle commuting is a high risk sport, much higher than other forms of cycling.
5/15 - finding some stranger sat 2cm from your back wheel. This isn't a race, sportive or club ride, you haven't announced yourself, have no idea where I'm going and it's just plain dangerous. Bet you wouldn't do that if we were both in cars (and it's illegal), so don't do it on a bike.
And yes, I've had had some idiot crash into the back of me while cycling to work and nearly got himself run over by a car when he fell off.
16 - Chasing someone else down who turns off just before you pass them.
7/8 - leave clothes and stuff at work on the days when I have to drive in and change them over the following week.
I get really, really pissed off at people who think it's ok to wheelsuck/draft on the commute to and from work. I couldn' t agree more. It's dangerous. Commuting isn't a race, isn't a sportive or a club ride. When people do it to me, they get told in no uncertain terms why they shouldn't.
A couple of summers ago, I needed to return something to a shop about 20 miles away, and decided to cycle, on my own, as was a nice Sunday. As I turned left out of one junction, I could see another solo cyclist a way back down the road I was joining.
A few miles later, and he's chased me down and invited himself to sit on my wheel - and got really shirty/abusive when I asked him not to!
I tend not to mind if someone actually says hello and asks if I want to work together. It suggests a level of experience and a good attitude. When I get silently wheel-sucked, I tend to just sit up, to avoid an argument. The sucker will then overtake and do a speed probably 2-3km/h less than you'd like. Would it be evil to allow them to sit on, then aim for every pothole you can find?
I'm getting old or unco or something.
Used to commute winter starts 0500 hours 20-25 km from home on 23mm and didn't have issues.
Then a couple years ago 28mm without issues until a cold stormy day.. Stuff changing flats.
Now similar to Schwalbe Marathon Plus; Lifeline Armour commuter. Yay. Non yet. Nearing a couple of years.
Punctures suck because they've nearly always happened on wet and miserable days/nights.
Summer I get told I smell sometimes. Instead I carry my shirt during summer in the rucksack or panniers and long ride home instead.
Other pros are tools found in gutters. Lead weights, hammer, ratchet spanner, Allen keys, just cruising at 25 in the night allows plenty of visual time.
It's worth it, today I locked the door, grabbed my bag, realized I'm late, opened the door, put bike inside, closed door and drove. Who cares. Feels better after riding though.
Even the mighty Marathon Plus is still no match for freshly trimmed hawthorn hedges. And they turn any bike into a tank in treacle.
Dead light batteries? The answer is simple! A dynamo hub! No need to charge them up, and as a bonus, the front light is often a better formed beam that doesn't dazzle others (e.g. B&M or Schmidt) while throwing light further than more expensive 'brighter' battery-powered lights.
Getting annoyed with shoalers just means you're not enjoying smoking them enough with your Watts
Definitely the best box I ticked on my commuter Brompton!
0. Pedestrians are VERY dangerous, unpredictable. Just touching one of them will take you off the bike faster then desired.
For others, take the upside:
1. Rain -> fewer cyclists
2. Punctures -> never had one with Marathon's, and now tubeless
3. Red lights -> light rims, light tires (hence tubeless or less than 20" wheels)
4. Shoaled -> that's life, go your way
6. Sweaty -> I take my shower in the evening. Once you're used to it, it is just as fine as in the morning or even better. Use that time for strechting exercises. Ride average speed (breath with nose) and change top at work.
7. You definitely need a full spare dress-up for the time you ride into dog shit and get some on your trousers. It ... happens.
10. Expensive -> No way. Buy cheap sport clothes and combine them to achieve the desired cold/rain resistance. OK I do have a 20£ merinos base layer for when it is REALLY cold.
10 bis. You NEED an outside thermometer!
11. Lights -> dynamo hub
12. Hungry -> eat more fibers (oak, beans, vegetables) towards keto diet, but not full keto
13. Way back -> I do it in my office clothes.
99. Commuting by bike -> what else?
Traffic lights cannot be a pain as they are part of the journey.
Having said that I see none
as I do 1/2 mile of road , 9 miles of gravel and 1 mile of dead quiet single track road which is avoided by cars because of the pot holes. Retrun is reverse but I stick an extra 5 to 10 miles of gravel in.
Ony down side is that sweaty kit doesn't dry unless it can go outside as some dimwit decied that a school with only ceiling mounted ground source heating was a good idea.
I actually appreciate them as a chance to recover and rest abit sometimes, the bit Im less keen on is other than pedestrian islands they are the next biggest source of close pass,must get in front or just down right dangerous overtakes I encounter on my commutes. Even if the traffic light is red, even if you are in prime approaching it, someone always just sees the tiniest space in front of you and will try to get there.
4. Being shoaled
It always seems to be the slow people that do this. I don’t mind when it’s someone reasonable quick, but it always seems to be someone on a rusty supermarket BSO or a student on a sit-up and beg 3 speed (Oxford...) that wobbles to the front, normally past everyone who knows what they are doing, and cross the stop line everyone else is lined up at, or line up down the cycle path stopping anyone from using the ASL box.
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