Unfortunately, my bike is in the shop right now after yesterdays accident. When I hit the curb, my wheel cracked, so I am currently awaiting a replacement. They had to special order the wheel that I need, but I had them overnight it, so my bike should be ready this afternoon. I am anxiously waiting next to my phone 
In the mean time, let me share with you a few “tricks of the trade” that I have learned from commuting:
Bike Commuting Basics
Check your bike every weekend – Regular riding will cause wear and tear on your bike, so make sure that you check:
- Tire pressure.
- Tire wear and damage.
- Tightness of quick releases and other fastenings.
- Brakes.
- Chain for stiff links, rust, and dryness.
Clean your bike regularly – At least once a month, or after a particularly dirty/wet commute, you’ll want to to clean your bike of any dirt that can cause problems in the long term. I take my bike to the car washing station
Always carry flat repair supplies – Invest in a saddle bag and pack it with an extra tube, tire levers, patch kit, pump, and hex wrenches and always keep it on your bike. This way you always know you have what you need to fix a flat and keep moving. Trust me, it will really put a damper on your day if you get a flat tire without a spare.
Store hygienics at work- Lucky for me, I can keep some deodorant and an extra shirt in a locker at work. If you can’t, make sure you take it with you.
Leave a pair of shoes at work – If you ride with clipless pedals or need to wear more dressy shoes at work, store a pair at your desk or in a locker. Again, no need to carry them back and forth each day.
Always keep an extra set of clothes at work – Keep an extra belt, pair of pants, shirt, pair of socks, underwear, etc at work at all times. You never know when something might get stinky
Pack the night before – By packing your clothes and lunch the night before you’ll reduce your stress the next morning. One time, I forgot my shoes and I had to work in my cycling shoes (with clips). That wasn’t fun.
Only pack the essentials – Remember that you are going to have to carry it!
Plan your route ahead of time – For most commutes there are several different ways to get from your house to work. Use Google Maps to plan a route that is more scenic, avoids dangerous roads, and skips road work.
CHECK THE WHEATHER EVERY NIGHT – Keep an eye on your local weather so you can plan to dress for the temperature and precipitation. There is nothing worse getting caught in a thunderstorm on the way to work.
Do you have anything to add?
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If you’ve ever been in an accident of any kind, you can probably understand the soreness that I felt upon waking up this morning. Before I even rolled out of bed, I could tell that every inch of my body was sore.
It wasn’t a painful soreness, but it was more like a stiffness.
I thought about taking the day off from exercise, but I really felt like some activity would help loosen up my muscles and stretch me out.
Monday Workout
Running: 8.3 miles
The first few miles were slow and a little uncomfortable, but getting some activity in really helped to stretch me out. I didn’t set any land speed records here, but I spent the run cherishing that I was actually able to run today.
I was really lucky yesterday that I didn’t break my leg! My accident could’ve been much worse, but I’m really glad that everything turned out OK.
This week, I am loving my ability to be able to run.
What are you loving?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, you are VERY lucky! Great tips on the commuting – especially about the “extras”. I now keep extra gym clothes in my car since I once had to teach in my socks (I go straight to the gym from work)!
Right now I’m loving all the $1 Chobanis I got from Target….
Heather recently posted..Party Shoes
Great tips Matt!! Keeping tyre pressures right is so important!
Lisa recently posted..Turmeric quinoa pilaf
Great tips as always Matt! Maybe now I should get a bike.
Alaina recently posted..Vegas Eats
Very handy- in a few months (assuming I move) I will have no car and will be relying solely on my bike
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) recently posted..Timberwolf 5k Recap
Instead of a pump (Because I have two water bottle cages, so no place for it) – I bring with me 16g CO2 canisters. You use an adapter to plug them into your tire and you can inflat it in about 5 seconds flat! (Which is excellent and necessary during a race, too).
Rae recently posted..On a mission
I love this! Don’t forget a spare pump and patch kit! I’ve been stuck way too many times without that. haha! YEA for riding!
lindsay recently posted..Challenge Complete
I’m loving these tips!
Thanks for the tips. I want to start riding outside for cross-training, so this is helpful.
I ditto your ability to run. Even though my knee still acts up occasionally, I am still able to enjoy every mile! There’s nothing like it!
lights for nighttime commuting! (not that I’m always good about this…)
Emily recently posted..Presidents Day Spring Cling
One thing that I have found particularly helpfun is my small fan. I took over a spare office that I store my bike and clothes in. It’s basically my changing room. I keep deodorant, socks, pants, underwear, shoes, and towels to dry off. I also have a fan that I turn on and point right at me to air dry and cool down on hot days, and then point it directly at my cycling gear throughout the day so that by 5pm it’s dry again.
I wouldn’t recommend using a pressure washer hose like those at a car wash station. You run the risk of blasting grit and dirt into the ball bearing cartridges.
Other than that I’d recommend always having a set of lights just in case you have to work late or its particularly cloudy.
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