Commuting to work by bike

When you're stuck on command duty just staring at the clock, having a radio or an MP3 player is honestly a lifesaver. It’s the perfect way to kill the boredom—you can dive into music, actually enjoy some good tunes, and maybe even pick up something new along the way while you pass the time...

Everything hits you at once... Honestly, it’s not even an issue if you're just cruising out on a highway embankment or something, but try doing that in the middle of heavy city traffic. It's a whole different story.

placidcanyon2 said:At the same time, you hear all sorts of nonsense... It’s one thing if you’re out on a rural highway, but in heavy city traffic? That's a different story entirely.

... personally, it never was an issue for me... I suppose everyone will just have to judge for themselves.🤷

brightranger43 said:Why not look for a place a bit closer to work? I mean—you’re moving anyway. 🤷
p.s. Which country are you heading to, if you don't mind me asking?

Dennis Lewis50 said:The Netherlands? 🤔

Sure, rush makes a fair point 😁

The reality is, the job is out in some tiny rural town with maybe 50 people, but the apartment would be in a city of about 200,000. 😉

I commute daily, riding through pretty much any weather condition 12 miles on a single route. It’s nothing I can't handle. However, if I lose my rhythm after a brutal winter—say, by stepping away from the roller trainer—it takes me at least a week to get back into the swing of things, complete with those annoying nighttime muscle cramps.
I have a buddy who clocks in about 62 miles miles a day. His routine is set: he drives to work on Monday with his bike in the trunk, then cycles all week before driving back on Friday. This guy is essentially a semi-pro; he's got sponsors and enters marathons specifically to hunt down podium finishes.
What I'm getting at is this: 31 miles riding one specific loop every single day isn't a substitute for actual training for a casual rider. That kind of consistency is just maintenance. Real training requires deliberate planning; once you've actually put in the structured work, then you're ready to talk about competing in races.

... Look, if the commute is just too damn long, you can always break it up: drive out to the edge of the city suburbs, grab your bike from the roof rack or pull it from the backseat, fold the wheels, and finish the trek through downtown on two wheels instead of four...

I’d love to hear from anyone who bikes to work every single day. Looking for tips, experiences, whatever you've got!

I couldn't really do it before because my commute was mostly highway, but now I'm at a place about 9.3 miles away. Most of it—like over 90%—is on bike paths. I'm thinking the 9.3 miles will take me maybe 45 minutes of easy pedaling... so roughly 12 miles/h.

How do you guys deal with sweating, clothes, carrying gear? I have to lug a laptop around and I'll probably need a full change of clothes once I arrive. Is 9.3 miles overkill? Should I use a backpack or maybe one of those panniers? Seriously, any advice helps 👍

The good news is I actually have the motivation, a decent bike, great routes, and even secure indoor parking at the office 😁

quietskipper17 said:I’d really love to hear some thoughts, experiences, or maybe just some advice from people who actually commute by bike every single day.

I guess I didn't have the chance before since my old commute involved riding along a major interstate, but now I'm at a company that's about 9.3 miles away (one way), and most of it—probably over 90%—is on dedicated bike paths... I'm estimating it'll take me about 45 minutes of easy pedaling to cover those 9.3 miles miles... so that works out to an average of roughly 12 miles mph.

I was wondering how you all deal with things like sweating, what to wear, or just carrying gear for the workday? I have to bring my laptop with me, and I think I might need to carry a full change of clothes so I can freshen up once I get to the office.... I wonder if 9.3 miles is asking too much? Should I use a backpack or maybe one of those pannier racks? I suppose any kind of experience would be helpful 👍

On the bright side, I guess I have the motivation, a decent bike, good conditions, and I've even secured a locked garage at work 😁

Actually, I think a good backpack would definitely help... when you're commuting, you pretty much dress more towards the sporty side 😁, and then once you arrive, you can just swap out your shirt or something, and I guess that solves most of the problem 😁

Nicholas James622 said:Honestly, a good backpack would definitely help... if you just dress more casual when heading to the office 😁, then once you get there, just swap out your shirt and maybe some undershirts, and you've pretty much solved the whole thing 😁

The thing is, it's a bit trickier for me since I'd need to pack extra pants, shirts, shoes... basically a whole outfit plus my gear and basic toiletries. At that point, it’s less of a backpack and more like carrying around a Samsonite suitcase 😂

but I'll give it a shot...

well, I suppose it might be for the best if you don't end up trying to cram a bicycle into a Russian suitcase anyway😁

Nicholas James622 said:well, at least you won't have to stuff a bike in your backpack now😁

A bike in a backpack and inline skates to work? 😂😂😂

Anyway, don't want to clog up this thread... the backpack's gonna be huge regardless🙄

You should check out Dick's Sporting Goods; they have some really nice cycling backpacks, though I guess you could practically cram an entire bike in there if you tried enough 😁

quietskipper17 said:The thing is, my situation is a bit more of a headache since I’ve gotta pack extra pants, shirts, shoes... basically the whole outfit plus my gear and some basic toiletries. At that point, it's less of a backpack and more like carrying a Samsonite suitcase around 😂

but I guess I'll give it a shot...

Look, I don't know where you work or what your setup is like, but I used to keep most of my stuff at the office so I didn't even have to bring it home. Like, you just leave your work shoes there—show up in sneakers and then change once you arrive. And toiletries? Just leave them at the office (assuming you have a drawer or somewhere to stash things), you know, wet wipes, deodorant, all that stuff... you don't need to lug it all back and forth every single day.

Even if you do end up needing to carry a spare shirt or some pants... honestly, I always managed to swing it and it was never really an issue for me...🤷

Rachel Brooks63 said:Look, I have no idea what your workspace looks like or what kind of facilities you have access to, but personally, I’ve always kept most of my gear at the office. I don't even bother bringing it home. :

The most logical approach is simply to wash up, change, and get on with your standard workday.
If you invest in high-quality cycling kits or any decent technical apparel, those clothes will air out in a locker or a closet by the end of the shift and won't smell at all when you head out.
Once you're back home, you can shower, do your laundry, and switch into regular clothes.
As far as gear goes, just grab a backpack for your laptop—or better yet, just wear some comfortable chinos and go for it.

Rachel Brooks63 said:you might end up just wearing a t-shirt and pants. honestly, I managed to pull that off and it wasn't even an issue for me 🤷

I guess I could cut back on the makeup and little things, but there's no way I'm bringing just one pair of shoes to the office... oh well, I'll figure it out 😁

Dana Reyes5 said:just let your clothes air out in a locker or something until you leave

that's actually my biggest struggle. I have no clue where I'd even put my work clothes to air out before heading home... 🤷

My own experience involves commuting roughly 9.3 miles via hilly terrain: you absolutely need essentials in a backpack, such as quick freshening supplies and a change of clothes for when you hit the restroom. Since I have 16 miles left until my commute becomes a daily reality, I am planning—and would strongly advise you to do the same—to invest in some semi-rigid panniers. They allow you to organize your gear properly without the constant fear of everything getting crushed, including your clothes and your laptop. It keeps the weight off your back, and frankly, since you aren't exactly aiming for a professional cycling average, one wonders if your jersey will even be sweaty enough to warrant a backpack in the first place.

analogcyclist12 said:I just did a trip about 9.3 miles miles, mostly hilly stuff. My setup? Just a backpack for work gear, plus some quick wipes and a change of clothes at the restroom. Since I've got 16 miles miles to get to work now, I'm thinking—and honestly, you should too—about investing in some panniers. Something semi-rigid would be great for keeping everything organized without it getting all crushed up. You could fit your shoes and even a laptop. Your back stays free, too! And since you aren't exactly setting any speed records, who knows if you'll even break a sweat in your shirt without a heavy pack weighing you down.

Panniers sound awesome, but from what I've read on here, buying high-quality, waterproof ones along with a solid rack to hold them takes a ton of cash. 😢 I think I'll just stick with my backpack for now and see if upgrading actually makes sense later on.👍

quietskipper17 said:I honestly have no clue where I’d stash my cycling gear at the office to let it air out before heading home... 🤷

quietskipper17 said:Bib shorts seem like a solid idea in theory, but reading through this forum, it turns out that investing in decent, non-absorbent gear along with a high-quality pannier to hold it all requires a significant amount of cash. 😢 I think I'll start with just a backpack and see if the investment actually pays off over time. 👍

High-end technical cycling apparel—and most performance gear, really—is designed specifically to wick moisture away. It doesn't hold onto sweat. You can simply hang it up in a locker, a utility room, or even drape it over your bike, and within an hour or two, it's perfectly aired out.

A decent cargo rack is almost always a worthwhile investment, particularly the models that bolt directly onto the fork, like those from Cannondale $50. If you can find a quality used one for a hundred bucks, take it. As for bib shorts, there's a massive range out there; personally, I spent $107 on mine and couldn't be happier. For starters, you can always grab something budget-friendly until you determine if this lifestyle is sustainable for you.

If you take a mid-week break—say, a Wednesday—you can drive to work, toss your gear in a bag, and drop off both your clean and worn clothes for laundry. Cycling kits tend to be the most heavily soiled items, so they naturally end up in the wash more frequently anyway. It also helps to own a spare set.

The most important step is simply getting the project off the ground; most of the logistical details will sort themselves out as you go.

Dana Reyes5 said:Good, high-quality cycling gear—and technical clothes in general—doesn't hold onto moisture, including sweat. It starts smelling pretty fast if you leave it in a closet or any small room. Sometimes I just drape mine over my bike, and within an hour or two, it’s already stinking.

The cargo rack is usually fine, especially the ones that bolt directly onto the fork, like a Cannondale $50. If you can snag a decent used one for a hundred bucks, go for it. As for bib shorts, there are so many options out there. Personally, I paid $107 and I'm super happy with them. Honestly, you can start with cheaper stuff until you figure out what actually works for you.

Maybe take a mid-week break, like a Wednesday, and just drive to work. Throw all your clothes in a pile, drop off the clean stuff and the worn stuff at the laundromat. Though, I bet the cycling kit is always the sweatiest, and since that goes home with me every day, it needs more frequent washing. It really helps to have a spare set ready to go.

Thanks for the tips! 👍

Dana Reyes5 said:The most important thing is just getting the project started. You can figure most of the details out as you go.

I agree.
😉

So, I’ve been commuting to campus on my bike for about three weeks now. 3.1 miles Just for context, after this short stretch of time, I decided to ditch the backpack entirely and switch over to a rear rack setup instead. 😉 The main reason is that once you've been riding for 9.3 miles, the sweat from the bag leaves your back completely soaked; personally, I don't sweat all that much, but after these 3.1 miles sessions, my back is already starting to feel damp. Honestly, I can't even imagine what it would be like after 9.3 miles...

In my opinion, the way to go is a rack, then securing the bag to it using
.
At least until I can scrape together enough cash for some panniers. 😉

You can pick up some of that heavy-duty stretch wrap at a local Bike & Sport shop over in $13. It should hold the bag onto the rack reasonably well...

And don't even get me started on how that bag chafes your shoulders and underarms and everything else. It feels pretty impractical, especially when there's a laptop inside. I mean, I'm not entirely sure how safe it is to carry a laptop this way, the way I've described it. But investing in actual panniers would definitely pay off in the long run.

When you consider that a bag capable of holding all this stuff will set you back $60 or more, you could probably just buy both the panniers and the rack for that price anyway... 🙂