With regards to bad weather: when I was just starting in bike commuting, I decided on using the bike only two or three days week, when the weather was nice. And never in winter. I now use my bike all year, and in almost all weather. You don't have to start out cycling in heat waves or snow storms
I would love to commute fully as my commute is only 13 miles round trip. However when it's winter time I just don't have the courage to bike in slippery weather and in the dark in my town because I would have to commute on the road for 6 miles of that commute on busy roads. One part I can't avoid and that road terrifies me as when I drive I even have close calls. My town is known for being a good bike town in the US but for some reason drivers are awful watching out for them and they are pretty bad drivers. When I drive I see drivers driving half in their lane and the other half in the bike lane all of the time. I also know people who have been hit her and I hear in the news of people dying on their bike. I don't mind the cold and I absolutely adore riding my bike but what's holding me back is the awful drivers with no protection from them.
@@gigglingchicken8444 wouldnt happen to be from Eugene Oregon? More or less described the situation here. Fairly bike friendly area but a lot of drivers are really bad about staying between the lines or drifting into the occupied bike lane as their turn comes up. I only draw the line at icey roads. Last time I tried I went down several times (always left turns) ~3 square inches of contact with the ground is not enough to maintain traction on ice. rain and cold dont bother me and I've added enough lights that I'm more visable in the dark than most cars.
Your final tip is what counts. People don't realize (or remember) just how wonderful it feels to be on a bicycle, how sweet it feels to pedal along a path or a quiet tree lined street, listening to birds, hearing the wind in the trees, feeling the breeze in your hair, coasting along effortlessly while you take it all in.... Often, as I pedal my commute, I find myself thinking: lovely, just lovely, so simple, me and my bike just rolling along, looking at squirrels and people ... and then, “Oh my gosh, am I here already?” I don't think what I am doing is “commuting”--it feels more like communing. How nice is that? And at the end of my work day, I get to do the whole thing again. Perhaps I should mention that I always plot my bicycle routes so as to keep car exposure to the absolute bare minimum. Experience has proven (to me at least) that no extra kilometer is too many if it avoids "la peste automobile".
Avoiding cars isn’t always an option. I live in a very car centric city and while there have been some bike lanes added here and there, it’s far from great. And the city is split up into two sections separated by water with only two bridges, one of which is four lanes with 35mph+ traffic (that’s usually going way faster cause NA roads and streets are wide AF.)
@gameaddict51 this is the exact reason ive been so scared to ride mine. Where i live in Tennessee i could count the number of bike commuters ive seen in the past 5 years on one hand. We dont have side walks on busier streets (such as kingston pike where ive seen people cut through parking lots just to avoid traffic at even like 12pm when traffic isnt that bad.) But i still wanna try because, 1. Its cheaper and i dont have to pay for gas. 2. Im not that active as is but i wanna change that. And 3. Its just more fun, even in cars this state is gorgeous and on a bike you can just jump a curb and go see it up close. Sorry for the borderline essay but i just wanted to voice my opinion.
My niece had a mini tantrum when I picked her up from kindergarten in a car rather than on the bike (no child seat on mine..) because she can not spot for animals on the way home :) I love that for her the bike is the 'normal' mode of transport/commute
@Tfu-k8c i can take a child seat in the car from the family, but my bike would need an adapter for the seat to be mounted. There seems to be a lack I standardizing the bike seat mounting systems
Just need some waterproof bag for the interior if it’s not waterproof (plastic bag or dry bag). One of my panniers is not waterproof and pairing it with a dry bag makes it much more useful.
As a 72 year old UK resident I almost passed this by as not relevant to me. How wrong I was. You have presented an excellent array of tips and inspirational insights into cycling which have universal relevance. I recently had my car written off by a truck on the motorway and it gave me the opportunity to reconsider my transport approaches. I am now less than a week into owning an e-bike and I am out for all the guidance I can find. Your video was quite a find and, as a real bonus, no crummy background music. Thank you.
I would add a tip to barrier number 7. Ask your local cycling community for route advice. Route planning and map software in NA sucks for cycling and often puts you on busier roads. If you havent commuted by bike you might not know the better route. Cycling is great for community building and we want to help each other.
@@gingermany6223 Totally second using the Strava heatmap to scope out popular routes and ways to get around. It's been so useful for finding new ways to get around the big highways that carve up my city
This is good advice. Google maps, for instance, is horrendous for choosing safe cycling routes, and there's no option to "avoid busy roads" or anything like that either. It'll put you on a 70km/h road when there's a AAA path a few blocks down from it.
The e-bike I bought is the best thing I have bought ever. I have the ability to change between a vehicle for exercise and a vehicle for transportation with the press of a button. If you don't feel like exercising today, just use more assist. Steep hill? More assist. To warm? More assist. To sweaty? More assist. Bad mood? More assist. Need to carry a lot of stuff? More assist. And with this mindset you are always motivated to use your bike and 90% of the time I use the lowest assist anyway. With an e-bike you have the speed of an road bike with the comfort of a Dutch bike.
You make some interesting points but in reality most people on e-bikes don't pedal nearly as hard as they would if they didn't have the assist so it's making them lazier, fatter, less fit. Human nature will almost always take the easier method. For most people it's far better to have an e-bike and a non-e-bike and use the non ebike almost all the time. But if you doing biking for utilitarian means the ebike has its purpose especially if you've got a lot of cargo and have set it up well for carrying that cargo.
I would strongly recommend some bicycle fenders for when you also commute in wet conditions. These will keep your clothes free from the water and dirt from the roads. And for such weather conditions a hub gear system is a better solution as well as those are relatively maintenance free. As mentioned, don’t overdo it on the number of gears; 3 to 5 will get you a long way. Even on my leisure bike I use only about 6 of the 24 gears… Happy and safe commute to all of you!!
Hub gears and hub dynamo, and a light sensor that turns your lights on even in a short tunnel. And a 'spatlap'; rubber flap at the end of fenders to protect your shoes (front) and those behind you (back) from dust, mud, salt and other inconvenients found on the pavement (dog poop). I work in city center of a nice town with lots of parties, bars, café's, and clubs, so no-puncture tires are extremely handy when it comes to small pieces of broken glass in the streets, before they are swept clean in the morning. Roller brakes work the same in every weather condition, so no surprise when you need them. (Those little rubber blocks almost do not work when wet, work too fast when hot (sun) and slip when dusty.) Chain- and skirt guards (we call them coat guards) to protect your clothing, we dress for destination. You do not want your shoe laces, the strings of your jacket, or a long shawl caught into chain or wheels. Every part of a modern Dutch bicycle has its, well thought about, function. Even the stand, so you can park without racks, to hop into a shop for a 'worstenbroodje' or a half 'HEMA worst' on your way home.
Gearing is not so much about the number of gears, as the span. If it wasn't for the last little uphill going home, I'd be happy using the two larger front rings only on my 3x9 MTB. But winter in bad conditions frequently require the smallest front gear, even on other parts of the route.
@@dutchman7623 Yes. Hub gears and hub dynamo make it very easy. Originally my sensor was great at tunnels with a halogen light, but now with LEDs the sensor switches from riding light to main beam. But without a sensor I'd happily leave the main beam on all the time.
Ebike is a great one to include, most people won't want to be riding many miles a day so this new genre of bike definitely brings more people into the picture, I recently got my self an ebike like a few days ago actually, after nearly like 7-8 yrs of riding bikes and wow, it makes going around my neighborhood to run errands so simple even more than a regular bike(and I always thought that was amazing), although I'll always have love for my original bikes I still have to admit, having an ebike does help A LOT, a lot of these tips you mentioned can inherently already be helped because its an ebike so yeah there you go
@@andrewinglis2069 I think that would be a great investment because you can still pedal and get exercise but can put way less effort if you really want to, and it helps on those days where it's hard to pedal from being tired, etc.
As an older female (return) rider here are my tips: (1) go slower, what’s the rush? It might mean it takes you 16 minutes instead of 15 to get there (2) keep water bottle on your bike, remember water doesn’t have a used by date (3) get an ebike if you need to- it’s cheating? Umm, remind me who are you cheating when you’re riding a bike - it's better to be riding ebike than not riding at all (4) Commuting anywhere is great for your mental health - I can’t be bothered riding, I’ll just drive….oh, ok, I’ll ride, 10 seconds in to the ride you just feel better, (5) bike straps cost $30 at a bike shop, and $6.50 at a big box hardware, same thing different brand [hint go to the tie down section of big box] (6) buy decent breathable rain pants at the end of season on sale, I am dryer riding a bike at the end of a trip than running from the car in the wet [hint, once again not from a bike shop] (7) use strobe lights through the day, if your riding in the shade of a tree lined street motorists can’t see you if the sun is bright, I have this theory that motorists notice the strobe and wonder what it is and have a second look at what it is (8) be polite, say “hey” to other cyclists as you pass (comradery) (9) acknowledge a motorist if they let you in or slow down to let you cross, motorists do this for other motorists, and maybe other motorist will see the gesture is appreciated (10) I have a few lights flashing at night, my family tease me that I look like a xmas tree, who cares?, motorists can see me at night and I get to my destination, and (11) to be honest, as a female, at night, I feel safer on a bike than walking, and finally (12) don’t store your bike in the garage, out of sight out of mind, mine sits in my home office…..no excuses.
I have a 70cm length of black plastic water pipe I attach to the back of my carrier rack with two hose clips. It's the same width as my handlebars. I put on two very bright flashing lights, one on each end. The idea is to make my presence on the road appear bigger and wider to approaching traffic from behind. The plastic pipe is moderately flexible and won't mark or scratch anything it may touch accidentally. I initially tried it with a metal pipe but this is my MK2. And if anything is close enough to tip the pipe, it's going to swipe my arm and handlebars too. I do 98% if my riding on open roads with traffic and don't filter through traffic. And I always wear a hi-vis vest and helmet.
Another huge problem in cities are cars turning right into the sun and you're approaching from their right so the sun is in their eyes and they can't see you.
Here's a tip for getting started... Ride to work and familiarize yourself with the commute on a weekend or day off. Work out any kinks ahead of time and also get a sense of how long it takes you. When you actually ride to work you be less worried about the process of getting there on time
Interact! When cycling the possibility to interact with others is plenty. Simply say 'hello' to those who are faster every day, or slower. You see and pass the same people on your way daily, the boy with the German shepherd, the man with the red jacket who is going the opposite direction, the shopkeeper who is putting the parasols out, etc. It makes your commute look shorter and you do not need a watch to know if you're early, on time, or late. Close to home you see people from your neighborhood, close to work more co-workers.
My first experience bike commuting was caused by necessity - a broken car in a town with zero transit, my budget did not include taxi money...but I owned an old bike. The only thing I needed was some decent gloves, because it was January. Over the next 30 years I commuted by bike on and off, including almost every Western state in the US. What I've learned is...pretty much everything you just went through 👍🙂
This is where I am now! My other person needed to use my car due to a new job out of town and I live 4 miles or about 30vminute ride across town. I’m wanting to continue
I've just started to cycle to work and there is a steep hill smack dab in the middle. I ride as far up as I can and then just walk the bike up the rest of the way. It's still fun.
There's a big hill in my commute to work. I bike to the bus stop, catch the bus to go up the hill while I cool off, then change at work. Multi-modal transportation is always an option.
Thanks Tom... Watching your channel encouraged me to start cycling after a break of 15 years. And I did it by fixing up my old bike ...I am not going very far, but I am cycling rather than taking the car. And I am having so much fun doing it.
Great to hear! Start small and I bet you'll find yourself going farther or riding more often soon. Thank you for supporting the channel. I appreciate it!
Admittedly, "fun" is a pretty underrated part of the experience. I've been riding for over a year now, and I still take the occasional random extended route because I'm not ready for the ride to be over. (Doesn't hurt that I've got tons of music to amp up the experience.)
@@ichijofestival2576 I find myself looking for reasons to get out on my bike... errands I can run or journeys I can take...I am finding it a great stress relief.
"I think my commute is too long". My experience is that as you get used to it, it stops feeling that way. Those 30-40 minutes starts to fly, and you don't think the ride is a never ending journey.
I worked for an employer which was 15 miles from my home. That was doable on a bike. Unfortunately they merged with another company and moved us to a location that was 30 miles away and that was too far for me as my non sweating pace was only about 12 mph.
@@paulinebelford2645 15 miles is quite a distance too for a push bike but it's doable. My commute to and from work is a 12.6 Mile round trip. But on the way to work it's 85% uphill grade. So it takes me 32 minutes to get to work. And about 24 minutes to get home. On another point cycling is safer than people think. So long as you do things right. The number of times I've seen idiots flying around with no helmet on and no lights at night. I've lost count.
@@fender1000100 now my bike commute is only 8km (5 miles) each direction so is a pleasant 20 - 25 minutes cycle. It's also in a city with a great cycling infrastructure so is very safe, but you can get caught in a convoy of bikes unable to overtake during rush hour. I much prefer that to sharing the road with aggressive drivers though.
I never got a proper rack bag. I have a rack with a milk crate. I cut a piece of cardboard to fit the bottom to avoid tire splash. And I set my backpack in there. If it's rainy, I can put my backpack in a plastic bag. It might not look very aesthetic, but it's practical and looks fine when I walk into work. Plus, a milk crate is great imo because it fits two paper grocery bags and most reusable bags perfectly.
I commuted to work by bike for most of my working life from 1977 to 2019, when I retired. Commutes varied from 3 miles to 21 miles each way. My city is quite hilly and for many years, I lived at the top of a big hill, so couldn’t avoid it. Low gears and take your time, plus take a longer, less steep route up the hill if there is one, was the way I tacked it. I only did the 21 miler in summer, I cut it to 10 miles in winter by catching a train part of the way. E-bikes were never a thing for most of my working life. Always had a rack and a pannier, mostly had dropped bar bikes, because that was what I owned at the time. I still ride now, but purely for pleasure and utility (going to the shops).
21miles each way is a big commute. Best I could manage is 4days a week on a extremely hilly 14 miler in the summer. (Dropping to 2.5 in the winter) You need a car for night Skiing after work. 👍
Some people might be afraid their bike could get stolen at work. Go over some tips to find a safe spot (lock it up the office smokers hang out). And how to lock it up safely.
I've been commuting on a bike since 1981. First thing I bought after the bike, was a helmet, and this was back in the dark ages of biking.It was a road/racing bike. A good bike, which I still had it. Then I went to a mountain bike. A lot more comfortable. And now you can get some really good road tires for them, so comfort and durability. Then I bought my first recumbent back in 1991, and I've never looked back. I bought my second two wheeled recumbent in 1997, and converted it into an ebike in 2019, and it is wonderful. Yes I wear a helmet and always will, but I wear a military type patrol cap under it. I also have flags, rear view mirrors and lots of lights when I ride after dark. Just remember one thing, people in cars are out to kill you. So stay alert, no headphones or ear buds. Check your mirrors and stay as far to the right as you can. Stay safe, Ride safe, Be safe. Oh and I'm 60 years old and still riding. Okay, A ebike/two wheeled recumbent :)
wow, 40 years of bike commuting, that's amazing, we talkin' winters? either way, that's the way to go! a car is overkill for most commutes, I got to be honest, I bus in the winter hahaha I'm a 1 earbud kind of guy, lol, I would buy a Bluetooth speaker but I listen to metal music and I ride my commute early in the morning, I don't wanna frighten anyone lol.
@@laserlotus5 As long as the roads are clear, more or less I just put on more cloths. Wood socks, fleece lined jeans, a good hat under my helmet, and if it's really cold, Mittens. But yes there is a bus system where I live, and I've been known to use it in the winter. Stay safe. Oh, and my nice old Ski Jacket. But you'd be amazed at how warm your stay when pedaling about town.
The bicycle mirror is much under rated, I have one on my commuter. I still look behind to manoeuvre, but the mirror really helps with general road awareness.
I remember long ago when I had my first hilly bike commute. I dreaded the big hill. Two weeks later, I noticed I was topping the hill without even a thought. Nowadays when I pass through that neighborhood, I ask my former self, “You call that a hill?”
The hill will be back in twenty years, and I hope you can say: 'Still stronger than you are!'. While in the back of your mind you're thinking about an e-bike.
I would suggest looking into gravel bikes as well. The drop bar geometry can really help you build speed if you're in a rush, but most are also able to mount racks and such. They also boast more ruggedness compared to typical road bikes and can utilize some pretty beefy tires if you live in a snow climate or ride poorly maintained roads, as is the case in my city, Philadelphia.
Yes, I kind of lump gravel bikes and cyclo-cross bikes into the "road bike" category because they look the same. But you're correct, they are much hardier for a commute.
Haha! Yes. I've gotten three flats in the past year on my road bikes riding the Philadelphia streets. I'm primarily riding an old mountain bike now with 26x1.75 "hybrid" style tires. It's been super comfortable and fun in the city.
Completely agree. I ride a touring bike for commuting and it's a perfect combo of speed, capacity (for big loads), and comfort (upright positioning). Only caveat is gravel/touring bikes are a bit pricey, so secure storage at both ends is key.
Yes! Gravel/adventure/touring/all-road bikes can have the speed benefits of a road bike, but many have the cargo capacity of a city bike, plus fender mounts. I bought a used Salsa Vaya off Craigslist for my 10.5 mile commute and love it, though so far I've used my e-bike more often, since it's faster when I'm running late.
I've commuted with a gravel bike before. The other nice with it, is that it also has mild off-road capability. The favorite part of my commute was the quiet journey through a forest singletrack.
As a fellow Calgary bike commuter, I would say that two pieces of gear that are very helpful for winter commuting are fenders and studded tires. My commute has a steep hill right at the end, and the studded tires are the only way I have any chance of getting up it. And fenders are helpful for keeping your chain (and your office clothes) comparatively clean, which is nice.
Studded tires are a big thing in Scandinavia. I don’t know if it’s a legal requirement (it is for cars) but the vast majority of cyclists switch to studded tires in November presumably earlier further north) then back to regular ones in spring. I haven’t switched yet as it is unseasonably warm just now with zero frosty mornings as yet.
I can seccond that. Studded tyres just make bike commute a lot easier and safer in winter. In general, you want to use the type of tyres that are most suitable for the conditions of your commute. If it's on gravel, get tyres with tread; if it's on pavement, get slicker tyres; if it's slippery, get studded tyres; if it's off-road, get mountain bike tyres. These days we're spoiled for choice of different types of tyres.
im cycling on 23mm tires w no tread rn in calgary gotta go a little slower than summer lol, new tires are coming in a week though so thatll be exciting
Yes! A greater reminder at the end. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the view chat to people you see along your route. I find biking to do errands and just as personal activity to do in the evening as an activity calms me down from the stress of the day.
The real 'biggest barrier' is mental block! That's what I was thinking all the time, and this video confirms that. One needs to overcome that fist, all other barriers are easy to cross. Thanks Shifter for this enlightning video
The best parts of the video was "get an e-bike". I can't recommend this enough. It certainly can break these barriers to bike commuting. A few months ago I watched Shifter's video from last year about mistakes to avoid as a bike commuter. It was reassuring to hear things such as you don't need an exact route and don't worry if you have enough bags. I recommend watching that video too if you are on the fence about bike commuting. Having the right bike/equipment is very important. Like Shifter said, if you have a 10+ mile (15+ km) commute and/or has hills, an e-bike will definitely help!
Regarding barrier 7: I highly recommend riding in a group to build up your confidence. I live in Providence, RI, USA and we have a monthly "bike jam," a huge (100+ bikes) party-pace group ride in the city. Prior to moving here I didn't really have much experience riding my bike in an urban environment so I was really grateful to have the chance to learn how different bike lanes, trails, etc, all connected up throughout the city in the safety of a large group before attempting it on my own. For folks looking for something like this in their local cities, you can look up if your city has a "Critical Mass" group. Critical Mass has a more explicitly activist / political bent than the party ride bike jam my city has, but the underlying principle is the same in that there's safety in numbers. Critical Mass has a pretty interesting history, and there's even a documentary on it from 1999 called "WE ARE TRAFFIC!" kicking around here on UA-cam if you want to check it out!
There are more normal-looking pants available these days that are slightly stretchy, which makes cycling a lot easier. I've been wearing Levi's 'commuter jeans' around town for a number of years - they look like regular jeans, but the slight stretchiness makes pedalling easier and they also don't absorb water the way 100% cotton jeans do. If you do get caught in a light shower they often dry out quickly even while they're on you. They're also washable (& dryer-able) of course - if everything you wear is washable, the whole biking-around-town / commuting thing becomes much more practical.
On my way to work there is a 50m stretch of road with a gradient of about 10%. So it's pretty steep. This part is just before the company. When I started cycling more, I noticed that I was suddenly in a better mood and had more energy throughout the day. Conquering a steep mountain every morning sounds like torture at first. But it is actually a blessing. The convenience of driving had done the opposite of what I had always believed. Instead, being physically active just by cycling to work has improved my whole life.
Great points and motivation for everyone. Getting stronger can't be overstated. It is incredible how quickly you can ride further and faster. Those distances you worried about will be a cake walk in no time, you are far stronger than you think you are. And as you point out, it's not even about speed, just a nice relaxed pleasant pace is still more than enough to get you there quickly with a smile on your face.
Tip for persons in more humid countries like Barbados, leave early like 6, 6:30, the sun doesn't hit too hard...Mr. Shifter come to my beautiful island and I will show you around
Good tips! Thank you! Im riding a bike in Ukraine, Ternopil. City has just a few bikelines mostly through the parks. No separated bike bike lines at all, and pretty hilly. One more tip from me that you can commute slow when you going to work to reduce sweating and fast ride back home that I consider like a sport activity
About the hills, never forget that you can simply get off the bike. I like tackling the hill if I'm going home and I don't care about the sweat, but in reality, just power up as much as you can, when it gets hard, just give the bike a rest.
We have mountains here and I suggest that a commuter identify the cadence and force they want to apply. There's no hurry going uphill. It's not a race.
Regarding sweat, you can bring a wash cloth to work, wet it in the sink, then go into a stall and wipe down the sweaty areas, wait a min or 2 and you're probably good to go!
A fluro vest so you are seen. I have two panniers which unclip quickly from the rear rack when I reach the supermarket. I load them up in the shop ready to clip back on . A dozen beers fit nicely on my front rack for good weight distribution 😜
Perfect timing - just got an old beat up bike and am building up my confidence to actually go out and ride it. If you’re in the market for ideas for future videos - I would love to see one where you went out riding with a newer / less confident rider and discussed / demonstrated how you (as a seasoned) cyclist would tackle particular issues - eg. When a bike lane suddenly stops, when roadworks or parked vehicles block the bike lane, where there’s no lane at all, crossing busy intersections etc.
I had a "My commute is too long" barrier before I tried bike commuting. But when I tried it over a weekend to test the waters, I told myself "huh, 16km isn't so bad!" What's even better is that I can move faster riding a bike than public transport/cars. Mind blown! 🤯😅
When I was in college I got sick of the bus often taking an hour or more to travel the last 2 miles of the journey and I decided to start cycling the 9 miles to college after about 6 months of thinking it was too far. As it turned out, it was actually quite an easy ride even when I was still getting back into cycling, and I was able to leave an hour later - thus giving me an additional hour of sleep - and would still overtake the bus on the last hill. So many people complain about the traffic in my county, but none of them are willing to stop being traffic.
Spot on. Thank you from Walnut Creek, CA 94598. About your last tip: many years ago I biked from Holland to Italy, stopping at Youth Hostels. I remember after the rains in France the smell of the fields, and other places. You can't have that experience inside a car. Probably not even riding a motorcycle?
I love the last point. I live and work in Edinburgh (Scotland) which is probably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Commuting to work by bike allows me to appreciate my surroundings much more than driving. Being cocooned in a car shuts you off from the world around you to an extent that you're not really aware of until you travel by bike or foot.
That was a nice succinct list of tips to start bike commuting. For those of us who work predominantly from home, I suggest replacing all those short trips you used to make in a car (to the store, to the post office, to the library) with bicycle trips. It really adds up and you save on the cost of fuel.
I am one of those people frightened about being hit by a car. This is what has helped me: All the smaller size cities I’ve been in have few pedestrians on most sidewalks. I use the sidewalks if I am not on a back street. This is legal in many small cities/towns. Of course, be considerate of pedestrians and be extra careful to look out for cars at intersections at intersections. If the bike seems to big for the side walk, try a small kick scooter with decent size wheels. Certainly not as fast as a bike and you’ll need to walk up most hills, but still it’s at least twice as fast as walking, great fun and good exercise. Thanks for your wonderful videos!
This is actually a terrible idea. Not only is this not very nice for pedestrians, you are also increasing the level of danger to yourself instead of reducing it. Most fatal accidents with cyclists happen at intersections when the cycling path is routed together with the sidewalk. The reason is simple: the cyclist is out of the drivers direct field of view. Between a dead spot of the mirror, a little bit of distraction or a bit of negligence, it is very easy for the driver not to see the cyclist while making a right turn. Riding on the sidewalk is even worse than these bike paths, because a driver is even less likely to expect a cyclist in this situation. If the cyclist is riding directly in front of the car, then the driver WILL notice. Nobody in his right mind will consciously run a cyclist over. The key to being safe as a cyclist is to be seen. Riding on the sidewalk because of fear is a textbook example of perceived safety having nothing to do with actual safety!
Thanks! Amazing video. I have a 25 km round trip commute to my job. When I bought an e-bicycle, I began to commute by bicycle 200 times a year instead of just 30 or 40 times a year. Commuting by regular bicycle that distance is sometimes very nice, even in my hilly little city, but it can be time-consuming. The electric bicycle saves a lot of time. PS I thought Calgary was a very bicycle-friendly city; is this not correct?
This is a great comment, Philip, about how much of an impact your ebike made. Thank you for sharing. Calgary has a few areas that are bike friendly, but it has a long way to go before it's safe and convenient for everyone to ride a bike. Thank you so much for the support!!
Pro tip, bring a change of socks! When you get to work. I always felt like I would get a bit sweat which was no big deal but having fresh socks so my feet/shoes wouldn’t get gross was a game changer.
Hey thanks for the video. My commute is 50km (31mi) round trip. A bike rack is an absolute must, and panniers are a close second addition. Not only do they get weight off your back (wearing your backpack can make you really sweaty!), I find it is just so easy to have bags that you can throw something, lots of things, into on the go. Bike gears are more important than what the video says IMO. Bike at your pace, take things easy. No shame in putting low gears for hills, that's what they're there for. Need to keep things realistic 🙂 One tip for personal temperature management and getting yourself motivated regardless of weather - at least in chillier weather - is to start wearing all the layers you would for that weather, minus one thinner layer. You are then comfortable when getting on the bike, and when you get heated up due to exertion, take off layers (I usually just keep a tshirt or longsleeve shirt on). You will get cooled down naturally and you have great ventilation around your body, which means little or no sweat. Obviously adjust appropriately for the temperature. When I arrive my body needs a bit of time to adjust to the ambient temperatures, and any sweat needs to evaporate, so after about 15mins after my ride has ended I start layering up again to avoid getting cold. It feels great! For wet weather, rain pants and a rain jacket are important; there is nothing worse than arriving where you need to be and be wet with no option to change! I embrace all weather types (except strong winds, they can buzz off), I just appreciate having to ability to use my body to drive me forward and get where I'm going (no e-bike here), and being in a state where my body can feel the elements, and I guess in a way be in touch with your environment. Who knows when the day comes when this is no longer the case? Additionally, some days I get hungry while biking. Some snacks with quick-release energy help, but also motivate. Lastly, if you have difficulty to get yourself to do the whole stretch of the way with the bike, I find it helps to section up your ride into milestones or checkpoints. Achieving multiple smaller things is a lot easier than staring at a single big thing.
When the day comes when it gets too difficult, I'm sure you'll get an e-bike. So, 25km each way. That is impressive. Especially if you have a few moderate hills on the way. Can I ask what is your average speed? And do headwind's slow you down substantially? 20km/h is a good pace for me on a hybrid bike plus luggage over 20km and moderate hills.
@@tconnolly9820 I prefer to go as low tech as I can. Thus no accurate speed measurement (and no e-bikes), but I would say it really depends on my mood, motivation, and amount of fatigue. Low end of the scale would be 18km/h up to maybe 25km/h. My bike is an upright citybike so yes headwinds can have a big effect
Really like this channel as I am a bike commuter in Toronto, I often get "lost" exploring new routes and discover new neighborhoods, it is a really fun thing to do, and adding a few more minutes while being "lost" does not feel the same as getting stuck in traffic for a few minutes,
I use wind proof clothing mainly. Wind proof clothing helps keep out the wind and water. I like having my extra gears for fighting unexpected bad wind/weather. I like my front suspension for bad roads/ having fun on the way to work. This was another great video!
I used to go to work on a bike in Bangalore, India almost 14 KM on one side, with hot weather and a huge terrific shower is mandatory, luckily my office has gym and bathing facilities. So I used to carry my office dress along with my laptop bag . Now moved to Montreal, Canada recently. Now I am working from home, but using a bike to drop my kid at play school every day. Winter started and I am not confident enough to take the kid now on slippery roads, now practicing biking in the snow to gain some confidence. I love your videos and it keeps me inspiring
Tips from hilly cold rainy Pittsburgh bike commute: 1. All buses have bike racks 2. Rain pants 3. For me, 19 mi each way, hilly. E bike big time 4. They don’t plow in winter in the city, and separated bike paths are not cleared. So the safest roads in winter are actually the ones most car infested because the cars pack down the snow. It’s topsy turvy 5. Can’t ride on the busways 😞 but there’s plenty of trails and plenty of buses
I did a year of studies in a city that's basically a lake on a mountain. I used my bike to commute to school all year long, aside from a small pause during the coldest winter days when my brakes were frozen in place every morning. At the beginning of the year, it took me about 25 minutes to commute, or 15 at the cost of arriving out of breath. Always had a wet back at the arrival. By the end of the year, it took me 15 minutes without even trying to be fast, though I still had a wet back. I was also using my bike multiple times per day even on holiday, just for leisure or grocery shopping. And thanks to combining biking with "not overeating anymore", I lost 20-25 kg (44-55 lbs).
I live in Brick NJ, hardly a city but probably more dangerous due to clueless drivers. I love all these tips, though I still use a backpack. And your right I should start talking to my town about making the roads safer. I never see kids out anymore, just myself and a few other old people. Also I finished Frostbike, good book! Nothing like a ride on a calm winter night.
A backpack raises your Center of Gravity: if you carry heavy items inside, it could be extremely dangerous turning corners, etc. Is not about the sweat factor. Your life could be on the line if that backpack is heavy. On the other hand a rack $ 20, panniers $ 40 each. Those $ 100 can make a difference between life and......lower your C.G.
Here's my experience on how to manage the risks: don't chase a target time. If l start focusing on improving my time, I start taking much bigger risks. Not a clever idea in city conditions. I can easily believe that those extra risks far outweigh the stale old helmet debate.
I love this. It's especially important because, no matter how you ride, a bike ride in a city environment is almost always more predictable than a car tip.
Just go on nice days is great advice. Ebikes to not get sweaty is great advice. Saddle bag is advice I took from an earlier video you made. I kind of wish I took your advice to simplify though, too many things can go wrong on my fancy bike.
Just started commuting to work and this channel really helped me figure out the best options in terms of gear (as I didn't have a bike or access to one). Luckily 90% of the commute is on a dedicated cycling route. I bought a Ribble AL Hybrid with a rigid fork - thanks for ensuring I didn't waste money and weight on an unnecessary suspension fork! It also comes with a pannier rack. I have invested in a pair of waterproof overtrousers and gloves - it's just too wet/cold now here in Wales to wear only my work clothes. Also bought a cool backpack that splits in half via zip to go each side of the pannier rack. All from Decathlon.
I'm going to look up that backpack thanks Aled, also in Wales, have an old carrera ridgid mtb and it works for me. Only wish we had buses that carry bikes here in Wales, very jealous hearing other countries talking about them.
When I started bike commuting to my work at the beginning of the year, I had a long route with no bike lanes for about 12km. The path was also really difficult and scary. It had a long 6km climb with 5~6% average gradient, so in the steeper parts I had to go to the side walk and hope no pedestrian would get mad at me! With time I got stronger and that long climb became actually fun to try to overcome as quickly as I could. It never got easy, but it was fun at least! Today the office switch places and the route is much more flat. It still doesn't have many bike lanes, but I no longer feel all that exhausted after getting there, which actually makes me a little bit sad 😂
The start time of my job was a slight barrier, for most of the year it's dark before 7AM, so one way for most of the year will be super dark and maybe really cold, I bought a heated jacket and heated gloves and I bought a double pannier so I could have an extra side to put all that extra stuff so I could enjoy the beautiful weather on the way home! Biking in the dark, before most people are out can be relaxing or sketchy depending on where you live, but be safe and buy one of those reflection vests for extra safety, lol. I should follow my own advice on the last one
I have a 70cm length of black plastic water pipe I attach to the back of my carrier rack with two hose clips. It's the same width as my handlebars. I put on two very bright flashing lights, one on each end. The idea is to make my presence on the road appear bigger and wider to approaching traffic from behind. The plastic pipe is moderately flexible and won't mark or scratch anything it may touch accidentally. I initially tried it with a metal pipe but this is my MK2. And if anything is close enough to tip the pipe, it's going to swipe my arm and handlebars too. I do 98% if my riding on open roads with traffic and don't filter through traffic.
For me, the ebike was the key. Even with showers at work. On a hybrid, it took 35 minutes, plus shower time. 50 minutes total until I could walk into a meeting. On my e bike, I could take a shorter route, go faster, and didn't need a shower. 22 minutes til I was in a meeting. My car took 18 minutes. No reason to take the car. With my ebike, I rode 4 days out of 5. With my hybrid, 1 out of 5.
i gotta finally say it, i see your recs for #2/3 a lot (wear your work clothes, bike slower etc.). As a bike commuter in Florida these always make me laugh... I don't know if you can comprehend the level of sweat that accumulates during my 6 mile commute in the summer : D. I think for a ton of people in the southern US wearing workout clothes and showering is a must for a lot of the year.
A basic, old style, 10 speed mountain bike is all you really need for your commute. No suspension, so all your power will go to the pedals. But get a good gel/memory foam seat. Some even come with springs in them. Plus you can mount racks to them. I had an old mountain bike with rack that I attached 4 baskets to, and it handled up to 50 pounds of cargo. I made lids for the baskets out of chickenwire/hardware cloth to keep things inside them and held them down with bungee cords. Still miss that bike sometimes.
‘Wear what you normally wear’ XD So I work at a distribution centre and I recently had a conversation with a fellow coworker who’s a bike commuter who mentioned that the truck drivers recognise the high vis uniform and thus know they are commuters, not speed demons. So yeah, I’d never though of it that way and maybe this doesn’t carry over as well when you don’t work for the same companies so the truck drivers don’t recognise you as ‘one of ours’, but IDK maybe not being in sports gear but rather regular clothing or a uniform and more obviously commuting could also change driver’s perspective of a biker and how they interact with them sometimes. Granted this is on backroads with not so much traffic which probably also helps a lot.
I think other big barrier, at least where I live is bike theft. Solution is probably to get a good lock, park in a safe place, and maybe get a crappy looking bike (but one that stills works great) as to prevent anyone from wanting to steal it. It's worked for me so far
Solutions that I use for bike theft: a wheel lock, sometimes called a café lock; a lock for every hour that the bike is left unattended; indoor parking: some parking garages how spots for bikes, preferably with surveillance cameras. Even outdoor parking with security cameras is better than nothing.
@@marcdenlinger5282 Apparently, there is no theft-proof lock; all locks can be broken, so the idea is to discourage them. I guess 3 or 4 locks, with at least two having the level 9, is probably enough. I have a u-bar lock with a level 9 security rating, a wheel lock and a folding lock that I use when I must leave my e-bike outside unattended (for example, at the gym, no security guards, but in a busy area with lots of people walking around). I take the battery in with me . About the longest that I leave my bike outside unattended, is 4 hours or so. I have access to an indoor parking garage for longer situations. Even outside, one of the places that I leave my bike (at the metro station), has security guards walking around, so they would (hopefully) notice someone cutting 3 or 4 locks with power tools.
Agreed that can be difficult. Thanfully Ive seen things going on around me, business are starting to accomidate cyclists. My local hospital for example bought bike lockers for staff and visitors. Big bulky heavy metal boxes you put your bike in and lock it shut with your own lock. The city hall office installed a locked cage with bike racks in the underground parking lot. Several cities are making manditory bike parking a thing, just like they have for cars. What they deem long term parking, so work or residence, MUST be inside the building or parking garage, only accessed by lock and key and lock your own bike with your own lock. Its getting safer slowly.
You can commute with most shoes as long as you have wide pedals (like mtb plastic pedals) Just use whatever you find confortable, boots can be good on rainy days and sandals for hot days;basically as long as the shoes are not skinny flip flops or soccer shoes they can take it You don't really need clipless shoes or other forms of retention pedals fir commuting
But if you have the slightest chance of encountering rain, either bring a second pair of shoes and socks with you or keep a pair in the office! Wet feet make you incredibly miserable.
Just started bike commuting to work. 15 miles one way and before I started I went back and forth on if I should do it. I'm so happy I went for it! I bought an excellent for me ebike that I love riding. My commute takes me an hour but it's full of bliss because I get to truly unplug and just enjoy the wind in my face and the environment. I highly recommend you bike commute if you can. It's made me happier and I only filled my car up twice in one month. Thank you Tom for this channel. It has really helped a lot.
I love the video! You are a great advocate for bike commuting. I love to ride bike and enjoy the sights and sounds that other transport methods miss out on. One of my barriers that you missed is having a safe place to lock my bike up in the urban area. Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ. It's hard to trust my bike outside for 8-10 hours while I'm working.
Yes, good bicycle parking is a problem in many cities. Thankfully, more companies are taking seriously the need for bike parking, both on streets and in workplaces.
Last summer I did an internship in Austin Tx and biked each day 3 miles up a crazy steep hill and 3 miles back. I just wore conventional shorts and t-shirt and then changed to work clothing when I got to work. I considered taking a shower, but I found i didn't actually need to. The hard part wasn't the hills or the temperature, but the cars. I quickly found a low car commute and that made all the difference.
This is at least my second time watching this video. I was on a streak commuting ~21km each way on my Brompton and I live in a hilly & even mountainous area where I have a big climb at the very end of my commuting day. Anyway I have been lacking motivation to commute on my bike lately and this video addressed all my excuses. Well done!
You got a heck-of-a-lot done in this video! Thanks, and it was all very helpful and inspiring. As you surely know, there are places (“schools”) where newbies can learn how to reduce any anxiety they may have about riding safely in an urban environment. The more you know about cycling, the better cyclist you will be.
Modest bike commuting (8 - 20 kms) since 1990. E bike since 2016. I love that you say take it easy, that is what makes it for me! Sing while I bike, wave at neighbours, stop for a carton of milk... It's a wonderful way to travel, energizing in the morning and downtime after the day is over! I ride rain or shine (no ice or snow though) here in Victoria BC!
Just discovered your channel, great advice! I've been commuting by bike in Saskatoon since 2006 and am really loving getting back into winter biking too :) Looking forward to going through your backcatalog of videos and watching for some new content!
Nice video, spot on with all these points. Figuring things out along the way is the way to go. Thanks for great content and helping people focus on the simplicities of biking.
Great video. I use an IKEA Sommar pannier (blue) which holds all that I need. It has 2 metal clips which holds onto the bike rack together with a handle to carry when off . So easy to put on and take off. I haven't found anything else to match it! I live in Milton Keynes in the UK which have dedicated redways for walking and cycling well away from the cars!
I look forward to your video's, hopefully you can make a video giving some tips on gear for riding in colder weather. I live in the Midwest where temps have dropped and would like to see some do's and Don't. Thanks Tom!
I am a bike commuter out of necessity as I am also a cycling instructor! I live in the UK and our cycling infrastructure is woeful to say the least (With a very few rare exceptions), but part of what we teach is confident but defensive road riding. We mainly teach kids, from first balance bikes, up to teenagers taking on busier roads and more advanced techniques as well as some adult and family sessions. It's great to see the confidence it gives people when they realise that they have an equal right to be on the road and that they are helping the environment in the most practical and honest way possible. Great video, I've only just found this one in your collection but there are some great tips here - thank you.
I live three miles from work, but there is ONE bridge/overpass that stops me from riding to work. It's super narrow and busy that had no shoulder or sidewalk right by a freeway on/off ramp. It makes me nervous driving and I've had to run-commute to work a few times and that was terrifying enough.
There is one of those near me in Vaughan ON. The road engineers have complely filled the space under a railway bridge. They also spent quite a bit of money on cycle tracks on either side of this impassable underpass. A busway is also discontinous for 200m. Ironically the bridge itself is owned by the regional transit authority, GO, which has a mandate to get people out of cars.
New subscriber here. I am recently retired and gave my car to my grandson. I have a decent bicycle that I inherited from a friend who passed. I won’t be commuting to work, but I want to stay active, and figured biking would be good way to help keep my sense of balance as I get older. I also plan to use the bike to go on short errands to pick up groceries and such. Your channel has already helped me quite a lot. I have installed a rear rack and a front basket so far. I have a backpack and milk crate, as well as a small cooler that will all fit on the rear rack, so for now I think I am set. Thanks for all the great tips and voice of experience! It has really help me out. Thanks!
Longer commutes, try a touring/cyclocross (gravel) bike. Most of the entry level models have braze-ons for a rack and fenders. They are a slightly relaxed racing bike and can have drop bars and shorty brake levers
In Florida the very few bike paths we have are just wide enough for one bike right next to the car lane, with only a white line separating the two. With broken glass bottles and trash every few feet. I usually ride on the sidewalk, but it's possible i might get a ticket for doing that. I've read Florida, if not the most dangerous state for bicycles, is in the top three for most hit and run car to bike accidents in the US. wish me luck. lol
Have you considered doing a review/overview video of all the bicycles you have access to? Seems you've got quite a few and would be interesting to know why you picked them and their features, and when you use them for what rides.
Tom, thanks for all your amazing content. This video in particular is a stand out. I appreciate your relaxed approach, and anything that encourages others to plant their feet on pedals is a win in my books! Keep being a champion! I felt compelled to comment, as I was trepidatious starting out as a bike commuter. And your initial advice is key: Just start cycling. I started cycle commuting in August 2020 and can no longer fathom using public transit or driving to work. As I close in on 30 000km travelled on my bike (just 500 kms to go!), I can't tell you how many times I've come across a motorist or pedestrian, hostile to me, a cyclist, because of the actions of other cyclists they've encountered in the past. I view it as a perturbed form of 'paying it forward' or simple grudge-bearing. I've found the best way to remain safe on the road is to be predictable and always communicate with other road users. I'm currently employing the use of a 'thumbs up vs. thumbs down' strategy when encountering exemplary vs. horrendous driving habits. I enjoy other motorists witnessing me adjudicating another motorist's good/bad behaviour. But, the following helps keep me safe: 1) Know your route! 2) Signal EVERY turn; indicate your intent to encroach on or take the lane -- **Don't be afraid to control the situation**. 3) Eye contact is critical. 4) Remain calm and composed. 5) Always have an escape. 6) Keep your bike well maintained! 7) But, beyond all this, enjoy the ride.
It's cars. 'The moment you start riding on the roads, the clock starts ticking', or so I've heard (and seen). Any other obstacle is mountable, but when I fear for my life... 😓
When I lived in Latvia, I used to be terrified of drivers when I biked around the capital but I've ridden for 3 years mindfully of others on the road and never got in harm. My current city in Sweden merges bikelanes with streets at roundabouts which is awful but I still manage with the correct attitude and ad etiquette
I totally agree with your conclusion. I started commuting to do some exercise, sabe fuel, avoid polluting... But after some weeks, I am starting to love It just for the pleasure of riding a bike! Going to university becomes a pleasure, instead of a thing to do. Thank you for your content and greetings from Valencia, in Spain! 😊
Used to be a fine weather cyclist in Adealide South Australia (lovely meditarian style weather). I was in Canada in December 2016 and the amount of ppl I saw riding bike in freezing just snowed weather schocked me. Got back to Adelaide and I toughed up, sold the second car and rode daily for my commute, rain or shine. Dont have to worrry about the snow here.
RE: wearing your work clothes to commute: probably not a great plan if you need to wear business clothes or anything fancier. Both the saddle and the pedaling motion are really hard on pants. If you’re wearing $50+ slacks for work, you probably don’t want to wear through the seats of all your pants, in a way that can’t really be patched, every couple years. Plus the part where most pants have seams that can rub in uncomfortable places. When I had a short commute, I generally wore casual or athletic clothes, but only rarely wore my work clothes (business suit or at least suit slacks and dress shirt), because I didn’t want to be spending my budget on replacing my slacks all the time. It was also nice not to get sweaty in my work clothes (because I almost never left early enough to ride slowly), but that was secondary. When I had a long commute, work attire was casual so I wore my work clothes to commute much of the year. But even though those were tougher materials, I still wore through the seats of my pants while the rest of the pants were in fine shape.
Fully agree, my work place doesn't usually require formal wear but especially when having multiple journeys throughout the day, I can't bring myself to wear anything but sporty leggings. Bike rubbed through and left ugly light marks on my expensive Levis jeans so not tempted to buy them again based on my lifestyle where I cycle to 90% of activities (work, gym, social events and meetups, even formal events, going out etc). Non-stretchy jeans really hurt my knees and don't dry fast enough. Has anyone found a good tradeoff between comfort and formality?
General solution:E-bike⚡ Last month I got a waterproof pannier back (that can convert into a backpack) that is ideal here in North America because the hurracaine season last there is always a possibility of rain;good for school too so you can have your homework not wet😎. For last I question what are your thoughts on recumbent bicycles/tricycles/quads (and velomobiles too)? 🤔
I have recently ordered a new commuter bicycle and this channel has helped a lot in making an informed choice. Interesting, lots of ideas and info and a very personable presenter.
For women, I totally recommend micro-modal boxer briefs!! So much nicer than a chamois (aka sweat sponge) and less chafing than "normal" women's panties. Comfy at work too with no panty lines.
Before I got an ebike for my work commute, I’d bring a few day’s worth of shirts and small towels to the office at the start of the week. Each day I’d wipe off and change after riding in and cooling off, I’d take home what I wore each day. After I got an ebike, I didn’t need to do that anymore. Of course, that only works if you have someplace to stash personal items at the office. Now I’m retired so I just bike for errands and fun. 😊
i will disagree with you on the "bike you have"... commuting means exposure to the public and possibly being left in an area to be attractive to theft. Buy a cheap bike as you describe, preferably one that is ugly and not attractive to thieves. This also serves the purpose of also having cheaper parts to replace as they wear.
You're not wrong, but I hate that we have to ride worse bikes because of the risk of thieves. Let's hope someday we can all just ride the bike we want to ride.
With regards to bad weather: when I was just starting in bike commuting, I decided on using the bike only two or three days week, when the weather was nice. And never in winter. I now use my bike all year, and in almost all weather. You don't have to start out cycling in heat waves or snow storms
I like this. Baby steps. Some bike commutes are better than no commutes.
This was my experience as well. It's a slippery slope to making your life better!
@@Shifter_Cycling eeee, don't mention slippery slopes 😬
I would love to commute fully as my commute is only 13 miles round trip. However when it's winter time I just don't have the courage to bike in slippery weather and in the dark in my town because I would have to commute on the road for 6 miles of that commute on busy roads. One part I can't avoid and that road terrifies me as when I drive I even have close calls. My town is known for being a good bike town in the US but for some reason drivers are awful watching out for them and they are pretty bad drivers. When I drive I see drivers driving half in their lane and the other half in the bike lane all of the time. I also know people who have been hit her and I hear in the news of people dying on their bike. I don't mind the cold and I absolutely adore riding my bike but what's holding me back is the awful drivers with no protection from them.
@@gigglingchicken8444 wouldnt happen to be from Eugene Oregon? More or less described the situation here. Fairly bike friendly area but a lot of drivers are really bad about staying between the lines or drifting into the occupied bike lane as their turn comes up.
I only draw the line at icey roads. Last time I tried I went down several times (always left turns) ~3 square inches of contact with the ground is not enough to maintain traction on ice. rain and cold dont bother me and I've added enough lights that I'm more visable in the dark than most cars.
Your final tip is what counts. People don't realize (or remember) just how wonderful it feels to be on a bicycle, how sweet it feels to pedal along a path or a quiet tree lined street, listening to birds, hearing the wind in the trees, feeling the breeze in your hair, coasting along effortlessly while you take it all in....
Often, as I pedal my commute, I find myself thinking: lovely, just lovely, so simple, me and my bike just rolling along, looking at squirrels and people ... and then, “Oh my gosh, am I here already?” I don't think what I am doing is “commuting”--it feels more like communing. How nice is that? And at the end of my work day, I get to do the whole thing again.
Perhaps I should mention that I always plot my bicycle routes so as to keep car exposure to the absolute bare minimum. Experience has proven (to me at least) that no extra kilometer is too many if it avoids "la peste automobile".
Avoiding cars isn’t always an option. I live in a very car centric city and while there have been some bike lanes added here and there, it’s far from great. And the city is split up into two sections separated by water with only two bridges, one of which is four lanes with 35mph+ traffic (that’s usually going way faster cause NA roads and streets are wide AF.)
@gameaddict51 this is the exact reason ive been so scared to ride mine. Where i live in Tennessee i could count the number of bike commuters ive seen in the past 5 years on one hand. We dont have side walks on busier streets (such as kingston pike where ive seen people cut through parking lots just to avoid traffic at even like 12pm when traffic isnt that bad.) But i still wanna try because, 1. Its cheaper and i dont have to pay for gas. 2. Im not that active as is but i wanna change that. And 3. Its just more fun, even in cars this state is gorgeous and on a bike you can just jump a curb and go see it up close.
Sorry for the borderline essay but i just wanted to voice my opinion.
la peste cochista😊
Yes! I change my commute seasonally to ride by sweet smelling trees when they are in bloom.
Can I just say you're such a good writer , u should do it for a living
My niece had a mini tantrum when I picked her up from kindergarten in a car rather than on the bike (no child seat on mine..) because she can not spot for animals on the way home :) I love that for her the bike is the 'normal' mode of transport/commute
Aww~ that’s so cute~
How do you pick your niece up on a bike without a child seat? Do you use a trailer?
@Tfu-k8c i can take a child seat in the car from the family, but my bike would need an adapter for the seat to be mounted. There seems to be a lack I standardizing the bike seat mounting systems
Bruh get a child seat on the bike and also she can just ride her own bike and with you
You can always just skateboard if she’s too slow for you
About the pannier, it's kind of a life changer and don't forget that you can DIY it. A laptop bag and some zip ties can do magic.
Just need some waterproof bag for the interior if it’s not waterproof (plastic bag or dry bag). One of my panniers is not waterproof and pairing it with a dry bag makes it much more useful.
As a 72 year old UK resident I almost passed this by as not relevant to me. How wrong I was. You have presented an excellent array of tips and inspirational insights into cycling which have universal relevance. I recently had my car written off by a truck on the motorway and it gave me the opportunity to reconsider my transport approaches. I am now less than a week into owning an e-bike and I am out for all the guidance I can find. Your video was quite a find and, as a real bonus, no crummy background music. Thank you.
Interesting...this comment absolutely mirrors my situation (except I am just 73).
I would add a tip to barrier number 7. Ask your local cycling community for route advice. Route planning and map software in NA sucks for cycling and often puts you on busier roads. If you havent commuted by bike you might not know the better route. Cycling is great for community building and we want to help each other.
I think this could be a fun expirement. Use some different route planning software and compare it vs paper maps or community advice.
Great advice
If you are a Strava user the heat maps show you the often used routes in your area too. Very helpful in route planning.
@@gingermany6223 Totally second using the Strava heatmap to scope out popular routes and ways to get around. It's been so useful for finding new ways to get around the big highways that carve up my city
This is good advice. Google maps, for instance, is horrendous for choosing safe cycling routes, and there's no option to "avoid busy roads" or anything like that either. It'll put you on a 70km/h road when there's a AAA path a few blocks down from it.
The e-bike I bought is the best thing I have bought ever. I have the ability to change between a vehicle for exercise and a vehicle for transportation with the press of a button.
If you don't feel like exercising today, just use more assist. Steep hill? More assist. To warm? More assist. To sweaty? More assist. Bad mood? More assist. Need to carry a lot of stuff? More assist.
And with this mindset you are always motivated to use your bike and 90% of the time I use the lowest assist anyway.
With an e-bike you have the speed of an road bike with the comfort of a Dutch bike.
You make some interesting points but in reality most people on e-bikes don't pedal nearly as hard as they would if they didn't have the assist so it's making them lazier, fatter, less fit. Human nature will almost always take the easier method. For most people it's far better to have an e-bike and a non-e-bike and use the non ebike almost all the time. But if you doing biking for utilitarian means the ebike has its purpose especially if you've got a lot of cargo and have set it up well for carrying that cargo.
I would strongly recommend some bicycle fenders for when you also commute in wet conditions. These will keep your clothes free from the water and dirt from the roads. And for such weather conditions a hub gear system is a better solution as well as those are relatively maintenance free. As mentioned, don’t overdo it on the number of gears; 3 to 5 will get you a long way. Even on my leisure bike I use only about 6 of the 24 gears…
Happy and safe commute to all of you!!
+1 on fenders.
Hub gears and hub dynamo, and a light sensor that turns your lights on even in a short tunnel.
And a 'spatlap'; rubber flap at the end of fenders to protect your shoes (front) and those behind you (back) from dust, mud, salt and other inconvenients found on the pavement (dog poop).
I work in city center of a nice town with lots of parties, bars, café's, and clubs, so no-puncture tires are extremely handy when it comes to small pieces of broken glass in the streets, before they are swept clean in the morning.
Roller brakes work the same in every weather condition, so no surprise when you need them.
(Those little rubber blocks almost do not work when wet, work too fast when hot (sun) and slip when dusty.)
Chain- and skirt guards (we call them coat guards) to protect your clothing, we dress for destination. You do not want your shoe laces, the strings of your jacket, or a long shawl caught into chain or wheels.
Every part of a modern Dutch bicycle has its, well thought about, function. Even the stand, so you can park without racks, to hop into a shop for a 'worstenbroodje' or a half 'HEMA worst' on your way home.
Less considered: fenders help keep salty water away from your bottom bracket, brakes and anything else in line with your wheels.
Gearing is not so much about the number of gears, as the span. If it wasn't for the last little uphill going home, I'd be happy using the two larger front rings only on my 3x9 MTB. But winter in bad conditions frequently require the smallest front gear, even on other parts of the route.
@@dutchman7623 Yes. Hub gears and hub dynamo make it very easy. Originally my sensor was great at tunnels with a halogen light, but now with LEDs the sensor switches from riding light to main beam. But without a sensor I'd happily leave the main beam on all the time.
Ebike is a great one to include, most people won't want to be riding many miles a day so this new genre of bike definitely brings more people into the picture, I recently got my self an ebike like a few days ago actually, after nearly like 7-8 yrs of riding bikes and wow, it makes going around my neighborhood to run errands so simple even more than a regular bike(and I always thought that was amazing), although I'll always have love for my original bikes I still have to admit, having an ebike does help A LOT, a lot of these tips you mentioned can inherently already be helped because its an ebike so yeah there you go
I've heard so many people say this, and I think it's great. E-bikes are here to stay.
have always rode a bike but recent injuries ( old age) I am starting to lean towards buying an E bike
@@Shifter_Cycling yeah I'm just now starting to understand for myself and it's great haha
@@andrewinglis2069 I think that would be a great investment because you can still pedal and get exercise but can put way less effort if you really want to, and it helps on those days where it's hard to pedal from being tired, etc.
Stating the obvious here
As an older female (return) rider here are my tips: (1) go slower, what’s the rush? It might mean it takes you 16 minutes instead of 15 to get there (2) keep water bottle on your bike, remember water doesn’t have a used by date (3) get an ebike if you need to- it’s cheating? Umm, remind me who are you cheating when you’re riding a bike - it's better to be riding ebike than not riding at all (4) Commuting anywhere is great for your mental health - I can’t be bothered riding, I’ll just drive….oh, ok, I’ll ride, 10 seconds in to the ride you just feel better, (5) bike straps cost $30 at a bike shop, and $6.50 at a big box hardware, same thing different brand [hint go to the tie down section of big box] (6) buy decent breathable rain pants at the end of season on sale, I am dryer riding a bike at the end of a trip than running from the car in the wet [hint, once again not from a bike shop] (7) use strobe lights through the day, if your riding in the shade of a tree lined street motorists can’t see you if the sun is bright, I have this theory that motorists notice the strobe and wonder what it is and have a second look at what it is (8) be polite, say “hey” to other cyclists as you pass (comradery) (9) acknowledge a motorist if they let you in or slow down to let you cross, motorists do this for other motorists, and maybe other motorist will see the gesture is appreciated (10) I have a few lights flashing at night, my family tease me that I look like a xmas tree, who cares?, motorists can see me at night and I get to my destination, and (11) to be honest, as a female, at night, I feel safer on a bike than walking, and finally (12) don’t store your bike in the garage, out of sight out of mind, mine sits in my home office…..no excuses.
I have a 70cm length of black plastic water pipe I attach to the back of my carrier rack with two hose clips. It's the same width as my handlebars.
I put on two very bright flashing lights, one on each end.
The idea is to make my presence on the road appear bigger and wider to approaching traffic from behind.
The plastic pipe is moderately flexible and won't mark or scratch anything it may touch accidentally. I initially tried it with a metal pipe but this is my MK2.
And if anything is close enough to tip the pipe, it's going to swipe my arm and handlebars too.
I do 98% if my riding on open roads with traffic and don't filter through traffic.
And I always wear a hi-vis vest and helmet.
Thanks for sharing these great tips!
Absolutely excellent ideas especially the strobe lights in shaded streets. That is so important: if they can't see you you will get hit.
Another huge problem in cities are cars turning right into the sun and you're approaching from their right so the sun is in their eyes and they can't see you.
Here's a tip for getting started... Ride to work and familiarize yourself with the commute on a weekend or day off. Work out any kinks ahead of time and also get a sense of how long it takes you. When you actually ride to work you be less worried about the process of getting there on time
Interact! When cycling the possibility to interact with others is plenty. Simply say 'hello' to those who are faster every day, or slower.
You see and pass the same people on your way daily, the boy with the German shepherd, the man with the red jacket who is going the opposite direction, the shopkeeper who is putting the parasols out, etc. It makes your commute look shorter and you do not need a watch to know if you're early, on time, or late. Close to home you see people from your neighborhood, close to work more co-workers.
Love this! All those small interactions with people along the way are one of my favorites parts :-)
My first experience bike commuting was caused by necessity - a broken car in a town with zero transit, my budget did not include taxi money...but I owned an old bike. The only thing I needed was some decent gloves, because it was January. Over the next 30 years I commuted by bike on and off, including almost every Western state in the US. What I've learned is...pretty much everything you just went through 👍🙂
This is where I am now! My other person needed to use my car due to a new job out of town and I live 4 miles or about 30vminute ride across town. I’m wanting to continue
There are times when it's best to dismount and walk when contending with a overly challenging or unsafe circumstance.
I've just started to cycle to work and there is a steep hill smack dab in the middle. I ride as far up as I can and then just walk the bike up the rest of the way. It's still fun.
There's a big hill in my commute to work. I bike to the bus stop, catch the bus to go up the hill while I cool off, then change at work. Multi-modal transportation is always an option.
@teddcuizon3964 for me it's a mixed mode commute, 2.4 miles is distance via bike , 1.5 is to my train station, .9 is from closest stasion to my job
Thanks Tom... Watching your channel encouraged me to start cycling after a break of 15 years. And I did it by fixing up my old bike ...I am not going very far, but I am cycling rather than taking the car. And I am having so much fun doing it.
Great to hear! Start small and I bet you'll find yourself going farther or riding more often soon. Thank you for supporting the channel. I appreciate it!
Admittedly, "fun" is a pretty underrated part of the experience. I've been riding for over a year now, and I still take the occasional random extended route because I'm not ready for the ride to be over. (Doesn't hurt that I've got tons of music to amp up the experience.)
@@ichijofestival2576 I find myself looking for reasons to get out on my bike... errands I can run or journeys I can take...I am finding it a great stress relief.
"I think my commute is too long". My experience is that as you get used to it, it stops feeling that way. Those 30-40 minutes starts to fly, and you don't think the ride is a never ending journey.
I worked for an employer which was 15 miles from my home. That was doable on a bike. Unfortunately they merged with another company and moved us to a location that was 30 miles away and that was too far for me as my non sweating pace was only about 12 mph.
I find my bike commute time is like meditation. Worries and stress just seem to drop away while I'm riding.
@@paulinebelford2645
15 miles is quite a distance too for a push bike but it's doable. My commute to and from work is a 12.6 Mile round trip. But on the way to work it's 85% uphill grade. So it takes me 32 minutes to get to work. And about 24 minutes to get home.
On another point cycling is safer than people think. So long as you do things right. The number of times I've seen idiots flying around with no helmet on and no lights at night. I've lost count.
@@fender1000100 now my bike commute is only 8km (5 miles) each direction so is a pleasant 20 - 25 minutes cycle. It's also in a city with a great cycling infrastructure so is very safe, but you can get caught in a convoy of bikes unable to overtake during rush hour. I much prefer that to sharing the road with aggressive drivers though.
According to Google Maps the fastest bike route from house to work is 3 hours. Each way. I think I'll stick with my 25 minute drive
I never got a proper rack bag. I have a rack with a milk crate. I cut a piece of cardboard to fit the bottom to avoid tire splash. And I set my backpack in there. If it's rainy, I can put my backpack in a plastic bag. It might not look very aesthetic, but it's practical and looks fine when I walk into work. Plus, a milk crate is great imo because it fits two paper grocery bags and most reusable bags perfectly.
I commuted to work by bike for most of my working life from 1977 to 2019, when I retired. Commutes varied from 3 miles to 21 miles each way. My city is quite hilly and for many years, I lived at the top of a big hill, so couldn’t avoid it. Low gears and take your time, plus take a longer, less steep route up the hill if there is one, was the way I tacked it. I only did the 21 miler in summer, I cut it to 10 miles in winter by catching a train part of the way. E-bikes were never a thing for most of my working life. Always had a rack and a pannier, mostly had dropped bar bikes, because that was what I owned at the time.
I still ride now, but purely for pleasure and utility (going to the shops).
Thanks for sharing!
Taking your time on hills is great advice. I prefer 'pace yourself' to 'attack the hill', as mentioned by Tom.
Nice i absolutely love commuting. I have been doing it for 6 months. And I have some cool coworkers that give me rides when it rains.
You should get yourself an ebike. Really cool
21miles each way is a big commute. Best I could manage is 4days a week on a extremely hilly 14 miler in the summer. (Dropping to 2.5 in the winter) You need a car for night Skiing after work. 👍
Some people might be afraid their bike could get stolen at work. Go over some tips to find a safe spot (lock it up the office smokers hang out). And how to lock it up safely.
I've been commuting on a bike since 1981. First thing I bought after the bike, was a helmet, and this was back in the dark ages of biking.It was a road/racing bike. A good bike, which I still had it. Then I went to a mountain bike. A lot more comfortable. And now you can get some really good road tires for them, so comfort and durability. Then I bought my first recumbent back in 1991, and I've never looked back. I bought my second two wheeled recumbent in 1997, and converted it into an ebike in 2019, and it is wonderful. Yes I wear a helmet and always will, but I wear a military type patrol cap under it. I also have flags, rear view mirrors and lots of lights when I ride after dark. Just remember one thing, people in cars are out to kill you. So stay alert, no headphones or ear buds. Check your mirrors and stay as far to the right as you can. Stay safe, Ride safe, Be safe. Oh and I'm 60 years old and still riding. Okay, A ebike/two wheeled recumbent :)
Amazing, thanks for sharing.
wow, 40 years of bike commuting, that's amazing, we talkin' winters? either way, that's the way to go! a car is overkill for most commutes, I got to be honest, I bus in the winter hahaha
I'm a 1 earbud kind of guy, lol, I would buy a Bluetooth speaker but I listen to metal music and I ride my commute early in the morning, I don't wanna frighten anyone lol.
@@laserlotus5 As long as the roads are clear, more or less I just put on more cloths. Wood socks, fleece lined jeans, a good hat under my helmet, and if it's really cold, Mittens. But yes there is a bus system where I live, and I've been known to use it in the winter. Stay safe. Oh, and my nice old Ski Jacket. But you'd be amazed at how warm your stay when pedaling about town.
The bicycle mirror is much under rated, I have one on my commuter. I still look behind to manoeuvre, but the mirror really helps with general road awareness.
I remember long ago when I had my first hilly bike commute. I dreaded the big hill. Two weeks later, I noticed I was topping the hill without even a thought. Nowadays when I pass through that neighborhood, I ask my former self, “You call that a hill?”
It's funny how that happens.
The hill will be back in twenty years, and I hope you can say: 'Still stronger than you are!'.
While in the back of your mind you're thinking about an e-bike.
I would suggest looking into gravel bikes as well. The drop bar geometry can really help you build speed if you're in a rush, but most are also able to mount racks and such. They also boast more ruggedness compared to typical road bikes and can utilize some pretty beefy tires if you live in a snow climate or ride poorly maintained roads, as is the case in my city, Philadelphia.
Yes, I kind of lump gravel bikes and cyclo-cross bikes into the "road bike" category because they look the same. But you're correct, they are much hardier for a commute.
Haha! Yes. I've gotten three flats in the past year on my road bikes riding the Philadelphia streets. I'm primarily riding an old mountain bike now with 26x1.75 "hybrid" style tires. It's been super comfortable and fun in the city.
Completely agree. I ride a touring bike for commuting and it's a perfect combo of speed, capacity (for big loads), and comfort (upright positioning). Only caveat is gravel/touring bikes are a bit pricey, so secure storage at both ends is key.
Yes! Gravel/adventure/touring/all-road bikes can have the speed benefits of a road bike, but many have the cargo capacity of a city bike, plus fender mounts. I bought a used Salsa Vaya off Craigslist for my 10.5 mile commute and love it, though so far I've used my e-bike more often, since it's faster when I'm running late.
I've commuted with a gravel bike before. The other nice with it, is that it also has mild off-road capability. The favorite part of my commute was the quiet journey through a forest singletrack.
As a fellow Calgary bike commuter, I would say that two pieces of gear that are very helpful for winter commuting are fenders and studded tires. My commute has a steep hill right at the end, and the studded tires are the only way I have any chance of getting up it. And fenders are helpful for keeping your chain (and your office clothes) comparatively clean, which is nice.
Studded tires are a big thing in Scandinavia. I don’t know if it’s a legal requirement (it is for cars) but the vast majority of cyclists switch to studded tires in November presumably earlier further north) then back to regular ones in spring. I haven’t switched yet as it is unseasonably warm just now with zero frosty mornings as yet.
I can seccond that. Studded tyres just make bike commute a lot easier and safer in winter. In general, you want to use the type of tyres that are most suitable for the conditions of your commute. If it's on gravel, get tyres with tread; if it's on pavement, get slicker tyres; if it's slippery, get studded tyres; if it's off-road, get mountain bike tyres. These days we're spoiled for choice of different types of tyres.
I think I’ll finally get fenders this winter.
im cycling on 23mm tires w no tread rn in calgary gotta go a little slower than summer lol, new tires are coming in a week though so thatll be exciting
Yes! A greater reminder at the end. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the view chat to people you see along your route. I find biking to do errands and just as personal activity to do in the evening as an activity calms me down from the stress of the day.
The real 'biggest barrier' is mental block! That's what I was thinking all the time, and this video confirms that.
One needs to overcome that fist, all other barriers are easy to cross.
Thanks Shifter for this enlightning video
The best parts of the video was "get an e-bike". I can't recommend this enough. It certainly can break these barriers to bike commuting.
A few months ago I watched Shifter's video from last year about mistakes to avoid as a bike commuter. It was reassuring to hear things such as you don't need an exact route and don't worry if you have enough bags. I recommend watching that video too if you are on the fence about bike commuting.
Having the right bike/equipment is very important. Like Shifter said, if you have a 10+ mile (15+ km) commute and/or has hills, an e-bike will definitely help!
Regarding barrier 7: I highly recommend riding in a group to build up your confidence. I live in Providence, RI, USA and we have a monthly "bike jam," a huge (100+ bikes) party-pace group ride in the city. Prior to moving here I didn't really have much experience riding my bike in an urban environment so I was really grateful to have the chance to learn how different bike lanes, trails, etc, all connected up throughout the city in the safety of a large group before attempting it on my own.
For folks looking for something like this in their local cities, you can look up if your city has a "Critical Mass" group. Critical Mass has a more explicitly activist / political bent than the party ride bike jam my city has, but the underlying principle is the same in that there's safety in numbers. Critical Mass has a pretty interesting history, and there's even a documentary on it from 1999 called "WE ARE TRAFFIC!" kicking around here on UA-cam if you want to check it out!
There are more normal-looking pants available these days that are slightly stretchy, which makes cycling a lot easier. I've been wearing Levi's 'commuter jeans' around town for a number of years - they look like regular jeans, but the slight stretchiness makes pedalling easier and they also don't absorb water the way 100% cotton jeans do. If you do get caught in a light shower they often dry out quickly even while they're on you. They're also washable (& dryer-able) of course - if everything you wear is washable, the whole biking-around-town / commuting thing becomes much more practical.
I use these too! I love them.
On my way to work there is a 50m stretch of road with a gradient of about 10%. So it's pretty steep. This part is just before the company. When I started cycling more, I noticed that I was suddenly in a better mood and had more energy throughout the day. Conquering a steep mountain every morning sounds like torture at first. But it is actually a blessing.
The convenience of driving had done the opposite of what I had always believed. Instead, being physically active just by cycling to work has improved my whole life.
Great points and motivation for everyone. Getting stronger can't be overstated. It is incredible how quickly you can ride further and faster. Those distances you worried about will be a cake walk in no time, you are far stronger than you think you are. And as you point out, it's not even about speed, just a nice relaxed pleasant pace is still more than enough to get you there quickly with a smile on your face.
Any other tips that I missed? Share your ideas and make somebody else's life a little bit easier!
Tip for persons in more humid countries like Barbados, leave early like 6, 6:30, the sun doesn't hit too hard...Mr. Shifter come to my beautiful island and I will show you around
Please review a Brompton
riding in the dark
Two words: baby wipes. For those who don't have access to a shower, or if you arrive to work moist, but not soaked, these can be a quick freshen up.
Buy $500 dollars worth of locks, so they take someone else’s bike.
Good tips! Thank you! Im riding a bike in Ukraine, Ternopil. City has just a few bikelines mostly through the parks. No separated bike bike lines at all, and pretty hilly. One more tip from me that you can commute slow when you going to work to reduce sweating and fast ride back home that I consider like a sport activity
About the hills, never forget that you can simply get off the bike. I like tackling the hill if I'm going home and I don't care about the sweat, but in reality, just power up as much as you can, when it gets hard, just give the bike a rest.
We have mountains here and I suggest that a commuter identify the cadence and force they want to apply. There's no hurry going uphill. It's not a race.
Regarding sweat, you can bring a wash cloth to work, wet it in the sink, then go into a stall and wipe down the sweaty areas, wait a min or 2 and you're probably good to go!
A fluro vest so you are seen.
I have two panniers which unclip quickly from the rear rack when I reach the supermarket. I load them up in the shop ready to clip back on . A dozen beers fit nicely on my front rack for good weight distribution 😜
Perfect timing - just got an old beat up bike and am building up my confidence to actually go out and ride it. If you’re in the market for ideas for future videos - I would love to see one where you went out riding with a newer / less confident rider and discussed / demonstrated how you (as a seasoned) cyclist would tackle particular issues - eg. When a bike lane suddenly stops, when roadworks or parked vehicles block the bike lane, where there’s no lane at all, crossing busy intersections etc.
I had a "My commute is too long" barrier before I tried bike commuting. But when I tried it over a weekend to test the waters, I told myself "huh, 16km isn't so bad!"
What's even better is that I can move faster riding a bike than public transport/cars. Mind blown! 🤯😅
When I was in college I got sick of the bus often taking an hour or more to travel the last 2 miles of the journey and I decided to start cycling the 9 miles to college after about 6 months of thinking it was too far. As it turned out, it was actually quite an easy ride even when I was still getting back into cycling, and I was able to leave an hour later - thus giving me an additional hour of sleep - and would still overtake the bus on the last hill. So many people complain about the traffic in my county, but none of them are willing to stop being traffic.
Spot on. Thank you from Walnut Creek, CA 94598. About your last tip: many years ago I biked from Holland to Italy, stopping at Youth Hostels. I remember after the rains in France the smell of the fields, and other places. You can't have that experience inside a car. Probably not even riding a motorcycle?
I love the last point. I live and work in Edinburgh (Scotland) which is probably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Commuting to work by bike allows me to appreciate my surroundings much more than driving. Being cocooned in a car shuts you off from the world around you to an extent that you're not really aware of until you travel by bike or foot.
That was a nice succinct list of tips to start bike commuting. For those of us who work predominantly from home, I suggest replacing all those short trips you used to make in a car (to the store, to the post office, to the library) with bicycle trips. It really adds up and you save on the cost of fuel.
Absolutely. Living your life around your bike just makes your life better. Thank you for the support Brad!
I am one of those people frightened about being hit by a car. This is what has helped me: All the smaller size cities I’ve been in have few pedestrians on most sidewalks. I use the sidewalks if I am not on a back street. This is legal in many small cities/towns. Of course, be considerate of pedestrians and be extra careful to look out for cars at intersections at intersections. If the bike seems to big for the side walk, try a small kick scooter with decent size wheels. Certainly not as fast as a bike and you’ll need to walk up most hills, but still it’s at least twice as fast as walking, great fun and good exercise. Thanks for your wonderful videos!
This is actually a terrible idea. Not only is this not very nice for pedestrians, you are also increasing the level of danger to yourself instead of reducing it. Most fatal accidents with cyclists happen at intersections when the cycling path is routed together with the sidewalk. The reason is simple: the cyclist is out of the drivers direct field of view. Between a dead spot of the mirror, a little bit of distraction or a bit of negligence, it is very easy for the driver not to see the cyclist while making a right turn. Riding on the sidewalk is even worse than these bike paths, because a driver is even less likely to expect a cyclist in this situation.
If the cyclist is riding directly in front of the car, then the driver WILL notice. Nobody in his right mind will consciously run a cyclist over. The key to being safe as a cyclist is to be seen.
Riding on the sidewalk because of fear is a textbook example of perceived safety having nothing to do with actual safety!
Thanks! Amazing video. I have a 25 km round trip commute to my job. When I bought an e-bicycle, I began to commute by bicycle 200 times a year instead of just 30 or 40 times a year. Commuting by regular bicycle that distance is sometimes very nice, even in my hilly little city, but it can be time-consuming. The electric bicycle saves a lot of time. PS I thought Calgary was a very bicycle-friendly city; is this not correct?
This is a great comment, Philip, about how much of an impact your ebike made. Thank you for sharing.
Calgary has a few areas that are bike friendly, but it has a long way to go before it's safe and convenient for everyone to ride a bike.
Thank you so much for the support!!
Pro tip, bring a change of socks! When you get to work. I always felt like I would get a bit sweat which was no big deal but having fresh socks so my feet/shoes wouldn’t get gross was a game changer.
Hey thanks for the video. My commute is 50km (31mi) round trip. A bike rack is an absolute must, and panniers are a close second addition. Not only do they get weight off your back (wearing your backpack can make you really sweaty!), I find it is just so easy to have bags that you can throw something, lots of things, into on the go.
Bike gears are more important than what the video says IMO. Bike at your pace, take things easy. No shame in putting low gears for hills, that's what they're there for. Need to keep things realistic 🙂
One tip for personal temperature management and getting yourself motivated regardless of weather - at least in chillier weather - is to start wearing all the layers you would for that weather, minus one thinner layer. You are then comfortable when getting on the bike, and when you get heated up due to exertion, take off layers (I usually just keep a tshirt or longsleeve shirt on). You will get cooled down naturally and you have great ventilation around your body, which means little or no sweat. Obviously adjust appropriately for the temperature. When I arrive my body needs a bit of time to adjust to the ambient temperatures, and any sweat needs to evaporate, so after about 15mins after my ride has ended I start layering up again to avoid getting cold. It feels great!
For wet weather, rain pants and a rain jacket are important; there is nothing worse than arriving where you need to be and be wet with no option to change!
I embrace all weather types (except strong winds, they can buzz off), I just appreciate having to ability to use my body to drive me forward and get where I'm going (no e-bike here), and being in a state where my body can feel the elements, and I guess in a way be in touch with your environment. Who knows when the day comes when this is no longer the case?
Additionally, some days I get hungry while biking. Some snacks with quick-release energy help, but also motivate.
Lastly, if you have difficulty to get yourself to do the whole stretch of the way with the bike, I find it helps to section up your ride into milestones or checkpoints. Achieving multiple smaller things is a lot easier than staring at a single big thing.
When the day comes when it gets too difficult, I'm sure you'll get an e-bike.
So, 25km each way.
That is impressive. Especially if you have a few moderate hills on the way.
Can I ask what is your average speed?
And do headwind's slow you down substantially?
20km/h is a good pace for me on a hybrid bike plus luggage over 20km and moderate hills.
@@tconnolly9820 I prefer to go as low tech as I can. Thus no accurate speed measurement (and no e-bikes), but I would say it really depends on my mood, motivation, and amount of fatigue. Low end of the scale would be 18km/h up to maybe 25km/h. My bike is an upright citybike so yes headwinds can have a big effect
Really like this channel as I am a bike commuter in Toronto, I often get "lost" exploring new routes and discover new neighborhoods, it is a really fun thing to do, and adding a few more minutes while being "lost" does not feel the same as getting stuck in traffic for a few minutes,
I use wind proof clothing mainly. Wind proof clothing helps keep out the wind and water. I like having my extra gears for fighting unexpected bad wind/weather. I like my front suspension for bad roads/ having fun on the way to work. This was another great video!
110% agree on having a rack on a commuter bike. Wearing a backpack creates a lot of sweat on your back
Great video! 1 of my favourite things about bike commuting are the mental health benefits. Great way to unwind before and after work.
I used to go to work on a bike in Bangalore, India almost 14 KM on one side, with hot weather and a huge terrific shower is mandatory, luckily my office has gym and bathing facilities. So I used to carry my office dress along with my laptop bag . Now moved to Montreal, Canada recently. Now I am working from home, but using a bike to drop my kid at play school every day. Winter started and I am not confident enough to take the kid now on slippery roads, now practicing biking in the snow to gain some confidence. I love your videos and it keeps me inspiring
Tips from hilly cold rainy Pittsburgh bike commute:
1. All buses have bike racks
2. Rain pants
3. For me, 19 mi each way, hilly. E bike big time
4. They don’t plow in winter in the city, and separated bike paths are not cleared. So the safest roads in winter are actually the ones most car infested because the cars pack down the snow. It’s topsy turvy
5. Can’t ride on the busways 😞 but there’s plenty of trails and plenty of buses
I did a year of studies in a city that's basically a lake on a mountain. I used my bike to commute to school all year long, aside from a small pause during the coldest winter days when my brakes were frozen in place every morning. At the beginning of the year, it took me about 25 minutes to commute, or 15 at the cost of arriving out of breath. Always had a wet back at the arrival. By the end of the year, it took me 15 minutes without even trying to be fast, though I still had a wet back. I was also using my bike multiple times per day even on holiday, just for leisure or grocery shopping. And thanks to combining biking with "not overeating anymore", I lost 20-25 kg (44-55 lbs).
I live in Brick NJ, hardly a city but probably more dangerous due to clueless drivers. I love all these tips, though I still use a backpack. And your right I should start talking to my town about making the roads safer. I never see kids out anymore, just myself and a few other old people. Also I finished Frostbike, good book! Nothing like a ride on a calm winter night.
A backpack raises your Center of Gravity: if you carry heavy items inside, it could be extremely dangerous turning corners, etc. Is not about the sweat factor. Your life could be on the line if that backpack is heavy. On the other hand a rack $ 20, panniers $ 40 each. Those $ 100 can make a difference between life and......lower your C.G.
@@gem2390 good point! Thank you.
Here's my experience on how to manage the risks: don't chase a target time. If l start focusing on improving my time, I start taking much bigger risks. Not a clever idea in city conditions. I can easily believe that those extra risks far outweigh the stale old helmet debate.
I love this. It's especially important because, no matter how you ride, a bike ride in a city environment is almost always more predictable than a car tip.
Just go on nice days is great advice. Ebikes to not get sweaty is great advice. Saddle bag is advice I took from an earlier video you made. I kind of wish I took your advice to simplify though, too many things can go wrong on my fancy bike.
Just started commuting to work and this channel really helped me figure out the best options in terms of gear (as I didn't have a bike or access to one). Luckily 90% of the commute is on a dedicated cycling route. I bought a Ribble AL Hybrid with a rigid fork - thanks for ensuring I didn't waste money and weight on an unnecessary suspension fork! It also comes with a pannier rack.
I have invested in a pair of waterproof overtrousers and gloves - it's just too wet/cold now here in Wales to wear only my work clothes. Also bought a cool backpack that splits in half via zip to go each side of the pannier rack. All from Decathlon.
I'm going to look up that backpack thanks Aled, also in Wales, have an old carrera ridgid mtb and it works for me. Only wish we had buses that carry bikes here in Wales, very jealous hearing other countries talking about them.
When I started bike commuting to my work at the beginning of the year, I had a long route with no bike lanes for about 12km. The path was also really difficult and scary. It had a long 6km climb with 5~6% average gradient, so in the steeper parts I had to go to the side walk and hope no pedestrian would get mad at me! With time I got stronger and that long climb became actually fun to try to overcome as quickly as I could. It never got easy, but it was fun at least! Today the office switch places and the route is much more flat. It still doesn't have many bike lanes, but I no longer feel all that exhausted after getting there, which actually makes me a little bit sad 😂
The start time of my job was a slight barrier, for most of the year it's dark before 7AM, so one way for most of the year will be super dark and maybe really cold, I bought a heated jacket and heated gloves and I bought a double pannier so I could have an extra side to put all that extra stuff so I could enjoy the beautiful weather on the way home! Biking in the dark, before most people are out can be relaxing or sketchy depending on where you live, but be safe and buy one of those reflection vests for extra safety, lol. I should follow my own advice on the last one
I have a 70cm length of black plastic water pipe I attach to the back of my carrier rack with two hose clips. It's the same width as my handlebars.
I put on two very bright flashing lights, one on each end.
The idea is to make my presence on the road appear bigger and wider to approaching traffic from behind.
The plastic pipe is moderately flexible and won't mark or scratch anything it may touch accidentally. I initially tried it with a metal pipe but this is my MK2.
And if anything is close enough to tip the pipe, it's going to swipe my arm and handlebars too.
I do 98% if my riding on open roads with traffic and don't filter through traffic.
I have several lights on my bike and reflective gear on my jacket for dark or foggy commutes.
All great advice for me,I'm new at commuting to work.
For me, the ebike was the key. Even with showers at work. On a hybrid, it took 35 minutes, plus shower time. 50 minutes total until I could walk into a meeting. On my e bike, I could take a shorter route, go faster, and didn't need a shower. 22 minutes til I was in a meeting. My car took 18 minutes. No reason to take the car. With my ebike, I rode 4 days out of 5. With my hybrid, 1 out of 5.
i gotta finally say it, i see your recs for #2/3 a lot (wear your work clothes, bike slower etc.). As a bike commuter in Florida these always make me laugh... I don't know if you can comprehend the level of sweat that accumulates during my 6 mile commute in the summer : D. I think for a ton of people in the southern US wearing workout clothes and showering is a must for a lot of the year.
A basic, old style, 10 speed mountain bike is all you really need for your commute. No suspension, so all your power will go to the pedals. But get a good gel/memory foam seat. Some even come with springs in them. Plus you can mount racks to them. I had an old mountain bike with rack that I attached 4 baskets to, and it handled up to 50 pounds of cargo. I made lids for the baskets out of chickenwire/hardware cloth to keep things inside them and held them down with bungee cords. Still miss that bike sometimes.
‘Wear what you normally wear’
XD
So I work at a distribution centre and I recently had a conversation with a fellow coworker who’s a bike commuter who mentioned that the truck drivers recognise the high vis uniform and thus know they are commuters, not speed demons.
So yeah, I’d never though of it that way and maybe this doesn’t carry over as well when you don’t work for the same companies so the truck drivers don’t recognise you as ‘one of ours’, but IDK maybe not being in sports gear but rather regular clothing or a uniform and more obviously commuting could also change driver’s perspective of a biker and how they interact with them sometimes.
Granted this is on backroads with not so much traffic which probably also helps a lot.
I think other big barrier, at least where I live is bike theft. Solution is probably to get a good lock, park in a safe place, and maybe get a crappy looking bike (but one that stills works great) as to prevent anyone from wanting to steal it. It's worked for me so far
Solutions that I use for bike theft: a wheel lock, sometimes called a café lock; a lock for every hour that the bike is left unattended; indoor parking: some parking garages how spots for bikes, preferably with surveillance cameras. Even outdoor parking with security cameras is better than nothing.
@@dcb8531 A lock for every hour the bike is left unattended. What a novel idea. Is there an upper limit? I'll be leaving my bike for 8-10 hours.
@@marcdenlinger5282 Apparently, there is no theft-proof lock; all locks can be broken, so the idea is to discourage them. I guess 3 or 4 locks, with at least two having the level 9, is probably enough. I have a u-bar lock with a level 9 security rating, a wheel lock and a folding lock that I use when I must leave my e-bike outside unattended (for example, at the gym, no security guards, but in a busy area with lots of people walking around). I take the battery in with me . About the longest that I leave my bike outside unattended, is 4 hours or so. I have access to an indoor parking garage for longer situations. Even outside, one of the places that I leave my bike (at the metro station), has security guards walking around, so they would (hopefully) notice someone cutting 3 or 4 locks with power tools.
@@dcb8531 I appreciate the insight!
Agreed that can be difficult. Thanfully Ive seen things going on around me, business are starting to accomidate cyclists. My local hospital for example bought bike lockers for staff and visitors. Big bulky heavy metal boxes you put your bike in and lock it shut with your own lock. The city hall office installed a locked cage with bike racks in the underground parking lot. Several cities are making manditory bike parking a thing, just like they have for cars. What they deem long term parking, so work or residence, MUST be inside the building or parking garage, only accessed by lock and key and lock your own bike with your own lock. Its getting safer slowly.
I am new to your channel I like the way you have a big open minded personality I appreciate the honesty too
You can commute with most shoes as long as you have wide pedals (like mtb plastic pedals)
Just use whatever you find confortable, boots can be good on rainy days and sandals for hot days;basically as long as the shoes are not skinny flip flops or soccer shoes they can take it
You don't really need clipless shoes or other forms of retention pedals fir commuting
Totally! Regular shoes FTW
But if you have the slightest chance of encountering rain, either bring a second pair of shoes and socks with you or keep a pair in the office! Wet feet make you incredibly miserable.
Just started bike commuting to work. 15 miles one way and before I started I went back and forth on if I should do it.
I'm so happy I went for it! I bought an excellent for me ebike that I love riding. My commute takes me an hour but it's full of bliss because I get to truly unplug and just enjoy the wind in my face and the environment.
I highly recommend you bike commute if you can. It's made me happier and I only filled my car up twice in one month.
Thank you Tom for this channel. It has really helped a lot.
I love the video! You are a great advocate for bike commuting. I love to ride bike and enjoy the sights and sounds that other transport methods miss out on. One of my barriers that you missed is having a safe place to lock my bike up in the urban area. Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ. It's hard to trust my bike outside for 8-10 hours while I'm working.
Yes, good bicycle parking is a problem in many cities. Thankfully, more companies are taking seriously the need for bike parking, both on streets and in workplaces.
Check parking garages. Some parking garages have spots for bikes. Usually with a very modest fee. I pay 70$/year.
Last summer I did an internship in Austin Tx and biked each day 3 miles up a crazy steep hill and 3 miles back. I just wore conventional shorts and t-shirt and then changed to work clothing when I got to work. I considered taking a shower, but I found i didn't actually need to. The hard part wasn't the hills or the temperature, but the cars. I quickly found a low car commute and that made all the difference.
This is at least my second time watching this video. I was on a streak commuting ~21km each way on my Brompton and I live in a hilly & even mountainous area where I have a big climb at the very end of my commuting day. Anyway I have been lacking motivation to commute on my bike lately and this video addressed all my excuses. Well done!
You got a heck-of-a-lot done in this video! Thanks, and it was all very helpful and inspiring. As you surely know, there are places (“schools”) where newbies can learn how to reduce any anxiety they may have about riding safely in an urban environment. The more you know about cycling, the better cyclist you will be.
Modest bike commuting (8 - 20 kms) since 1990. E bike since 2016. I love that you say take it easy, that is what makes it for me! Sing while I bike, wave at neighbours, stop for a carton of milk... It's a wonderful way to travel, energizing in the morning and downtime after the day is over! I ride rain or shine (no ice or snow though) here in Victoria BC!
Just discovered your channel, great advice! I've been commuting by bike in Saskatoon since 2006 and am really loving getting back into winter biking too :) Looking forward to going through your backcatalog of videos and watching for some new content!
Nice video, spot on with all these points. Figuring things out along the way is the way to go. Thanks for great content and helping people focus on the simplicities of biking.
Great video. I use an IKEA Sommar pannier (blue) which holds all that I need. It has 2 metal clips which holds onto the bike rack together with a handle to carry when off . So easy to put on and take off. I haven't found anything else to match it! I live in Milton Keynes in the UK which have dedicated redways for walking and cycling well away from the cars!
I look forward to your video's, hopefully you can make a video giving some tips on gear for riding in colder weather. I live in the Midwest where temps have dropped and would like to see some do's and Don't. Thanks Tom!
Have I got a playlist for you: ua-cam.com/play/PL9VVRCsi30SkoDMAHux-OA81ZeBXx7R98.html
And have I got a book for you: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/
🤯 I now have video to watch for the next few hours!! Lol
I am a bike commuter out of necessity as I am also a cycling instructor! I live in the UK and our cycling infrastructure is woeful to say the least (With a very few rare exceptions), but part of what we teach is confident but defensive road riding. We mainly teach kids, from first balance bikes, up to teenagers taking on busier roads and more advanced techniques as well as some adult and family sessions. It's great to see the confidence it gives people when they realise that they have an equal right to be on the road and that they are helping the environment in the most practical and honest way possible. Great video, I've only just found this one in your collection but there are some great tips here - thank you.
I live three miles from work, but there is ONE bridge/overpass that stops me from riding to work. It's super narrow and busy that had no shoulder or sidewalk right by a freeway on/off ramp. It makes me nervous driving and I've had to run-commute to work a few times and that was terrifying enough.
There is one of those near me in Vaughan ON. The road engineers have complely filled the space under a railway bridge. They also spent quite a bit of money on cycle tracks on either side of this impassable underpass. A busway is also discontinous for 200m. Ironically the bridge itself is owned by the regional transit authority, GO, which has a mandate to get people out of cars.
Thanks!
You're the best, Josh. I really appreciate it!
Wonderful video!
I hope this gets more people commuting by bike even if it's maybe not gonna be everyday
New subscriber here. I am recently retired and gave my car to my grandson. I have a decent bicycle that I inherited from a friend who passed.
I won’t be commuting to work, but I want to stay active, and figured biking would be good way to help keep my sense of balance as I get older. I also plan to use the bike to go on short errands to pick up groceries and such.
Your channel has already helped me quite a lot. I have installed a rear rack and a front basket so far. I have a backpack and milk crate, as well as a small cooler that will all fit on the rear rack, so for now I think I am set.
Thanks for all the great tips and voice of experience! It has really help me out.
Thanks!
Longer commutes, try a touring/cyclocross (gravel) bike. Most of the entry level models have braze-ons for a rack and fenders. They are a slightly relaxed racing bike and can have drop bars and shorty brake levers
In Florida the very few bike paths we have are just wide enough for one bike right next to the car lane, with only a white line separating the two. With broken glass bottles and trash every few feet. I usually ride on the sidewalk, but it's possible i might get a ticket for doing that. I've read Florida, if not the most dangerous state for bicycles, is in the top three for most hit and run car to bike accidents in the US. wish me luck. lol
Have you considered doing a review/overview video of all the bicycles you have access to? Seems you've got quite a few and would be interesting to know why you picked them and their features, and when you use them for what rides.
Tom, thanks for all your amazing content. This video in particular is a stand out. I appreciate your relaxed approach, and anything that encourages others to plant their feet on pedals is a win in my books! Keep being a champion!
I felt compelled to comment, as I was trepidatious starting out as a bike commuter. And your initial advice is key: Just start cycling.
I started cycle commuting in August 2020 and can no longer fathom using public transit or driving to work.
As I close in on 30 000km travelled on my bike (just 500 kms to go!), I can't tell you how many times I've come across a motorist or pedestrian, hostile to me, a cyclist, because of the actions of other cyclists they've encountered in the past. I view it as a perturbed form of 'paying it forward' or simple grudge-bearing.
I've found the best way to remain safe on the road is to be predictable and always communicate with other road users.
I'm currently employing the use of a 'thumbs up vs. thumbs down' strategy when encountering exemplary vs. horrendous driving habits. I enjoy other motorists witnessing me adjudicating another motorist's good/bad behaviour. But, the following helps keep me safe:
1) Know your route!
2) Signal EVERY turn; indicate your intent to encroach on or take the lane -- **Don't be afraid to control the situation**.
3) Eye contact is critical.
4) Remain calm and composed.
5) Always have an escape.
6) Keep your bike well maintained!
7) But, beyond all this, enjoy the ride.
It's cars. 'The moment you start riding on the roads, the clock starts ticking', or so I've heard (and seen). Any other obstacle is mountable, but when I fear for my life... 😓
Barrier No. 7 is what you're talking about. There's no easy way around this except advocating for improvements. It's going to take time, so start now.
Thanks! Great channel!
Thank you Dave! I appreciate the support very much!
When I lived in Latvia, I used to be terrified of drivers when I biked around the capital but I've ridden for 3 years mindfully of others on the road and never got in harm.
My current city in Sweden merges bikelanes with streets at roundabouts which is awful but I still manage with the correct attitude and ad etiquette
Production quality is impressive. Sound, video clarity, nothing is shaking. Very impressive.
Go second-hand when buying. So many bikes in top condition can be had for 50% cheaper than new when only a year or two old
This is what I did! I got an awesome Kona Smoke, great for commuting, for a fraction of the original cost, and it's made my commute SO much nicer.
Absolutely! Second-hand bikes are perfect for commutes, especially in cities where theft is a problem (which is every city)
I'd add the caveat buyer beware. Unless you know alot about bikes, bring along a friend who does. And then have it checked out by a bike mechanic.
I totally agree with your conclusion. I started commuting to do some exercise, sabe fuel, avoid polluting... But after some weeks, I am starting to love It just for the pleasure of riding a bike! Going to university becomes a pleasure, instead of a thing to do. Thank you for your content and greetings from Valencia, in Spain! 😊
Used to be a fine weather cyclist in Adealide South Australia (lovely meditarian style weather). I was in Canada in December 2016 and the amount of ppl I saw riding bike in freezing just snowed weather schocked me. Got back to Adelaide and I toughed up, sold the second car and rode daily for my commute, rain or shine. Dont have to worrry about the snow here.
This was one of the most practical videos about getting started. Thank you so much!
One other barrier: I feel like an outlier. Remedy: find a colleague and share a commute with them.
Yes, this is great! Get enough friends and you'll no longer be an outlier.
RE: wearing your work clothes to commute: probably not a great plan if you need to wear business clothes or anything fancier. Both the saddle and the pedaling motion are really hard on pants. If you’re wearing $50+ slacks for work, you probably don’t want to wear through the seats of all your pants, in a way that can’t really be patched, every couple years.
Plus the part where most pants have seams that can rub in uncomfortable places.
When I had a short commute, I generally wore casual or athletic clothes, but only rarely wore my work clothes (business suit or at least suit slacks and dress shirt), because I didn’t want to be spending my budget on replacing my slacks all the time. It was also nice not to get sweaty in my work clothes (because I almost never left early enough to ride slowly), but that was secondary.
When I had a long commute, work attire was casual so I wore my work clothes to commute much of the year. But even though those were tougher materials, I still wore through the seats of my pants while the rest of the pants were in fine shape.
Fully agree, my work place doesn't usually require formal wear but especially when having multiple journeys throughout the day, I can't bring myself to wear anything but sporty leggings. Bike rubbed through and left ugly light marks on my expensive Levis jeans so not tempted to buy them again based on my lifestyle where I cycle to 90% of activities (work, gym, social events and meetups, even formal events, going out etc). Non-stretchy jeans really hurt my knees and don't dry fast enough. Has anyone found a good tradeoff between comfort and formality?
General solution:E-bike⚡
Last month I got a waterproof pannier back (that can convert into a backpack) that is ideal here in North America because the hurracaine season last there is always a possibility of rain;good for school too so you can have your homework not wet😎.
For last I question what are your thoughts on recumbent bicycles/tricycles/quads (and velomobiles too)? 🤔
I have no opinions on tricycles or quads, but I'm getting a lot of questions about them recently, so I may have to try them out. Thanks for the idea.
For those concerned about bad weather and the cold especially, there are enclosed quadricycles, though you may not find any available in your area.
I have recently ordered a new commuter bicycle and this channel has helped a lot in making an informed choice. Interesting, lots of ideas and info and a very personable presenter.
For women, I totally recommend micro-modal boxer briefs!! So much nicer than a chamois (aka sweat sponge) and less chafing than "normal" women's panties. Comfy at work too with no panty lines.
Kudos for offering advice that I have no business offering. Thank you!
Boxer briefs are an amazing invention
Before I got an ebike for my work commute, I’d bring a few day’s worth of shirts and small towels to the office at the start of the week. Each day I’d wipe off and change after riding in and cooling off, I’d take home what I wore each day.
After I got an ebike, I didn’t need to do that anymore.
Of course, that only works if you have someplace to stash personal items at the office.
Now I’m retired so I just bike for errands and fun. 😊
i will disagree with you on the "bike you have"... commuting means exposure to the public and possibly being left in an area to be attractive to theft. Buy a cheap bike as you describe, preferably one that is ugly and not attractive to thieves. This also serves the purpose of also having cheaper parts to replace as they wear.
You're not wrong, but I hate that we have to ride worse bikes because of the risk of thieves. Let's hope someday we can all just ride the bike we want to ride.