It gets easier
Make sure your bike is safe
Always be prepared for the worst
Do your homework
Food and drink
2022 is here! New year, new resolutions. Commuting to work via bike is a great way to improve your physical and mental health in 2022. By combining commute time and exercise you can also free up more time in your day vs public transport and hitting the gym. We have put together this guide of useful tips and tricks to help you start and keep up your cycling commute.
It gets easier
Despite how good it is for your health and the environment, many people do give up on cycling for their commute due to how physically demanding it can be. It's something that is different for everyone, but what remains the same is no matter who you are and which route you are cycling, it will get easier. Your body will start to develop muscle memory and that ride will slowly but surely become quicker and easier. To help with your daily commitment, try laying out your cycling gear by your bed in the morning and make getting dressed the first thing you do when you get up. It will be far less tempting to grab the car keys if you are already suited up in your cycling clothing. Most importantly, just try to take things one day at a time. Small steps make big changes.
Make sure your bike is safe
While you actually go into work, it is of course important to make sure your bike doesn’t get stolen or damaged. You should always invest in a good sturdy bike lock. If your work allows you to bring your bike inside or you have a folding bike, even better. Otherwise make sure it is locked up safely in a covered area.
Always be prepared for the worst
You never want to get caught out with a flat tyre or have your chain come loose on your way to work. Therefore it's always a good idea to give your bike the M check every once in a while, to make sure it is safe and ready to hit the road. For more information on how to perform an M check, head on over to our blog about it here.
If something does happen to your bike out on the road, it's important to be prepared to make minor repairs on the go, leaving you with enough time to get to work. It’s recommended that you at least bring a good multitool with you, like Rehook PLUS, to fix your chain without getting your hands messy, as well as making other roadside adjustments. If you’re in need of some emergency puncture repairs then Rehook Gooeys and Rehook AIR are essentials to make sure you don’t end up walking to the office.
Do your homework
If you plan on cycling to work it’s definitely worth researching the best route to take. Google maps will be a useful tool for you in doing this. It is perhaps also worth doing a dummy run of a potential route to allow you to make any modifications before the big commute. You don’t want to have selected a relaxing route to work only to find out it is mostly uphill on the way back. So grab a friend and go through it together before you start using it for work, to spot and fix any issues early.
Food and drink
If you're going to start cycling to work regularly you're going to be burning a lot more calories and using up a lot more energy than jumping in a car. Having a good filling breakfast with a good balance of protein and carbohydrates is definitely of great importance, as is making sure to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before setting off and fuel your body throughout the day to ensure you have the energy needed to cycle back in good condition.
I hope this guide has been helpful if you are considering starting a cycling commute to work. If you have any extra tips or advice to share then be sure to leave us a comment!
