Bike commuting does not have to be a chore. Follow these tips from Bicycling.com and learn the tricks of the trade, from cargo-carrying to waging war against dreaded work shirt wrinkles! Help your community be more sustainable and reduce your workplace’s carbon footprint— get biking.
From: www.bicycling.com
7 Essential Bike Commuting Tips
JUNE 14, 2013 SUSI WUNSCH
Whether you want to go car-free or just ride carefree, follow this advice to carry larger loads, find a safe route, and arrive looking (and feeling) fresh.
To save time—and avoid forgetting a spare tube, again—stow all your gear and accessories in an easily accessible place, such as a wicker basket. Place small items like blinky lights and tire levers in a zippered bag you can hang from the doorknob. Clip your bike-lock key to the bag using a small carabiner.Arrive Wrinkle Free
Toting a suit to work, or bringing a sport jacket to a dinner date? Hang them in a dry-cleaning bag, then roll it up gently before placing it in a basket or pannier.
Boost Cargo Capacity
Expand from carrying a six-pack to full bags of groceries by attaching an elastic cargo net to your rack or basket.
Go Easy
RideTheCity.com is a clearinghouse of safe bike routes. Get There By Bike, an iPhone app, allows you to map, record and, share routes in 23 cities (and counting). New to riding? Portland, New York, San Francisco, and other major metropolitan areas have organized group commutes.
Hang in There
There If you need to store your bike in your home or office but are short on floor space, think vertically. Several manufacturers offer ceiling racksthat use pulley systems to hoist bikes. Or hang your ride from hooks beneath an open staircase. Lighter bikes can even be perched atop credenzas or bookcases.
Protect Your Assets
In most areas, you only need a U-lock. Double up on protection in high-theft zones by adding a cable lock: Start by parking your bike next to a rack, signpost or other immovable object. Run the U-lock between the rear wheel and seat tube, but keep it open. Then take one end of a cable and run it through your frame and front wheel, looping it through the cable’s other end to form a lasso. Finally, attach the free end of the cable to the U-lock and clamp the lock around the immovable object. Locking skewers prevent your wheels, saddle, and other components from getting jacked.
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