Bike To Work

Biking to work minus the preparation should be as enjoyable as any recreational or training ride. In fact if one knocks out the hassles before getting in the saddle your commute should figure into you training schedule; however, since the goal is to get to work we still have some scientific methods to deploy to ensure that the commute is successful.

Route Selection: This is perhaps the most important part of the actual biking part of commuting. Factors to research are road quality, ride quality, traffic frequency, stoppages, bike lanes, and distance.

NOTE: I have a multi use bike path that runs 95% of the 7 mile commute to my workplace that I NEVER take because I feel it is much more dangerous than riding on the road. There are lots of twists and turns, debris laden macadam, golf cart traffic, and the occasional closure. With tools like google maps or mashups like mapmyrun.com one can select and preview new routes with ease. Some of the science one should apply when selecting a route are:

Road Quality: I’ll take 15 miles of smooth macadam over 8 miles of rough terrain or gravel any day. I want to get on my bike and spin all the way in. I will pop up gear after gear as I spin into higher revolutions. I will sacrifice on ride quality for higher road quality on the way into work. The commute in needs to be precise as I am usually guilty of hitting the snooze button one too many times.

Ride Quality: How inspiring can you ride? I generally opt for the shortest ride possible on the way into work and the most scenic or best route based on my feelings on the way home. If it’s a nice day I may stretch 7 miles into 30. There are some great rock formations in Arizona that I haven’t gotten used to seeing and what better way than to find new restaurants, bars, shops, or whatever by changing up your homeward bound route everyday.

Traffic Frequency: I try to ride where I will see the least traffic. On the way in I will sacrifice for less turns, but less traffic generally equals better riding. Large intersections without lights can really add to your commute time. This is one vertical where internet mapping options fall short. There is nothing like experiencing a route first person and realizing that it wasn’t quite what you envisioned when plotting points on a map.

Stoppages: The less I need to stop riding the better my ride is. If you really know your commute you can play with your speed and cadence and make sure you never have to touch the ground with your feet. Or just master the trackstand.

Bike Lanes: I do NOT go out of my way to find bike lanes. I’m a vehicle dammit and I don’t need them. If they are convenient and well maintained I appreciate them, but I believe them to be a taxpayer boondoggle and an excuse to keep cyclists off certain roadways. While roads are intended for cars I am not. I feel I have the right to ride wherever a road travels excepting highways.

Obey The Law: Many municipalities enforce the law on bicyclists. I also find that whenever I have had a close call with a motorist it is because I am operating outside the law in a traffic pattern I am unfamiliar with. There are a good deal of intersections that were designed to operate with traffic lights. Hidden off and on ramps are not always obvious and thinking you have an opening to squirt through may be a terrible idea. It’s better to wait than be T-Boned by an SUV.

Distance – In the morning I try to sprint the shortest distance in to work. On the way home I tend to ride how I feel.

Businesses Surrounding Your Commute: The ride home is a great way to discover new places of interest that surround your home city. It’s often good to know where all of the bike shops are in the area should there be a severe mechanical failure. I also take note of where I can easily fill my tires up with air should I flat. Knowing whats around can be the difference between showing up late and flustered or cruising in on time after saving the day.

Leave Early: Budgeting an additional 10-15 minutes for your commute is often the most important thing I do each day. I can easily fill an extra 15 minutes by showing up early or relaxing on my morning coffee run.

Next task: Avoid Disaster