When I started cycling to work back in 2004, I had no idea what I needed to get organised. What to wear? What to bring? Where to store my clothes? Could I bring my bike into the elevator? Does my workplace have showers?
This site will give you all the advice you need. Here’s a great little video from The Age website. Tessa Rides to Work
If you are after a good new pair of cycling glasses for instance, we recommend these cycling glasses which offer fantastic durability and value. But that’s just the start of the advice we can provide.
Here’s what you need to cycle to work effectively:
- Decent reliable bike
- Front and rear lights
- Helmet, gloves
- Cycling glasses
- Cycling shoes, (sneakers ok)
- Backpack
- Underwear and socks
- Tyre changer
- 2 Spare tubes
- Plastic shopping bags for clothes and spares
- Little hand held pump
- Swiss army knife (for repairs)
- A few allen keys
- Work access card
- Wallet, mobile phone keys + snaptight waterproof bag (when it rains)
Riding in shorts, tracksuit pants and t-shirts is the way to go. Many people also ride in their suits or workwear. Wearing bright colours can also help. Fluoro orange, pink or yellow safety clothing or cycling jerseys will make you highly visible. You don’t need to wear lycra clothing at all. You can always upgrade to lycra kits later on. If you are after inexpensive cycling jerseys and cycling padded shorts, eBay has plenty of new team jerseys often at half the price of retail outlets.
Don’t forget to use a quality cycling lock from a cycling store. Make sure you remove your lights, speedo and other easily removable items from your bike when left unattended.
If you need to change once at work, store the following near your desk or locker:
- Towel
- Spare shirt or two
- Soap or body wash
- Work shoes
- Make up
- Pants or skirts
- Spare set of underwear and socks
- Coat hangers
At your workplace you’ll need to know:
- Shower facilities
- How to enter the carpark
- Any security/access points
- After hours zones
Around your building you’ll need to know:
- Quick short cuts
- How to escape pedestrian traffic
- The safest way to your bike trail or road
- The closest bike shop to pick up any things you may need
Simple site & sensible, relevant advice. I suggest some self-promotion (BVIC, BNSW, SydneyCyclist, SydneyCycleChic, safecyclingaustralia, etc etc). Thanks.
Thanks for your kind comments – we want to help spread the word on a great way to get to work.
olje
Hey, can I use your article on my website with a linkback?
certainly yes
Hi Nathan, as you know I was a mad keen cyclist back in Melbourne and thought I would share my method for cycling to work…
For me carrying a load – either on my back or in panniers – really reduced my enjoyment of the ride, so I did the following:
- On Monday morning, carry 5 shirts, 5 sets of underwear etc.
- On Friday evening bring all the dirty clothes home for washing.
- Leave suits, ties, shoes etc. in the office.
Outcome of this is out of 10 rides in a week, you are only loaded up for 2. i would typically take the shortest route to work when carrying stuff but could enjoy a longer run on all the others if I chose to
Of course I was lucky – I had showers and a locker at work and that’s kinda critical to make this work.
Hope this helps!
Chris