New Commuter...a few tips on clothes/baggage

[2pies]

I should be picking up my Spec. Tricross that I've ordered through C2W this week with a view to start commuting next week. Just got a few questions about commuting in general.

• I'll have a shower at work so I suppose I'll have to take in a load of clothes at the start of the week. Do yuou do this and what type of bag do you use? Pannier or backpack?
• Some of my shirts are non-iron so I can only hope that they aren't too wrinkled from being in a bag for an hour on the way to work each Monday morning. Or do you use a local dry-cleaner near work to avoid having to do this?
• My commute is about 11 miles each way and I'll be riding every day. Should I buy several pairs of riding clothes e.g. shorts/jersey or just wear something underneath each?
• Is a mirror useful for commuting or do they offer such little visibility its hardly worth it?
• Lights, worth wearing in day light or anything else to improve visibility?
• Bit off topic, but is there any resources you can recommend for basic bike care and maintenance? I've never owned a bike that was good enough to warrant any TLC.

Thanks

 

[summerdays]

I'm not answering most of those as I don't do the clothes/shower stuff.

Mirror - they can be of use especially to those who find looking behind difficult - however I would add that a mirror doesn't replace looking behind - as it is easier to see and the act of looking around can give the driver the idea that you might be about do something like signal etc.

Lights - I don't bother in the day time at this time of year - unless the weather is very miserable - in winter time I often do use lights during the day time especially as the shadows can be very dark in the centre of town (with the high buildings). One of my personal rules of thumb is whether a significant proportion of cars have lights on during the day.

 

[BSRU]

I should be picking up my Spec. Tricross that I've ordered through C2W this week with a view to start commuting next week. Just got a few questions about commuting in general.

• I'll have a shower at work so I suppose I'll have to take in a load of clothes at the start of the week. Do yuou do this and what type of bag do you use? Pannier or backpack?
• Some of my shirts are non-iron so I can only hope that they aren't too wrinkled from being in a bag for an hour on the way to work each Monday morning. Or do you use a local dry-cleaner near work to avoid having to do this?
• My commute is about 11 miles each way and I'll be riding every day. Should I buy several pairs of riding clothes e.g. shorts/jersey or just wear something underneath each?
• Is a mirror useful for commuting or do they offer such little visibility its hardly worth it?
• Lights, worth wearing in day light or anything else to improve visibility?

Thanks

I have panniers so I can take what I need each day, also allows me to have lots of tools/spares, just in case.
Best to have several pairs, I wear 3/4 bib longs which I do not use commando style, there is another new thread about how often to wash them.
Mirror's, lots of threads for and against, my opinion yes, just from motorbike riding expereince, works well but no substitute for a look over my shoulder.
Lights, another subject with differeing opinions, I always ride with my lights on, a Magicshine on the front which is very very bright and clearly visible from long distance. On the rear I have a Dinotte 400R again very very bright, visible even on the sunniest day. But I never assume that another road user has seen them.

The best thing to do is to experiment, try things out and see what suits you best.

 

[biking_fox]

Yep - Monday morning, 1 pair trous and 5 shirts. Seem not too wrinkled to me. There's a long thread somewhere about rucksack vs panier. Try both and see. Rucksack - better balance and handling, but can be heavy and sweaty. Panier - sweat free, but can affect balance and handling. Depends on the bike, how much you have to carry, and what you already own.

I'd think you'd want a couple of sets of riding stuff - so that at least you've got something dry/clean for the next day when you've been rained on!

I don't think lights in daytime help much, but you do want a fluro/high vis top.

Maintenance. Sheldon Brown website is the wisdom of gods. Many decent bikeshops will run training / maintenance courses. I know Evans do. Richards Bicycle Book used to the Bible.

You probably also want to read CycleCraft by Franklin.

 

[gaz]

Clothes - I take in what I need for the day. Which is a shirt, pants and socks. Leave things at work if you can e.g shoes and suits.
I use a carradice saddle bag which holds all I require.

Keep clothes uncreased - top tip. Roll your clothes and they won't get creases
Some people in my office leave there shirts at work and get them dry cleaned each week.

Cycling clothes - well worth getting multipal layers and sets of clothes you rotate. I wear different shorts and jersey each day. You can buy several dhb products for a good price!

Mirrors - you get better visibility form looking behind you. A mirror can be useful for monitoring what is behind you but due to it's position it is much less useful than in a car etc..

Lights - I tend not to use my during the day unless the visibility is poor. But there is no harm in using them. Hi-viz has its pros but in a city I don't see the point.

 

[upsidedown]

I bring clothes in every day in one pannier. With shirts i do up 3 alternate buttons and fold into a square about 12 inches, hang up while in the shower and it's fine by the time you put it on. I have a couple of spare polo shrts as emergencies in case anything leaks in the pannier or i forget a shirt.

Microfibre towel lasts for 2 or 3 days before it needs washing.

I don't use a mirror because i have bar-end shifters on the drops but i would if i could.

Lights i use a Smart 1/2 watt on the back during daytime. Duracell 1750mah rechargeables last a couple of weeks a time. I wear a very faded hi-vis jacket most of the time, most don't though.

Riding gear lasts two or three days so a couple of sets should do you.
Maintenance resource ? This place is probably the best there is, there are loads of decent mechanics on here.
Only other advice i would offer is carry 2 spare tubes, a good set of levers, a decent pump, some cable ties, money and a phone, that'll get you out of most situations.

Good luck with the commute.

paul

 

[SquareDaff]

I should be picking up my Spec. Tricross that I've ordered through C2W this week with a view to start commuting next week. Just got a few questions about commuting in general.

• I'll have a shower at work so I suppose I'll have to take in a load of clothes at the start of the week. Do yuou do this and what type of bag do you use? Pannier or backpack?
• Some of my shirts are non-iron so I can only hope that they aren't too wrinkled from being in a bag for an hour on the way to work each Monday morning. Or do you use a local dry-cleaner near work to avoid having to do this?
• My commute is about 11 miles each way and I'll be riding every day. Should I buy several pairs of riding clothes e.g. shorts/jersey or just wear something underneath each?
• Is a mirror useful for commuting or do they offer such little visibility its hardly worth it?
• Lights, worth wearing in day light or anything else to improve visibility?
• Bit off topic, but is there any resources you can recommend for basic bike care and maintenance? I've never owned a bike that was good enough to warrant any TLC.

Thanks

I use panniers and take in what I need each day. Plus I can squeeze in all my other bits and prices (i.e toolkits, spares, full spectrum of cycling kit for wet/dry/cold conditions)

Defo buy loads of different bits of cycling clothing - There's an Aldi sale coming up.

I don't use a mirror - you can't beat your own eyes!

I don't have lights on the bike in summer as 99% of the time I get in and go home in daylight - but have a set of "unforeseen circumstance" lights in my panniers (i.e. Smart 1/2 watt for the rear and a Moon Gem 2.0 for the front). You never know when you're going to have to cycle home in the dark!

Buy yourself a good book and tinker with one of your older, don't care bikes before you mess with the good one!

 

[corshamjim]

I think if you compare the time it takes to potter in at an easy pace with the total time it takes to ride harder in to work then take a shower, the slower pace probably works out the most time-effective. In traffic, it's often better to ride hard though anyway. I'm lucky, my rural commute is nearly traffic-free so I meander along and get to work eventually.

Personally I like having a mirror a lot, but I find it's most useful on long open country roads - in town it's more important to look properly about all the time. It may be just my imagination, but I think that with my mirror sticking out the side, cars give me a little more room.

I do keep a change of clothes and a towel at work just in case I get heavily rained on or splashed by a passing truck or whatever. I don't find I need them very often.

 

[Twizit]

Answering some bits...

Pannier and rack for me. a) I don't like getting a sweaty back from rucksacks and b) I've got a laptop to carry occasionally. Laptop is just over 2kg but balance is fine in one pannier. Do notice the additional weight going up the one biggish hill on my commute though.

Clothes - I tend to leave trousers / suit / jeans at work and bring home once a week or so for washing. Just take in underwear and a shirt each day. Sometimes load up to save taking pannier each day though. Always leave a spare set of everything in work just in case you forget something one day, but also pack your bag the night before rather than just leaving in the morning - less likely to rush and forget something.

Shirts as noted can be folded neatly so as not to crease. Button up the front, turn over, fold in two sides with arms folded in neatly. Fold up from bottom into thirds, making a nice 12 inch ish square. Never had a problem with creases that way and being doing it for 6 years on motorbike anyway before cycle commuting.

Don't bother with a towel as I shower at local gym which provides them.

Kit gets washed after each day, so need two sets at least, although at a push you can get kit home washed and dry ready for next day if synthetic.

 

[Tynan]

shirt, socks and underwear every day rolled up in a pannier with packed lunch and some spares etc

only one pair of shorts, two or even three days ay a pinch, wash overnight as called for, handy as it means i can wash my stuff during the week and reduce the weekend washing

mirror, never tried it, neck, corner of eye and ears have always done me fine

I have lights on all the time although they are bright ones, a bright red light up under the saddle shows i think, it can't hurt and it might help

 

[RossM]

No shower at my work so I take a shirt in with me everyday (folded up inside rucksack) and keep a stash of pants & socks in my desk drawer alongside a pack of baby wipes and deodorant and take dirty clothes home each day.

Never used a mirror but most of my commute is cycle paths.

I use lights when I feel I need them - pretty much the same as if I was driving a car. I also wear a fluro jacket.



I should state that my commute is very short compared to yours so this is suitable for me but probably will be different for you. - The main trick is to try things and find what works best for you.

 

[hillrep]

Twizit gave lots of good advice. I too use a single pannier

Clothes - I tend to leave trousers / suit / jeans at work and bring home once a week or so for washing. Just take in underwear and a shirt each day. Always leave a spare set of everything in work just in case you forget something one day

Clean cycling shorts every day.

If you haven't already then "You probably also want to read CycleCraft by Franklin."

 

[DrSquirrel]

I should be picking up my Spec. Tricross that I've ordered through C2W this week with a view to start commuting next week. Just got a few questions about commuting in general.

• I'll have a shower at work so I suppose I'll have to take in a load of clothes at the start of the week. Do yuou do this and what type of bag do you use? Pannier or backpack?
• Some of my shirts are non-iron so I can only hope that they aren't too wrinkled from being in a bag for an hour on the way to work each Monday morning. Or do you use a local dry-cleaner near work to avoid having to do this?
• My commute is about 11 miles each way and I'll be riding every day. Should I buy several pairs of riding clothes e.g. shorts/jersey or just wear something underneath each?
• Is a mirror useful for commuting or do they offer such little visibility its hardly worth it?
• Lights, worth wearing in day light or anything else to improve visibility?
• Bit off topic, but is there any resources you can recommend for basic bike care and maintenance? I've never owned a bike that was good enough to warrant any TLC.

Thanks

If you leave your stuff on day 1, and return with it on day 2 - I would use a backpack and leave it at work.

Folding properly helps, rolling never works out as well.

Thin clothes dry out quicker so should be ready before you go home by just airing, it helps if you have somewhere to hang them or even a radiator. Thin clothes also makes it easier to layer which keeps you warm. Don't worry about getting wet, worry most about keeping warm - being wet is easier when you just accept it

Mirror will never replace a proper shoulder check - unless its really busy I wouldn't bother, and if its busy might as well just assume there is always a car behind you.

Cheap flashing rear and front will help - PX has some nice Smart 1/2W (very good) rears and (weak) front light packs for just over a tenner. When it's dark, use higher powered lights on constant (and use the weaker ones to flash), at night you want 2 front 2 rear minimum (as a backup, and so you can use the static/flash mix).



http://bicycletutor.com/ - parktools also has a good "how to" site.

 

[lejogger]

My commuter broke and I had a period of 3-4 months commuting on my best bike with a rucksack. It's easier in some respects because the bike is lighter, but I started to get a really sore back.
Got my new commuter now, and I tend to use one of my Ortlieb back roller plus panniers, and I also have the Ortlieb Trunk bag. I carry my suit, shoes, shower stuff in the pannier, and then all the everyday stuff - pump, inner tubes, multi tool, waterproof, lock in the trunk bag.

My commute is 10 miles each way, but I always pack my pannier the night before. If you fold and pack everything right then it's always fine for creases etc.

I generally have two sets of shorts, jerseys and baselayers that I alternate... it depends how much washing you want to do, buy more if you can afford it, or less if you don't mind doing a wash every night.

Never used a mirror... I think it would make me lazy. I prefer to look around as much as I can.

Lights - totally dependant on the weather. No need to use them more often just because you're commuting if the conditions don't require it. But if it makes you feel more visible and safer then there's no harm having your rear flasher on.

Bike care - GT85 is awesome stuff to keep everything lubricated. Just don't use it on your chain. I have finish line dry lube for that.

Hope you enjoy your commutes...

 

[Morf]

This may be of some use: http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/wp-c...icycle-maintenance-made-ridiculously-easy.pdf