Welcome back to the second episode in our series on how to commute to work.
First up, let’s talk about bikes as it’s pretty difficult to ride to work if you don’t have one. Almost any bike will do to get you started, but you’ll find some are more suitable than others.
The cheapest and easiest way to start is to ride what you’ve already got. If you haven’t got a bike, you can either borrow one, buy one from a shop or pick up a cheap second hand one from your local bike hub. Buying a cheap bike online can be a bit of a gamble unless you can look at it first. Replacing seized or worn out components can cost you a lot more than the savings. You might also want to check whether that Marketplace bargain isn’t stolen.
Whatever bike you get, life will be easier if it’s the right size and the saddle is set to the right height. Your local bike shop or repair hubs can help you with this and are a great source of advice. It can be handy to make a list of questions to ask them so they can get you into the best bike for your money.
Making sure your bike is in good condition is vital. Unless you’re a competent mechanic, get your bike checked over by an expert. Make sure the tyres are at the correct pressure, check your brakes are working and find any other problems that may bring your journey to an unexpected halt. Bikes may look simple, but there’s almost 900 parts working in harmony to keep you rolling along. Admittedly, about 580 of those parts make up the chain, but it still only takes a broken link to bring you to a halt. Fixing a rubbing brake can transform a bike from a sluggish lump to a smooth cruiser and lubricating sticky shifter cables often fixes gear changing problems.
If your business has signed up to a work-ride scheme, you may be able to buy a new bike and pay it off over a year through pre-tax deductions from your salary. This means the effective price can be around 30% less than buying it for cash.
There’s lots more to discuss about bikes and accessories, but most of them are personal choices you’ll make as you gain experience. Our next blog will focus on achieving the right mindset and practicing some confidence building skills.
Check out the rest of the Commute by Bike series
- A series to help start your bike commuting journey
- Choosing a bike for commuting
- You and bike commuting
- What stuff do you need for bike commuting?
- Route planning for bike commuting
- Safety tips for bike commuting
- Motivation when you start bike commuting
- Pimping your ride for a bike commute
- What clothes do you need for bike commuting?
- Maintaining your bike for commuting
- Watch-outs for bike commuting
- Coping with road rage when you commute by bike
- Going electric or going alternative for your bike commute
- So you’re a bike commuter. What next?
