Tips for Biking to Work

Biking to work is a great way to start your day, outdoors, active and oftentimes can be quicker than driving or taking the bus.  I often hear people say that they'd love to cycle to work, but they soon dismiss the idea because of the hassles of riding on congested roads, poor weather conditions, not having a shower at the office to jump into or not wanting to wrinkle their work clothes by jamming them into a daypack. Here are a few tips to make biking to work an enjoyable experience rather than a hassle.

Take a Change of Clothes to Work

If your job requires a clean, crisp suit, try to gather clothes to take with you for the entire week. That way you don't have to worry about getting your suit dirty during your commute. To avoid getting grease on the cuffs of your pants, tuck the base of your pants into your socks. It may not be the most attractive look but it keeps the cuffs clean.

Know Your Route

Take some time to plan your route, there are always options. Here's a few things to keep in mind when choosing your route:

• Avoid streets with heavy congestion
• Avoid routes with hills. Find a route with gradual inclines.
• Choose a route where your able to warm up your muscles first before exerting them.
  
• Take extra time so you're not in a rush

Try different routes and familiarize yourself with them. When you're ready to bike to work, you will be comfortable with every portion of your commute.

If you're looking to trade in your car for a bike to get to the office, follow these tips to get you started. If you need more information about the safe practices of biking to the office, check out "Tricks and Tips for Biking to Work" at www.biketraffic.org/trickstips.

Happy Commuting,

BikeHike Adventures