Dylan Sequin, Team Clif Bar, Berkeley, CA

When did you start commuting to work by bike?
I’ve pretty much commuted to work by bike since the get-go. I got a job in a bike shop at 16 and my old bike got me to and from the job until I could earn enough to buy a new bike and the crazy cycle hasn’t really ever stopped. I think one reason I work is so that I can ride and race my bike.
How far do you bike commute?
These days I only commute a few miles each way on nice roads with no real hills, pitfalls, ninjas or pirates along the way – so I’ve got no excuse at all for not riding my bike to work regularly.
What benefits do you get from it?
I don’t put many miles on my old car. I feel good about not adding to the pollution in the air. I get to see the town I live in as I roll through the neighborhoods. I like the thought that I’m hopefully setting a good example for my son – showing him, and others, that the bike is a great way to get around. And while my commute is relatively short it can be a great way to spin the legs after a good workout if I’m lucky enough to have fit one in during the day.
What is the most challenging issue with biking to work? How do you cope with it?
For me it’s the weather – and the time change in the fall. Riding in the wet weather can be a real pain if you’re not prepared. The right rain gear makes all the difference. I actually love riding my bike in the rain – as long as I’m prepared. When the time change comes around each year and it’s dark at the end of the work day it always takes some time to adjust. Fortunately, having a good set of lights makes riding at night a lot of fun – and a whole lot safer.
What kind of bike do you ride and how do you have it set up?
Believe it or not, I have only one intact bike – a Felt F1C. It’s my race bike, but it’s also the bike I ride to work on. I like to spend my riding time on the bike I race on. I’m no climber so it’s important that I get as comfy on my race bike as possible in all conditions so that I can make up time on descents and in the corners. Riding to work on my one bike allows me to focus on the little details of how things are working/fitting so that everything is dialed come race day. During the wet months I pop a rear fender on to keep the spray at bay.
Do you ride in work clothes or do you change at work?
Usually I ride in work clothes because my ride’s such an easy trip. We’re very fortunate to have a nice shower set-up here at Clif, so in the event that I go for a longer ride before work I can sport the Lycra, then shower & change at the office.
How do you take the things you need to have with you at work?
You should see my bag right now. It’s obvious that I take a whole lot more stuff with me to work than I need to. I’m not even sure what’s in the bag today – it looks like my dog might have stowed away in there. My Timbuk2 bag is big – maybe too big. It rocks.
Do you find riding at night in the winter months a challenge?
Is this some sort of trick question? Actually, I love riding at night. Trail riding at night is the best, but even riding on the road at night can be a pretty magical experience. But I will say that the first time I used the Light & Motion goods I was absolutely blown away by how well I could see at night.
What kind of weather do you have where you live?
I live in Northern California so you won’t hear me complaining about weather much at all. Dealing with weather in California isn’t too difficult, but it certainly helps to have good winter gear even in the mild California winters. As long as I’m warm on the bike I don’t really mind the wet part.
What would you say to encourage others to bike to work?
Bikes are fun and riding is good for you and good for the planet too. Our culture is so busy – go, go, go all the time. Commuting by bike slows the day down a bit and offers a nice window of time to just think about stuff and enjoy all the little things that go unnoticed from inside a car. And in the long run riding a bike is a great way to invest in one’s future – staying active and fit will surely pay off down the road.