Tips on Successful Bike Commuting from Light & Motion Staff!

Elijah Woolery, Design Engineer,
5 mile daily commute

Find a good, safe place to store your bike. If your employer or building doesn't already have a place, work with them to find an under-used storage area or back room. Having a good place to store bikes will encourage others to ride to work, which leads to healthier workers and good PR for your company.

Go the long way if it's safer, has better scenery, or has fewer stops. Sometimes it's hard to add the extra miles, but direct routes are often congested, and stopping constantly for traffic lights makes it hard to get into a groove.

Vary your ride if you can. If there is only one safe route don't put yourself in harm's way, but if you cut up a few streets you may see things you never would otherwise. And you might find a better route.

Don't be afraid to wear bike clothes, especially for longer commutes. It just makes the ride more enjoyable (and keeps the sweat out of your work clothes).

Sharing the road goes both ways. If you're riding down a street lined with parked cars, stay out in the lane a bit so you can react if a car pulls out or someone opens a door. The cars behind you may have to slow down a bit; that's OK. When it's safe, ride close to the curb, so that cars can get past easily. It makes them more bike-friendly.

Use a flashing headlight and taillight during the day. It really does make a difference in how visible you are

Chris McCaslin, Design Engineer,
10 mile daily commute

If you don't like carrying a lot of weight on your back, saddle bags can come in really handy. Topeak makes a great version that quick-releases from your seat post.

Besides being a great way to get to work, having a bike around is a good way to get some exercise during your lunch break.

And of course, a light comes in really handy, especially on those dark winter days. Can anyone say Vega?

Eric Squires, Director of Sales,
15 mile daily commute

I want to encourage all you 8-5ers out there to leave the cars at home and get on your bikes and ride to work. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel when you get to work and back home if you use your legs for power and not gasoline.

If you have shower facilities at work, make sure you get set up with towel, toiletries and a rotating supply of clothes. As far as hauling your gear invest in a nice messenger style bag as it sits lower and doesn’t cause you to sweat so much on your back.

Give yourself plenty of time to deal with the unexpected mechanicals, flats, etc and make sure you have appropriate tools to deal with them. If you get to work early, you can spend some time stretching.

Run heavier city style tires that have little tread on them. Weight is not the issue here, rather remaining flat free.

Staple fix it items to have in your fix it bag:
- Spare tube(s)
- high quality tire levers
- CO2 cartridges and/or pump
- Chain tool
- Spoke wrench
- cell phone

Fenders are key. Yeah; if the rain is really coming down you’re just going to get wet and you should wear appropriate reflective clothing. Depending on your geographic location, this could mean full-on rain gear over multiple layers or a light rain/wind jacket over your standard cycling attire. But with regard to fenders, you’d be surprised at how much water is actually coming up off the ground spraying from your tires. “Say no to the black skunk stripe up the back”. Oh and don’t forget to do some maintenance (drying off and lubing) of that trusty commuter stead.

Finally, invest in a high quality rechargeable lighting system and add a second spare charger for leaving at work. Depending upon your route, both bar and helmet mounted lights could be necessary. A helmet mounted light is good for getting the attention of oncoming motorists at an intersection and it is VERY nice for fixing mechanicals on the road, as you now have a light on your head as well as on the bike. By the way, I know a really cool company that can help you out here.

Russ Sanoian, Inside Sales Representative,

I think the most important is wearing a helmet and proper cycling gear that allows you to be seen by motorist. I know a lot of people that have been in serious accidents and if they were not wearing safety gear would have had ended badly. A good light is really important and part of the gear that allows you to see and be seen by motorist night or day.

Knowing the route to work and where the majority of bike paths, crosswalks etc... are that allow you to stay out of the flow of traffic.

Make sure your bicycle is tuned and running smoothly last thing you need is a flat tire or bad brakes on your morning commute, if you live in less than perfect conditions you will need to keep running parts lubed properly and change brake pads/true wheels more than someone who loves in sunny weather all year long.

You should at the very least have a small bike bag with a spare tube, some basic tools, a pump and some CO 2 cartridges, a quick patch kit and then a good mechanic who will sit down and spend some time showing you how to change a flat and use the tools. I did this with every bike I sold at my shop and it does no good to carry the tools if you dont know how to use them.

Practice changing your tire at home and get it wired in so when you have to change it in the rain its fast and easy.

Thanks guys…you speak from experience! Light & Motion offers its employees cash incentives to use alternative forms of transportation. Shower and locker facilities are provided as well as ample room for bike storage in the building. Around 60% of Light & Motion employees ride to work.