As we slowly turn to spring in the northeast and we finally have enough daylight I’ve started biking to work on the calm and reasoned streets of Cambridge. How many folks here ride to work? How far? Tips and tricks to make life easier?
I used to bike to work in the summer when I worked in Cambridge. I lived in Saugus. Commuting used to take me about an hour, which is as long as it took to drive in motrning traffic.
Now that I’m no longer commuting 1.5-2 hours by car anymore, I want to try cycling again. The distance is about the same as it used to be to Cambridge.
I’m pretty lucky – I live about two blocks from a great bike path here in Denver (Cherry Creek) and a little over five miles from work, which itself is two blocks from the bike path. I only have to deal with a very few intersections with traffic each way, and the rest is the pedestrian- and bike-only path.
Because there are no intersections (and stop lights/signs) on the bike path, it’s quicker for me to bike (about 20 minutes) than drive to work.
I usually bike at least three times a week (on the days that I don’t need to drive for work-related travel).
Because my cycling commute is so simple, I don’t really have any tips or tricks to share that most people don’t already know – I will repeat the mantra, however, please ride responsibly. It never hurts to hear that again.
Oh, and if you don’t bike to work but you’re thinking about it: do it!
I rode my bike to work once last year taowars the end of the reasonably warm season.
I do plan on biking to work more often this year. Starting with once a week (WX permitting) and if that goes well twice a week.
I have some low volume rodas in town, about 3 miles on a busy hiway with wide paved sholders, then some bike trails, and then a couple of blocks. About 10 miles total.
Right now road costruction would make the commute much harder
Brian
When you ride your bike to work, what do you do about not getting all sweaty and stinky in your work clothes?
I have showers at work, but you can do a reasonable job with baby wipes and a change of clothes if you don’t have showers available.
I started riding to work a couple of years ago, and I am absolutely itching to get back to it this year, but we’re being drenched in rain this spring, so I’ll be off to a late start. Hopefully in the next week or two. Last spring and summer I averaged about 2 days a week riding in.
My commute is 12.5 miles one way. It takes me about 25-30 minutes to drive it, and about 45 minutes to ride it. And most of the ride is on a lovely trail next to the Santa Rosa creek. A much more peaceful way to start and end the work day than sitting in traffic on 101.
I love my ride. The only thing I’ve done to make life a little easier is leave two pair of heels at work permanently. A black pair and a brown pair, and a small toiletry bag, so all I have to pack in my backpack are my clothes and undergarments.
It’s usually pretty cool here in the mornings, even during the summer, so I also use a pair of ear muffs in the morning, (these ) that have headphones to plug into my mp3 player, and wrap around the back of my head, allowing my helmet to still fit securely.
I just started last month and I’m loving it. 6 miles along a river bike path, then another 5 miles straight down a major street to my office.
The first advice that comes to mind would be to always have a mini-pump and portable toolkit with you. I just did my first roadside repair this morning, and while “handlebar coming loose in my hands” was not what I expected the first job to be, I had the tool to fix it.
Wear a freakin’ helmet!
There are plenty that look fine and even some that won’t screw up your hair.
Head injuries are the very strong majority of causes of serious injury or death with bicycles. On the whole, travel by bike is about as safe as a car, but wearing a helmet will actually make it safer than the same trip by automobile. It’s like seatbelts in cars; no semi-intelligent or non-insane person forgoes it.
Also, don’t be afraid of the roads, you have an equal right to access them on a bike as in a car, but be safe, predictable, and courteous.
Good luck, and thanks for being awesome.
Always use a saddlebag. It’s the easiest way to carry your stuff, but for short distances, you can get by with a messenger bag.
For short rides where you’re not pushing it, you can ride in your work clothes and not sweat(velcro ankle straps are great at keeping your pants clean). For longer trips/muggy days, switch shirts. And make sure you hang your sweaty shirt somewhere to dry at the office 
For anything over 6 miles, I recommend padded shorts/wicking shirts for warm days, and make sure you’ve got your gore-tex on wet days. I’ve gone through several wet, cold winters wearing nothing but a polypro shirt under a goretex jacket.
I’ve just started biking, too, though not all the way to work. I live right on the Minuteman Trail, so I follow it to Alewife and take the T downtown. From Arlington Center to Alewife is just a 10-minute ride, which isn’t enough to get me sweaty, at least not until it gets really warm. You’re a brave man for riding on the streets during rush hour! I did it once - riding Mass Ave home from the bike shop at Porter Square at 5:30 p.m. - and it was absolutely nerve-wracking.
Here’s some things that might be useful.
First, some info on riding in traffic: http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/ Riding smart and well is even more important than a helmet.
There’s also safe riding info at www.massbike.org, as well as other info about biking in Massachusetts.
If you have particular Boston-area questions, like routes, etc., there’s a Massbike Googlegroups e-mail list which is a great place for answers for Boston (or even elsewhere) biking, especially commuter, questions.
My commuting is often limited by knee problems, but it’s about 6 miles or so. I stuff all my work clothes and towel into panniers and shower at a gym next door to my office. Though when I had jobs that didn’t require office clothes, I’d just bring an extra T-shirt and spongebath in the bathroom.
Other advice? Get a front headlight, so you’re not trapped by sunrise and sunset (it’s legally required in MA, and a very good idea so cars see you approaching).
Experiment with routes.
Don’t feel you have to ride in the bike lanes. In fact, lots of Cambridge bike lanes are dangerous if you’re going faster than walking speed – mainly because they go alongside parked cars without enough clearance to avoid opening doors, but also in places because turning car lanes cross the bike lane without making it clear to drivers and riders where they should be looking to avoid collisions. A couple years ago a woman was killed in Central square because she was riding in the bike lane, hit a door opening from a parked car and fell under a bus in the main traffic lane. In other words, don’t ride in the door zone, ever.
Go to Broadway Bikes for repairs, or better yet, repair classes.
Any particular questions, feel free to join the Massbike e-mail list and ask there.
I’ve been bike commuting for years now, this is just the start of a new season. I’m not a big fan of winter riding, although I have several friends who commute all winter.
I wear my Shocking Yellow Pearl Izumi jacket year round, I think it helps people see me in traffic. I got Kevlar tires after a few flats, haven’t had any problems since then. I’m using my old road bike, I prefer it to my (now dead) mountain bike for the commute. But this lets me avoid putting a rack on my nice road bike, or needing to use my cycling shoes during the commute.
The Weird One I live right by Alewife in East Arlington. Either I walk to the T or ride in, riding is much quicker. Mass Ave at rush hour isn’t that bad, although getting over to Hampshire St at Porter is a bit of a pain.
Good point. I recall one study with an 85% decrease in fatalities and an 88% decrease in brain damage with helmets vs no helmets.
Today I rode my bike to work for the first time this year. My commute is 10 miles with the middle 8 miles on a bike path so it’s not a bad ride. It usually takes me 40-45 minutes which is close to what driving and walking in from my parking lot is. I take a change of socks and shirt to wear at work and keep a towel there to dry off with if I am sweaty. I would be riding more but I hope to run a half marathon in May so I am doing more running right now. After that I hope to ride 3 days a week combined with some running on the other days.
I live only 3.5 miles from work, but I have to get there and back twice a day. (Got to walk the dog during lunch!) It takes me about 15 minutes each way. I only ride 3 or 4 weekdays per week though, the rest of the time I have stuff to carry or need to do an errand on the way.
Some random tips:
A helmet is a must, IMO, although don’t let it encourage you to ride more recklessly. It doesn’t protect your head from all types of injuries.
Invest in good lights, unless you’re absolutely sure you never need to work late. IMO, for redundancy you should have 2 headlights, one of which runs on AA batteries (so you can buy replacement batteries anywhere), and two taillights. My primary commuting bike has a Schmidt hub dynamo - very expensive but I’ve had it for many years and I think it’s been worth it. The Light & Motion Vega is a great rechargeable light, but still expensive (around $160). For something more affordable, CatEye and Planet Bike make nice LED headlights.
Get good full-size fenders. There can be water and debris on the road even on sunny days, e.g. sprinklers and dog poop.
I like having a rear rack on the bike. I use full-size panniers for carrying stuff. It’s more comfortable than a backpack or messenger bag.
I always carry the following tools: Topeak Alien multi-tool, Topeak Road Morph portable pump, spare tube, tire levers, small monkey wrench, and a patch kit. The Road Morph is an awesome pump - it has a built in gauge, and unlike most portable pumps it has a hose, so you can stand it on the ground and use it like a floor pump.
Check the tire pressure at least once a week, and top it up to near the upper limit written on the tire. If the pressure gets low, the tire will squash when you hit a bump and pinch the tube, causing a flat tire.
Did you say Cambridge, MA? If you’re parking outside, you need a really good lock. I’ve had good luck with a Kryptonite U-lock when I lived in Cambridge; my bike didn’t get stolen until one day I left the lock at home, and I used my spare cable lock. Even better, you could use both a U-lock and a cable lock (one more substantial than mine). Thieves usually don’t carry tools to break two types of locks. You can leave the heavier one at work, locked to the bike rack.
I don’t know if you already have a LBS (local bike shop), but I remember Ace Wheelworks near Porter Square was a good shop.
Read the “Your calves are sexy” thread for motivation. Cyclists usually develop good-looking calves.
Oh, and for ultimate comfort, you should get a bike like mine. 
Just checking in to see how folks are doing this summer. I’ve been riding in about 3-4 times a week, and I love how it starts the day. I find it much easier to get to the office earlier and I’m more alert when I get here. I may need to somehow extend my commute to get some more time in the saddle each day. 
So, how many times did you ride to work last week?
I recently started (or at least, I biked to work once in May and twice last week, and I plan to tomorrow).
19 miles, mostly on a multi-use trail. I’m still figuring out how to pace myself for that length & carry a backpack with my work clothes & stuff (any recommendations for good packs? The one I have isn’t good, the strap keeps hitting me in the back of the helmet), so my speed is all over the place. But if I estimate about 1.5 hours, I’ll get to the office/home from the office without panic.
I rode to work once last week, but with all the rain and predictions of rain, I haven’t repeated that. Fun, though. Even though it’s been a long time since I did it, no problems or unexpected soreness.
They’re predicting rain virtually all this week. Bummer.
I try to ride my bike to work at least 3-4 times a week. With the seasons the way they are, here, I can only do this during the warmer months- snow can fall quite abruptly in at any other time.
It takes me about 10 minutes to get to work in the morning, but about 15 to get back home- heading in, it’s mostly downhill. As such, I don’t get too sweaty, since I’m aircooled by the speed I’m going.
I generally carry a backpack that has a waterproof windjacket and plastic pants, in case it rains or it’s really cold in the morning. This also gives me a place to carry a book.
The only drawback is that there aren’t a lot of places to eat lunch around my office, so if I ride my bike in, my lunch choices are pretty limited.