Keep fit, save money.
Why ride to work?
Two things really stand out these days as good reasons for cycling to work, obesity and petrol prices. Australia is suffering from an obesity epidemic with 47 per cent of women and 63 per cent of men being overweight. There's a simple equation that governs our accumulation of fat:
Energy consumed = Energy expended + Energy accumulated (as fat)
If you want to lose weight there are two things you can do, eat less and exercise more. Cycling is a great way to exercise because you can be doing something else at the same time, like travelling to work. Many people notice a consistent decrease in their weight once they start cycling regularly. A moderate half-hour each-way commute will burn 8 calories a minute, or the equivalent of 11kg of fat in a year.
Of course there are many other reasons that cycling to work is a great option. Cycling improves your cardiovascular fitness. It is estimated that 40 minutes per day of moderate exercise will add three years to your life and you'll be as fit as an average person ten years younger. You'll be better prepared to face the stresses of the day if you exercise in the morning and you can pump the stress out on the way home.
Cycling produces far less greenhouse gas than driving and doesn't emit dangerous pollutants that are claimed to kill more people each year than car accidents. You can contribute to a world that is cleaner and safer for your children by cycling to work.
In the city, it is often faster to ride than to drive. The main reason is that cyclists can usually find a parking spot right outside their front door.
I've never ridden to work before, how do I get started?
Queensland Transport offers some great tips on riding to work. Here's some information from their website:
The sort of bike to use
You don't have to buy a new bike to commute. The old clunker collecting dust and spider webs under the house could make an excellent commuter machine if you take it to a bike shop and have the brakes, tyres, bearings, chain and lights checked and reconditioned. It will be a good bike to get you started and will be less attractive to thieves. Later, when you are more aware of your specific cycling needs, you might wish to upgrade. The buying a bike and helmet section of this website has some useful information to help decide what sort of bicycle to purchase.
It is worth planning your route carefully. Bike lanes, bike paths and relatively quiet streets in much of the route will make your ride safer and more pleasant. Sometimes a road parallel to a major road provides lower traffic volumes and better cycling. You could ask someone who already commutes to offer recommendations. It is a good idea to do a test ride before you start commuting.
Have a look at the Gmaps Pedometer or Bikely sites for great route planning tools. They will allow you to measure the distance of your route and Gmaps Pedometer even includes an elevation profile. Gmaps Pedometer is a USA based site that has been around for at least two years and has most of the bugs sorted out. Bikely is an Australian based site but is still in its early days. It will improve considerably over the next few months.
The time it will take
In central business districts and near other commuter nodes traffic is often congested, so travel by bike may be faster than travel by motor vehicle. If you do a test ride before your first commute you can get an idea of the time it will take, but add 20 per cent on your first day to allow for traffic and unforeseen events.
Some people take their bikes by car part of the way and cycle the remainder. This gives them the exercise and cheaper (or free) parking. They drive where motor traffic is faster and cycle where bike traffic is faster. Some gradually increase the distance cycled as they increase in fitness and confidence. Some people cycle to their local bus stop and lock their bike securely nearby.
Keeping your work clothes (and yourself) looking good after the ride
In most cases it is best to change at work. You can keep your clothes tidy by:
• Rolling them rather than folding and shaking them out when you arrive.
• Taking tomorrow's clothes today and leaving them on a hanger overnight.
• Ironing your clothes at work (many work places have irons or you could buy an iron with your first fortnight's fare savings).
• Commuting by public transport or car once a week and bringing a week's clothes.
• Using uncrushable fabrics.
Looking respectable
It is great if you can shower at your destination -- many work places have showers. There may be showers that you don't know of -- check with your employer, other cyclists, joggers and other companies in your building. You may be able to arrange to use a shower in a local gym. If there are no showers you can do a surprisingly respectable job with a hand basin using soap, a face washer, a towel and deodorant. However, you don't necessarily need a shower if you ride slowly and avoid working up a sweat.
It is important to keep your bike locked and in a secure place (see locking your bike). Your workplace may already have bike storage or there may be an unused store room that you can use. Ask your employer, security staff or other cyclists. Don't leave your bike in a fire escape or stairwell without checking that this is okay -- it may cause obstruction in an evacuation and contravene fire regulations.
Carrying stuff
You will probably want to carry a change of clothes and perhaps books, work equipment and lunch. A bike rack and panniers (saddlebags made for bicycles) increase your carrying capacity, keep the load stable and keep the sweat off your back. Talk to your local bike shop. A standard backpack is fine for lighter loads.
What happens if it rains?
If it rains you will get wet. You can dry yourself and change your clothes at your destination and protect the items you are carrying by putting them in (multiple) plastic bags. Many fishing shops sell great rain jackets at a very reasonable price.
You can check out the current rainfall using the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's radar images.