Cycle commuting: 14 hassles to avoid so you get to work easily

Gatorskin Hardshells for the road bike. I've tried less puncture proof tyres in London, than Gatorskins and instantly regretted it. They aren't that heavy and the downsides in rolling resistance (they aren't that bad) are more than made up for in the time gained in not having to change an inner tube at the side of the road, in the rain.

My commute is 16 or so miles on a small hilly B road across country.  Its a lovely ride, except for the 1km 15% climb at the start.  That's not so good.  I only do the ride between Apr and Oct.

its interesting how quick cycling actually is... I drove the same route this morning for a change, and was held up by two HGVs for much of the journey, then urban traffic at the end.  Took about 6 mins less time than cycling and I arrived at work in a bad mood!

Possibly not the best day to re-publish this article! Personally, I've not commuted since March, and it seems unlikely I'll be doing so again anytime soon. I'm surprised by how much I miss it.

I used to love my daily rides in to the City from Tunbridge Wells - even Ide and Sundridge Hills, but now having moved back up to London I ride my road bike around the parks in the morning instead:  then home for a shower, breakfast and a change of bikes to become a Brompton warrior! Looking forward to more cycling commuters once the lock-down ends. 

I have commuted for many years and it is a joy! 30 mile round trip.

To avoid the wet towel on the back of the desk chair scenario I use a Speedo PVA swimming towel. Basically a super absorbant cloth which can be wrung out and put back in it's plastic case. Works great.

Many years ago I used to commute from Tunbridge Wells to London, 76 miles per day, I worked on Sainsburys projects and could use their canteen - first class food two full trays at lunch time - no one could believe my food intake. I used to change either in my office or with a family of cyclists in Waterloo area - the Casserleys! I used to get up at 05.00, if it was dry then I would ride out irrespective of forecast. Coming home always against the wind was very hard and exhausting but the ride to London was superfast

Yes, I used to keep a full change of clothes, towell, spongebag and shower gel in my desk drawer. Puncture resistant tyres and decent lights are a must. Believe it or not I found most motorists were fine. OK "most". One of the biggest problems was coping with people I know telling me what a risk I was running. I was never sure if they were trying to be helpful or just didn't like the idea of people cycling.

I am extremely lucky on my rural commute that I have only one set of traffic lights for the whole 23 mile journey - and those are within 5 minutes of starting so once I'm through those, I'm out of town and out into the sticks.

What I have noticed recently, and it must be the time of year for it - road works with temporary traffic lights. Sometimes they are fine, but sometimes the (lack of) sensitivity of the sensors mean they don't react to something as small as a cyclist, which means I either have to wait for a car/van to turn up, or if it's obvious there is nothing coming through, RLJ.

A further comment to the one above. Most people -  slow/fast/utility/lycra clad are absolutely fine and cause no problem to anybody, they just wanna get to work and back stress and hassle free. A minority of humans in any group are more selfish - they shouldn't ever define that group - let's not fall into the Daily Mail trap of doing exactly that and demonising all the people from that group.

Commuting by bike is funking great else most of us here wouldn't be doing it!!!

Bigfoz, it might be that the StVZO regulation compliant Lupine lights, have enough ooomf for you, and I am very interested in how the new StVZO Exposure lights measure up.

Trying to find a light that will allow me to see safely on the 50mph drop down off the moor into Glasgow...  My commute is 10 miles of unlit lanes followed by 10 miles of Glasgow subburbs and city centre.

So many modern lights heave shedloads of lumens down the road to no great effect. My current aquisition, a 1600 Lumen Ryder piece of junk, I can see cows in fields, fence posts inside hedges, and no road surface beyond 15m. Which is not very far at 50mph, but far enough on the way up the moor at 12mph... Next stop 150Lux German B&M light with proper focussed reflectors or a dynohub and proper German light.

The risks are real and idiots abound and many simply have no sense of spatial awareness. Ride carefully and embrace all that commuting throws at you; the sun, the rain, the wind and the freedom. 

The increased risk while commuting shouldn't be ignored. Cycling in dark, cold mornings presents all sorts of risks. Half awake motorists trying to see through misted windows while trying to avoid being late presents a major risk to the cyclist. Dodging buses and pedestrians emerging from everywhere. Icy, untreated roads . Poorly lit roads. Badly designed road systems which fail to consider the need of cyclists. I'm sure there's many more risks. I've endured them all in the past but haven't needed to do it for years now. Cycle commuting is a high risk sport, much higher than other forms of cycling. 

5/15 - finding some stranger sat 2cm from your back wheel. This isn't a race, sportive or club ride, you haven't announced yourself, have no idea where I'm going and it's just plain dangerous. Bet you wouldn't do that if we were both in cars (and it's illegal), so don't do it on a bike.

And yes, I've had had some idiot crash into the back of me while cycling to work and nearly got himself run over by a car when he fell off.

16 - Chasing someone else down who turns off just before you pass them.

7/8 - leave clothes and stuff at work on the days when I have to drive in and change them over the following week.

I'm getting old or unco or something.
Used to commute winter starts 0500 hours 20-25 km from home on 23mm and didn't have issues.
Then a couple years ago 28mm without issues until a cold stormy day.. Stuff changing flats.
Now similar to Schwalbe Marathon Plus; Lifeline Armour commuter. Yay. Non yet. Nearing a couple of years.

Punctures suck because they've nearly always happened on wet and miserable days/nights.

Summer I get told I smell sometimes. Instead I carry my shirt during summer in the rucksack or panniers and long ride home instead.
Other pros are tools found in gutters. Lead weights, hammer, ratchet spanner, Allen keys, just cruising at 25 in the night allows plenty of visual time.

It's worth it, today I locked the door, grabbed my bag, realized I'm late, opened the door, put bike inside, closed door and drove. Who cares. Feels better after riding though.

Even the mighty Marathon Plus is still no match for freshly trimmed hawthorn hedges.  And they turn any bike into a tank in treacle.

Dead light batteries?  The answer is simple! A dynamo hub!  No need to charge them up, and as a bonus, the front light is often a better formed beam that doesn't dazzle others (e.g. B&M or Schmidt) while throwing light further than more expensive 'brighter' battery-powered lights.

Getting annoyed with shoalers just means you're not enjoying smoking them enough with your Watts

0. Pedestrians are VERY dangerous, unpredictable. Just touching one of them will take you off the bike faster then desired.

For others, take the upside:

1. Rain -> fewer cyclists
2. Punctures -> never had one with Marathon's, and now tubeless
3. Red lights -> light rims, light tires (hence tubeless or less than 20" wheels)
4. Shoaled -> that's life, go your way
6. Sweaty -> I take my shower in the evening. Once you're used to it, it is just as fine as in the morning or even better. Use that time for strechting exercises. Ride average speed (breath with nose) and change top at work.
7. You definitely need a full spare dress-up for the time you ride into dog shit and get some on your trousers. It ... happens.
10. Expensive -> No way. Buy cheap sport clothes and combine them to achieve the desired cold/rain resistance. OK I do have a 20£ merinos base layer for when it is REALLY cold.
10 bis. You NEED an outside thermometer!
11. Lights -> dynamo hub
12. Hungry -> eat more fibers (oak, beans, vegetables) towards keto diet, but not full keto
13. Way back -> I do it in my office clothes.

99. Commuting by bike -> what else?

Traffic lights cannot be a pain as they are part of the journey. 

Having said that I see none as I do 1/2 mile  of road , 9 miles of gravel and 1 mile of dead quiet single track road which is avoided by cars because of the pot holes. Retrun is reverse but I stick an extra 5 to 10 miles of gravel in.

Ony down side is that sweaty kit doesn't dry unless it can go outside as some dimwit decied that a school with only ceiling mounted ground source heating was a good idea. 

4. Being shoaled

It always seems to be the slow people that do this. I don’t mind when it’s someone reasonable quick, but it always seems to be someone on a rusty supermarket BSO or a student on a sit-up and beg 3 speed (Oxford...) that wobbles to the front, normally past everyone who knows what they are doing, and cross the stop line everyone else is lined up at, or line up down the cycle path stopping anyone from using the ASL box.