While a lot of people take up cycling so that they can improve their general fitness, with many later becoming so enamoured with the sport that they try their hand at competitive riding, millions of other people simply use their bike for the commute to and from work.
If you would like to join their ranks but don’t quite know how you’re going to pull yourself away from your car, it is important to have a little bit of knowledge at your disposal to ensure that you can tackle the ride without exhausting yourself and without ending up being late for work because you bit off more than you can chew.
Here we will take a look at a few general tips for those who are new to commuting by bike, so you can have the best possible foundation to build on.
Take It Slow
If you are new to the world of cycling, you can’t just assume that you are going to be able to jump on the bike and manage a ten mile round trip to and from work. It is simply unfeasible as you won’t understand the distances involved and your personal fitness may not be at the level it needs to be.
Once you have yourself a women’s bicycle from BikesOrBicycles.com, take a little bit of time to get used to it and try riding the trip to work on the weekend. This should give you a good idea about where you are in terms of your fitness and how long it is going to take you to complete the trip. Take things nice and slowly so that you learn the route and build more experience. Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to ensure you don’t end up late.
Break The Bike In
We mentioned doing a test ride to make sure that you can actually handle the ride, but it is also useful for ensuring that you bike itself is up to the task. The way that the bike feels in terms of how it rides and how it fits your body shape are extremely important, especially if you have a long commute and need to be as comfortable as possible.
Take the bike out for a few rides before you start commuting to make sure that there aren’t any issues that you need to remedy. If you notice that you aren’t feeling comfortable, try taking it to a professional or use a sizing chart to find out what the problem is. In many cases you will be able to solve it just by adjusting the height of the saddle or handlebars, which will make the commute so much more comfortable in the bargain.
Consider Your Ride
The surface that you are going to be riding on is another important consideration that you are going to need to take into account, as it will inform which types of women’s bicycles you look to buy. A smooth road surface is best handled with a good road bike, but if there are any portions of the journey that require you to go over muddy roads or less stable terrain you should consider getting yourself a mountain bike.
You will also need to consider the clothing that you bring along with you. If the ride has the potential to get muddy then you need to protect yourself against it. After all, nobody is going to be impressed if you turn up to the office wearing a suit caked in mud. Learn the ride you’ll be making and make sure you have everything that you need so that you can handle it properly.
Always Have Safety Gear
A lot of people balk at the idea of purchasing a cycling helmet because they worry about how it might make them look when they are on the bike, but it is crucial that you have all of the right gear of you are going to commute safely. After all, in most cases the ride is going to be spent predominantly on the road, so you want to ensure that you are as protected as possible should you be unfortunate enough to have an accident.
This extends beyond helmets and into other types of cycling gear too. Make sure that you have high-visibility clothing available for when you are riding in low-light conditions, to ensure that traffic can detect your movements and react accordingly. If the ride is particularly long you might want to invest in some cycling gloves to protect your hands from friction and the vibration of the handlebars.
Learn How To Deal With Minor Repairs
There are a number of things that can go wrong with women’s bicycles, no matter how well you take care of it, so you need to ensure that you are as prepared as possible for minor issues. This means teaching yourself how to deal with small punctures quickly and efficiently, in addition to being able to handle issues like a dropped chain.
It is always a good idea to carry around a backpack that has a few helpful tools in it. A puncture repair kit is essential, as you will find out the first time your tyre runs over a sharp break and springs a leak. Ideally you should also have some small screwdrivers or a cycling multi-tool, so that you can handle any other issues that might arise.
Keep Track Of The Weather
Last but not least, you should always make sure that you have one eye on the weather. Cycling to work is exciting, but you shouldn’t force yourself to do it when the conditions are going to be poor. In fact, heavy rain or high winds can make the commute dangerous.
Make sure to check the forecast for the day so that you are prepared as possible. Also, it is important to consider the return journey as well as the morning ride. Just because the weather is good at the start of the day, doesn’t mean it is going to stay that way once the evening rolls around.
