Riding to work: what’s it like?
Clint going for a ride
After thinking so much about transport this week, I’ve been trying to work up the courage to start bike-riding again. I did it a lot when I was about 12, but a few bad experiences in traffic (mostly my own fault!) put me off. But I think it’d be a great way for me to combine travel and exercise, so I’ve been talking to people who already ride a lot.
One of these people is my friend Clint, who rides to work every day. Today he’s sharing his experience and tips with us in an interview – thanks Clint!
How did you get interested in cycling?
As a kid living in the hills, it was my main mode of transport to friends’ houses. But after highschool I had not ridden for a long time. In 2005 a friend offered me $500 off any purchase at Fleet cycles, though some sort of leftover credit he had with them. Anyway it prompted me to get into riding again. I guess opportunity arose there, but it was another year before I started riding to work. I felt it was a better alternative than driving and taking the train. Public transport is almost reason enough to want to ride a bike for commuting.
Where do you ride – to work, to the shops, etc?
For the most part its just to and from work. If I’m up early on a Saturday morning, I’ll ride to the butchers since the purchase is only small. Every so often I go cross country riding around Kalamunda and Mundaring with a few friends.
What do you enjoy most about it?
It’s just fun to ride. The feeling of freedom that you get with it. Knowing that you can pretty much ride where ever you want. A sense of accomplishment after every ride. There’s also the conversation it creates, when a friend says you are crazy for riding everyday, that also makes me feel good.
What difficulties have you come across, and how have you worked around them?
Fitness level is a big barrier. The first time I went to ride to work, it took over an hour and I felt dead by the end of it. But only because I was pushing way too hard to keep up with other riders. It’s important to go your own pace and only challenge yourself, at least when it comes to first starting.
Any tips for beginners who’d like to give it a try?
The main thing to remember is that its not a race, don’t be put off by faster riders on fancy bikes. Riding is an individual thing, some people want to race, some would rather cruise. But the main thing is that you are having fun. I’d also recommend the forums at Bicycles.net.au. It’s the biggest source of information on cycling in Australia, and there’s alot of helpful people on there.
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I hear you – I used to love riding to work back when I used to be able to have a fairly clean run. Unfortunately, when I moved, I lost dedicated bike-lane access and gained highway traffic; not much fun, to say the least.
I really loved the alone-time, too – it was a great way to wind down after work. Now that I’ve changed jobs and I’m closer to work, I’d be tempted to start again if it weren’t for the traffic. I know too many people who have been taken out by trams, cars, and generally aggressive drivers.
Actually, I’d be curious to know – how do you deal with that?
Riding in traffic is going to be more stressful than riding on a cycle way. The best way to deal with this is to avoid the road if you can, use cycling maps supplied by the road authority for your city to find a better way to get to your destination. Be on the look out for quiet back streets with dead ends, since that usually means a bike can still get through with much less car traffic around to worry about.
It also helps to know the your rights as a cyclist on the road. Particularly when it comes to taking a lane for your safety. Drivers seem to naturally have more respect for a rider that is confident in their actions on the road.
Get reflective. Doesn’t mean you have to wear fluro lycra, but get some reflective sticky tape for your rims / crank arms, and anywhere else on your bike, use LED lights even during the day, a strobe is best. Or wear some bright coloured clothing.
As for trams, after riding for a few weeks, your situational awareness improves dramatically, you’ll be checking blind spots even when you are walking. Don’t ride with headphones in traffic (common sense really) but so many people do.
Hope these suggestions can help you get back into riding to work
I cycle everywhere or short distance I walk combined with public transport.
Cycling 20km to uni along the river which is a beautiful ride even when the wind turns in the afternoon and you go full headwind home. I must admit that it makes a lot of difference if the roads are ‘made’ for cycling as which most roads aren’t here in Perth. There are some main cycle paths which are great, but eventually you have to leave them for normal roads with deep dents and often glass on the sides. Car’s hate cyclists on these roads and I think it’s work for the government to educate car drivers about road policy. Or provide more cycle paths!
I cycle because I don’t need to go to the gym, it’s easy and I don’t need any petrol; as most people we all carry a bit of extra fuel on the hips where we are happy to get rid of!
See, that’s partly what appeals to me about riding a bike – I don’t like exercise for the sake of exercise, but exercise that gets me somewhere I want to go sounds like a good two-for-one deal!