I started this channel to help more people make the bike a bigger part of their lives. But it can be difficult to start bike commuting, especially in those cities that have yet to see the benefits of a proper network of safe bike routes. There can be barriers, both internal and external, to bicycle commuting.
This video is my attempt to help overcome those barriers. I’ve collected a list of barriers and I’m sharing the tips I’ve picked up over the year to overcome those barriers. I suffered so you don’t have to.
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Barrier 1: I don’t have the right kind of bike
1:29 Things to look for in a good commuter bike
2:00 My bike recommendation for a short commute
2:26 My bike recommendation for a medium-length commute
2:50 My bike recommendation for a longer commute
3:30 Barrier 2: I don’t know what to wear on my bike commute
4:39 Barrier 3: I don’t want to get sweaty on the way to work
6:25 Barrier 4: I have too much stuff to carry
7:44 Barrier 5: My commute is too long/too hilly
9:30 Barrier 6: The weather is too bad in my city
10:37 Barrier 7: My city’s automobile traffic is too dangerous
12:45 Final tip: Don’t forget that bike commuting is amazing
#cycling #bike #commuting
Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: https://rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/
The pannier mentioned in this video: https://www.twowheelgear.com
I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)
• Here’s the winter bike I’m riding these days: https://bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): https://amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): https://amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): https://amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): https://amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): https://amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): https://bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): https://amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): https://amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): https://amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): https://amzn.to/3HGM0FU
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40 Comments
I am a bike commuter out of necessity as I am also a cycling instructor! I live in the UK and our cycling infrastructure is woeful to say the least (With a very few rare exceptions), but part of what we teach is confident but defensive road riding. We mainly teach kids, from first balance bikes, up to teenagers taking on busier roads and more advanced techniques as well as some adult and family sessions. It's great to see the confidence it gives people when they realise that they have an equal right to be on the road and that they are helping the environment in the most practical and honest way possible. Great video, I've only just found this one in your collection but there are some great tips here – thank you.
The biggest barrier to bike commuting for most people I know is that they're already driving 30-90 min each way… nothing you can do to the bike or the rider will help if your trip will be hours.
All good The one point of argument / refinement I have, maybee an exception is if you live in a hilly city, and I can think of plenty in the UK, Sheffield, Bristol, Glasgow, Nottingham in places, mountain bike gears are preferable for the range (not the number of gears) best is the once ubiquitous and inexpensive triple, will get you slowey up even steep hills and better still the longer not so steep ones where you can just slow down and spin. . That is I would gravitate to a hybrid rather than a single or three speed shopper. Also I am a big advocate for buying for your limit case, If you do like the idea off road adventures that your local countryside provides, a good entry mountain bike will work ok on a commute , I used one for years, racers will go past seemingly quickly but they tuck in and slow down after. they have commute times are not much different, and shopping bike is never going into the woods.
I am a big fan of entry or near entry level mountain bikes from the likes of Trek and Specialized, apart from fully competitive racing ,they will do it all disciplines well enough, although not the best for anything
How long is too long? My commute on a bike would be 12 miles and about an hour 15 minutes and going through a very busy city
Really great video!!!! Thank you!
Love the squirrel in the background around minute @2:30
1:45 If you recommend only a few gears, it means you are spoiled, riding in flat areas. I just got a 21sp, and realized that even 1st gear (and with the smallest disk in front) is barely enough for the uphills I have to deal with. You FAILED with this tip.
How can bro complain about bike commuting when he literally lives in a city with extensive, paved bike lanes.
Another tip: If your ride is long, go one way. Take your bike to work one day, leave bike in your office and bus back home. Bus in the next day, ride your bike home. If you can put your bike on the bus, even better.
The big issue that's stopped me is having nowhere to keep a bike once I get to work
I'm currently using Triban RC520 which is road bike with eyelet for rear rack and I wear cycling shorts for comfort. It's the best combo that I can think of for longer commute
If you‘re scared of much traffic before your first trip to work, maybe there is a time with less traffic to go for the first time. When you go in more traffic later you already know the lanes and streets. That helps always helps me.
If your route doesn‘t feel great, try other routes where possible. And you don‘t have to find the perfect route for the first or even 30st trip.
If it‘s cold, gloves can‘t be underrated. Being warm everywhere is important and practical, but fingers are more vulnerable than the rest.
Thats a very minimalist looking bike design cool. What type of bike is it?
Your handlebar look like a VanMoof type of design too
"Here in America the culture of cycling is all about racing"? Fucking where dude? I live in the cycling capitol of the US and every single weekend you see every sort out riding their bike.
"Too many gears is needless and wasteful." For what? How is having the ability to change into a comfortable gear wasteful? You mean like… you waste energy pulling the gear lever? A cassette is usually sold as a unit. So it'd be wasteful, and also stupid, to throw away gear you already bought.
AND your first recommendation, a dutch bike, has 3 front gears… How wasteful
"think about the hill how a bike racer thinks about it, attack!"
Actually, the "bike racer" thinks about staying below lactate threshold so that mitochondria can clear lactate faster than it accumulates, allowing you to sustain a higher power output for longer… which translates to the opposite of what you suggested.
The racer is going to put it in an easy gear and spin the legs at a high cadence… which is what you said not to do…
I thought you just said like 2 seconds ago you didn't care for the "bike racing culture"…
"Don't let the culture of athletic cycling influence your decision making"
But you literally just said "think about the hill like a bike racer thinks about it" which you also got wrong.
Let us know you resent people who enjoy cycling for its own sake without saying you resent people who enjoy cycling for its own sake.
Wear a helmet nub.
I just ordered an ebike but for the life of me I can't wrap my head around cycling home from work after an 8 hr day. Call me lazy but at that time I just want to get home. BTW.. I'm on afternoons so it's an 11pm ride home.
I guess I won't know til I do it. Great videos, keep em coming.
Mountain bike gear. Has nice cycling pockets and stuff, but still low key.
I'm a big fan of wearing fishing shirts on the bike. Mesh back, UV protection, lightweight, breathable.
I LOVE this channel !!! I knew right away it was Canadian by the accent but I couldn't guess the city. I know Ottawa and Montreal are beautiful but now you have me jealous of people who live in Calgary. So far up north yet nice trees and architecture and everything.
Growing up, i used to bike to everywhere till i was 17. I didn't take any bus. The nearest city was 15 km and i used to bike there like everyweek end. It was like 15 years ago. During that time there weren't this much traffic so it was alot safer also it was normal for kids to cycle.
Things have changed, no kid rides a cycle these days. Either they have car or scooter. Or the just don't go out much as we used to.
I wish i didn't sell my cycle. I will surely buy one and starts riding again. I can't believe the fact that i could ride 30 km a day without even sweating that much. I'm nearly 30 now and i can't even walk 2km. I need to get back to my tracks.
Here is a tip: Inform your Employer your intent to bike to work. Many bosses are very envious and helpful, even offering places for you to store your bike, change and give you leeway on your commute time.
Someone have to invent wipers for glasses. I cant ride without them and, if it rains, or even worse, snows, i cant see anything. Best part of my daily commute is when i have to carry my twenty something years old, heavy as hell mountain bike up 9 floors, because it wont fit into the elevator 😉
I definitely agree with just starting and learning as you go. When i started a new job 2 years ago, my comute was about 10km so i bought an Ebike to avoid driving. After one summer I realized that I feel much better if I exercise and sweat in the morning so i opted for showering at work and stopped using my Ebike. Then after that i started looking for some better routes ect (now 7.8km), and optimizing my comuter bike and Ive gotten into a really good routine. Rain/shine/wind i can handle, next is getting a set of studded wheels for the winter so i can keep it up throughout the whole year.
Single speed has helped me a lot. I will be going fixie once my abilities are back to a higher level again. It has forced me to push myself. By not having gears, everything about my performance has improved greatly.
When I was riding geared, I often geared down, for hills and wind, and coasted often. Even though I have freewheeling on my single speed, I really only coast when weaving around at slower speed. Now, when I have a hill or have wind I just say "FEEL THE BURN!" and try to maintain my speed range of 25-30kph by keeping those legs pumping.
It really makes cycling that much more exciting in seemingly boring situations…although I also enjoy destroying people on geared road bikes with full performance wear. There has only been one so far that I couldn't outpace.
The key is ride your bike really. Not just to work. Push yourself faster, further, and the short trips won't even break a sweat.
Man really said skill issue for barrier 5 lol
Commuitng tip number one: Wear a helmet.
Tip number two: Don't film videos while riding on public pathways.
Tip number three: Until you know what you're doing yourself, don't be so arrogant as to teach others how to ride a bike.
Modest bike commuting (8 – 20 kms) since 1990. E bike since 2016. I love that you say take it easy, that is what makes it for me! Sing while I bike, wave at neighbours, stop for a carton of milk… It's a wonderful way to travel, energizing in the morning and downtime after the day is over! I ride rain or shine (no ice or snow though) here in Victoria BC!
I guess you haven't been to Brooklyn NY lately. After Covid and all the delivery apps and people who are competing against each other are keeping me from my bike. I really loved riding my bike until I realized there were people riding "e-biking" in all sorts of directions as I was trying to be a responsible and avid rider. I stopped riding, which made me very depressed. I bought a Peloton because I thought that from here on out that's the only way you can ride without having a death wish. very sad. no amount of advocating helps because these delivery dare devils competing against each other have no care for regular riders trying to live a normal life.
ELECTRIC BIKES ARE TOO FAST.
Got a trail mountain bike that came with big knobby tires, but only sees paved paths, road, dry dirt and gravel? Put more suitable tires on it—Specialized Crossroads for example, comes in sizes including 26” for those old mountain bikes. Not too expensive either.
If you really want to encourage cycling, don't ask people to wait until their city infrastructure is improved for cycling as the only solution for safety concerns. I'm astounded you haven't really approached the safety aspect in your video. Fear of cycling accidents results from a lack of feeling in control. Give people some options, even if you think they will find them distasteful – you did that with the discussion of sweat, hills, weather, etc., so do it for safety too.
With 60 years of cycling experience, I can tell you accidents involving cars and bikes often happen because the driver doesn't see the biker. Yes, drivers often aren't careful. They often work on the stereotype of looking for big things (that could hurt them and their car), not small things like bikers; we have to accept they are human and try to anticipate their errors. Road workers wear fluorescent vests and jackets for a reason. Cyclists should at least wear white in the daytime, if not a nice green day-glo, well-ventilated vest or shirt that says "look at me and how much fun I'm having!" (as well as "If you hurt me while I'm wearing this, no jury is going to give you the time of day" and "If you kill me, my heirs will be collecting every penny you ever owned.") At night the retro-reflective materials do an outstanding job, for those who need or want to ride then. And lights are good for cyclists both day and night. All these give cyclists a bigger image to other vehicles, and consequently make them safer.
Then there are helmets. The statistics properly interpreted show that helmets reduce injury severity in most cases. Would you ride a motorcycle without a helmet? (I won't ride motorcycles at all because of the statistics around them, and an experience when I was 16.) Many bike accidents occur when an inattentive rider makes an error of judgement – no car, ped, or other bike involved. Cars can add motorcycle-speed impacts to your 12 mph bike commute. Helmets can help – I have known a number of friends, not hardcore bikers, who were very happy to have been wearing one. 40 years ago I met an idiot bike racer (he was on the wrong side of a bikeway on a blind corner (20 ft radius) head-on at a combined speed of 6 or 8 mph (we were both braking madly and almost got stopped before the collision.) My helmet brim met his mouth just before my chin met his sternum, and my jaw was thereby saved from breakage, although I spent several months with TMJ issues.
I get you maybe are trying not to turn people off to listening to you, or to cycling, by wearing a helmet when riding in your videos. Yes, Netherlands has a somewhat lower cycling fatality rate (although nearly identical serious injury rate when corrected for mode share), but they have a different, less ballistic environment than North America, and their cyclists, with 14 times the U.S. cycling mode share, are far more experienced, so they should be having less accidents. And some of them DO wear helmets. For me, your riding around without a helmet makes your videos' rating MA (for mature audiences only), just like it would if you were smoking or doing something else unintelligent in them.
Next, mirrors. One mounted to the helmet can help tell you if the vehicle driver behind you is a danger to you (drunk, texting, or powercrazed) and give you options for avoidance.
Finally, there are safe-riding programs. As a teacher I helped out with our high school's cycling club (supported by Seattle's Cascade Bicycle Club, 10,000 members) which taught youth in our underserved community how to ride, how to ride safely, and how to ride according to the law. There are other options online. It doesn't hurt to tell people that state and provincial laws are designed to keep cyclists safe, and following them is a good idea.
One more idea – I'm surprised BC doesn't allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. There's a no-cost way to improve cycling. And that "No Passing" sign (in the bike lanes?? all day??) sign at 0:43 in your video – that's just an admission by the city engineers that they didn't design adequate capacity at some times and consequently will treat cyclists like children in order to try prevent civic liability, something I don't think they would get away with if it affected cars.
not everyone lives in a city though lol
I live in an exurb town with crappy roads. A typical commute to the store or to work is about 3 and 5 miles respectively. Most of last year I cycled everywhere, but eventually I put in the research and converted my hybrid to electric (bafang mid drive). It wasn’t without struggles, but it works wonderfully for my purposes. I never get sweaty, never get winded, head winds and hills basically disappear, and I no longer feel the emotional downs of cycling (“I’m exhausted and just wanna be home already”).
Also I get lots of compliments and questions about the ebike. People out here love DIY projects so it has a coolness factor to it as well!
The city I am in has horrible car centric planning. And hills. But I have found some good bike paths near me
what was the folding bike you were using around 5:40
I've been commuter winter biking for 14 years, lowest temperature -33 deg C. It becomes à mindset…
My yearly bike commute allowed me to get rid of our second car. This helps our budget enormously.
Beautiful video, just confirms my thoughts that my bike may be a problem for everyday commute, because I tried it so many times, but I was always sweaty from backpack riding fast, leaning forward just like my bike made me to do so. Just bought one city commuter today, cant wait for healthier and more enjoyable rides! 😎