Bike commuting can make your life better in so many ways, but it can be difficult to get started, especially if you live in a city that doesn’t make it easy by providing safe, separated bike infrastructure. So, after many years of bike commuting, here is my advice to help you get started.
0:00 Introduction
0:32 Part 1: Choosing the right bike
0:55 Reliability over speed
1:16 Seeking efficiency
1:38 Ditching the front derailleur
2:33 Prioritizing comfort
2:51 My bike
4:01 E-bikes are great options
4:32 Part 2: How to ride a bike for commuting
4:48 How to pedal
5:44 How to shift gears
8:03 Finding safe routes
9:16 Dealing with sweat
10:03 Taking the lane
11:09 Making a left turn
11:39 Part 3: Carrying your stuff
11:50 Panniers are best
12:43 Packing your bag
16:46 Part 4: The right attitude
17:12 Learning as you go
17:41 Persevere, but don’t be a masochist
18:22 Find a community
19:25 Finding the joy
#cycling #bike #commuting
A huge thanks to my sponsors this year. They support this channel, so please support them. They also make amazing products that I use every day and endorse without hesitation.
Priority Bikes: I happily rode the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters before they signed on as a sponsor: https://bit.ly/3tzXTee
Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags and panniers, and the best convertible backpack-pannier that I’ve ever used: https://twowheelgear.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=shifter&utm_campaign=tombabin
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• 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
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36 Comments
Also I want to add that when I first started commuting, I went the whole 9 yards and bought the biggest pannier I could and would stuff those and my kids trailer with stuff we’d usually have in the car “just in case” we needed anything. We never needed that stuff for 1-4 miles. I took everything off and now I just take my phone, keys, and credit card in a lightweight sling bag. The ride is so much more enjoyable and easier! You don’t need everything with you, try to travel as light as possible.
Thank you for this great resource! Been doing a lot of research about cycling in Boston as I'm going to try to add it to my commute when I move next month, and stuff like this makes me feel so much more comfortable.
After spending some time watching this channel, I have gone from lycra wearing, thrashing along, to mudguards, wider (comfier) tyres a rack and bag. Ditched the bike computer, take the camera and stop and smell the roses.
Thanks Tom, you have truly changed my bike riding outlook.
Great video excellent advice thanks ❤❤❤
Are those Redshift pedals on your bike?
for hot days what about the commute home? Put on your sweaty clothes again?
I use an ebike due to the distances being better suited for cars, and the ebike gets me those distances without too much sweat. I don't like to get to destinations gross and sweaty.
New sub.
Ready to buy my bike.
I'm so excited
Thank you so much! 💕 I'm looking forward to bike commuting to work. I have 15 miles to commute to another city, and Google Maps estimates it at 1.5 hours by bike. What do you think is a good distance to start for someone who hasn't ridden a bike much since childhood? I'm hoping to get a bike soon and just ride around the block and slowly add more miles. I can also take the train part of the way. It feels dauting to bike several towns over with limited bike infrastructure and public transportation, though! I just downloaded Komoot and will start looking at route options. Wish me luck!
You are amazing! Such a clarify without bs about speed or performance! It's exactly what I was looking for to learn about commuting to work on a bike.
Thank you so much for making this video. I recently bought a 1973 Schwinn Breeze on Facebook Marketplace. I'm excited about the freedom this bike will provide me, but I have many anxieties about starting my bike journey. You've definitely helped eliminate many of these.
Yes, you made me so happy when you spoke about Copenhagen lefts ( rights for me in the UK). I kind of did this automatically but thought I was being a girlie wimp. Turns out I’m just wise and want to live another day.
I can’t believe you don’t have a helmet on! In traffic?
for riding safety, it's best to wear a high visibility (neon yellow) jacket. if car drivers are aware of your presence early on, they tend to give more space when passing by you.
about one month into biking as my main mode of transport and loving it! this video was exactly what i needed to hear to get started, enjoyed returning to it for a boost and to catch things i didn't get the first time, really grateful for the work you do on this channel and that you share this with us!
Thank yiu, there was a heck of a lot of common sense said there, and great advice aimed at the commuter / pleasure rider.
Off to look at your other videos now!
Thank you for saying use the sidewalk when necessary and you don't have to make a left turn.
When I have to ride near a major road I just ride on the sidewalk. No one walks anywhere.
Where can I get a 3 speed bike? Or how to make them?
RE: taking a left – if an intersection is really busy I just get off the bike and use the crosswalk.
Hello, wonderful many for all this great information, it is of great help, greetings and until the next video 😊🚴♀️💫✨👌👍
Well done
Wear a helmet. That's literally the bare minimum you can do to protect yourself. I can't respect the opinion of someone who doesn't respect himself.
Hi, Tom, I am a lifetime (60yo) bike rider before someone came up with the term "bike commuter"! Yup. Love your channel and this is one of your best videos. Oh yeah, Madison, WI, USA (in case you ever visit =-))
recently put my first ebike together and gonna start commuting to work with it and this video n tips (LOVED the one about left turns as that was kind of worrying me) really makes me feel like i got this. thank you!!
I guess I should ditch my front gears in san Fransisco
Such an amazing channel! Your content has been so helpful. I commute to work sometimes, its always a perfect way to start to the day and a natural antidepressant for me personally. It also brings out my inner child, because its something I've always loved.
You can use or make your own sweat pads out of old socks and sew or pin them to the pits on your tops to prevent sweat getting through hope this helps 🙂
Seriously, You made a video about This! You MUST be American RIGHT!?
Go buy a bicycle people and start riding. Gee Whiz, What an Epiphany!!!!!! Fkn Americans SMH
-Keep a complete set of clothes folded and a washcloth at work. Once in a while I would forget something and the backup set ready at work is a lifesaver.
-If you can drive once a week you can keep a week's worth at work and not carry it at all.
-My city allows you to put your bike on a bus. If so, keep your route withing walking distance to a bus route in case of flats or other failures.
-Have a weather app on your phone. Knowing when storms are heading your way is a requirement.
Outstanding!
You can also walk your bike in areas drivers don’t respect cyclists.
Ebike
One big piece of advice I give to newer cyclists that's along the line of your left turn advice, be sure you can look over your left shoulder while continuing to bike in a straight line. IF you do not feel comfortable doing this, DON'T DO IT and get a bike mirror. Because what often happens is people look over their left shoulder to see if there is traffic and inadvertently steer their bike to the left right into that traffic. It's something to practice in a parking lot or empty roads.
I never thought I'd see a video that explains how to ride a bike
You're an amazing person bro have a great day