Any bicycle commuters out there? What do I need?

[FoggyBlue]

Hi,

Does anyone here commute to work by bicycle?

I’m going to be starting this soon and wondering what I actually need. Any recommendations for good wet gear? Tips for when you arrive to work? Or anything any seasoned bicycle commuter thinks is worth knowing!?

I don't have all the gear. I only cycle about 2 miles or less depending on where I'm working. I don't break a sweat so cycling in work clothes is fine. I adjust my clothing while at the bike rack so that I walk in looking reasonably professional.
I need
headscarf that you can wear under cycle helmet to keep your ears warm. Normal thin scarf wrapped like a hijab works well.
Decent gloves ( not normal wollen ones)
hi vis jacket (tie it to your bike when you lock up)
cheap lights are ok for me as I don't normally cycle unlit roads
I have a pannier bag that looks quite acceptable as a work bag. Easy to clip on and off. Better than rucksack.
Relatively normal waterproof trousers and coat. I only take them if I need them in the morning.
Hope that helps

Helmet
Thick cycling gloves
Neck buff/snood
Lights, front and back. Don't forget to remove them when you lock your bike or they'll get stolen.
Bike lock
Pannier bag, which I keep my lock, water and lunch in and then once I lock my bike up, I put my helmet, gloves and lights inside it.
I wear comfortable clothes and change at work into a uniform.

Thanks for the replies!! My cycle will be about a 25min journey each way. I won’t get sweaty on the way, only the way Home!

What brand of rain gear do you use?

Also, what do you do with your hair to look professional!?

Decent pannier bags. I have Ortleib- pricey but they are waterproof, and look the same as when I bought them 9 years ago!

You might get away without padded cycling shorts...Generally it’s best to wear Lycra though as it dries quickly if you do get wet/sweaty and you’re less likely to get chaffing.

You’d need a decent high viz waterproof jacket- cycling shops stock them. I had an Altura one. Or you can use a normal waterproof with a high vis vest on top (ikea does them cheap!)

I just used waterproof trousers from millets if I felt I needed them, but didn’t bother most of the time.

Waterproof shoe covers are useful. Wind proof/waterproof gloves are absolutely essential.

Having main lights and then a couple of back up lights is useful.

If you haven’t got them, mudguards are a godsend in the rain/winter. I had full length ones fitted as I was getting dirty road water splashing in my face, as well as up my back!

Keep a comb at work, maybe?

My commute is 52 minutes total round trip, in 4 legs. I like having a good rainproof jacket, whatever I can afford, a few pockets are good. The guys at work have waterproof trousers but I'd rather carry spare leggings then bother with that. I ride in my work clothes.

I ride in SPDs but everyone else just wears trainers. I keep nice shoes at work, and spare dry socks. Gloves (2 pairs) coz I suffer from cold. Facebuff/earbuffs. Pannier bags not a backpack.

Agree with normal waterproof coat. I don’t actually bother with waterproof trousers. I’m 20 mins in the bike and I tend to wear tights and a skirt. If it’s chucking it down I tuck my skirt up so it’s under my coat and I have spare tights at work so I can change tights.

I have a shower cap for my saddle which I leave on all the time and then if it’s rained when I come to go home I whip it off and my saddle is dry.

I don’t bother with panniers, I have an Osprey cycling rucksack. Have loads of lights, normal ones, one on the rucksack, my helmet has a rear light built in, I have light up spoke strips on the wheels.

For 25 mins I’d just cycle in your work clothes (maybe changing shoes). Hair is fixed by having a hairbrush at the other end. I’m a long haired dress wearer and frequently told I don’t look like a cyclist so I don’t speak as a scarecrow!

Definitely get a decent panier bag.

Mud guards are useful and for real wet weather a waterproof jacket and trousers will see you good. A hairdryer stashed somewhere in the office can be useful.

I've got mountain biking waterproof gloves
Endura or Altura are pretty good

Neoprene booties go over your shoes

And get commuting/punctuate resistant tyres fitted to your bike to save yourself the indignity of having to try and change a tyre at the side of the road in the pissing rain
GatorSkins are great but can be slippery on wet roads

Other than just an ordinary waterproof jacket I don't really wear wet weather gear. I've cycled to work every day for over 10 years and cycling in the rain is pretty rare especially on a short ride. It's warm clothing for the winter that I would prepare for.

lights.... I go for the Christmas tree look, myself. Lots of nice light combos.

Thanks for all the replies! Very helpful. Hopefully I won’t look like a sweaty, drenched scarecrow starting my working day!!

If you are cycling on the road then a front & rear helmet cam.

Get some dry bags (or poly bags) to put your dry clothes in, inside the pannier.

For panniers Ortliebs are the way to go. I bought mine second hand in 2012 and they're still going strong.

Wiggle have some good, sensibly priced cycling jackets.

Waterproof panniers are your friend - better than a rucksack simply in the event of getting knocked off it isn't so good to land on a bag.
I have a waterproof jacket from proviz when commuting as it is fully reflective so glows in car head lights as makes you much more visible on dark mornings /nights.
I have a pair of 3/4 length baggy waterproof trousers in case it is torrential rain (Wales...)
If you have panniers then prob only need a front mudguard to avoid spray covered face on rainy days. Else I'd get a back one too.

For every day
-lights, always good to flash even in broad daylight

• hi vis top ( I have tshirt, long sleeve shit, fleece, waterproof all in hi vis)

-helmet

• rucksack/panniers
• helmet
• glasses (shades for sun, clear for winter)

For hot days

• shorts

For winter
Gloves (waterproof)
Glove liners (for when it’s utterly freezing,p and when it’s just cool)
Thermal leggings
Waterproof shoes or overshoes
Snood thing / Balaclava - one that fits under your helmet . (Definitely something to cover your ears!)

Gloves are priority for me
I have panniers that hang both side of back rack - not expensive and difficult to remove, I keep cheap water proof inside.
I have florescent wrap for my trousers
Wear trainers then change footwear at work
Decent lock
Water bottle
I have two flashing lights front and back

I wear shorts/hi viz vest top when in spring/summer/early autumn

Then I wear a longer hi viz top as the weather cools and eventually wear sports leggings when it cools. I also have water proof top, not bottoms as I find them too sweaty.

I don't like really thick gloves as they make my hands feel unstable but yes gloves are necessary.

I cycle all year round and get dressed at work. Sometimes I'll shower esp if wet. But usually proper sports stuff dries quickly.

Mudguards are a definite, once on keep them there as they can be fiddly to remove and put back on.
Spare tights/socks or whatever you wear on your feet, keep them at work as if you get a real soaking no amount of footwear will keep your feet dry.

I use a rucksack with a dayglo water-proof cover, saves faffing about with panniers.

I suffer from cold hands, so along with water-proof cycling gloves I wear a pair of 'silk' undergloves - amazon sell them.

rechargeable lights, which get plugged in at work during the day.

A bell - pedestrians develop bicycle-blindness, especially if it's raining.

Spare inner-tubes, tyre levers, pump and multi-tool. A pair of 'disposable' vinyl gloves to keep your hands clean if you have to do any running repairs.

A final confession - I've never showered at work, even on the hottest day, have asked close work-friends if I was smelly and they've always said no.
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Don't you feel overwhelmed reading all this, OP? Or do you feel excited about all the stuff to buy. I think I'd feel overwhelmed and very put off if I was just getting into cycling. I always wonder how threads like this are received by new commuter cyclists.

Good point meZebraltov - all the comments are hopefully really useful, and there are some great bits of kit recommended.

Personally (and I speak as someone with a 12 mile commute by bike), i'd see how you go before you buy lots of stuff. For a 25 min cycle ride, as long as you have a bike, lock, lights and a helmet you'll be fine.
You can wear normal gloves, a pair of trainers and just have a change of clothes (or at least tights or socks) at work.

In terms of extra stuff maybe you'd consider over time: I use a rucksack with a dayglo waterproof cover; I have a dayglo showerproof jacket and wear padded cycling leggings. I also have padded cycling gloves. I don't wear waterproof trousers or socks, but it doesn't really bother me if i get wet as i get changed at work anyway, and can dry my stuff there. One thing I have noticed over the years of my commute, is that it doesn't rain nearly as much as I thought it did, and it isnt that often that i have a wet cycle ride in. But, i don't like in Wales like someone mentioned!

live in wales, not like in wales....

Lidl have an offer on cycle gear right now, i'm not a cyclist but friends who are say their stuff is very good quality.

Lights that charge from usb are brilliant. Packing spare socks is great for drizzly days which don't really justify waterproof trousers. If you do get waterproof trousers then make sure you can move freely and can seal them around your ankles. If you want to wear dresses/skirts then cycle shorts are good for underneath. Yes to good panniers and jacket - worth spending a bit here so you're well equipped. I like the Altura night vision jacket. Leaving a work coat in the office can be handy if yoy go to external meetings that you need to look smart for.

I used to have my hair in a French plait, it generally survived a helmet fairly well and looked ok (a few wisps came out but it looked quite nice, IMO). If your plait is a bit longer, you can tuck the tail up and under itself and pin into place when you arrive (grips under a helmet aren't comfortable) for an easy updo.

Enjoy your ride!

maZebraltov, yours is a fair point to raise, and I do believe that some people new to cycling believe it's just a question of jumping on a bike and blissfully pedalling off along a quiet country lane with the wind in their hair, the sun on their back and birdsong in the air. Unfortunately, that's not the case in RL.
Many of the things mentioned would be required if you were to walk to work through the rain for 1/2 hour or so(waterproof clothes, gloves, water-proof bag etc), unless you fancy turning up looking like a drowned rat and sit dripping in your seat all day.