Commuting Tips

I've been commuting since March 1999 and have compiled that experience into some (hopefully) helpful hints. Mostly I just shared what I've learned the hard way, so that hopefully you won't have to.

Choosing a Route

My old school route (from Northgate to UW) averaged around 25 minutes going, and about 30 minutes for the return trip. It was 5.1 miles each way, 10.2 round trip. My old work route (from Northgate to Redmond) averaged around 1 hour and 20 minutes one way. It was 18.9 miles and took the Sammamish River Trail and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

When I first began commuting I was smart enough to take a route that was not heavily trafficked. However, I didn't realize how much larger hills are when you are on a bicycle! The next day I picked a much flatter route, which saved me a lot of time and sweat. It pays to experiment with different variations, not only to see if you can find a better route, but also to see the different parts of the city.

Equipment

I don't have a fancy bike--it's a Bridgestone CB-3 mountain bike. I use 1.5 inch wide city/touring tires, have fenders, bar-ends, and a rear rack. I use top clips to keep my feet on the pedals, and a rear view mirror that attaches to my helmet. I use a pair of two-dollar wrap-around sunglasses that are polarized.

I used to use saddlebags and/or a backpack to carry all my stuff to school. Now I use panniers I bought for myself for graduation. On nice days, I'm pretty lightly loaded. When the weather looks bad, I usually take more stuff. I've seen people with backpacks inside a basket on top of the rear rack. I've also seen people with backpacks in milk crates bungeed to their rear racks, so you might try that. It's not pretty, but it works.

I've had mixed results with the milk crate approach. I secured it to the top of the rack with zip ties and it worked fantastic. Except when I got off the bike and kicked the rack off with my foot. It was also difficult to lock the bike up in my bike locker at school. Finally, it got in the way of my rear-facing lights. I would definitely recommend the approach for the garage sale-ing bike or if you just hate getting a sweaty back from the backpack.

Update: I now have a somewhat fancy bike with drop handlebars. I have slick tires with full length fenders and a rear rack with panniers.

Headlight/Taillight

I built my own rechargeable headlight system using a 12V battery and a 20W Halogen floodlight. View the plans to see how I did it.

Update 8/5/2001: I recently purchased a Vistalight NiMH system on clearance at Overstock.com. I would definitely recommend it. The 5W bulb is almost as bright as my 20W, but with a better focus point.

Trailer

A trailer really allows you to extend the usefulness of your bicycle. It frees you up from the space limitations that make it easier to hop in a car. I built a trailer using PVC pipe and some old tires. View the plans to see how I did it.

Bike Log Software

I use a program called Bike Log by Siesta Software, which keeps track of your miles, speed, time, etc. I could use an Excel spreadsheet for the same things--but the easy to use charts and statistics make it fun to track your progress. The product is shareware and costs $17.90 USD. The author has a secure order form on his web site.

Hauling without a trailer

When I didn't have a trailer I often pondered how I was going to get stuff home, but it always seemed to work out. One day I bought a pair of bicycle tires from a bike shop and just strapped them to my backpack (without folding the tires). It was a little awkward, but not too tough. I also play tennis twice a week, and had to haul in two tennis racquets. The easiest way to do this is usually inside a backpack, but I didn't have room. I then tried my saddlebags, but the racquets were just too big to fit in comfortably. So, I bungee-corded them to my rear rack, with the handles sticking off the rear. I got some strange looks, but it was the only way I could carry them.

Living without a bike computer

For a long time I did not have a bike computer so I'd have to guess at the distances travelled. I used to drive the distances every once in a while, but that seemed like such a waste. So, I figured out an interim plan. I'd use the door-to-door directions on mapquest.com, which provide a decent estimate of the distances. Sometimes they try to send you on the freeway though, so I'd turn on the Avoid Limited Access Freeways option.