Thursday, December 30, 2010 - Blog on a Log

Biking Basics: A Weekend in the Life of a Commuter Cyclist

I don't ride a bike. I just don't. I also don't drink eight glasses of water a day or boycott McDonalds or any number of other things I really should do to treat my body better.

So when I heard about our store's Bike To Work Day plans, I was more than a little concerned. "Meeting at the store at 6:30? You mean AM? ..... Seriously?"

I think the early morning wakeup was a bigger concern for me than the actual ride, but at somewhere between 15 and 20 km, our loop from the store on Ferry Road down through the Forks, over to Osborne Village for breakfast and back was a little daunting for an amateur cyclist, especially one attempting to keep pace with a host of more experienced riders. By the time we made it to Stella's Café I felt pretty much beat, but more than a little proud of the accomplishment, and wondered if I couldn't find a way to become a more practiced cyclist.

"Use your bike as transport," Rachel suggested (while looking like she'd ridden the whole route with hardly any effort). "It forces you out there, and it doesn't feel so much like you're exercising."

Bike as transport, eh? Probably an idea I should have thought of myself, but for those of us who don't cycle, it's just not a method we consider. But driven (well, you know what I mean) by the morning's success, I decided to take her words to heart, and give it a try: I'd ride my bike everywhere I went that weekend.

Armed with my free Winnipeg Biking Map (if you want Winnipeggers to do anything, offer free stuff) I set out on a 7km route from my house to Osborne Village that very night. I soon found that while taking suggested 'light traffic' routes did minimize the number of cars I was sharing the road with, it also significantly increased my travel time; I vowed to brush up on my biking hand signals and take the most direct route for the rest of the weekend.

I arrived at my destination sweaty but unscathed, with my muscles protesting less than expected from two rides in one day. I also began to recognize a few crucial items I was missing if I wanted to rely on my bike as my ride: I had a good helmet, and a bike lock, but I'd completely neglected to find lights for my bike (a necessity when out after sundown) or a way to deal with arriving at my destination drenched in sweat. This first time commuter's checklist from Resource Conservation Manitoba's "The Commuter Cyclist" includes several items I'd forgotten, and would probably have made that trek easier:

"Step 1:

  • Make sure your bike is roadworthy. Take it to a bike shop if in doubt.
  • If you will be riding at night, you'll need a front and rear light.
  • Get acquainted with your bike. Ride a few times in the evenings and weekends to build up your comfort level.

Step 2:

  • Plan your route with help from a bike map. Ask friends, neighbours or co-workers who commute by bike for advice.
  • Ask about or scout out bike parking. Does your building or workplace have an indoor secure spot where you could lock your bike?
  • Decide whether to ride in your work clothes or carry a change of clothes with you. If you cycle at a leisurely pace, you can wear your work clothes without breaking a sweat.

A few things to consider taking with you:

  • A carrier for your stuff (backpack, basket or pannier/saddlebag)
  • Bike locks (u-bolt for the frame and cable if you have quick release wheels)
  • Cell phone or change for a payphone (in an emergency)
  • Wind-proof or rain-proof jacket
  • Bright clothing
  • Helmet"

I didn't have showering capabilities at Saturday's destination, but my presentability was salvaged by a change of clothes and a package of baby wipes - I rode makeup-less, cleaned myself off, changed, and applied the necessities from a toiletries case, with no one the wiser. The late night ride home was actually quite calm and refreshing, with my newly attached lights providing some much-needed security on the road.

Sunday brought no travel needs, which the intermittently poor weather led me to appreciate. I took the day to rest my bike-sore bum and weary calves, and considered my short project.

As someone who rarely rides, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the experience. Without my own car I take the bus most places, and a bike allowed me much more freedom that I was used to. No checking schedules, no need to leave before the last bus of the night - I rode in my own time and at my own pace. As a huge bonus, cycling to the weekend's destinations took me less time than the bus, and not much more than a car - a 15-minute drive or 40-minute bus took 30 on my bike, and this with me being quite a slow rider (generally coasting around 15 km/hour). No doubt with a little practice my pace would improve, and the time difference between biking and driving would only decrease.

So, am I completely converted? Well, no. Long trips or poor weather can still find me heading for the nearest bus stop, but I have significantly increased the frequency and distance of my rides. Everywhere I go, people respond the way I would have a few weeks ago - with disbelief and general dismissal at my ‘insane' choice to ride to one place or another. It's a bit of a shame. Just think if everyone gave commute cycling a try... maybe our health would be better, our city greener, and our rush hours could start looking more like this:

Photo via Little Missy! on Flickr
Video via markenlei on Youtube