What kit do you need to commute by bike?

Having commuted to work by bicycle for the past year I have really started to refine and perfect my kit for my commute. However, for all the simplicity of cycling, stepping into a bike shop and asking about gear for commuting can leave you both confused and also a whole lot poorer.



This got me thinking, what equipment do you really need to commute by bike?



The simple answer is, you just need access to a bike! and with so many cities now with their own cycle hire scheme you don’t even have to own it. 



However, if you do decide to invest in a bike for your commute you may want to think about kitting yourself and your bike out with some essential accessories that may help you to stay safe, legal and make the ride more enjoyable.



Its important to stress that each commute is unique and what may be essential for some may not be necessary for others. However, hopefully my list below will help you decide what it is that you need for your commute.


What type of bike do I need? 
Possibly the hardest question to answer but the main thing you will want to consider is how far you plan to ride and the surface that you will be riding over. A carbon fibre road bike will be great for commuting long distances on tarmac roads but won’t be suitable if you fancy tearing down gravelly tow paths or through woodland trails.



The main types of bike that you may consider for commuting are;

• Road bike - the fastest type of bike and ideal for longer commutes, although they are not really suited to any surface other than tarmac. Instantly recognisable by the curved handlebars you see on the bikes in the Tour de France 
• Mountain bike - ideal if you want to go off the beaten track and need something capable of dealing with rough surfaces. Usually come with flat handlebars and at least front suspension for an easier ride but often heavier and slower than a road bike. 
• Hybrid - As the name suggests it’s a hybrid between a road bike and a mountain bike. Often comes with mountain bike style handle bars but road style wheels and frame. Mainly suited to tarmac but usually has thicker tyres than a road bike so is a bit more versatile if the road surface deteriorates. Great for casual cycling where speed isn’t the main priority 
• Gravel - Similar to the hybrid but with road style drop handle bars for a racier set up. I'm considering getting one of these when I upgrade my commuter. 
• Brompton - i.e. those folding bikes - great for use either side of a ride on a rush hour bus or train. Brompton is actually a brand name but has become synonymous with folding bikes (you can get other brands too) 
• Tourer - looks like a racer but usually with a much more relaxed geometry. Typically comes with pannier eyelets for carrying bags on the front or rear of the bike. Offers a more comfortable ride for long days in the saddle and usually has a lower gear ratio in case you’re loaded up with baggage.
• Fixie - A fixie or fixed gear bike only has one gear which means that it is low maintenance. Great for flat city centres but not so good in places with variable terrain. 

Do I need to wear a helmet?
This will obviously depend on where you live but in the UK there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet. In general cycling is an inherently safe activity and so helmets are not mandated here. However, certain circumstances that increase risk, such as riding in traffic or more extreme types of cycling such as mountain biking may dictate that you choose to use one. Personally, I always choose to use one whilst riding on the road.


What clothes do I need? 
You don't need any specialist clothes to start with but something that is comfortable and doesn't restrict your movement or rub against your skin is ideal. For short commutes it may be perfectly ok to commute in your work clothes. One thing that is definitely worth considering is the weather, as you will get wet and cold very quickly when cycling in the rain. Good waterproofs or a change of clothes will be a lifesaver - there is nothing worse than having to wear clothes in the afternoon that got soaked that morning. It goes without saying that the weather can be rather fickle (well it is here in England). You may have perfect sun in the morning but you won't want to be left high and dry if it turns to downpours in the afternoon.



For those colder mornings you should definitely consider a good pair of gloves, a mid layer, a buff (snood) or two and an ear warmer or under hemet hat.



Good quality cycling kit is not essential and usually quite expensive but is definitely worth the investment if you are serious about commuting. However, it is also something you can accumulate over time. Whilst you don't have to go down the full lycra route, a lot of cyclists do as it is comfy, quick drying and aerodynamic (you can still benefit from those marginal gains, even when commuting). If you do decide to Lycra up then I would definitely recommend bib shorts. These are shorts that have braces which extend over the shoulders removing the need for a waist band which can press on the stomach when you're hunched over the bike. My other top tip would be to get a pair of leg warmers. These are simply tights that extend up beneath your shorts. Leg warmers are a small and light bit of kit to stick in your bag in case the weather changes between your morning and evening commute and also saves you from needing pairs of both short and full length bibs for your weekly commute.






Do I need special shoes or pedals? 
Again, standard pedals are fine but clipless pedals (which you bizarrely clip your feet into) will hold your feet in place on the pedal for a smoother and more efficient pedal motion (you just need to remember to clip out when you stop). You will also notice a slight gain in being able to pull the pedal on the upstroke. Some bikes come with an old style cage but personally I find these quite difficult to get your foot into, this can be a distraction when you should be focusing on the road.



There are two main types of clipless pedals (road and mountain bike) with the main difference being how the cleats sit beneath the shoe. Road bike shoes have a large cleat that protrudes from the sole making them difficult to walk in where as mountain bike cleats tend to be recessed in the sole of the shoe to make walking easier. There are some performance differences but for commuting the main consideration will probably be whether or not you need to walk in your shoes for a considerable part of your commute i.e. if you cycle to the train and then have a walk from the station. It’s worth pointing out that as long as your cleats are compatible with your pedals you can use any pedals on any bike i.e you can use mountain bike pedals on a road bike.






What about safety equipment? 
If you are cycling at night by UK law you will need a white light at the front and a red light at the rear. It is always a good idea to have lights on, even in the daytime and I would recommend that you also have a spare set of cheaper lights in case your primary set runs flat. Many cyclists have multiple lights and the more visible you are the better.



There is no law requiring high visibility clothing but some modern jackets are amazing at helping you stand out. As the nights got darker over winter I found this to be particularly important in being visible to cars that wanted to pull out ahead of me at junctions, as your front lights can easily get drowned out by other car or street lights.



You may also want to consider how you keep your bike safe. A big factor will obviously be where you leave it for the day but you will most likely need to invest in a good D-Lock to ensure it stays safe while you are at work. You can usually get a tyre and the frame secured to a rack with a D-Lock and it's a good idea to have a wrap around cable or a second lock to secure the second tyre.


Do I need maintenance tools? 
As a minimum I aways carry a spare tube, tyre levers, a puncture repair kit and a hand pump. A multitool is always a good thing to have with you too but the main priority on your commute is likely to be to fix a puncture to get you going again. Any other maintenance such as tweaking brakes, gears or saddle heights can probably wait until you can make it either home or to the bike shop.


What about keeping my work stuff dry?
As previously touched upon, when riding to work you will inevitably have to try to keep yourself and your gear dry. One of the key items in my kit is my roll top waterproof rucksack, as I'm not sure work would be very happy if i came in with a sopping wet laptop. Alternatively you can get waterproof rucksack covers to go over a non waterproof bag, but in my experience these tend to pull away at the straps and are a bit of a faff. The other option is to use pannier bags which can sit on the back of the bike. Panniers are suited to long rides when you may be carrying lots of gear that you may not want to shoulder on your back the whole time but are not very ergonomic when carrying off the bike. Panniers can also shift the weight of the bike when you are out of the saddle so for commuting I much prefer a backpack.



I find that possibly the most annoying bit of gear to get wet on a rain sodden commute is my shoes as they take forever to dry out! Overshoes will help but they will never 100% keep the water out. Front and rear mudguards are also a good idea as the main source of water into your shoes is usually road spray from your tyres. However, I find it's worth having a second pair of shoes that you can use for commuting so that when they do get soaked you're not in a mad panic trying to dry them off for the next morning.






Final thoughts
In summary, you will hopefully see that there really isn't much you need to get started commuting on two wheels other than the bike itself. There are obviously loads of things out there that will make your life easier but these can be built up over time.

This covers the absolute bare essentials but I've definitely got more to add on each and every subject here in future blogs, hopefully this lays down some of the basic considerations for you.



Anyway, that's enough from me for now.



Stay safe.



James