Commuting by Bike - Choose your Bike

Choosing the right bike for your journey can make a real difference to your enjoyment and also your desire to commute by bike. If you are on a tight budget, ask a neighbour or friend if they have an unwanted bike in their shed - more than six million bikes are thought to be languishing unused country-wide. You could also try your local recycling centre, paper or car boot sale to find a bargain. If you are looking for a new bike, click on the cycle guide for some ideas on which bike would suit you.

Cycling essentials

Once you have your bike, there are a few items that you will require to make sure you get to work safely:

• all new bikes come complete with reflectors and a bell. Don’t be tempted to take them off; they are useful bits of safety kit, improve your visibility to other road users and on shared footways a good way to warn of your approach to pedestrians.
• lights are essential for early morning/evening commutes. Recent changes in legislation mean that fitting a flashing LED rear light is fine - just remember to keep your reflector too.
• reflective clothing or tape on rucksacks or pannier bags is a good way to improve visibility.

Bike saving kit

It will happen, one day, so be prepared :

• know how to fix a puncture. Always carry or have quick access to a pump, spare tube and tyre levers - don’t resort to a pair of spoons out of your cutlery drawer!
• a can of spray lubricant and a good quality cycle oil. Lubricate/clean your bike as required. Cycling in wet/damp conditions increases wear and tear so take extra care when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Use a piece of cloth to clean wheel rims after cycling in the wet.
• tools to fit your bike - a set of allen keys is a good place to start.
• think about how you are going to transport your clothes or personal possessions. A rucksack is easy, but can leave you with a sweaty back if you are cycling over distance. A rack is very handy; pannier bags are even better, but you may not like the look or the image.

Related Documents

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Related Documents

Bike Guide

Bike Safety Check

To view any published Related Documents for this service you will require the appropriate software. To download this software please see our documents help page. All links to documents will open in a new window. To request documents and files in an alternative format please contact us using the contact information provided on this page.