In this second week of the Bike to Work challenge, Alex and I pooled our wisdom to share advice about equipment. Last week we shared our Road Rules. We absolutely believe in the power of the pedal and are happy to give personalized advice by email should you want to write us!

Equipment:

Get a decent bike. I ride a Surly Cross Check and Alex has an updated vintage Fuji road bike and a Surly Karate Monkey for commuting. Measure yourself and potential bikes to make sure they fit. City riders are likely to encounter rough surfaces often, so a cross or commuter model makes most sense. 29er mountain bikes can also be configured with no suspension and fat road slicks like Alex's Karate Monkey for a versatile comfortable ride. Disc brakes are best for superior stopping, though my bike performs just fine with the cantilever style. If all the bike speak is gobblygook to you, Alex loves talking this stuff. Email him for specific advice.
Outfit your ride with proper accessories. A Bicycle Head Light and Tail Light are a must. A Fender Set make riding in foul weather much more pleasant, a very high priority in our opinion. If you intend to carry anything with you, a rack and/or panniers are handy. I love my trunk bag with side panniers. I have a basic computer to mark time and distance; Alex has a Garmin Edge 205 ~~because he's a gadget freak~~ to track more details.
Saddle matters. Sometimes cyclists go through several saddles before finding the one that is least uncomfortable. Alex and I both have settled on Brooks Leather Saddle. They mold to your specific sits bone structure aka "ass grove", providing a customized fit that eventually makes the saddle seem to disappear. Making fine adjustments to the height and angle of your saddle can make all the difference for long term riding comfort.
Wear a helmet. For the love of all that is good, protect your noggin. After a couple dozen miles wearing a helmet you will hardly notice it is there until you crash and are glad you had it on. Trust me.
Carry a tire emergency kit. While our Schwalbe tires have never gone flat, every other tire we've used has had a flat once in awhile. You can either carry a repair kit or replacement tube (we opt for the tube) and a slim hand pump or CO2 inflater.
Glasses. Each of us have a pair of Tifosi 3 lens sunglasses. While the sun protection is nice, what glasses really do on a bike ride is keep your eyes clear of grit, dust and wind.

Clothing

Materials. We love merino wool clothing for superior breath-ability and comfort. Synthetics are also available more cheaply, even at thrift stores if you look. Riding in street clothes is certainly possible and many people do it, but the seams, inflexibility, and discomfort when wet makes me change into cycling clothes whenever I'm going more than a couple miles.
Chamois. I am most comfortable in compression shorts without a 'junk pad'. Alex always wears shorts with a chamois. Different parts lead to different preferences, I guess.
Cycling shoes and pedals. We love our Clipless/Clip Pedals and wear shoes and clips for almost every ride, though these pedals have a flat side for quick jaunts. They seem like an add-on that isn't necessary but only a few miles into my first ride with clipless pedals I understood how much more power I was getting out of my ride.
Gloves. Padded cycling gloves absorb road shock so your wrists and shoulders don't have to. I also try to remember to put them on when I'm loading or moving my bike so the gloves take the grease instead of my skin. After going through a few expensive pairs, we both opt for cheap versions now because they do compress and need to be replaced frequently.

Those are our bike equipment essentials. After the initial bike purchase, we added items slowly, giving them as gifts for holidays and birthdays over a few years. Bike loot is a big investment, but the health and environmental benefits of bike riding are totally worth it to us.

Today is the first day of the Bike to Work Challenge! If you aren't on a team yet and want a little cycling motivation, join my team, the Columbus Catch-Alls. Alex and I have shared a car for four years now. Whichever one of us does not have the car typically rides a bike to our various destinations. Alex is more experienced, often biking 22 miles round trip to his office. My trips are usually shorter but involve towing Lil in a trailer hooked behind my bike. In fair weather, we regularly forgo the car and ride as a family to events around town.

In the beginning, bike commuting was difficult and uncomfortable. Through experimentation, we have learned a lot about how to make riding more appealing. Today I'll write about our Road Savvy tips and tricks, followed by Equipment next Monday.

Develop a routine. Ours is that bikes, helmets, and glasses are in the garage with a lock always attached to the bike. We simply get dressed, put on cycling shoes, grab a water bottle and we're ready to ride.
Inflate your tires. At least once a week, pump your tires. Under inflated tires increase the risk of a pinch flat and make your riding experience less smooth and enjoyable. An upright pump is handy for this.
Follow traffic signals. Not only are you legally required to follow traffic lights and signals, doing so keeps everyone safe.
Ride like a car. Go as fast as you can on busy streets to maintain regular traffic flow. Ride to the right of the far right lane. In heavy traffic or when crossing lanes, 'take a lane' by riding in the middle.
Use a water bottle. Obviously staying hydrated is healthy. Water is useful to wash off glasses or a small wound. Splashing water at a barking dog is a good technique to get them off your heels too. And while I wouldn't ever advocate violence, it does comfort me to know that my metal water bottle could be an effective projectile.
Avoid the sidewalk. Sidewalk riding is slow, risky for falls and flats, and disrupting to those using the sidewalk for its intended purpose: walking.
Be aware. Sure, my legs are sore after a long city ride, but my mind is tired too. There are so many things to keep track of: cars, pedestrians, signals, directions, etc. Be hyper vigilant about cars in front of and behind you so that you can predict their moves and avoid accidents. Especially look out for drivers getting out of just parked cars; collisions with opening car doors are very common.
Seek out bike friendly routes. A bike friendly route to me is one that is low in car traffic, frequented by other cyclists, pavement is relatively clear of potholes and debris, traffic signals are set to be tripped by bikes, and is under 40 mph. Bike paths are great for quick chutes through a city. I personally use Indianola, Summit, and 4th frequently here in Columbus.
Communicate. Signal turns with your arms. Maintain eye contact with cars, particularly when you are turning in front of them or waiting for them to stop at an intersection. Don't hesitate to talk (or yell) at drivers when they are confused or unaware. Be prepared for pedestrians and drivers to talk to you, too, particularly at intersections when they are looking for directions.
Get rid of the ear buds. I think riding while listening to music should be illegal. Your sense of hearing tells you whether and how fast cars are approaching from behind. When you listen you are more able to avoid collisions. In ipod-land you may be so engrossed that you miss turns and ignore traffic signals. While we're on the subject, expect pedestrians to be wearing earbuds and not be able to hear you coming. It's annoying. Maybe earbuds should be illegal for everyone. ;)
Enjoy the wind, the hills, and the neighborhoods. Never more than when riding do I notice wind direction, speed, and elevation. I meet people and see houses. I feel like because I bicycle, I experience an intimacy with the city I would not have otherwise.

Sometimes the biggest bicycling challenge is to just start. If you are local and want a riding buddy to help guide you for the first few rides, contact us and we would be happy to help you hit the road.

Also, I'm hosting an informal family friendly bike ride next Monday morning, the 17th. Meet us at Clinton/Como park at 10:30 am. We'll ride to Whetstone for picnic and playtime at the lower playground and then ride back to Clinton. There is parking at the end of Lakeview for those who might come from around the city. Kids, trailers, individuals are all welcome!