I really like riding to work, and there are very few situations where I’d take the train; usually it’s as a result of injury or, somehow, a lack of bicycles. When I have to hop into a metal tube filled with other people’s breath, I arrive at work flustered and irritable, but riding allows me to settle my bumpy brain, listen to an audiobook, and see the changing of the seasons as I pass through the same landscape week after week.
I do, however, appreciate that riding to work in the autumn and winter can be daunting. Not only do you have potentially inclement weather to deal with, but also luggage, darkness, and the increased wear and tear on your bike and your body.
Proper mudguards
I cannot stress this enough: Fit full-length mudguards to your bike. Before you buy a new waterproof cycling jacket, fancy lights, or a new bag, focus on setting your bike up for success. You’d be amazed at how much water you avoid getting covered in by proper mudguards.
Rain from the sky is relatively clean, so you only really get wet, but water sprayed up from your tyres into your shins, feet, and backside will be a mixture of water, diesel, grit, decomposing leaf mulch, and whatever other detritus litters your commute route. It’ll make you filthy and miserable, and will be a blight on your ride even if there is only surface water.
You probably don’t have the luxury of waiting for the roads to dry or the skies to clear, so get some full coverage options. If your bike has mudguard mounts, then front up for sturdy metal ones and thank me later. My chosen pair are Kenesis Fend-Offs, but most solid sets are decent enough and allow you to go all in and fit flaps. Yes, they look dorky, yet they flap about, but especially on the front guard, they’ll get you to your destination in a much fitter state to create shareholder value.
Get the weight off your back
I appreciate that not everyone can have the luxury of a dedicated commuter bike. They are the ideal, with their cheaper parts, full mudguards (I will die on this hill), and pannier rack. Bike panniers are the gold standard for portage,…
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