Although not new to cycling, many new to cycle-commuting are pedalling onto the roads every day. What we need is a definitive Bicycle-Commute Handbook.
The streets of our cities can be a terrifying place for cyclists – speeding motorists, maniacal cab drivers, blind lorry drivers, suicidal fellow cyclists, it would seem, are all out to get you. As a result, it’s crucial to know the dangers of left-hooking, to learn how to anticipate driver actions, to know when to give way, give up, get off or speed up.
Separately, the offices of our cities can be terrifying places for workers – an alarming increase in Lycra-clad bosses, toilets bustling with changing athletes and the musty smell of sweat and drying clothes lying thick in the air. As a result, it’s also crucial to understand the practical – the value of carrying a pack of baby wipes and the science of work-clothing management.
Our Bicycle-Commute Handbook will address all of these issues and more.
The Handbook, as it will become known, will be created on these very pages, hopefully with the help of readers, but certainly with the collective wisdom of contributors who between them ride thousands of miles a year on London’s streets. (Did you know, for example, that it’s possible to dry oneself quite satisfactorily following a ‘sink shower’ with a single piece of kitchen towel?)
We will split the Handbook into logical sections. Gear. Safety. Fashion. Practicalities. Fitness. Etiquette. And maybe a few others. All are important, but some more so than others. Some will potentially help to save your life, or, at least, your ego; others will help to save your street cred.
We hope to engage with as many of you as possible to include your tips and techniques; speak to experts and planners and kit designers to get their insight into the matter and throw in a liberal dose of laugh-out loud-humour too. (Okay, the last bit might prove a bit of a stretch, but we’ll certainly give it a go.)
There is a huge amount of good practice that most experienced cyclists observe, although they don’t always know it. Examples include embracing primary with confidence, making liberal use of eye contact, having a dedicated pair of work shoes (important, not life saving), leaving a door width for parked cars, rolling up shirts or blouses to maintain that ‘just ironed’ look.
It’s a knowledge that has been learned thanks to countless hours on the road and passed from generation to generation.
The Handbook, however, will be the first time it all appears in one place, in a logical, well-structured format. It will be the first time* you can read how to manage your week’s wardrobe (both on the bike and in the office) in the same place as how to negotiate a roundabout safely or track stand at traffic lights without looking like a bit on idiot. (On this last point, we’re not entirely sure it’s possible.)
The first instalment will come later this week, and I encourage you to get involved, suggest improvements, rubbish our theories, add advice.
The Handbook is coming.
* This doesn’t count. Or this. Or this.
David Rae
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I like the etiquette part – though I suspect people who behave like wallies on the road wouldn’t likely read a book about it. Maybe a sub-heading is required: what to do about wallies. Also the fashion part: surely cycling fashion is at its best when its not conforming? A chapter of dayglo jackets is going to look naff…or was this going to be a rant about how everyone should shave their legs?
Yes, the problem is that the people most in need of advice and who exhibit the worst habits are the people least likely to frequent a bike blog. Because they’re not “a cyclist”, they just ride a bike.
Like the guy I overtook on Tuesday evening in the Lea Bridge Road bus lane in Leytonstone: jeans, black jacket. No lights. Old mountain bike (I’d say ‘retro’, but it was one of those turquoise Raleigh MTBs from the early 90s). Oh, and when I say “overtook”… he was actually riding the wrong way along the road.
Anyway – because I work in software, I can get away with jeans and a polo shirt in the office: so I swap the stock every week or so. But if you need to go for a shirt with a collar: wear it under a crew-neck jumper like this stylish chap: http://www.embroidered-printed-clothing.co.uk/image-upload/Medium%20Images/h725.jpg Voila, no ironing.
Wow, that is stylish. The problem is, though, with the collar. How do you ensure you arrive at the first meeting of the day with a shirt that doesn’t look like the dog just chewed it? The answers are out there…
As for the point that the cyclists we want to reach being unreachable; good point.
But never let logic get in the way of a good idea
I like this idea and as I have spent many years on two wheels as I do not drive, I have knocked up many miles commuting. I managed to clock enough miles to go once around the world just commuting to my job everyday whatever the weather including snow. My experience has taught me that safety is the number one factor and equipment is close behind. To successfully ride everyday to work, year in year out without having an accident requires skill and knowledge. The way children are taught for example cycling proficiency in my opinion is old hat it is still stuck in a time warp.
The only way to survive out on the roads these days is to demand your own road space, cycling close to the curb is a no no in my book. The reason you have two grips on your handlebars is so you can have two hands on the bars for control. Why would you want to take one off to make a hand signal, try doing that in strong winds or icy conditions. Motor bike riders never do they take a look over their shoulder check all is clear, signal and move. Yes they have indicators we do not but if you are smart and allow enough time to make your move you are safe. Never made a hand signal in 22 years of cycling never been in an accident either. If I can contribute in anyway then yes would love to this is a great idea.
Thanks Jason, I’m doing a bit of work on the introduction to this at the moment, so hope to go live in the next couple of days. It would be great to get your input into it – I’m thinking that some sort of online questionnaire to try and gauge opinion and approaches to urban cycling would be a great addition.
Equally, any suggestions for content, tips and tricks, etc would be great. Actually, while I’m thinking, interspersing the Handbook with some interviews with experienced commuters could also add a nice bit of colour to the whole thing. Fancy it?
David
Hello David
Yes any help I can give please just shout, I have some free time in between getting ready for my mountain biking season which does not start till around April. I am guessing you have my email address from my comment.
Regards
Jason
I do indeed – I’ll drop you a line in the next week or so.
Cheers!
Hi,
We’re putting together a cycling strategy for our area and we’ve used one of the pictures from this page in it – http://elycycle.org.uk/strategy/encouraging-more-people-to-cycle/ – hope that’s OK, let us know if it’s not.
Andy