Expert tips for biking to work
The daily pedal can still be daunting for newbies, but travelled cyclists can help
The bike to work is paved with good intentions. But even as the city adds more infrastructure, the daily pedal can still be daunting.
There’s sweat to be perspired, bags to be carried, red lights, traffic and gears — oh my.
And yet the number of those choosing to do so is increasing every year. And with these tips in mind, you can do it too.
Yvonne Bambrick, Toronto-based author of The Urban Cycling Survival Guide, says her “number one recommendation is to absolutely get a rack on your bike . . . sweaty backpacks are no good.”
Recommendation number two: figure out the best way to get there. Map your route using Google Maps, Ridethecity.com or the city’s cycling app. And then try it over the weekend.
“Figure out what the stoplights are, what the little workarounds are,” Bambrick says.
If you can, take as many side streets as possible, she adds. They usually have more shade and allow you to go at your own rhythm and, as a bonus, offer better air quality for your panting lungs.
When leafy streets aren’t an option, whether you’re in a bike lane or not, Bambrick says, follow the “one-metre rule.” Ride roughly one metre from the curb — where there’s bound to be crevices and debris — or cars.
“If something comes up, you’ve got a bit of wiggle room,” Bambrick says, adding that if you need to, you have the right to take a full lane of space.
You’re bound to run into bike traffic on main arteries, especially if you work regular hours. The easiest way not to feel like a fish out of water may be to “go with the flow,” she says. You may also feel an urge to beat the herd. “It’s not a race; everybody’s got to get to where they’re going,” says Bambrick.
“Communication is crucial,” she says. The easiest way to let others know where you’re going is to point in the direction you’re going and to hold up a fist if you’re about to stop.
As per cycling laws in Toronto, you should always have a bell, which is especially useful when passing cars, but can come off aggressive when passing other cyclists.
“Passing on your left!” or right, for example, is a good alternative, Bambrick says.
When you’re pushing yourself hard, you’re sure to sweat harder, too.
And though Bambrick says not to be afraid of sweat, there are ways to get around the clamminess that comes once the wind has stopped.
She suggests bringing along a portable paper fan or wearing a different shirt than the one you’ll work in.
The best way to avoid wrinkles is to roll it carefully, according to Bambrick.
When it comes to skirts, if you have enough fabric, Bambrick’s trick is to tie the extra fabric with an elastic. You can do so either by pulling it to one side or pulling it through your legs and putting a penny in the fabric so it won’t fall through the tie.
For shoes, rubber soles are best, she says. And if you want to bike in heels, stick an adhesive rubber sole to the bottom to avoid slipping out of your pedals.
On the other hand, if the forecast looks like you might be chilly on your way home or if there’s a chance of rain, don’t be discouraged.
Roll up a light sweater or a rain poncho, and you’ll be prepared for anything.
Make sure you have your lights with you as well, as they’re mandatory in Toronto after sundown.
For extra precaution, Bambrick also suggests buying a rear wheel lock. Hers was made by Abus.
The best tips may come from those around you. “Talk to people who have helmets who are in the elevator in the morning, tell them you’re a new rider and maybe they’ve got some little nuggets of wisdom to share with you,” Bambrick says. From cyclists in the know If you’re a fish on a bicycle, these experienced bike commuters have some tips for you. Hannah Brown “Wear a helmet,” the mirror-bespectacled Hannah Brown says at a red light on College St. near Kensington Market. “Stay on the outside of cars that are turning right ‘cause they don’t see you sometimes,” is her second piece of advice. As for attire? “I don’t know — if something went wrong, I’d probably just be screwed,” says Brown, who is wearing a colourful and flowy summer dress. Natalie Simons Natalie Simons’s commute is a 20minute ride from Little Italy to St. Lawrence Market, where she works. Her advice to beat the post-bike sweat stains: “you want to (bring) like a cardigan just to throw on at work,” which also helps with the air conditioning mixed with post-bike sweat chills. Ian Howes When biking to work, footwear is on Ian Howes’s mind. “Shoes — leave your shoes at work or ride with some comfortable shoes,” he
You’re bound to run into bike traffic on main arteries, especially if you work regular hours
said upon a stop on College St. A duffel bag was attached to his handlebars with bungee cords. “You’re sort of a little bit more out of control when you have your bags hanging off you,” Howes said, adding he’d heard a story of a woman’s bag swinging over, causing a bad fall. Howes’s commute is a breezy 10 minutes from College and Grace Sts. to Queen St. and Spadina Ave. Jesse Colburn In the last year and a half Jesse Colburn has been riding his bike to work, he’s never had any bad experiences, he says. “But apparently, statistics show, I will get hit one day — apparently.” For that, he says, “always wear a helmet.” Colburn’s commute is a cool 30 to 40 minutes from Lansdowne Ave. and College St. to Carlaw Ave. and Queen St., for which Colburn says he doesn’t bring an extra set of clothes. “I just show up sweaty and kind of dry off, and hope for the best.” Michael Lam “Merino is the biker’s best friend.” Michael Lam would know. He’s been biking to work for the past seven to eight years. It’s a 30-minute ride from his home in Parkdale to work at University Ave. and Dundas St. It may be counterintuitive to wear a type of wool in the summer, but Lam says merino, in different levels of thickness, is good year-round. “Less stink, breathes well, cool when it needs to be.” His other tips include getting good tires, a beater (bike) if you’re biking through the winter and buy a good lock. “Hey, Toronto’s turning into a great biking city, much to everybody’s surprise, and it’s an amazing way to get around . . . Safe riding!” he said. Emily Spearing School of Toronto Dance Theatre student Emily Spearing says pants and sunglasses are two ways she gets comfortably to school on her 15-minute commute. Wear “something that’s comfortable — pants are nice — so you don’t chafe your legs,” Spearing says. Nakita Buenbrazo Nakita Buenbrazo suggests finding a route that “has bike routes all the way.” She says she’s lucky her 15-minute commute has that. “You should always have your lights with you in case you’re coming home in the dark,” Buenbrazo adds as way of advice. Signalling is important, too. If you don’t, “it causes problems for other bikers behind you because you’re slowing down, and they don’t know why.” Buenbrazo has a basket attached to her handlebars. “It’s nice to have a place to put your stuff, so if you go grocery shopping on your way home, you have a place for that.” She’s been biking to work for the past five years.