Bike commuting tips for women

Former Premier of NSW Kristina Keneally regularly commuted on her bike

Now I have to confess up front that I don’t commute to work so I’m not an expert on the subject but I know many other cyclists, both men and women who do and I thought it would be valuable to put a few tips together.

However I do think that commuting to work by bike is an option that many women should consider. Women tend to approach cycling differently to men (please excuse the stereotyping) and that includes bike commuting. A lot of men treat commuting like a race and constantly attempt to outdo their previous times and those of other riders. On the other hand women tend to treat it more like a practical way to get to work and are more focused on safety than speed. So naturally women have a few ‘special’ requirements.

To me it’s all in the planning. Here’s a few tips I’ve compiled to get you started.

What bike?

Ideally you want a bike that’s not worth thousands of dollars, particularly if you need to leave it in a communal storage area or even tethered to a post during the day. You might have an old bike that you haven’t touched since you bought your lovely road or mountain bike or you could consider buying a dedicated commuting bike like a hybrid or flat bar road bike.

Plan your route

There can be a number of ways to get from point A to point B and it’s not necessarily going to be the same route that you’d take in a car. For example, I live in the Sydney suburb of Concord and the cycle route to the city obviously heads in the same direction, but is different from the way you’d travel by car because it’s on quieter streets that allow you to avoid the heavy traffic.

Women cyclists are far more likely to choose routes based on their enjoyment and safety, rather than because the route is faster, flatter or efficient. And that’s okay. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and safe. It’s a great idea to do a rehearsal and ride the route on the weekend when there are less people around and you’re not under pressure to arrive by a certain time.

You can also mix a cycling commute with another form of transport like public transport or even your car for part of the journey.

You should also think about a wet weather contingency. If you don’t like the idea of riding on a rainy day then you’ll need a public transport or even car alternative for those days.

Learn some basic maintenance and carry tools & spares

Particularly if you commute on your own, you need to know some basic maintenance for your bike like fixing a flat tyre and putting a chain back on. You also need to carry a spare tube, a pump or gas cylinders a few basic tools. And of course it goes without saying that you should always carry a mobile phone in case you need to call for help.

Light up

Having good visible front and back lights is essential particularly if you leave early in the morning and return home in the dark. Even in full daylight lights are important to ensure that motorists, other cyclists and pedestrians can see you at all times. Make sure that the batteries are charged the night before or that you’ve replaced the batteries if necessary.

Plan your clothing and grooming items

There are two sets of clothing you need to plan – your riding gear and your work attire. This is a personal choice for both.

Firstly your riding gear. I think it’s more important to be seen than to be fashionable when you’re commuting so you might consider a fluoro top and vest or at least a light colour. You need to consider different seasons and dress according to your own weather conditions and carry a lightweight rain jacket for that unexpected downpour.

For your work clothing it really depends on how you dress for work. If you wear clothes that need ironing like a work suit and blouse then you could make a once a week trip to work to drop off your clothes for the week and get changed when you reach the office. It’s all in the planning. If you’re like me and you have lots of accessories like jewellery and scarves then you need to factor that in. Some women manage to squeeze their work attire (it’s a good idea to roll your clothes rather than fold them) and grooming items into a backpack and carry it with them but I’m a bit more high maintenance so would definitely go with the pre-planning option. You also need to consider ‘helmet hair’ which is really unavoidable but can sometimes be saved with a bit of a carefully applied hair product.

Many companies also offer a pick up and delivery service for dry cleaning from workplaces which can work well for bike commuters.

Many forward thinking employers now offer bike lockers and grooming facilities but if yours doesn’t there may be some facilities nearby like a local gym or shopping centre where you can shower and even store your bike. Plus if your commute is short you might get away without having a shower when you get to work.

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Commuting by bike is good for the environment, could save you money and you get a daily dose of exercise at the same time.