With warm weather approaching, we encourage people to try active transportation (like biking, walking, skating). As active commuters, we thought we would share our stories and tips about biking to work.

Our Journeys to Becoming Active Commuters

Kenner’s Story

Like most college students, I biked to and from campus when the weather was ideal. I can’t say that I learned much from those first bicycle commuting experiences, but they did instill in me the desire to continue once I began working. That didn’t happen for about a decade for a variety of reasons; it always seemed like something that was just out of reach, mostly because of the lack of shower facilities at the destination.

Eventually, I ended up in a situation where my home was uphill of the office at a reasonable distance (1 mile), mitigating the shower dilemma. I asked a coworker who rode to work consistently, Matt Nelson (SaltAir Cycles, #SALTLAKECITYHANDBUILT), for advice. He advised me on a route that was safe and spread out the grade change, talked to me about what to wear at various times of year, and made suggestions on what and how to pack.

I tested the route on a warm sunny Sunday. Getting to work was a breeze. Getting home was hard. But I did it. And I kept doing it. My health steadily improved and I learned to do it in less ideal conditions – colder, wetter, darker. Incrementally, and with the help and advice of others, I steadily increased the conditions in which I was comfortable commuting by bike.

Eventually, the office moved uphill of my home and the distance increased (3 miles), but because it had a locker room with showers the biking expanded to include pre- and post-work rides to the foothills (10 miles). Then the pandemic happened and rides became purely recreational for a time.

Place Collaborative’s office is 7 miles from home and mostly downhill. Getting to work is great, but the ride home is a bit of a chore and hard to commit to during cold weather. I feel myself going through the process of re-learning these skills and habits, hence the blog post.

Kelly’s Story

I was excited to see the abundance of bike lanes when I moved to Salt Lake City (maybe an unintended good consequence of unnecessary and obnoxiously wide streets). That first week at work, I noticed several people biking into the office and thought I would give it a shot on the bike I had since college, (maybe an entry-level hardtail mountain bike at best). I mapped out a route on google maps and woke up early to ride in. I made it down 300 E and turned onto 1700 S, heading east. I almost made it to Westminster and thought how is this even possible? I had to push my bike up a few of the steeper pushes on my way into the office. I gave myself 35 minutes to bike to work, it took me 15 minutes longer than I expected and I was completely exhausted. I questioned my ability and thought maybe it wasn’t for me.

I asked one of the guys in the office who looked like he took his biking very seriously for some advice. It turned out that he lived in a similar part of town. I asked him how do you survive that hill every day? I told him the way I biked into the office. He quickly whipped out his phone and opened up an app that I never heard of at the time, Strava, and showed me a few different routes that he will take into the office that takes a gentler approach to the topography of Salt Lake City.

I started taking those other routes and found a deal on a better bike for commuting and by the end of that summer I was one of the most consistent bikers in the office. That consistency has continued today where I will push myself to bike in almost any weather and sometimes take wild routes into the office that go way up into the canyons as part of my training for longer gravel races.

How To Get Started

Seek a Mentor

A mentor can give you the confidence boost that you need to start biking. Their guidance can flatten the learning curve to help you reach your goals and can even become your accountability buddy.
A good mentor has been where you are currently and will not judge you or your equipment.
Most cyclists love talking about gear, routes, and all things bikes – so don’t be afraid to ask that person you see biking regularly for guidance.

Plan your Route

The route you take can make or break your ride. Planning the route can be a critical piece of the puzzle.
Google Maps allows you to plug in your destination and select a bike and will help take you on the more bike-friendly roads and bike paths.
- However, Google Maps’ recommended route will likely be the most direct route, and sometimes, that is not the most fun or pedal-friendly route.
Topography, dedicated bike lanes, and traffic lights are all factors to take into consideration when planning your route.
Cyclists love to track their rides. Apps such as Strava have heat maps that help find those routes that other riders have taken which can make your ride more enjoyable

Equipment

Expand the lists below to help you prepare for your next biking commute

o Affordable bike of any kind (upgrade once you are sure this is for you)
o Charged phone (re-routing and the ability to call for pickup)
o Water bottle
o Compact pump w/ correct connection for tube type
o Tire lever
o Spare tube (preferred for speed)
o Rechargeable headlight (spot) and taillight (flashing)
o Rain jacket
o Removable fenders
o Multi-tool
o Patch kit

Apparel

(there is no need to dress like you are in the Tour de France unless that is what you want)

o Wicking (non-cotton) t-shirt
o Vented jacket (high visibility color, reflective accents)
o Shorts
o Short athletic socks
o Breathable (non-waterproof) shoes
o Eye protection is helpful in all weather conditions to keep bugs, rain, sand, etc. out of your eyes
o Add a long-sleeve base layer
o Add bike tights
o Use long athletic socks (underlaps tights)
o Use Gloves
 - Wind-blocking fleece will work well to help keep your hands warm as you are going faster.
o Add a waterproof shell top and bottom
o Upgrade your footwear
o Use long wool socks (bring an extra pair on rainy days)
o Ear warmers or balaclava

Cohort

Find a mentor at work or at a local bike shop
Invite someone with a similar commute to buddy up with you
Use apps like Strava to find a virtual community and to track your progress over time

Encouragement & Advice

Most cities have advocacy groups and non-profits that can help you get going. Organizations such as the Bicycle Collective in Utah offer assistance or discounts when purchasing your bike, guidance in maintaining your bike, and support to keep you going.

After I was riding regularly, I asked Matt to put together a Bike-to-Work-Clinic so that others could learn what he had taught me, and Kelly attended that clinic. Matt brought in the director of the local bike collective, a group that regenerates bikes in an affordable manner. That was the first time I heard the old biker’s adage, “it won’t get any easier, but if you stick with it, it will get faster.”

The body and mind seem to seek its limit, and repetition secretly does the rest. When I first started commuting the to the office my average speed was 6-8 mph, but eventually my speed increased to 12-15 mph, taking about half the time and feeling like the same amount of effort.

Now it’s your turn to start so that you can be ready to mentor another.

The Road to Active Transportation