Four Bike Commuting Challenges and How to Overcome Them

(Editor's note: The following guest column comes from Grant Boelter, who regularly bikes to work at his Hopkins job. In honor of Twin Cities Bike Walk Week, which runs June 2 through June 10, Boelter shared these tips.)

 

For many folks, a two-wheeled commute sounds great in theory, but once you think about actually doing it, the “problems” crop up. You dream about saving money on gas and getting your daily exercise during your commute, but logistically it just doesn’t seem possible.

As someone who regularly commutes by bike between my home in Minneapolis and job at Brandpoint in Hopkins, I’m here to tell you that it is not only possible, but a great addition to your daily routine Here are four challenges that often keep people from bike commuting and why you shouldn’t let them stop you.

1. Your workplace doesn’t have a shower.

I’m fortunate in that my office does have a shower, but I know many people aren’t as lucky. However, most mornings are cool enough and you can get by with simply bringing a towel and a change of clothes, which was my preferred method before we moved into our current office. I thought I’d get a lot of funny looks when I first started doing this, but believe it or not, my co-workers found this quite normal and were very encouraging.

2. You don’t have the right clothes or equipment.

The actual act of biking is not as specialized as many cyclists make it out to be. Sure spandex, gloves and jerseys serve a purpose, but they are not necessary in the least. Beyond your helmet, wear what you find comfortable and maybe grab an inexpensive strap to keep your pants out of your chain (or just roll them up). Put everything you need in your backpack. If you find wearing a backpack uncomfortable, a rear rack and a pannier can do the trick. Through a little trial and error, you’ll find what works best for you.

3. You don’t have time.

For many of us, biking won’t be as fast as driving. However, when you bicycle you’re commuting with a purpose and getting your daily exercise. The hour you spend on your bike could be an hour you don’t have to spend at the gym.

4. It’s too far.

If you live 20 miles from your office, a bike commute admittedly is not very practical. But what if you drove for 10 miles and then rode the final 10? Or even the final 5 miles? Good trunk racks are reasonably priced – you’d likely make up the cost in gas after a couple months of riding. You can use the Google Maps bike application to find a good route and place to park.

If it’s been ages since you’ve been on a bike, Twin Cities Bike Walk Week is a great time to get yourself reacquainted. Events run through June 10 and many of them are free and offer goodies to those who attend. Here at Brandpoint, we’re celebrating with group rides, a bike yoga session, a bike maintenance clinic and a bike-themed barbecue. With the chilly mornings just beginning to warm up, there’s not a better time to see whether riding to work is something you could get used to.

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Grant Boelter is a content writer at Brandpoint, a Hopkins-based public relations and marketing agency.