Do you have a tip for a newbie bike commuter? Share it here!😀

A piece of advice I always give to folks who are nervous about starting to ride their bikes in urban traffic: don't forget that you always have the option to get off and walk your bike on the sidewalk for a bit! If you hit a stretch where the traffic is scaring you, or a hill that's uncomfortably steep, or especially a left turn at a busy intersection, you can always hop off the bike, become a pedestrian until you're past the problem area, and then start riding again. I've been bicycle commuting for over twenty years, and I still do this sometimes!

One thing I would add: get fenders. They're not only good for keeping your backside clean on sloppy days; they're also really useful for keeping your entire bike cleaner and more functional throughout the winter. I would never even consider commuting on a bike without fenders.

I am 62 years old. I live in a small city of 23,000 people. I began commuting to work recently, after putting $141.00 of gas in my truck, and am now hooked. I now ride all over town for work, all my shopping and personal appointments. Wish I would have started this forty years ago. 👍 for your video.

I have commuted for over 40 years. A few things I've learned over the years: 1. It's rarely too cold to cycle- dress appropriately with layers that zip open when you warm up. A good windbreaker on top makes all the difference. I've found that what gets cold is my fingers and toes, so warm gloves and socks really help. Last, ALWAYS wear a helmet! For the first 20 years, I was lucky with no helmet until an old-timer told me "if you ride a lot, it's not IF you have an accident, it's WHEN you have an accident". I started wearing a helmet and it saved my life!

I bike commuted in fair weather for two years. Then I read your book and discovered your channel. I rode all year last year regardless of the weather. I have now ridden for 20 months five days a week and have not driven to work once. I gave up my $360 a year parking spot and then I sold my car. You are an inspiration.

I would add one more thing: avoid a backpack. Use a pannier rack or basket instead. Backpack = sweaty back. No matter how easy you go, no matter how great the ventilation of backpack the manufacturer claims to be. It took me way too long to understand it.

One of my biggest tips for newbies would be to learn to ride defensively, but not submissively. On the first point, always try and leave yourself an out. If you have the right of way, but a car's creeping out from a side road, slow down if you have to, be ready to stop if they do suddenly pull out. Always assume that they don't see you. On the second point, Don't be afraid to take a dominant position in your lane. If you try and stay out of the way at the side of the road, cars will attempt to squeeze by when there's not enough space to do it safely, and you'll often be trapped far too close to curbs or parked cars. Far too many cyclists die from getting stuck in the door zone, and knocked into traffic when someone opens their door without looking. If there's not room for a car to safely pass you in the lane, or if that space disappears in the next 100m or so, you should ride far enough out that they have to pass you using the other lane (like they would pass a car). It may annoy some bad drivers, but you're better off getting honked/yelled at by some impatient jerk, than accidentally injured/killed when they think they have enough room to squeeze by.

Another tip would be to leave lots of extra time the first times you commute by bike. If you're not already a regular cyclist, you'll probably be pretty slow at first, but don't worry. After a few weeks your speed will probably improve a fair bit, even if you're riding at a fairly relaxed pace.

When you're just starting out. Don't plan for the most direct route like a car. "Plan for the most flat road route with small hill inclines." Even if it takes you a few kilometers more to reach your destination. The easiest route is the one where you spend less effort when cycling. When you get more fit from cycling regularly. Massive hills won't even be a challenge for you.

Mistake number 9: putting the bike away for the winter at the first hint of cooler weather. Just cover up with a couple of thin layers for breaking the wind, and cover the extremities, and you'll find you stay quite warm cycling. I have to laugh when people won't cycle in the winter because they say it's too cold, and then they head to the ski slopes on the weekends!

I guess this depends on the bike infrastructure but I feel a lot safer since I installed a rear-view mirror on my bike. In my country cyclists have to ride on the road alongside car traffic for the most part and it just makes me feel better to be able to check on what's going on behind me.

I would like to add that using helmets and wearing a reflective west for when it is dark is always a good choice. Better to be safe than sorry. Also i would like to add that an upright bicycle is preferable when riding daily amongst cars. Sitting upright will allow you to have a better view of your surrounding and also i just like how i don't have to support my whole weight on my arms while I'm biking.

I found that E biking allows my wife who broke her hip a few years ago and myself who had a recent knee replacement to get out and enjoy the outdoors in a way we could not physically do either regular bikes. And we ride so much further with electric assist than we’d ever be able to on regular bikes. And the physical workout that we get actually is the best thing for our disabilities. Thanks for your no nonsense approach to cycling and encouragement to get out there and do it in a way that’s fun and beneficial to the rider’s needs! At age 64 we’re still riding ever chance we get!

I love the closing comments about how in the end, we all want friendly and approachable cycling, not aggressive gatekeeping or boasting. Nice tips!

As a Dutch person this was really fun to watch as a lot of your points I agree with, I always try to make my commute casual and relaxing by not biking too fast but I always forget mid ride and catch myself going twice as fast as I intended. It looks like your country is really opening up to biking as a mainstream way of commute and I hope things will only improve in the future for you. Happy biking!

When I was a child my elementary school offered bicycle training after classes. It was a one afternoon training program that covered the basics of safety, rules of the road, lights, signals and general bicycling courtesy. I think I recall that it was associated with the Elmer the Safety Elephant program. At the end you were given a pin that showed you had had the training. Me and most of my classmates mounted the pin on our bikes. I still remember what I was taught to this day. I ask kids today if they can get the same training and they usually don't know what I'm talking about. The program made such perfect sense that I cannot understand why they don't still provide it.

love how you knock out the gatekeeping right off the bat. thank you. I got into cycling from bike commuting and always wondered why cyclists are so elitist.

Tip for newbies like me 😇: learn how to clean and maintain your bike, and do it regularly!

Keep it fun! My co-worker and I are both over 50 and recently both bought new bikes to be able to ride like when we were kids. Not only is it joyful, but therapeutic. My co-worker was spending a lot of time inside after losing her soulmate. Now, the bike is like a fun toy that excites her.

Thanks for the tips!! Agree with all 8.. Learnt how to ride a bicycle in 3 days by myself in the driveway. I think the biggest challenge I faced is the fear of getting out into the street along with cars where there is no bike lanes. My advice for that is - just something you have to get used to. I am from Sydney, Australia and where I am from, cyclists and cars share the road and one shouldn’t have priority over the other. Actually I realised that most motorists are more anxious about hitting us than of us being anxious about getting hit by them.

Where I live there is a snobbery attached to cycling similar to what you mentioned in the video - an expectation to have the ‘right’ cycling clothing, usually an expensive racing bike, and to ride like there’s no tomorrow and get there real fast… I’m in my 50s and I found that I preferred riding an ebike rather than a racing bike as I had become very unfit after years of sitting at a desk. One day on my regular trip to work the wind was howling and it made getting up a good speed really hard, especially on the steeper sections of the route. When I came to the steepest part of the ride I was suddenly aware that nobody had passed me for quite a few minutes. I turned around to look behind and was very amused to see a long line of cyclists in the ‘right’ gear forming behind me and getting as close as possible to my rear wheel and to each other without trying to get past. It seems that having a huge Dutch ebike that can slog up hill and down at a constant speed in any weather was suddenly appreciated for the wind break I was providing them - and all the while I was helping everyone to make very decent progress in spite of the howling gale! I couldn’t help chuckling! As you said, it’s all about what works for you in your own situation.

I would encourage helmet use whenever you ride. There is no down side to it and it can save your life. Just as wearing a seat belt while driving. Starting commuters need more than just a bike to be safe. I would also encourage getting some kind of handlebar light and red tail light for safety. You also may need to ride after dark and have a good bell or horn. These are inexpensive today but really vital. Please do a video on bike lighting, bike bells and horns. A rain poncho in your backpack is also a good idea.

I was a bike commuter for many years in New York City and worked at a bike shop for 16 years. I’ve have heath issue that prevented me from riding or feel safe riding. Just 15 days ago I started riding again for exercise. It’s so strange because it has always been about commuting or doing errands. I’m so happy to do so. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your videos.

I love the style of your videos. Super chill. Real. You’re a charming dude. Keep at up 💪🏼

Hybrid bikes come in serval flavours. I find the mountain bike style with suspension forks, lots of gears and thick tyres ideal for the urban environment. Roads here are full of potholes, the hills are steep, I often have to jump kerbs, dodge broken glass and garbage, plus I can cycle down the off road trails in the area.

The only place I sweat is in my shirt, so I carried a fresh shirt with me, and kept a shirt at work for the inevitable times I forgot to bring one. Even in cold weather, I sweat, usually. If I don't sweat, I'm underdressed. Overdress, because heat is easier to cope with than cold.

I can give you my 6 tips, after commuting for 32 years in Copenhagen. 1 keep your bike as simple as possible, lowers your time spent on maintenance. Personally I run a fixied gear, with only a front brake. Two things to maintain, a chain and a brake, and no matter what bike you get, spent the time to learn to do the simple repairs. 2. But a lot of focus on your bike fit and the right saddle. You can have the world's best bike and if it don't fit, it wil be the world's worst. 3 atleast in Denmark, don't wear cycling clothes, everybody will look at you like you are an idiot. 4. Unless you are a an trained and skilled cyclist in traffic, don't and I say don't listen to music, it can cost you your life. 5. Always carry a small tool back, with a bike multitool, patches for a flat tire and a bike pump. And of course learn to use it. 6. Learn to enjoy the absolute freedom a bike gives you. And as said in the video, you'll see your city from a whole other perspective.

A tip: hybrid bikes comes in different configurations. Some have more comfortable sitting angle and no dampers. Making the bike more comfortable to ride, less expensive and lighter. Still you have the option to use the bike for excersise as well as comuting ☺️

You're a big part of the reason why I've bought a bike and started the odd day commuting a 14km ride to the train station.

I'll add that finding the right cadence is one of the most important things on bike commuting. At first I tried to ride the fastest I can thinking I would get used to the effort and eventually stop sweating. Then my father (PE professor) told me I should start by riding at whatever speed I didn't sweat and from there start making longer distances. I started at an average of 8-9 kph for no more than 3km and now I'm at 15kmph for more than 12km

I'm Dutch and cycling is just normal to me, so great job on giving all this basicly Dutch advice :-) I do have one constructive comment though: don't talk about cities, but urban areas. In Europe we have enormous amount of little, but still big enough towns that have people that cycle. The Netherlands polder area is a great example of this. It's not like you stop cycling when you go out of the city here!

Great tips and agree with them all. I started off cycling with my hybrid but also used it on trails. Cycling to work, I always leave a pair of dress shoes as work so they don't get crushed in my bag and to save a lot of weight. Now I always go into work dressed casually (when I don't ride in) and just change at work. It's so much more comfy walking in runners!

One mistake to add: Getting too angry at motorists. I commute by bike in NYC everyday, and while bike infrastructure has somewhat improved, our streets are still ridiculously hectic. This makes it very easy for me to yell at car drivers and try to fight them fairly often--especially when I first started. Sometimes, motorists are being inattentive or also flustered by the traffic rather than maliciously trying to create a dangerous situation. Better to voice reminders than try to fight them on every thing. I've learned that it's just not worth it and is unbecoming and better to curb that road rage. It's better and safe for me as a bike commuter and probably more helpful for keeping the general road rage sentiment at a minimum. Great video as usual, Tom. New subscriber here--but I've been watching your videos for about a month now and they are super helpful!!!

«Any day that you get a bike ride is better», period. 👍

I used a hybrid bike (Giant Roam 2) to commute for multiple reasons. First, my route from home included some very rough roads, railroad crossings, a stretch on a dirt fire road and a stint on commuter rail. My ride home included some fairly steep uphill climbs. I needed something sturdy and versatile but light enough to hump up and down the stairs at the train station. Second, I worked in a high crime area. We had a good place to lock our bikes but it wasn't completely immune to theft. The bike thieves who got past security knew what they were looking for and it wasn't a sub-$1,000 bike like my tweener with three different types of locks on it. It was always passed over when the bike thieves struck. Third, it would also serve as my running errands around town bike. The same versatility and lack of "cool" served me well in this capacity. I could lock it up at the shopping center or bowling alley and it would be there when I came back out.

I've just gotten my first ever bike (at the grand age of 52) - I'm a recovering alcoholic and doing a few things to boost both fitness and mental health. I'm ok on a bike, I've had ones before but never my own - I did buy a hybrid style but nothing expensive (about €300) and a helmet. I found this video brilliant - both informative, helpful and reassuring - so much so I subscribed and will go to YT home page and have a look at other advice / information (cos as a new owner, I need all the help I can get !!!). Thanks a million for such a great vid and giving a little more confidence to a new rider :-)

When Canadians are saying something positive about their community, they say 'here in Canada'. When they say something negative, they say 'in North America'.

Teach your kids how to ride to school safely. One of the best things we can do as a parent, for many reasons. As you are creating a very natural response to jump on their bike, to do anything, instead of sitting in a car. You are creating a healthy habit for them, without them realizing it. They will thank you, some day. Nearly every day, one of my kids say, it's so good to ride. Every kid needs that opportunity to feel that, and realize it for themselves. Be that person that creates a wonderful lifetime habit for the one you love the most. Happy riding!

Love your videos man! inspired me to start commuting on my bike (and make a video about it!). Keep up the great work!

Just ordered an ebike that's on its way that I'm planning to use for my commute and found your channel through the rain poncho video. (I live outside of Vancouver and we get a lot of rain). While you might not have inspired me to make the decision, the videos I've watched have definitely lowered the bar for entry and gave me really practical things to think about without being overwhelming like some bike forums online that I had looked at prior. So thanks for that. Plus you just seem so friendly, it's infectious and makes your videos that much more fun to watch.

For safety I'd recommend a high viz vest. My son, who's a bus driver, says that's what he looks out for. And lights unless it's really bright daylight. When riding think about keeping your effort constant rather than trying to maintain the same speed. This makes hills easy; you just drop down a gear, slow down a bit but keep peddling at the same rate/effort. Above all enjoy it. There's lots to learn and that's part of the enjoyment. I started as a commuter but I tour now too which a whole other world. Some great advice in the video and in other comments. Cyclists are the best. 🙂

Picked up everything in my commuting set up for under 1,000 USD. I haven't used a car to commute in 3 months now. Found this channel after I had already started the journey and was looking for some solutions with storage. Love the videos, thanks a ton for the effort!

Very well articulated video. My experience as a cycle commuter started in 1989. It was a process of trial, error, more trial, more error, etc. to arrive at some conclusions. Before anything else enjoy your commute. Ride it a few times on the weekend before your first commute. It'll give you an idea of time/effort, etc. 1) Don't commute in your work clothes or work in your cycling clothes. Find where you can change clothes and towel off if necessary. It gets sweaty and hygiene matters. 2) Acquire basic bike maintenance skills and tools. Learn to fix a flat on the road. 3) Base your bike choice on commuting distance, terrain and seasonal fluctuations. You may not need a geared bike at all. Keep it simple. 4) The same with gear. Helmet, gloves, windbreaker, 😎, padded liner for longer commutes, etc. You'll figure it out. 5) As your acumen and gear list grows don't let it overwhelm you. What you'll settle for at 3 months just won't work anymore in your 8th month. But, that's the nature of experience. 6) "It never gets easier you just go faster." - Greg Lemond My commuter rig now is a Reid City Bike obtained from Evocycles in New Zealand. It came with mudguards, rack, v-brakes, 3x7 gearing. I changed the gearing to 1x7. My add-ons were Ortlieb Sport 15 L panniers, Topeak Road Morph framepump, generic wb cage, Cygolite 350L frt and 80L Hot Shot rr combo, Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700x32mm tires, dual-sided Wellgo spd pedals, generic undersaddle toolbag with tube, patchkit, multi-tool, metal tirelevers, chaintool. All totaled I've got about 1500.00 NZD (935.00 USD) in my bike with upgrades. My clothes and shoes are all cycling specific with padded liners under shorts or long sport pants depending on weather. In cold weather if you don't start out a little chilly you're probably overdressed. I've got about 1500.00 NZD in my clothing gear as well. For those who may think that a little excessive try finding a dependable car for 3000.00 NZD that uses zero petrol, is dependable, leves no carbon footprint and is good for your health and well being. My present commute is 52km(32m) round trip. So, I need reliable, quality gear. More than anything else just get out the door. There is a strong sense of satisfaction in building a personalized rig and dealing with the elements, traffic and naysayers. Cycle commuting will toughen you up physically, mentally and spiritually. 30+ years and I've never regretted a day ridden. Only days I didn't. Happy Commuting. It's an iconoclastic existence. Stock up on oatmeal. You gonna need it. lol EDIT: Btw, I live outside Wellington, NZ. I tutor guitar at Newlands Intermediate School teaching group classes for ages 7-12. My residence is in Whitby near The Shops on Discovery. See Google Maps. You can plug in those two co-ordinates along with the bicycle icon. I use thevMiddle Road route through Porirua, Tawas and Johnson City. I use Hester Road, but pull off and climb Stewart Road Hill. Cheers, mates.

The tip I’d add is not to feel you have to do it every day, if it is really icy for example you may be better or safer using a different method of travelling for a day or two. It I use the bus for a couple of days it helps me enjoy and appreciate the bike more when I’m next on it.

I started biking 2 months and a half ago and, to me, bikes are still pretty much a way to exercise my body. Instead of going to the gym or jogging, I ride the bike. I'm trying to change my mindset about it and really start to see bikes as a transportation mode instead. My city is not too friendly to bike commuters, though, and that can represent a big obstacle to really start moving around. I really enjoy your channel, keep up the great work!

1) When temp < 5 C fingers and toes get cold faster on a bike than walking, so I recommend warm socks and gloves. Pack 2nd pair of socks for the office or just bring a weeks worth of clean ones on Monday. 2) Carry a small towel or bandana to dry your seat for return ride Or use to stop bleeding for the time you or other commuter wipe out. Real experience. 3) Use your voice to communicate with pedestrians. Seems strange but I find I'm on mute when I ride. Working on that. 4) Don't let other users (cars, pedestrians) make you mad. Riding angry leads to poor decisions and accidents. Seen it. Administering first aid to you slows my commute so just put on your teflon coat and enjoy the ride.

I love those benches at the end of the video! Also, great , informative content here.

Love your videos. They are informative, inspiring n funny!

While I sort see the point in videos like this, but the first tip is really the only tip people need. Get a bike and start riding to work. That's it. The more tips we start giving out the less likely are new people will be willing to start, because "Oh no, I need to think of this, that and the other" Just grab a bike and go, the rest will work itself out.

Mistake number 9: waiting at a traffic light with sensors that work only for cars…the light will never go green.

Subbed! My fave part: "be a cycling friend, not a competitor"

Absolutely the best place to find advice for commuter cyclists. Tom covers just about every critical aspect of commuting in this and his other videos. I watched this video just to see where he was going with the tag line and I found myself in total agreement with his real world approach to cycling. Tom; I can't wait for the book (that you should right on the subject) to come out. For everyone else; validate your primary and alternate routes on your none work days so you can give yourself the time you need to get to work and actually be able to enjoy the ride. You'll be amazed at how must stress is taken off your plate before you even get to the office just be taking a casual ride to the office........

My top tips - panniers for the gear (and lunch), mudguards to stay clean, and use the cycle paths.

Your point about logistics is often overlooked by many. I have a weekend big boy bike, and a commuting Brompton folding bike. The folding bike make so much sense to me. I can ride door-to-door to work, ride part of the way and take the bike with me on public transport. If I get a flat, and I absolutely have to be somewhere, I can shove it in the back of an Uber/ regular car. With my weekend bike, I need to deal with locking it, storing it. Such a pain! I don't like to leave my bike unattended.

Your comment about what to wear for your commute brought back memories of our dept. head on my ship. The Weapons Boss used his bike to commute. He commuted in his uniform and everything. I can't remember if he wore his shoes, or if he changed in to them when he arrived to the ship (he lived off base). The only special piece of gear I remember him wearing was a a pant clip on his right leg, so his pants wouldn't get caught in the chain.

Great tips indeed. I'll be sure to keep this in mind.

For anyone that rides a mountain bike in an urban environment, I’d suggest using cyclocross tires. The tread is meant for both on and off road. I’ve been very happy changing to these tires and have been using them for a few years now. Having both on and off road capability is great if you ride on the streets, paved paths or off in the dirt.

I started bike commuting at the end of this summer and found out that using bike shares is a lot more beginner-friendly than my own bike! Yes it costs a monthly fee (though here in Montreal it's currently very cheap at $19/month including unlimited rides of 45min or less - much more affordable than even a bus pass), because it allows more flexibility to switch to public transit if you're too tired, sweaty, or if the weather is no good!

When I was young and when KZfaq was young too, there weren’t that many aid videos on how to bike in the city or tips. So I thank you for making this video.

I love clicking on a random video only to find that it is my city five seconds into the video. My company is moving downtown by the end of the year and I’m thinking about semi-biking it (C-train+bike). Great content, keep it up!

Great advice, especially the part about being kind to yourself. It is OK to only cycle commute once a week or once a month if doing it more often does not work for you. I am also a big fan of “ride what you brought”; gear, especially new gear, is cool but it is likely a want rather than a need 😏. And finally, there is absolutely no reason for gatekeepers; the bicycle played an important role in the emancipation of women. Every time I see a cyclist (however they choose to embrace our love of our machines with two or three wheels) my heart sings at the sight of a kindred spirit. Ride on!

Love this! I live in a very rainy area so the gear I needed was more in depth than if someone wasn't going to go out in pouring rain because there's no other options. I got a waterproof pannier, a biking rain jacket, and a bike rack. over the years I've gained waterproof hiking shoes, rain pants and a few more bags!

Such an well thought out video. Much appreciated

If I lived in such a beautiful area, I'd definitely be riding all day! Thanks for a great, informative video. My son has recently become a bike commuter, riding to college, and your video had wonderful tips!

I love your perspective on 'not bragging' because bike commuting should be accessible to all and it shouldn't be seen as something only 'serious cyclists' in lycra can do! Thanks for making these videos! They are great :)

My tip for bike commuting: keep it interesting with a set of different routes. I personally have a short, low in cars route (my main route), a bad weather route, a workout hill route (several hundred vertical meters) and a scenic route. More to come.

This was very helpful actually, thank you.

This is amazing - thank you!

Riding to work in the early morning is always the best part of the day. Great tips!

Thanks for the video! I recently joined a bike advocacy group in my city and I feel so out of place there, since they seem like "real cyclists", and I just want a way to move around the city without a car 🙈 It really helps to hear from more experienced cyclists that I don't have to go full sport mode and wear cycling clothes 😅

What was said is so true. Thank you for sharing

hi i am in my 60's only been riding for the last two years (an E bike) in the UK, came across your channel looking at poncho's, what a fantastic channel full of great tips for new bikers, plain and simple you are doing a fantastic job thank you so much

The hybrid bike one hits home for me. I have a "mountain" bike that makes it a pain to go long distances in the city and I only spend my time in a few gears, so I force myself to appreciate how powerful it is by going on trails once or twice a week and enjoying that feeling of climbing up hills as if they're nothing

I disagree about #6. My commute is ten miles. One way. Athletic clothing can be okay. but twenty miles a day, five days a week, week after week. I found that I started migrating over to tight bicycle clothing because on a long ride like mine it is more comfortable. Not for aerodynamics but because of sweat wicking and chaffing. Every one has a different commute, granted. But for my unique situation it was a matter of comfort. I also have a shower at work and can push my ride a little faster, so showing up sweaty is never an issue for me. Cycling clothing makes more sense. If your commute is short or you don't have that option may go with his suggestion. Specialty clothing is expensive. If you ride as much as I do you will lose weight and need to replace you new fancy clothes. I think it is a matter of comfort. At least invest a couple of pair of cycling shorts for hot weather days.

insightful! thanks for sharing these

Here are 10 things I learned commuting 20km each way on the shoulder of an 80 km/h highway for several years: 1. Learn every possible alternative to being on that busy road shoulder, such as park cut-throughs and cycle paths. 2. Haha work somewhere with great cycle commute facilities such as showers/lockers and bike storage! 3. Be safety conscious: wear glasses (bugs hurt when making a direct hit with an eyeball at 25 km/h), wear a helmet and gloves, have good flashing lights front and rear to be seen. Wear a high viz top - maybe a basic orange and blue labourer's shirt. You definitely get treated with more respect by drivers than when wearing lycra. Carry a bell and use it to warn pedestrians you are near. 4. If your route doesn't have monster hills, consider a single speed bike with cyclocross tyres for puncture protection, simplicity and efficiency. 5. Definitely get mudguards (fenders to you North Americans). 6. Invest in a good rain jacket with bright colours. 7. Carry a spare folding tyre, as highways are littered with glass and metal shards that shredded a couple of my tyres. 8. Install a mirror (if on high speed roads). 9. Be a good road citizen - obey all road rules and never ever run red traffic lights. 10. Carry I.D with you with next of kin contact details. Happy commuting everyone!

When I moved to Copenhagen I was biking at high speed, just be standing at the intersection with lights. Slowly my speed went down to adapt to the rhythm of lights. Now I might be stopping at a few lights, a lot fewer than earlier.

This was a very cohesive and digestible list. I don't know much, but I feel like I'll be a tiny bit smarter and safer because of what I learned here.

You have awesome approach to make the experience more relaxed. Awesome video. Thanks for that. A relaxed approach to biking, is what a lot of bikers are missing. Being chill and nice to other bikers, many do not get that. Some see riding a bike as a competition, but not a sportive one: a competition of fancy bikes with tone of fancy gear and fancy clothing. If you do not match their fancy bike and gear expectation with what you have, they treat you as an inferior being.

Just found a deal on a sweet used bike and was doing some research on some accessories. Bumped into your helpful channel and super proud you hail from my hometown of Calgary! Vancouver has been pretty bike friendly so I’m excited to get around more on a bike this summer. Cheers!

Hybrid bikes are basically the SUVs of the biking world. We buy them for the potential utility, most of which we barely ever take advantage of.

The one and only mistake newbies make: not doing it because [insert reason]. At the risk of sounding like a cliché, just do it. Everything else will come, don't worry about it. If you want to kit up, then kit up. If you want to dress like Darth Santa in a kilt playing bag pipes, go for it. When you start out and you're still excited about it, you're going to buy stuff that later you'll realize you don't need. You're going to carry more gear than you need. Etc. Don't worry about it. It's how you learn.

Best advice I’ve seen on the topic (and I’ve cycle commuted for years). Oh and wow, Calgary looks beautiful!

Calgary looks like a beautiful city. your choices in filming locations framed it well, nice work!

Figuring out the logistics takes some time indeed! One thing that definitely helped me is talking to coworkers who commute by bike. Also, the fact that I knew that they biked to work because I had seen them, not because I had smelled them, helped me calm down with regards to hygiene. And I would never think of commuting as fitness - so much start/stop/slow/stop/etc at intersections! But it does boost my heart and adrenaline in the morning, which is very nice.

I round a rack on a pile of stuff that I found on the way down the street, & screwed on an old basket to it & now I use the basket all the time for both shopping, as well as commuting. Separate bike for mountain bike riding. Really great video.

Really nice! I was about to spend money. Thank you so much, i feel more light!

Beautiful scenery there in Calgary & some great advice. I started commuting in January 2021 and I've made every one of these mistakes 😅.

About tip 3: get a bike map from your local cycling campaign, showing all the routes that government maps don't or won't. (Isn't it annoying that the google login process takes so long that I missed the live chat.)

I really like that you pointed out the "no brainer once you figure it out," but you didn't know that starting out." I'd love to see more of those unique little situations where you worked out a oh-so-simple solution. Thanks!

Thank you! Everything I've always mentioned about riding a bicycle because that's how I grew up in Puerto Rico. Living in Texas now and it seems most are stuck on the fast bikes and biking for excercise rather than pleasure and commuting. Hopefully it'll soon take the direction of more balanced cycling commuting.

All these tips are excellent but my favorate is tip 3 'Choosing the wrong route'. You are so correct here. I have found some super cool, awesome routes which are closed to cars on the bike. Not only quiet routes but very scenic as well. When you start ridng your bike regularly you will find these routes. Also there's great apps (like Komoot which I use) which will show you these quiet, bike friendly routes.

Nailed it, Edmonton area cyclist here, my only addition is prepare for the weather with your bike, my thin tired (700cX35) hybrid did not work in winter every day, even with studded tires...now have a fat bike for snow days. Also, good lights and visibility aids, driver acceptance is an ongoing challenge in my experience.

I sort of clicked on this video by accident but it immediately caught my attention. It's really inspired me to go on a ride, even if I don't end up riding to school right away.

I’m going on two years commuting to work on bike ❤, super helpful

Nice video. The point about dressing for the destination, not the ride, is great for US commuters. Too easy to get caught up in the lycra bro mentality, and before ya know it, ppl are turned away from cycling b/c of the time it takes to just get out the door, because they're uncomfortable once they arrive, or b/c they just don't like the lycra scene. Thanks for the great content.

All except one of my bikes have drop handlebars. My commuter of choice was my touring bike, mainly because it can carry luggage and has lots of gears. I had a long climb on the return leg of my old commute (recently retired so no longer commute to work). I nearly always wore Lycra - I never cared what my co-workers thought.

Thanks mate, some good tips there. Obvious when you point them out but not obvious to a newbie.

Ironically your city area is really beautiful, that looks like a fun place to bike! Beautiful choices in scenery as your backdrop