Less is more

A beginner’s guide to using two wheels instead of four

Inspired by last month’s Bike to Work Week, I undertook a lifestyle experiment. I’ve ridden to work (and almost everywhere else) for the past two and a half weeks, with a few rare exceptions, and I don’t anticipate changing course any time soon. Here are my rookie’s tips for finding your way on two wheels.

Dust off your bike and get ready to ride

Give yourself time to get familiar with your bike before you’re counting on it as your primary mode of transport. It took me a few days—and a few frustrating, greasy early mornings on the driveway—to work out some kinks with my ride and get it in working order. 

My trusty Gary Fisher has been sitting in various basements and garages ever since I abandoned mountain biking a decade ago. On “Day Zero” of my bike-to-work experiment, I dragged the bike up my basement steps and left it in the mudroom. Early on Day One, I popped both wheels in my trunk and drove to QuikTrip to air them up. When I realized one wasn’t holding air and bike shops wouldn’t open for another hour, I drove to work instead. Having taken my wheels to G. Oscar Bicycle for air and repair, on Day Two I couldn’t work around the chain and other doodads (go ahead and laugh) on the back of my bike to replace my rear wheel. Feeling deflated but determined to finally get started, I borrowed a neighbor’s bike and rode to work for the first time. A friend stopped by later to put the wheel in place. On Day Several, I encountered a different issue with my chain and rode a borrowed bike yet again. Back we went to G. Oscar, where bike whiz Gaylord Oscar Herron had it up and running in no time. 

Gear up

A few staple pieces of gear go a long way. Here’s what’s helped me the most:

Apparel: Lightweight, comfortable weather gear tops my list of commuting essentials. I recently got completely soaked (no doy) riding to work in flash flood conditions. It’s hard to say whether any specialized gear could have kept me dry, but I squished into the office that day determined to find out. I called a few local shops but didn’t find the quality, selection or price that suited me. I ended up ordering an ultra-lightweight, top-rated Outdoor Research jacket from Amazon for about $100 and some pants on clearance at REI for about $50. Thankfully, a break in the weather occurred while I waited for my new supplies to arrive.   

In college, I invested in a few ultra-windproof Marmot jackets, both of which have come in handy on my bike. One is a durable shell, and the other is a super-light, silky windbreaker that fits in my pocket. 

For my base layers, I go with breathable or looser clothing that’s fitted at the ankle to avoid snags (see Zac King’s story on p. 30 for more on “letting your junk breathe” and trendy tapered pants).  

Storage: Unless you’ve got built-in storage on your ride, a comfortable, high-utility bag is essential for transporting your clothing, food, laptop and other necessities to and from work. San Francisco manufacturer Timbuk2 has perfected their durable messenger bags through years of research and customer feedback. The progressive company’s practical designs and environmental responsibility make this a great brand to get behind. A large bag will run you about $100 and is worth every penny. Whatever brand and style you select, the two features of my Timbuk2 that I couldn’t go without are its rubbery waterproof lining and a secondary strap that keeps the load centered on my back.  

Lights: I carry a small flashlight that attaches to my helmet and found a simple LED blinker to clip above my rear wheel. Trust me—it’s treacherous enough taking to these streets during the day. If you’re out when it gets dark, you’ll want as much visibility as possible. 

Red Light | Green Light
My cycling hang-ups and how I’m dealing with them

Red Light: Cycling is uncomfortable. I did a fair amount of mountain biking back in high school and college. One day, I realized I wasn’t having fun and didn’t even really enjoy riding a bike. Being hunched over the handlebars felt forced, and bike seats need no further introduction. 

Green Light: Soreness is expected the first few days on any seat, but my old one was straight-up unpleasant. Gaylord Oscar Herron  of G. Oscar Bicycle replaced my standard seat with a $25 model that’s wider and more cushy. It only took a few days to break in the new seat, and Herron lowered it a bit so it sits below my handlebars. It’s still no townie, but I’m much more comfortable. 

Red Light: Sensitive Skin. My skin breaks out easily if I hang around in sweaty stuff. 

Green Light: The jury is still out on this. Unseasonably cool spring weather has created the perfect environment to try biking to work. I change into work clothes soon after arriving and haven’t had any issues with breakouts. If it ever does warm up this summer, this might become an issue when I show up to work super sticky. I might need to keep some cleansing wipes at the office with me. 

Red Light: The helmet hair dilemma/I need to look professional at work

Green Light: My thick, wavy hair doesn’t look much different post-helmet than its standard disheveled (tousled?) look on any other day. Mind you, if I was into round-brush/blowout styling, the helmet would probably be an issue. I don’t know how to solve this for anyone else. 

For my bike commute, I wear comfortable workout clothes and pack a lightweight outfit to change into at Voice HQ. Incidentally, this simplifies my morning routine because I don’t try on what I’ll be wearing that day until I’m at work with no other options. Sometimes, this means I look like a kindergartener who dressed herself. Most days, I look just fine. 

For more from Molly, read her features on incoming TPS superintendent Deborah Gist, Okie filmmaker Sterlin Harjo and the movement to protect Turkey Mountain.