Daily Commuting Tip - More Speed, Less Haste

Posted: 29th September 2009 | Words: Eddie Allen | Image: Hugo Gladstone

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The major selling point of bicycle commuting is the quick and predictable journey time, when compared with driving or other ways of getting about.

While cars and their occupants huff and puff through the traffic, starting and stopping, accelerating and braking, waiting at junctions and in queues, the cyclist can maintain a state of almost perpetual motion, rarely having to stop for very long. Bikes can filter through traffic safely and easily, or avoid traffic altogether by taking the road less travelled.

While the car driver is still doing his or her three-point-turn in the road, the cyclist is wafting around the corner and out of sight. The bicycle's killer blow however is its ability to deliver a true door-to-door journey. No walking to the bus stop and waiting. No finding a parking space and walking to the office. ‘Door-to-door' means exactly that.

All of this explains why cyclists in the city can easily attain a true 12mph average speed without breaking a sweat, while most urban car journeys struggle to hit that figure, even though they are capable of hitting much higher speeds.

Here are a few tips to further optimise the speed of your door-to-door bicycle commute, without having to break a sweat or commute on a time-trial bike.

• Make sure your bike is ready to go and accessible - don't bury it in the shed or behind the car in the garage
• Keep your daily work/commuting kit together, with the bike, for a sharp exit
• If your work dress code allows, wear normal, practical clothes and take it easy when riding - this way you won't have to factor-in getting changed at work. It only takes a few more mph to go from ‘serene' to ‘sweaty' and the effect it'll have on your journey time will be negligible. 
• Make your bike as maintenance free as possible - puncture proof tyres and slime tubes may roll a little more slowly than lightweight ‘race' tyres and tubes, but a puncture means an easy win for the car, while you're getting your hands dirty at the roadside. 
• Keep your bike in good working order: might sound like a no-brainer but a lot of commuter bikes spend their lives in a constant state of sad neglect. A well maintained bike won't let you down and will be easier to pedal. Both of which mean quick, effortless and predictable journey times. Don't go crazy though - good enough is good enough. 
• When out on the road think perpetual motion - try to eliminate stopping and starting as much as possible. Save energy. Look well ahead for gaps in traffic and places where you can safely filter through. Don't get boxed in, assert yourself and take your lane.

Follow this advice and you'll be well on the way to experiencing that rare Zen-like bicycle commuter experience. Regular commuters will know what I mean - that moment when you're gliding through traffic with seemingly very little effort, while the world around is getting itself into a terrible state.

More: Daily Commuting Tips Archive