Seventy-five dollars a month just to babysit my car while Im at work?
So one muggy morning, I decided to give bike commuting a shot.
I didnt plan my route.
Robin waits her turn to cross a busy road on her way to work. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
Or take my bike for a test ride, even though I hadnt ridden it in months.
Hey, what could go wrong in 2 miles?
Funny what you dont notice from your car.
My dark jeans and black tunic were drenched in sweat less than a mile into my ride.
Not a great choice of biking attire for mid-90s temperatures.
But it wasnt just the end-of-summer heat that was making me sweat.
I felt like I was biking uphill and I live in Florida.
I asked myself: Was biking always this hard?
Have my leg muscles atrophied?
Then a guy standing at a bus stop pointed out the obvious: My tires needed air.
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Then I Ubered home that afternoon.
A few days later, temperatures dropped slightly, and a helpful co-worker put air in my tires.
I decided to give bike commuting another try if only to get my bike home.
This time, I planned my route and took a street with bike lanes.
Since then, Ive become an avid bike commuter.
I love that I get to exercise during my commute, and Im also saving money.
Plus, Im less prone to after-workimpulse buys.
Want to try biking to work?
Here are a few tips I wish I had known before I tried bike commuting.
Dont Miss:
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1.
Test out your commute by doing a practice run during the weekend.
You may be surprised by just how bike-unfriendly your normal route is.
Seeing just how much you sweat could change your mind.
Dry Shampoo Is Your Friend
Wearing a helmet is nonnegotiable whenever you ride your bike, OK?
So that means helmet hair is something youre going to have to deal with.
Dry shampoo comes in handy when you better freshen up to make yourself presentable for the office.
Opt for lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen to minimize sweat during your ride.
If you wear skirts or dresses, throw on a pair of bicycle shorts or leggings underneath.
(Long skirts and dresses are best avoided, though.)
(It happens.)
Lighten Your Load Already
Youre saving money by bike commuting.
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Bikes are best stored indoors, where theyre less likely to get stolen.
Plus, theyre more likely to rust when exposed to rain or snow.
Be Prepared for Bad Weather
Here in Florida, storms are a bit unpredictable.
I keep a kid-size poncho in my backpack that I can pop out if it starts to drizzle.
The kid-size part is key because its short enough that it doesnt get in the way of pedaling.
Obviously, when theres lightning or extreme weather, you shouldnt be biking.
So have a backup plan for the days that you arent able to bike to work.
Otherwise, youll need to work the occasional Uber or Lyft into your budget.
Dont Give up Your Parking Pass…
Yet
So youve had your first successful bike commute?
Still, hang onto your parking pass for at least a couple weeks.
Its great when bike commuting happens without a hitch.
Is Bike Commuting for You?
This isnt really an if-I-can-do-it-anyone-can key in of thing.
There are a lot of reasons bicycle commuting has worked for me:
I have a flexible schedule.
I only work daylight hours.
My workplace is casual.
I dont have kids to shuttle to and from school or day care.
Most importantly, I feel safe bike commuting.
If you want to try it, commit to doing it three or four times over the next months.
Take it from me: Your first try may not go perfectly.
But after three or four times, youll get the hang of it.
What if you hate it?
Then its probably not worth whatever money you save.
Your ideal commute is one that doesnt leave you frazzled before youve even gotten to work.
But dont be surprised if you get hooked.
And the $75 Im saving is a pretty sweet bonus.
Send your tricky money questions to[email protected]or chat with her inThe Penny Hoarder Community.
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