1. Learn Stuff: The Commuter
Another Bike to Work Week has come and gone, and we’d like to give a high-five to everyone who participated. Maybe you were already biking to work everyday, or maybe you were just giving it a try. Any way you look at it, “tis the season to keep on riding.” What follows are some tips for making your commute and work day a little easier, and a lot more comfortable.

The biggest obstacle facing a potential commuter is probably hygienic. No one wants to sit in wet, smelly riding clothes all day, and no one wants to be known as the smelly guy or gal at work. The method I use to avoid this scenario is to leave home with plenty of time so I can ride to work at a moderate pace. That way I don’t feel any pressure to ride hard and get too sweaty. Another trick is to drop clothing off at work on Monday and use it all week. Leave a change of clothes and some toiletries in your office or your locker. This way all you’ll need to carry the rest of the week is a change of shirt and underwear. For most folks, riding everyday is probably not an option, but by leaving some supplies at work you can shoot for riding a couple of days a week.

Mapping out a good route is the next part of the planning process. Consult your local bike shop, or contact your local advocacy organization. Riding along the highway may be the fastest, but probably not the safest route. I find that it’s a lot of fun to explore along the way, so I vary my route a bit from day to day. If you’re coffee drinker, try a route that passes your favorite shop so you can stop in for a pastry and a freshly ground cup.

It goes without saying that the bike itself is integral to the commute. Carbon fiber road racing bikes and big travel downhill bikes might be fun to ride in the right situation, but they are probably not the best bikes for riding to work. A comfortable bike with a rack, lights, a lock and fenders might not look sexy, but is very utilitarian. Remember, the bike will likely spend the day outside locked up so you probably don’t want to ride a bike that you will be worrying about all day. Keeping the chain lubed and the tires pumped up to the maximum PSI will keep you rolling smoothly and quietly.

Also, a simple tool kit to throw in your bag can mean the difference between arriving refreshed and ready for the day and showing up late after walking the last two miles with a flat. A spare tube, a set of tire levers and a mini pump or a CO2 inflator and the knowledge to use them is like a small insurance policy. If you are riding, you’re probably going to need a few more calories, so keep you desk stocked with some dried fruit, or some granola bars.

There are many reasons to bike to work, but whether your reason is political, physical, environmental, or a combination thereof, don’t forget to have fun! Stay tuned for seasonal commuter tips as the weather changes.

2. Accessory Handbook: Cycling Computers for the Commuter
These days you can easily drop 400 clams on a cycle computer that will inform you of your GPS coordinates, heart rate zone, power output in watts, and tell you to go faster. If you just want the commuting basics- current speed, trip distance, odometer, clock, temperature, etc- then it’s hard to beat the little Planet Bike Protegé cycle computers, available for a mere 25 to 50 bucks. Rather than launch into a full-on rundown of the technical benefits of our computer line, here is a list of nifty things that you can do with them:

1. Track how many “car-free miles” you can rack up with bicycle trips.

2. See how long your ride into work takes by different routes.

3. Try and beat your fastest commute time.

4. Set a goal for how many miles you would like to ride each week and track your progress.

5. Use the temperature function to see if you just set a record for coldest/ hottest commute.

6. If you have an odometer reading of 1,000 miles and you still haven’t replaced your chain, do so before it stretches too much and ruins your gears.

7. See what top speed you can nail screaming down a steep hill.

3. Advocacy Update:
Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit Act
At this year’s National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., bicycle industry leaders, bike advocates, enthusiasts, and politicians sat down to discuss ways to further weave the bicycle more fully into the fabric of American culture.

One of the most interesting discussions surrounded the Bicycle Commuter Act. The Act proposes a financial incentive to those who commute by bike. Currently, individuals who commute by bus, subway, car-pool and van-pool receive a transportation fringe benefit of up to $215 per month if their employers have opted into the program. The Bicycle Commuter Act would simply extend the same benefit to bicycle commuters.

Proponents of the Bicycle Commuter Act are attempting to level the playing field for those who ride their bikes to and from work. US Census data indicates that 50% of all work commute trips are less than 5 miles which is an ideal distances for traveling by bike. The Bicycle Commuter Act will help pay for the purchase of helmets, lights and regular bike tune-ups. Further, it will cover rain and cold-weather gear to encourage year-round pedaling and other expenses such as locker facilities.

Passage of the Act will help Americans embrace an alternative to the car-dependent lifestyle. At the same time, many in Congress also view this as a viable way to lower obesity rates, improve air quality, diminish urban congestion, and overcome our nation’s dependency on foreign oil.

All this talk in Washington makes one really appreciate the amazing power of our favorite little machine – the bicycle.