For those deciding at the last minute to bike to work on Bike To Work Day, here’s a handy dandy checklist of things to have and do. I recommend getting this stuff together the night before you ride.
- Check weather forecast.
- The bike:
- Tires inflated.
- Saddle adjusted.
- Brakes adjusted and operating.
- Gears adjusted.
- Chain lubricated.
- Lights work; batteries charged.
- Flat repair:
- Spare tube and/or patch kit.
- Tire levers.
- Pump or CO2.
- Clothing:
- Under five miles or so, nothing special is really needed.
- For longer distances, bike shorts are nice to have.
- Rain gear if necessary.
- Safety gear: Gloves, eye protection, helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, etc.
- Backpack or some other way to carry “stuff.” Contents may include:
- Bike lock if necessary.
- Cash for emergency public transportation fare.
- Transit passes.
- Clothing & shoes for the office.
- Personal hygiene items:
- Towel & washcloth.
- Soap.
- Shampoo.
- Hair care items.
- Deodorant.
- Lunch.
- Wallet.
- Office badge and keys.
- House keys.
- Cell phone, camera, whatever other gadgets you like to carry.
This is a fairly minimal list. You can go crazy and do much more, but this is generally about what most bike commuters should need.