Over the COVID19 pandemic period, many of us have worked from home, leading us to realize the amount of money that we were actually spending on commuting to work. If you are back in the office or are preparing to return to the office and want to keep on saving money on your commute, stay in shape, and be kinder to the environment while heading to work, a bicycle could be a great investment. If you have been thinking about cycling to work but aren’t sure where to get started, keep these tips in mind.

Getting the Right Bike:

Since you’re going to be riding your bicycle to and from work every day, it’s important to invest in the right bicycle. A sturdy and lightweight road bike is a good option, or if you are concerned about cycling to work and turning up out of breath and sweating, you might want to consider investing in an electric bike. This will do a lot of the work for you when it comes to beating the traffic and getting to work on time, without tiring you out.

Get Insured:

With more and more people taking up cycling to work, protecting yourself financially in the event of a collision, damage, or theft of your bicycle has become more important than ever. Getting bicycle insurance is always a wise idea before you start cycling to work, and it’s worth spending some time shopping around for a comprehensive policy that will cover anything from repairing damage to your bike to paying medical bills if you are involved in an accident. Velosurance offers bicycle insurance policies for your peace of mind. You can also check out the Velosurance blog for plenty of handy tips and useful advice on all cycling topics, such as getting road bike ready for season. The blog post on getting road bike ready for the season includes tips like checking brake pads and inspecting tires.

Safety First:

When it comes to cycling to work long-term, your safety should be the main priority. There is no limit on the amount of protective gear that you can invest in to keep yourself safe and minimize injury when cycling. However, the one piece of equipment that is always a must-have is a cycling helmet. Protecting your head is paramount and a helmet can shield you against several serious injuries or even death. Even though cycling helmets are not compulsory by law in some states, it is highly recommended that you wear one since they can save your life. Hi-visibility clothing is another must-have since the easier it is for other road users to see you, the safer you will be.

Get a Bike Fit:

Once you have found the perfect bike for you, it’s a good idea to get a bike fit and have the bicycle set up to suit you. This can be done by a professional and once complete, your bicycle will feel much more comfortable and easier to ride, which can make getting to work on it each day a breeze and could even improve your safety since there’s a reduced risk of losing your balance and falling off. You’re also less likely to be stiff and sore after riding with the right bike fit, which will encourage you to continue riding to work.

Build Your Confidence:

If you have not been cycling for quite some time, it’s understandable that you might not feel confident jumping straight into riding to work on your next workday. You may want to spend some time getting used to the bike by going out for short rides in quieter areas and gradually building up to riding on the roads. Do this without a destination in mind so that you are not dealing with the pressure of getting to a workplace or another destination in mind. You could also use your bicycle for short trips to places like the grocery store, where you will not have to worry about being there for a certain time.

Review Road Rules:

Before riding your bike on the road, it’s a good idea to spend some time revising the rules of the road so that you understand where you are meant to be and what you’re supposed to be doing when cycling. While some rules such as stopping at red lights are the same for both drivers and cyclists, others will be different, such as giving arm signals and knowing which lanes to stay in. Understanding the rules of the road for cyclists is important for keeping you safe and avoiding accidents, especially if you have to ride on a road where there are no designated cycling lanes. Of course, you should always stick to cycle lanes where they are available.

Cycling to work is taking off, with more people getting their bicycles out to save money and be kinder to the environment. If you’re back in the office and want to switch up your commute, make sure that you’re prepared before getting started.