What makes a good commuting bike

If you're still looking for more commuting tips, check out Jason Sumner's book that's full of handy info, like how to prep your bike and how to ride safely at night. Lay out everything you need the night before. Make sure your bike is ready, your work clothes are packed, and you have everything you need to roll out the door. It helps to make a list of everything you need to bring with you, or just set aside a plastic drawer by the door for all your commuter stuff.

And set up a USB charging station nearby for bike lights and other gadgets. Over the years, her rides to work and running errands have ranged from 16 miles to 32 round-trip. Read about her car-free adventures on her blog, loveandtransportation. In winter, I carry heat packs chemical toewarmers and rubber gloves for extra warmth while making repairs.

Your checklist might be shorter or longer depending on what you need, but step one is to get organized. Super-commuter Erica Goddard rides 16 miles round-trip to her job in Seattle. She recommends using a trip planner, like the bike mode in Google maps, and reaching out to other cyclists to find the best route.

Then, do a test run. Download Dark Sky to tell you when and for exactly how long it will rain in your location. The tread is made to dig into the dirt and give you greater traction while riding on rough terrain. Knobby tires will get worn out very quickly on pavement, and slicks will slightly increase your speed due to less rolling resistance. How will mountain bike tires compare to those on a road bike? The biggest advantage of mountain bike tires compared to narrower road bike tires is that they can handle potholes, bumps, and debris better.

The wide tires can roll over smaller obstacles with more ease. These wider tires offer a more comfortable ride. Depending on the length of your commute this could mean riding only for a few more minutes. The geometry of a mountain bike allows the rider to take an upright position.

This is more comfortable compared to a road bike which forces the rider to lean forward. The upright position also makes it way easier to look over shoulder to look for traffic or another cyclist. It gives you as a rider the ability to see more of your surroundings while also increasing your visibility to others.

The trade off is that the upright position makes the cyclist less aerodynamic. A road cyclist leaned forward has less wind resistance and drag allowing the rider to cut through wind. Full Suspension — Full suspension on a mountain bike is nice under rough terrain, because it will absorb most of the shock. Hardcore mountain bikers choose these bikes for technical trails, because they can handle anything the mountain throws at them. The suspension will absorb any of the jarring and bumping from the trail.

E-bikes are pedal-assist, where the motor only kicks in when you pedal. Whether you are covering a considerable distance or just have a super hilly commute, e-bikes make getting around on two wheels more accessible because they aren't as dependent on personal fitness.

They are not without their drawbacks; the main two being price and weight. Even entry-level e-bikes can cost thousands of dollars, and the most feathery models still tip the scales around 20kg or more. Just about every category of bike comes in an e-assisted version, but commuters are to our mind one of the best applications of the technology — and no, e-bikes are not cheating.

With all of these different types of bikes, all designed in one way or another to achieve the same goal, finding the right one can seem an arduous task.

So, we posed the question to some of the world's biggest bike brands to find out what they think you should look out for if you're looking to get a commuter. Michael Mayer, Trek's Director of Product Marketing, tells Cyclingnews the most important considerations when you are looking for a commuter bike are the length of trip, terrain and what you need to carry with you.

A road bike is the preferred bike choice," he says. Mark Cote, the Active Category Leader at Specialized has three main questions every bike commuter needs to think about when shopping for a ride. Frankly, this ties to sweat, distance, speed and related - do you have a place to shower and change at work?

How much gear do you need to carry, and how will you carry it? Locking, charging, protection from weather all come in to play, and some setups fair better than others based upon where it'll live during and after the workday," he said in an email. While these primary considerations are the crux of the issue, Cote also says riders should verify not only the max tyre clearance but also rack and fender capabilities with their initial purchase so they don't get caught out.

So planning for this during the purchase allows you to purchase the most versatile bike for your uses," he says. Mayer says the people looking to start commuting bikes should seriously consider pedal assist.

It shortens your commute time, makes it easy to carry heavy loads and you sweat less. As you gain experience and want to go faster or explore various routes and types of terrains, you may find yourself looking for a more specific bike built for those special needs.

Road bikes are the fastest type of bikes. Everything about them is built for speed: geometry, wheels, weight. Their geometry is designed so you sit in a forward-leaning, aerodynamic position. You need a strong core to avoid your hands getting numb from too much pressure. Their wheels are narrow and slick typically between 23 and 28mm , and they offer low rolling resistance.

They are built with lighter components than most other bikes, because saving weight means being able to go faster, especially on a climb.

Road bikes have drop handlebars, which allow for several hand positions, making it easy to find the most comfortable and convenient grip even on longer rides. When going really fast, you can get in the drops and minimize your wind-resistance. They feel most at home on paved roads at high speeds under experienced riders. Similar or identical in geometry to road bikes, flat bar road bikes a. Fitness bikes are built for fast rides, mostly on paved roads, but they offer a little more comfort.

Because of the position and the geometry of the handlebar, you can sit in a less aggressive position. This allows you to keep an eye on the traffic better and it allows you to rely less on your core muscles. Their wheels are slightly wider typically between 25 and 32 mm , therefore they absorb bumps better than classic road bikes.

Many fitness bikes come with mounting points for fenders and bike racks. This is a welcome addition for commuters because it allows them to ride in wet weather and opens up the possibility of using panniers. One downside of having a flat handlebar is that without adding a handlebar grip, it only allows for one hand position. This can make riding them on long distances somewhat inconvenient. Flat bar road bikes are fast bikes that offer more versatility than road bikes.

They are a good option even for new riders. Mountain bikes MTBs are built to be ridden off-road on unpaved gravel roads and steep mountain hills. MTBs have flat handlebars and offer an upright seating position. The rider feels completely in control of the bike. They have wide and knobby tires, fork suspensions a.

This translates into a very smooth riding experience not only when riding in potholes, cobblestones, onto curbs but also riding off-road. Anywhere really. They have plenty of low gears. You can commute on a MTB even if you need to climb very steep hills. Because mountain bikes are built for off-road riding, they lack some of the features that a typical commuter needs: mounting points for fenders and bike racks.

Also, heavier wheels with knobs mean more rolling resistance. You have to pedal harder to maintain your speed. Built to carry heavy loads on long journeys, touring bikes strong and durable machines. To the untrained eye, they can appear as road bikes because of the drop handlebars. Their geometry offers a more elevated riding position than road bikes. This makes it easier for the rider to keep an eye on the cars approaching from behind.

Touring bikes have multiple mounting points on the frame, and they often come equipped with fenders mudguards and a rear rack. These characteristics are essential for multi-day long-distance trips. It is very easy to put several large panniers on them. Their downside is that they are heavier than road bikes. Hybrid bikes borrow some characteristics from touring bikes and some from mountain bikes and combine the best of both worlds in one.

Usually they come with riser bars that allow the rider to be in a more upright position. This makes them comfortable even on longer distances. Their tires are usually slick or semi-slick, so they can travel fast on paved roads.