My commuting partner and setup for the past couple of years

I started commuting by bicycle a couple years ago, which at first I thought would be a major challenge, since I was so used to commuting by bus every day.

A few things I definitely realised I needed during my first couple years were:

1. Two baskets. The one on the front for personal stuff like my jacket, a small bag with my phone, wallet and so on. The one on the back for work-related stuff. That’s where I carry most of my cables, mic stands (if they fit), audio interfaces and stuff. I’m an audio engineer, so I need to carry a lot of stuff for work most of the time.

2. A helmet. I know a lot of commuters don’t use helmets because they’re annoying and they can be difficult to carry around, but I personally realised that most of the time I preferred feeling like I wasn’t a fall away from death. Especially since I’m usually cruising around 20-30km/h. It felt right for me.

3. A rainsuit. Eventually I bought the entire kit. Waterproof pants, jacket and even a waterproof spray for my glasses. I manage to fit them tightly packed inside one of the bags on the back and I don’t even notice they’re there most of the time. They’ve become must-haves for me.

4. Cash. I usually never carried cash around, but after I got a flat tire on my way to work, and the guy at the bike repair stop only received cash, I started carrying cash around pretty much everywhere. At least enough cash to afford a quick repair if anything goes wrong. I also carry a small set of keys and screwdrivers just in case, but I’d rather not mess with the tires myself if I can get someone else to do it for me.

Ultimately, what I’ve discovered about bike commuting, is that it’s a completely different experience from road biking. Obviously this sounds logical to experienced riders, but having never used a bicycle for practical purposes before (and only used it for fun), I legitimately thought it was going to be far more difficult to have a normal life commuting exclusively by bike. You don’t really have to be super knowledgeable about bicycles, or in very good shape, and you don’t have to be extremely passionate about cycling as a sport or an activity to be able to enjoy the massive advantages of bicycle commuting. Mostly, knowing exactly how long every trip is going to take, getting some light-to-medium exercise every day, and getting to work in a much better mood.