1. Get a bike. The one in your closet or garage will probably be fine, assuming the tires are pumped up and the brakes and drive train are in working order. If you really need a new one, visit a few bike shops to test-drive what’s available and compare prices before you buy. Or check out the deals at the annual VeloSwap, Oct. 28 at the National Western Complex (for details, go online to veloswap.com).
2. Wear a helmet. You never know when you might be tripped up by a rock, a dog or a run-in with an inattentive driver. Make sure the helmet is ANSI-approved and fits low on your forehead; if it’s tipped back, your face may end up taking the brunt of a fall.
3. Pick a route. Denver’s official bike map, printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper, can show you all the options. Buy one for $5 from the city cashier’s office on the second floor of the Wellington Webb Building, or for $6 by mail from Sharon Cordova, Denver Central Services, 201 W. Colfax Ave. Dept. 305, Denver, CO 80202 (make check out to Manager of Revenue). Look for bike paths or lanes on streets with the least traffic, as opposed to the most direct access. And do a test run on a weekend to find out how long it will take and uncover any hidden hazards.
4. Get some gear. You’ll need a windbreaker and gloves, and probably a spare tube, tire levers and a pump – as well as a seat bag or over-the-wheel rack to carry them. For winter riding, you’ll also want a headlight, taillight and fenders, plus full-fingered gloves and a beanie to cover your head. Consider that even at a moderate pace, riding always means you’re generating your own headwind.
5. Don’t sweat the showering. “Unless you’re really doing it for exercise, if you’re riding a mile or two and take your time, you’re really not going to be that sweaty. It’s no worse than walking across a parking lot on a hot day,” says Linda Dowlen of the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Not convinced? Look for facilities in your building or a nearby health club, carry packets of baby wipes, or try the Rocket Shower, a spray-on, wipe-off cleaner introduced last year by Austin-based 10 Nine 8: “A spritz here and there … and you’re fresh enough to get through the day,” reports Lise Neer of Bike Denver.
6. Get a lock. If you don’t, your commute may turn out to be one-way-only. The U-shaped style works well in most situations, but you may want a cable and padlock if you have to tie up to a light pole. Whichever you use, make sure it’s hefty enough to hold off a pair of bolt cutters.
7. Know the rules of the road. Ride on the right on bike paths, obey stoplights on the streets, make eye contact with drivers at intersections, and stay off the sidewalks. “They’re for pedestrians, and cars aren’t expecting you to be there,” says cycling instructor Tracy Halasinski. “Also, you need to be wary of parked cars. I’ve never been ‘doored,’ but I’ve heard of people who have.” For more, sit in on the free brown-bag class Halasinski will offer at noon Thursday in Skyline Park, behind the D&F Tower on the 16th Street Mall.
8. Dress appropriately. “You don’t have to wear Lycra shorts or a jersey to be a real cyclist,” Halasinski says. “Just wear what’s comfortable. As you ride, you’ll figure out what works.” One rule of thumb: Dress in layers, so you can be warm in the morning and shed your outer clothing for the ride home. If your job requires a shirt and tie or pantsuit, carry it rolled up in a pack, or stow it in a closet so you can change at work.
9. Consider a partial commute. Not up to riding the full distance? Ride to the nearest bus stop or light rail station and go from there, or take public transit and then ride. All Denver buses have bike racks, and you can practice loading and unloading on demonstration racks at the Civic Center and Market Street transit centers. Bikes also are now allowed on light rail cars at any time, although you need to follow certain entry and exit rules and carry a free permit from RTD (available at transit centers, kiosks at various other locations or online at rtd-den ver.com). Alternatively, haul your bike partway to work in your car and pedal the rest of the way, or cycle all the way one direction and take a bus or light rail the other.
10. Be prepared for the unexpected. “Have a backup plan in case something goes wrong with your bike or you get a flat,” says Halasinski. “Is there somebody you can call? Can you take a bus?” If you have an Eco-Pass, you may take advantage of the Guaranteed Ride Home program, which provides prepaid taxi service in some such situations. “It’s like a security blanket for employees who use a form of transportation other than driving alone – either cycling, walking, carpooling, vanpooling or taking the bus,” DRCOG’s Dowlen explains. “But it’s for an emergency, like if you get a call in the middle of the day that your child is sick.”
-Jack Cox
