Bike Commuter Essentials

1. A Beautiful Bike: (please note: all bikes are beautiful). Please make sure you have your bike checked out by a local bike shop to ensure the brakes and gears are in top working order. New bikes tend to be least hassle because they work properly from the beginning and they will fit your body perfectly.
2. A Proper Bike Fit: If a bike doesn’t fit…it isn’t comfortable…if it isn’t comfortable…it isn’t safe…if it isn’t safe…you’re not going to want to ride…if you don’t ride…you’re missing the really fun stuff in life.
3. A Bicycle Helmet: Please go to a bike shop and have one fitted to your unique noggin’. Different helmets fit different shaped heads so try on several until you get one that’s snug yet comfortable and adjusted by a professional. (Bicycle Helmets are required by law in King County).
4. Lights: By law, you need to have an operating front and rear light in King County. Purchase a good quality white-beamed light for the front and a red light for the rear. Make sure the lights have a “blinking” mode as these attract motorists’ and bicyclists’ attention better than a steady beam. Ride with your lights switched on during the day as well as the night. We also recommend you use reflective tape to cover as much of your bike as possible.
5. Reflective and/or Bright Clothing: Your ability to be seen in traffic increases dramatically when you wear clothing that calls attention to your place on the road. Bright yellow jackets or vests are the best choice for alerting motorists as well as fellow cyclists to your presence. (You can have reflective tape sewn on your clothing or outerwear by Rainy Pass Repair in Fremont…which we highly recommend).
6. Carrying Your Stuff: There are several choices for transporting your cargo:
   • Back Pack: You probably already have one so start there. The only downside is that with mid to heavy loads the pack can become uncomfortable over longer distances.
   • Messenger Bags: A good choice for carrying smaller loads, but it suffers from similar comfort issues as back packs.
   • Panniers/Saddlebags: Our favorite due to its position on the bike. Panniers allow you to handle the bike in a predictable manner because the load has a lower center of gravity. You also have the ability to carry larger loads should your needs require several changes of clothes, meals and a laptop.
7. Commuter Clothing:
   • Thrift stores are a great resource for clothes that are going to receive a certain amount of road wear and grime. Make sure pants and shirts are loose and comfortable.
   • Rain gear is a category where you should consider investing in some quality garments. Cycling-specific jackets with a long “ducktail” to cover your butt are a great feature. Rain pants coupled with waterproof booties are the ultimate complement for comfortable Seattle bike commutes.
8. Accessories: The Seattle Holy Trinity
   • Fenders/Mudguards: You live in Rain City…you live by its rules! Fenders make your life (as well as those riding behind you) during the rainy season so much more bearable. You’ll stay drier and your bike will remain cleaner.
   • Bells/Horns: Get a little metal bell for your handlebars to announce your presence when passing bicycles and pedestrians. If you need to get motorists’ attention, try the Delta rechargeable air horn for bikes.
   • Rearview Mirror: Put one on your handlebars or helmet to get a better worldview and feel safer in traffic.