If you ’re a steady rider , you ’re already familiar with the soul - lifting thrill of spending some tone time in the open air before after the casual grind : heart lacing , bloodline pumping , sweat gently flow , and the world flying by your handlebars . If you ’re not — and we ’ve all been there!—it can be a little intimidating to know where to start .
It ’s a beautiful morning in San Francisco and tomorrow ’s prognosis is sharp and clear . You know what ? That ’s image sodding weather for dusting off the ol’ two - cyclist and riding into the office . Great timing , too , as May 8th is San Francisco ’s 20th annualBike to Work Day !
We verbalize to theSan Francisco Bike Coalition — the largest protagonism grouping of its kind in the land — about how best to get prepped . Here ’s all the information you need to get rollin ’ ( and they have tons ofgreat resourceson their website , andfun eventsscheduled all calendar month ) .
On a personal note , I can not even commence to say enough safe things about cycling to piece of work . Before I purchase my cycle about five yr ago , I honestly do n’t cogitate I had been on one in age — even a tenner , possibly . I decided to invest in a road bike before a triathlon and thought — mayhap I ’ll use it a couple days a month to get to work . That could be cool . I was really , really aflutter the first metre out , but ohmygod . Oh my goddd . Not only did it straightaway make develop back and forth to an office the most gratifying part of my day , but it also completely interchange the room I voyage the city ; there has believably not been a Clarence Day since that I have n’t been tool around around , unravel errands , getting from here to there infinitely quicker than any other modality of exaltation . Which is why Bike to Work Day — or whenever you settle to render it out , really — could be the start of something wonderful .
Not a Northern California resident ? Consider this a warm up for National Bike to Work Day descend up onMay 16th(and , in the meantime , ensure out ourbullshit - free guideto commutation ) .
Welcome toFitmodo , Gizmodo ’s gym for your Einstein and backbone . Do n’t endure through life-time as a snivel , sickly weakling — braces up and get the lineage pumping ! suss out back each hebdomad for the latest in fitness science , exercising cogwheel , exercise technique , and enough vim and vigor to whip you into form .
Plan Your Route
Even routes you know well by bus , automobile , or ft are believably go to need a flake of a tweak to be maximized for bike efficiency and rubber . This ultra - handyBikeMapperis an incredible resource for newbies and older pro likewise . Type in your jump - off point and finish , and it will reckon how to get from here to there , with an option to down by little or flat path and whether or not you ’re all right with riding on meddlesome thoroughfare . Plus , it shows peak change , as well . Climbing can be a major pain in the ass in the AS , but it can help to know what you ’re up against ( this niftyHillMapperis good for that as well ) .
Tomorrow , of class , is a special occasion , and the SF Bike Coalition will be congeal up about 50 street - side stations in nearly every locality , offering everything from DOE beverage to warm tune - ups to burritos ( mmm , burritos … ) . Need some moral bread and butter ? These folks desire to cheer you on ! Here ’s an well navigable map showing where they ’ll be post up and what they ’ll be offering at each outpost .
ViewBike to lick Day 2014 Mapin a larger map
What is asharrow ? Well , roads popular with riders but too minute for a dedicated lane might have these draw the way down the sidewalk . They ’ve been strategically place just outside the “ door zone”—that bummer of a space where a number one wood - side door can swing out and tap you over — so feel barren to roll correctly down the midriff .
Ride the green wave
You know that potent spate that comes along with drive through every green on a long street and never have to brake , not even once ? Well , hey — cyclists can unlock that accomplishment , too ! dark-green moving ridge are a serial publication of visible light that have been re - time to accommodate slower fomite ( aka bicycles ) at a consistent step to improve dealings catamenia . In SF , Valencia , 14th , and Folsom are all on this mellisonant , fresh rhythm . Ooooh , feel so good .
Find your wiggle
San Francisco ’s “ wiggle ” is a well - known elbow room to avoid tackle major urban flock , but not everyone ’s go to cod through the Lower Haight on the way to work . The moral is that there are definitely elbow room around what appear to be unsurmountable heights — you just have to find ’em .
About that gentle sweating…
diaphoresis is normal , born , entirely levelheaded , and not - cool - at - all in the unseasonable circumstance ( the wrong context is fully dress in the clothes you ’re going to be sitting around in for the rest of the daylight ) . Biking to exercise might be a turn - off for people who have to look somewhat professional at their jobs , but there are workarounds . Before I worked from home , I ’d toss my top in a travelling bag and throw on an old t - shirt for the ride , then freshen up in the bathroom before channelise in to gaze at a CRT screen . That exercise !
But there are in reality companies out there making commuter train appurtenance that ’s got the professional of performance stuff and nonsense without all the yard bird of looking like you ’re out to pull ahead the Tour de France . Outlier , New Road , Chrome Industries , Betabrand , Iva Jean , andIladoraare all ripe pip to find some odorous bomb . Also : Wet Onesare a fast , inexpensive way to freshen up on the go .
Lock it up
You do n’t want to issue from the post at the end of the day and line up your drive ’s been swiped . Take note of how your bicycle ’s put together — i.e. quick - loss front tyre — andlock up consequently . Here are ourtop picks .
Know thy Ten Commandments
Josh Zisson is abike lawyerin Massachusetts who produce aTen Commandmentsfor metropolis cyclists across the nation . Have a read before you steer out so you ’re on the lookout for thing like the “ right come-on , ” “ left cross , ” as well as thetwo most important thingsto do if you get in an chance event ( get the driver ’s information and witness accounts ) .
Wear a helmet and use your lights at night
Please please please .
Have fun!
in earnest . You ’re not checking your headphone , you ’re totally offline . It ’s an incredible opportunity to exonerate your school principal and get to know your city in a new way .
wheel monthCities
Daily Newsletter
Get the good technical school , science , and culture news in your inbox day by day .
News from the time to come , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
