Zen and the Art of Bicycle Commuting
by Cheryl Wagner

It happens suddenly. One day, you're stuck in your car in rush-hour traffic going nowhere, and decide something's got to change. That night, you rummage through the garage looking for a bike and voila - another bike-commuter is born! There's really no mystique about this special "club". By taking some simple steps, you can join, become more fit and save a little on gas, too. Here are some things you will want to know before embarking on your new adventure:

Parking: Check the parking garage under or near your building. There may be a bike storage area where you can keep your bike during the day free – a good deal especially when compared to what cars are paying.

Equipment: Buy a good helmet. It's one of your most important items and could save your life. Make sure it fits properly since you'll be adjusting it a lot, if it doesn't! Also get a hand-held bike pump, a small wedge tool (about $1 at most bike stores) and an extra inner tube for fixing flat tires. Buy a headlight (preferably with a rechargeable battery) and a flashing red light for the rear of your bike, to make it more visible in traffic.

Clothing: Two important items are a jacket (preferably waterproof and yellow or white) and biking shoes. While you don't need "clipless" biking shoes (like Lance Armstrong wears) you will still want shoes that are warm, water proof and have a stiff sole (to transfer the power of pushing down on the pedal). There are various styles ranging from very comfortable to walk in, to bullet-hard casings which clip-clop during every step. I used running shoes for the first year but noticed that once I bought biking shoes, it made a big difference.

Bike Accessories: Some people buy saddlebags that can be slung over their back fender, to carry their work clothes. These are nice - and cooler, especially if you don't want anything on your back. However, I normally use a backpack since my bike doesn't have a fender.

Safety tips: A key concept that you should never forget is that most vehicles, pedestrians and even other bikers consider you invisible. Anticipate danger from every imaginable source - from parked car doors suddenly flung open into your path, to mindless tourists stepping out into the street directly in front of you. Strange moves should be anticipated from every car, truck, taxi, and moving object. If it can happen, it probably will at some time during your bike commuting life. Stay alert and retreat to the sidewalk or lawn if you feel unsafe. After four years of bike commuting, I wouldn't be surprised if a 20 foot cockroach dropped in front of my path.

Charting your course to work: There are some truly wonderful bike paths that extend for miles into Virginia, Maryland and DC. If you want to bike only on a path, consider driving your bike to the start of the path and then finishing your commute by bicycle. See http://www.waba.org for more information on local trails. An alternative, is to bike to a Metro station where you've rented a bike locker for $70 annually. Many Metro buses will also carry your bike for no extra charge on a rack at the front of the bus. For more information about Metro bicycle options see http://www.wmata.com

Despite all of the dire warnings, I truly enjoy bike commuting and wouldn't trade it for anything. I've been able to incorporate athletic training seamlessly into my workday and save a little on gas. And I must say that my worst day bike commuting is still better than my best day driving to work. So I hope you will give it a try sometime and join the "club".