Have you taken the time to scope out where you are actually going to park your bike during your work day?   

Do you have your own office or other space where you could safely store a bike indoors?  What is your facility’s policy on bringing a bike inside? It is wise to speak with your leadership about best-practices with bike parking or consider becoming a bike friendly business. Most of the time you will need to use a bike lock and we will cover that later.

Cycling to work can lead to a fair amount of sweat, especially on those warm muggy days! How are you planning to address this? 

One option is to leave yourself plenty of time so that you can go at a more comfortable pace.  Another option is showering and/or changing clothes.  Cycling clothing can help to keep you cooler, but can be cost prohibitive.  Find a good solution for your particular situation.

If your day may require you to ride at dusk, dawn, or in the dark, lights are invaluable AND legally required at night.  Not only does it help you see, it also helps motorists see YOU! 

Wichita streets may not be well-lit, and when riding a bicycle, debris in the road may cause you to wipe out.  Think about investing in some quality lights if you’ll consistently be riding at night.

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Disconnected cycling infrastructure means you will probably be on the street with motorists at some point in Wichita.  Coupled with poor street lighting & poorly maintained streets, this can be a dangerous combination for cyclists.

Make sure you can see, and others can see you to make your trip as safe as possible.  And if you really get going, remember to never outride your light (never ride faster than the illuminated area in front of you will allow you to react)!

Motorists can usually disregard high wind advisories, but as cyclists, we need to be mindful.  

For example, if a motorist is driving with a 20 mph wind blowing at them (headwind), they only need to push the gas pedal a little harder and not think much of it.

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As a cyclist, morning news reports on what the weather will be like may require a complete change of kit, having to allow more time to get to work, or completely opting out of riding that day because of health risks.  In fact, most advisories will have much more of an impact on you as a cyclist.

Wind advisory?  Check. Heat advisory?  Check. Smoke advisory?… You get the picture.  Make sure to check at the beginning of the day to see what the weather is going to be like on your ride to and from work!

In a perfect world, every cyclist should have an air pump, tire levers, and patch kit or spare tube.  The patch kit generally includes patches, glue, a scuffing pad, and some may include a small piece of crayon to mark where your puncture is. 

It is wise to become familiar with your bike and general maintenance, so that you are not stuck calling a friend to pick you up, or worst case, hiking your bike the rest of the way home.  Neither option is very fun.

Click HERE, to watch a video on patching tubes and don't forget to pick up a patch kit with 6 patches from The ReCycle Shop at Bike Walk Wichita.

Now that you have a plan, you may also consider rehearsing how you aree going to pack everything the morning of your ride.  Are you going to put your tools in your saddle bag? frame bag? top tube bag? pannier? in a back pack?

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Quick word on backpacks, they are a quick and efficient way of taking things.  However, when using it for cycling, you will very likely end up with a bunch of back sweat!  This could leave the back of your outfit soaked.  If it’s a long, grueling ride, you may even soak through the backpack and onto whatever you’ve packed. Just something to keep in mind.

An unlocked bike is a free bike to anyone who sees it.

There are many options for locks from simple cable locks all the way up to full steel loops with keys.  Research what you feel you need and if you will have the space, or want to carry the weight of a heavier duty lock.  Keep in mind you also need a place to store, whether that is on your bike frame or in a backpack.

Have you considered what clothes you will cycle in or what you will change into after the ride? How are you going to get those to your final destination? 

If you currently drive to work and that is your planned destination, maybe take an outfit the day before.  Don’t forget the deodorant! 

Are you planning on taking a prepped meal with you for lunch?  If you ride to work, you may not be able to safely ride to your favorite lunch time spots!

Even if your packed lunch is in a tupperware container, I always recommend wrapping it in a plastic bag (without holes) before throwing into a backpack or other container for traveling.

After you’ve done all the planning and prep, REMEMBER TO TAKE IT WITH YOU! 

The amount of frustration and disappointment in yourself is immense when you have taken all the steps, but left something on the dining room table, like your bike lock or flat tire repair kit.  If this is your first time, it may be a little time-consuming and require a fair amount of thought, but after a little practice and habit-building, it does get easier.