Every spring, the same people show up at my shop with the same excuses. They want to commute by bike. They’ve been “meaning to start.” But they can’t because of [insert myth here]. I’ve been hearing these for 25 years. They were wrong then. They’re wrong now.
Let me kill these one at a time.
Myth 1: “I’ll Arrive at Work Looking Like I Ran a Marathon”
No, you won’t. Unless you’re an idiot.
The trick nobody tells you about commuting tempo: ride at the pace of a brisk walk. I know, revolutionary advice from a bike mechanic: “don’t try hard.” But most first-timers treat every red light like a stage finish and arrive looking like they just wrestled a bear.
GCN’s Simon Richardson, who’s commuted 20km to work for a decade, says the same thing. Keep it fun. Don’t race. If you’re gasping, you’re going too fast.
I’ve commuted in dress shirts. I’ve commuted in suits. I once showed up to a meeting in a button-down so damp I could wring it out over the conference table. Riding too fast, obviously. Also 95 degrees. Also I’m an idiot.
For longer commutes or hilly routes, keep a change of shirt at work. Simon’s approach is even simpler: keep clothes at work Monday, bring them home Friday. Daily, he just carries a t-shirt, underwear, and socks in a $20 backpack. “Cycling is fun when you’re traveling light,” he says. He’s right.
Myth 2: “It’s Too Dangerous”
I won’t pretend cycling is risk-free. If someone tells you that, they’re lying or they’ve never ridden in traffic. But here’s what the data shows.
The biggest risk factors for bike crashes are: riding without lights, riding against traffic, and not wearing a helmet. All three are entirely within your control. Fix those and your risk profile drops dramatically.
The comparison people should make isn’t cycling versus sitting on your couch. It’s cycling versus driving. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans under 54. The health benefits of regular cycling reduced heart disease, diabetes, obesity probably outweigh the accident risk by 20 to 1 according to multiple studies.
Here’s the risk calculation nobody does: the sedentary lifestyle kills far more people than cycling does. You’re trading a tiny risk of accident for a massive reduction in chronic disease risk. That’s a trade I’d make every single day of the week. And I have, for 15 years.
Myth 3: “My Commute Is Too Far”
Five miles takes about 25 minutes at a moderate pace. That’s comparable to most car commutes once you factor in traffic, parking, and walking from the parking lot to your building. Plus the 15 minutes you spend scrolling your phone in the parking lot before going inside. We all do it.
Ten miles takes about 45 minutes. Longer, sure. But you also skip the gym, which saves an hour. So you’re ahead by fifteen minutes.
Simon Richardson’s tip: don’t ride the same roads you drive. “There’s still one section of road I won’t cycle a dual carriageway where cars go fast. I don’t want to be anywhere near that on two wheels.” Find alternatives. A bike doesn’t get stuck in traffic, so you can ride routes that would be rubbish to drive. He allocates an extra 5-10 minutes for a nicer route parks, bike paths, leafy suburbs.
For truly long commutes, e-bikes break the math. A fifteen mile commute on an e-bike takes about 40 minutes and you barely break a sweat. We’ve covered the e-bike commuting breakdown elsewhere.
Myth 4: “It Rains Too Much Here”
Unless you live in a monsoon region, it rains less than you think. In most US cities, measurable rainfall happens on 15-20 percent of days. That means 80 percent of the time, the weather is fine. You’re letting 20 percent of days stop you 100 percent of the time. That’s bad math.
On rainy days, fenders and a rain jacket solve the problem. Full fenders on your bike, a waterproof jacket, and the acceptance that arriving slightly damp is fine.
Simon’s approach to rain: “I just put up with having a wet bum when it rains because for me, fun trumps practicality.” He tried a “practical” road bike with mudguards once. Hated it so much he sold it within a month and went back to his fast road bike. The lesson: don’t let the pursuit of perfect rain protection stop you from riding.
The interesting thing about rain commuting and I know this sounds like Stockholm syndrome is that the people who do it consistently say it’s their favorite rides. Empty bike lanes, quiet streets, and the satisfaction of knowing you didn’t let a little water stop you.
Myth 5: “I Don’t Have Time”
This one makes me want to scream.
A 20-minute bike commute takes 20 minutes. A 20-minute drive takes 20 minutes plus 5 minutes finding parking plus 5 minutes walking from the parking lot plus 30 minutes at the gym you need because you sat in a car all day. You’re not saving time by driving. You’re just moving the exercise to a worse part of your day.
Bike commuting doesn’t add time to your day. It consolidates your exercise and transportation into one activity. If you exercise separately and drive separately, bike commuting saves you time. Like, an hour a day.
Myth 6: “I Need an Expensive Bike”
A $500 bike will last years with basic maintenance. A thousand dollar bike will last a decade. Neither needs to be fancy. You need something that fits, has working brakes, and shifts properly. That’s it.
Simon Richardson’s advice: “Any bike will get you moving.” He started commuting on his professional race bike. Then bought a “practical” road bike with mudguards. Hated it. Sold it within a month. Went back to the fast bike. The lesson: ride what makes you happy, not what’s “practical.”
The most expensive part of bike commuting isn’t the bike. It’s the lock, lights, and helmet, which together cost about what a month of gas does. After that initial investment call it $200-300. your operating costs are basically zero.
Myth 7: “Bike Commuters Are All Spandex-Wearing Athletes”
Look around any city during rush hour. The people on bikes are wearing business casual, jeans, scrubs, school uniforms. The spandex crowd rides on weekends for fun. Commuters ride in whatever they’re wearing to work.
Simon’s approach: he wears cycling kit when riding and changes at work. But that’s because his commute is 20km. For shorter commutes, jeans work. Sneakers work. A regular backpack works fine.
Don’t let the gatekeepers keep you off a bike. You don’t need to look like a cyclist to be one. You just need to ride.
Myth 8: “My Bike Will Get Stolen”
It might. But probably not if you use a real lock. The vast majority of stolen bikes were locked with cable locks or not locked at all.
A proper U-lock defeats most theft attempts. Lock through the frame and rear wheel to a fixed object. Use a cable for the front wheel. Park in visible, busy areas. Our lock guide covers exactly what works.
Bike theft is a real problem. I’m not going to minimize it. But it’s a manageable one. The people who get their bikes stolen are overwhelmingly the ones who used inadequate locks or left their bikes in isolated spots overnight. If you do the basics right, your odds are very good.
Myth 9: “I’m Not Fit Enough”
Bike commuting is how you get fit. You don’t need to be fit to start. This is the most backwards myth on the entire list.
Simon Richardson’s take: “Just get started. Don’t put obstacles in your way. Don’t worry about needing specialist equipment.” He’s right. The hardest part about bike commuting is the first ride. After that, each one gets easier.
Start short. Ride one day a week. Then two. Then three. There’s no rule that says you have to commute by bike every day. Even one day a week is one more day of exercise than you were getting.
Myth 10: “I’ll Mess Up My Hair”
OK, this one’s true. But nobody at your office cares as much about your hair as you think they do. A quick fix in the bathroom mirror takes thirty seconds.
The trade-off is slightly less perfect hair for better cardiovascular health, lower stress, more money in your bank account, and a daily dose of fresh air and endorphins. I’ll take that deal every single time.
The Real Reason People Don’t Bike Commute
After 25 years of hearing excuses, I’ve come to a conclusion. The real reason most people don’t bike commute isn’t safety, distance, weather, or fitness. It’s inertia. Driving is what you’ve always done. Changing a routine is hard, even when the change is obviously better.
Simon’s advice after a decade of commuting: “There’s no wrong way to commute by bike. All you need is a bike that works. The hardest part is just getting started.”
Try it once. Pick a nice day, ride to work, and see how it feels. If you hate it, your car will be waiting for you. But I suspect you won’t hate it. I suspect you’ll wonder why you didn’t start years ago.
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