How to choose the best bike for commuting

7 February, 2022   By: Jane Hammond

Perth’s extensive and growing network of bike paths are getting a workout. Figures show Western Australians have increased their use of bike paths by more than 45 per cent over the past 18 months.

Chief Operating Officer for peak WA cycling body WestCycle, Glenn Te Raki, has been following the figures since the COVID-19 pandemic began and has witnessed a huge growth in cycling in WA.

"COVID has really kick-started people's understanding of the importance of getting out and getting fresh air, and cycling has seen a really huge growth," Te Raki says.

Nationwide bike sales have boomed. More than 1.7 million bikes were imported into Australia in 2020, up more than half a million on the previous year.

For anyone interested in cycling to work, a commuter bike is the best option. Te Raki explains what to look for in a good commuter bike, the difference between models and how much to spend.

What is a commuter bike?

In the two-wheeled world, there are three main types of bikes.

A racing bike has a larger wheel, very narrow tyre, and a handlebar that drops down so you can tuck your body into a more aerodynamic position to get your speed up.

A mountain bike has a slightly smaller wheel with a wider tyre—the wider tyre gives more traction in rougher terrain.

A commuter bike fits between a racing bike and mountain bike. Commuter bikes are designed to get you from A to B quickly and comfortably. They feature a larger wheel with a slightly wider tyre than a racing bike, a flat handlebar, a comfortable seat, and an aluminium frame.

What is the best commuter bike?

There are many types of commuter bikes. Flat bar road bikes feature a flat handlebar and an upright design for comfort and visibility on the road. Folding bikes are great if you’ve got limited storage space at work.

Hybrid bikes take design cues from mountain, road, and touring bikes to get you over smooth roads, potholes, and light gravel in comfort. Then there’s road bikes for longer rides and e-bikes for those who prefer some assistance on their commute.

RELATED: E-bikes available in Australia»

And that’s not even an exhaustive list.

For those interested in riding to work, Te Raki suggests taking advice from your local bike shop. They’ll help you choose a bike that’s the right fit for your body and the best type for the distance you want to travel.

"If you're looking to commute, you're looking for something that rides relatively fast - but you're also looking for comfort," Te Raki says.

“Commuter bikes are perfect for commutes of up to 20 kilometres.”

He says city bikes, otherwise known as utility bikes, are another option for commuting. They tend to be for shorter commutes of around 5km. They have a more classic design and a relaxed style of handlebar that allows the rider to sit more upright on the bike.

"If you're just doing a small commute and comfort is the most important thing to you, your classic city bike will be perfect."

How much should you pay for a commuter bike?

Te Raki says getting into commuting on a good bike can cost under $1000, a figure equal to the cost of running an average car for around three months.

While he says an average bike costs around $1000 to $1100 for a beginner, it is possible to get into cycling with an investment of as little as $600 for an entry level commuter bike.

"There is no limit to what you can spend on a bike," Te Raki says. He advises starting with an entry level bike and upgrading later rather than over investing in something you may find you don't use.

Quality city bikes start at around the same price as a more standard commuter bike.

For a longer commute, you’ll be looking for something a little bit quicker, while also comfortable.

Essential accessories for commuter cycling

A well-fitted helmet, bell and lights are essential safety accessories, while a good pair of padded cycling shorts can make your commute far more comfortable.

Foundation member of the Black Swans Cycling Club and cycle coach Wayne Deany says in addition to what you&4rsquo;ll spend on your commuter bike, it’s important to budget another $500 or so for accessories like a helmet, gloves, cycling shoes, padded shorts and a puncture repair kit.

"Get the best helmet you can afford. Don't get a budget department store helmet but go to a bike shop."

Buying a helmet online is not advisable especially if it’s not from Australia. All helmets sold in Australia have to meet Australian Standards for safety. The fit is also very important which you won’t be able to check if you buy online.

He says toes clips or cleats are good for maximising your force on the bike and can save up to 30 per cent of the energy used as they use the foot to pull up as well as push down while pedalling. But he warns that it’s important to practice using cleats or toe clips before setting off on your first commute.

"I recommend that new riders cycle up and down the road with cleats, clipping in and out at least 10 to 20 times on each foot, to get the muscle memory working."

If riding at night, you’ll need a headlight and a rear red light. The rear one should be flashing red and the front one can either be a solid or flashing white light.

Deany says another essential accessory when you’re commuting is a good quality bike lock – ideally get a D-lock. You’ll want to protect your investment, especially when you’re leaving it outside somewhere for long periods of time.

With around 20 gears on a commuter bike, one of the secrets to making your commute more enjoyable is to learn how and when to change gears and also to change them frequently. Riding in the wrong gear can cause fatigue and discomfort.

"It's better to put the bike in a slightly easier gear and pedal faster to take the pressure off the legs. Regular bike maintenance and cleaning will also help keep the bike running at its best - a clean chain will reduce the friction on a bike and make it a lot easier to ride."

Other cycling gear and accessories

Instead of just getting a regular tyre pump, it can be handy to have a stand-up style pump, known as a floor pump, which also includes a pressure gauge. A loss of pressure in the tyres can make riding harder as it increases friction, so you can use the pump’s gauge to check your tyre pressures regularly.

A puncture repair kit, tyre levers and a small saddlebag to carry the kit is also essential.

Other accessories to consider include a pair of cycling glasses to prevent dust and debris blowing into your eyes and potentially making it difficult to see the road ahead. Cycling gloves can also help protect your hands if you do hit the deck.

If you’re using cleats, there are sneaker-style cycling shoes with inbuilt cleats that look like normal sneakers when you're off the bike.

Hitting the path

Finding the best way to get to work shouldn’t be too much of an issue for Perth riders, with an extensive network of bicycle paths across the metropolitan area and into the city, and no peak hour traffic to battle.

Peter Bourke from Bicycle Industries Australia says one of the biggest benefits of riding a bike to work is what he calls ‘trip reliability’.

"You know just how long your ride is going to take on a bike. In a car, the drive may take you 20 minutes to an hour depending on congestion, but with a bike, every day your ride will take the same amount of time within a minute or two.

"And you don't need to worry about where you’re going to park because you’ll always get a rock star park.” With the added bonus, of course, that it’s free.

For those paying big bucks for parking, in addition to the rising costs of fuel, your outlay on a commuter bike is likely to slowly begin to pay off as you clock up the kilometres. And on top of all that, it’s just a great way to start and end your day.