John Steggall
Regardless of training goals, commuting is a good way to wake up in the morning; in the afternoon, it’s a therapeutic way to work off the day’s frustrations. Bike commuting allows you to take advantage of time that you would be driving to get in some extra training mileage. Although commuting is not a complete substitute for regular training, it is a way to build solid base mileage before and during the season. A number of local racers, including Carlos Casillas and Kevin Metcalfe, have structured solid racing seasons around their commute rides. In this article, I will outline some general considerations for all-season commuting and mention some specific things to watch for on the Davis to Sacramento route.
The Davis-Sacramento route (described below) is not much different than other rides that take you through town and country except that each leg is probably shorter than most training rides. This is not necessarily a problem if you’re a criterium specialist, especially in the lower categories. Each leg of the commute takes a bit less time than say a Category IV criterium, at least from my west Davis home. If you are a criterium specialist, you can structure the ride to get in lots of sprints. Try sprinting for telephone poles, freeway call boxes, or traffic lights. The middle section of the ride (from east Davis to the end of the causeway path) has no traffic lights and is long enough for a good time trial effort. If I’m feeling uninspired, I often just try to maintain some target average speed.
On the other hand, if you plan to do longer races, it will be necessary to get in more substantial rides during the week. Try to supplement the regular commute by getting back to Davis in time for the Tuesday/Thursday race-rides. These are serious 140 km days which will set you up for almost any of our local races.
There are a number of things that you’ll need in order to commute. Unless you plan on going very slow (and what would be the point?), it is necessary to take a shower. Though not absolutely essential, you will need a locker to keep your towel, soap, etc. Most commuters store their bikes in bike cages or bike lockers provided by employers. I’ve known a few people that keep their bikes in their office. I would advise locking your bike even if it’s in a bike cage or your office. A commuter friend had his locked bike stolen from the inside of the Energy Commission building near the security guard station.
I carry a set of work clothes in my backpack every day. A heavy plastic bag works well to keep sweat and rain off your work clothes. The backpack works fine, especially if you wear casual clothing at work. Some commuters keep a locker full of dress clothing which they dry-clean periodically. I bring my sweaty bike gear into my office and put it on hangers to dry during the day. It can be difficult to dry your clothes and shoes in the winter after riding through the rain. I point a small fan at my gear to facilitate the process.
I have been bike commuting to my state job in downtown Sacramento since 1995. I do it all year, regardless of the weather. If I make it optional, it’s too easy to make excuses. The weather is not always pleasant, but in reality, it’s rarely a serious problem. I would not suggest the Davis to Sacramento route for anything other than a commute—it’s a pretty industrial ride. I do not want to discourage people, but it helps to be well prepared.
Consider one bizarre anecdote about the commute: a friend was coming in early one winter morning when he suddenly came upon a row boat (I’m not making this up!), sitting cross-wise, in the middle of the causeway bike path! His low-budget lighting system gave him no warning and he hit the boat at close to 30 kph (see my notes about lighting systems below). Luckily, he was not hurt badly. Though this is obviously a once-in-a-lifetime story, it illustrates two points: 1) the route to and from Sacramento is, well, different from one of your regular rides—you will be amazed by the kind of rubbish that you’ll encounter, especially along the causeway stretch, 2) being properly prepared will make the trip safer and more enjoyable. Overall, it’s definitely worth the trouble.
It is about 28 km from my house in west Davis to downtown Sacramento. This takes me a bit over 50 minutes, on average (range is from 41 minutes with a big tail wind to 63 minutes with a huge head wind). The wind is a significant factor since the frontage road and causeway path are very exposed. The wind is usually from the south and seems to shift during the day so that it’s often slightly against you both ways.
The winter commute is the most challenging. You not only have to deal with rain and cool weather (coming from Michigan and northeast Ohio, I’ve never seen it get cold here), but you will be riding in the dark for at least part of the way. It may seem a bit weird if you haven’t done it before, but night riding is not a big deal if you’re equipped properly. Indeed, having the proper gear is the crucial concept.
I strongly advise buying a high-end, halogen lighting system. I’ve seen these as low as $59 on closeout but more typically, expect to pay at least $100. Having two lights is an excellent idea, even if just to carry a spare unit in your backpack (which is what I do). In the winter, I also carry a small flashlight which comes in handy while fixing punctures. I attach two blinking lights to the rear of my bike. Two lights provide more visibility and a bit of fail-safe redundancy.
The Davis-Sacramento route is hard on tires. I strongly suggest using Mr. Tuffy tireliners, at least on the rear wheel. I resisted these for a long time but now I swear by them. I have heard nothing but bad things about the $40/pair “Spinskins” tireliners though I haven’t tried them. I carry three spare tubes (I have had two punctures on many occasions), something to “boot” a slashed sidewall (a dollar bill works), as well the usual accouterments you’d take on any ride. Fenders might be nice but I don’t have a bike that takes fenders and the clip-on units are more trouble than they’re worth.
I have settled on long-sleeved polypropylene shirts and fleece jackets for winter. These materials will keep you warm even when it is raining, plus they “breathe.” Water-tight rain gear is alright for short trips but for longer rides I feel like I am cooking in my own juices. Single layer tights are enough to keep me warm, even for below freezing temperatures. I have more trouble with my hands and feet though. Good gloves and overboots are critical. I usually carry waterproof overmits in case it rains. The overboots will not keep your feet dry—this is perhaps the most irritating part of wet weather riding— but they will keep you warm. I carry a reflective windshell for extra protection in emergency situations. Remember that it doesn’t takes much clothing to keep you warm when you’re riding, but things get dicey pretty fast if you have to stop.
After many years of riding in cities, I’ve decided that the best route is often the same one you would choose in an automotive vehicle. Traffic lights are preferable to stop signs. I avoid places like the UCD campus because of unpredictable pedestrian and bike traffic.
Here is the route I take from west Davis: take Covell across town and continue where it turns into Mace Boulevard. Just before the fruit stand, go left (east) on the frontage road. Stay on the frontage road after crossing the RR tracks and continue to the point where the road curves right, under the freeway. Do not follow the curve under the freeway, but instead head straight, through the gate and onto the bike path. After 30 meters, turn right, then left onto the causeway bike path. Head all the way across the causeway till you arrive in W. Sacramento where you get on West Capital (just remember, if in doubt head toward the tall buildings in downtown Sac). Watch out for people riding on the wrong side of the road in West Sacramento—the natives (often juiced up) seem to be confused on this matter.
Take W. Capital all the way down until you deadend at 3rd Street, near the Money Store (pyramid) building. Go right and under a RR overpass and then up a short grade (and past the ball park). Take a left (South River Road) toward the Tower Bridge and get some speed up (as fast as you can go) to cross the bridge. The bridge is a bit sketchy because a lot of motorists still think they’re on the freeway. At this point, you’re in downtown Sacramento grid. This may seem confusing, but it's actually quite simple. The only tricky part is the end of West Capital where you have to go around a little “detour” to get on the bridge.