Gearing up for commuting

[Monty]

Haven't jumped in yet (have my license but haven't had a bike in 20 yrs), can't seem to find the right bike, local market is all Harleys and cruisers, but have done a little reading on appropriate riding gear. As I still have the marks and memories from a road rash experience when I was 16, I want to do my best to avoid that again, partially from being a smarter rider and partially from having better gear.

My question is for those who commute on their bikes to work, how seriously do you gear up. My standard work attire is dockers and polo or a dress shirt and some Rockports. Initially my plan was a good helmet, jacket and some gloves. Commute into work is only about 4 miles but I can see that I might want to extend that greatly on the ride home. If I decide it is necessary to gear up more than that I expect it will take a lot of the enjoyment out of commuting on the bike.

So for you commuters, how do you gear up for your commute?

Thanks, Monty

[jmillheiser]

for a short commute helmet, jacket, gloves should be just fine. If your rockports have decent ankle support they sould be ok. Dockers are as good as jeans (which are still pretty worthless in a crash).

my normal commuting attire is helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans and steel toed work boots. My commute is about 5 miles. I dont normally extend my ride home, if I want to ride after work I just ride home and throw on my draggin jeans and boots.

[Gadjet]

Jacket, gloves, helmet, overpants, combat boots.

I'm fortunate that I can wear my combat boots to work in all day.

[camthepyro]

I wear helmet, jacket, gloves, and steel toed work boots. If you can, try and wear Dickies, as they will provide a little better protection than slacks.

[Sev]

I wear all my gear all the time

Helmet
Gloves
Jacket
Icon Barrier Jeans
Steel Toed work boots

When I crashed back in the day, it was a 5 minute walk from my house... so I've come to the realisation that just because it's a short ride doesn't mean that it's safe.

I change at work, just a quick pop into the washroom, takes all of 2 minutes and I keep a pair of shoes there.

Another option is just getting a pair of textile riding pants to put on over your regular pants.

[jmillheiser]

Only time I wear the steel toed boots is when im riding to work, I work in a warehouse so steel toed boots are nice to have there.

I have a good pair of motorcycle boots when im not commuting, they are way more comfortable than any work boot when riding.

[TechTMW]

Sev mentions a good point - Keep a pair of your shoes at work and put them on when you get there. The rest of your gear sounds ok.

If you fall while wearing normal pants, you will probably get some road rash. Up to you if you want to take that risk.

[BigChickenStrips]

+1 on the risk management. you could ride to work in a bicycle helmet and flip flops if thats how you roll, or you could don a 1 piece leather, full face, and some nice motorcycle boots. its all about your level of risk. i wear boots, jacket, gloves and helmet when i personally ride to work but thats my level of risk, some will insist on pants, some will wear just a helmet and be cool with it.

[Mintbread]

I have a good pair of motorcycle boots when im not commuting

Commuters crash too.
I have only ever had accidents whilst commuting, so to gear up just for longer rides is pointless if you don't do it all the time.
I wear jacket , gloves, draggin jeans and smx plus boots to work every day. I take my work pants to change into and have spare shoes that I leave there.
It is a big effort for a nine minute ride, but my insistence has paid off big time already.

[secgeek]

Commute into Manhattan every day.... Dress Shoes, Slacks, Shirt, tie, Joe Rocket Reactor 2.0, Gloves, Full face Helmet..