Figuring out the best way to get to where you are going in advance will make for a safer and happier commute. Select a route that you will feel comfortable riding. Riding around cars can be a nerve-racking experience for beginner cyclists, so if you get the willies when you hear big wheels rolling behind you save yourself some stress and take one of the many paved bike paths that run throughout town. There are a lot of great resources to help plot out your ideal ride. Google Maps and Peterborough Trails and Bikeways Map provide great information on safe cycling routes. Check these out to get an idea of how far you have to go and how long it will take. If you have time, it is a good idea to scout out the route so that you have a better idea of what the ride will be like.
A wise man once told me that you shouldn’t rush through life. In your commute try to arrive 10-15 minutes early in the morning. This is about the amount of time that it would take to get a coffee or a tea before work. This little bit of extra time will be a time in which you can cool down from your ride, and will serve as a buffer in case anything should go awry during your ride.
