National Bike to Work Day is Tomorrow, So Here Are Some Tips and Tools to Ride Like a Pro

Tomorrow is Bike to Work Day! Will you be strapping on your helmet and hitting the road with your fellow two-wheeled commuters? If you don't yet have a bike, we've got plenty of tips on helping you pick the right one. And if you just need some cool commuting swag to go with your already sweet ride, we've got that, too. Here are some great tips (and gear) for making your trip to and from the office safer, easier, and lots of fun.

Mount your phone. Want to listen to music while you ride? Earbuds are dangerous, and actually against the law in some cities. Need bike-friendly directions? Don't even try biking one-handed while you fiddle with your apps. Instead, use one of Biologic's water-resistant Bike Mounts ($40 - $50) to keep your iPhone or Android device securely on your handlebars while you ride. Blast tunes, follow turn-by-turn directions, or track your cycling stats with a bike computer app -- all hands-free.Wear street-smart shoes. We already told you about these flat-on-one-side bike pedals  that you flip to clip into. Today, we've got a pair of kicks that do double duty, too. Chrome's unisex Truk Pro shoes ($90) are casual Friday-friendly, and they contain a hidden SPD clip that stays totally out of the way (aka no annoying scraping on the sidewalk) when you're not on your bike. One less pair of shoes to lug to work? Score.Protect your calves. I pretty much walk around all summer with greasy black chain marks all over my right leg. Then again, I work from home. For those of you who need to look presentable on a daily basis, a FreeDrive Chain Cover ($20) can protect your legs (or your dress pants) from chain grease on any single-speed or multi-speed internal hub gear bike. Totes worth the twenty spot.Stay bright at night. You know you need a headlight and tail light if you're going to be riding after dark. (This one will work for commuters, as well as serious cyclists.) But you can make nighttime riding even safer with Ryde Safe's reflective bike decals ($13 for a medium pack) in several colors and designs. I mean, they even have mustaches -- how hipster chic, right?!?! Stick 'em all over, or follow the site's tutorials for making cool customized designs that are visible from any angle, at any time of day.Bring your bike bag to work. Riding with a backpack works most of the time, but when you're riding in work clothes on a hot day, you don't really want to get all sweaty back there. That's why Electra makes the Slimline Tote Bag ($99), which attaches easily to a rear bike racks but also transition seamlessly to the office.

What gear helps you handle a bike commute to work? Will you #BiketoWork tomorrow? Tweet us at @amandaemac and @SELFmagazine!

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Image Credit: Thayer Allison Gowdy

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