A Size Inclusive Guide to Bike Commuting!

Whether you’re heading to work, class, or just out for errands, what you wear on your bike commute can make or break your ride. Prioritizing comfort, weather readiness, and visibility keeps you feeling great and helps you stay safe out on the road.

Here’s a curated kit that hits all those marks, is size inclusive, and super cute!

Pants That Move With You

Go beyond athletic leggings or stiff denim. Commuter-friendly pants should flex, breathe, and not bind when you pedal. If you’ve got a longer commute, layer padded cycling shorts/underwear under your pants.

Some options:
Ripton Superlite Camo Jeans — lightweight, flexible denim with stretch and relaxed fit so you can move comfortably on and off the bike. These ride-ready jeans have just enough structure to look polished for work or errands while fitting like your favorite everyday pants.

Shredly Limitless Riding Pants- Designed for comfort on and off the bike, these high-rise pants feature a wide, ultra-stretch waistband that moves with you while riding and stays comfortable all day long. The flexible fabric allows for easy pedaling without pinching or restriction, making them a great option for commuting, errands, or casual rides. Thoughtfully designed for real bodies, these pants are size-inclusive and available up to a size 24!

Rain Protection That Works With Your Ride

Unexpected weather? That’s part of commuting — and the right rain gear turns a soggy ride into a dry one.

Waterproof and easy to slip on over layers:
All Bodies on Bikes Rover 2.0 Rain Cape — This rain cape keeps you dry without restricting movement on the bike. Its generous cut lets you wear layers underneath and still stay covered when the skies open up. The best part, All Bodies on Bikes get a percentage of each sale of our branded gear!

Why a cape? Easy on/off over backpacks, doesn’t bunch up when you pedal, and still lets airflow circulate so you won’t overheat.

A Jacket That’s Built for Movement

Commuting weather isn’t always rain — sometimes it’s breezy, cool, or just unpredictable. A versatile outer layer can be your best friend.

My current favorites:
SHREDLY Beyond Tech Jacket — A relaxed, crop jacket that layers effortlessly. Breathable and soft, it’s a great piece whether you’re cruising to coffee or to a meeting.

SHREDLY Oversized Shacket — Stupidly comfortable and cute, this is the perfect combination jacket + sweatshirt (i.e. Shacket!) The quilted inner layer is absolutely perfect for staying warm on the cooler commute days.

Gloves That Keep You Comfortable + in Control

Your hands do a lot — braking, shifting, controlling. Keeping them happy matters!

Warmth and grip without bulk:
Ninja Ice Gloves — These Amazon special gloves offer weather-resistant protection with dexterity for brakes and shifters. These gloves were designed for folks who work in freezers/wet environments, so you know they’re going to be good. I’ve been using these since 2015 in Seattle and they’re still my favorite!

SHREDLY Manatee Gloves — Straight from my “Fast a MF Manatee” Cycling Collection with SHREDLY, these lightweight gloves are perfect for a warmer day.

Marley poses with her Manatee cycling gloves from SHREDLY.

Be Seen, Be Safe

Visibility is non-negotiable for commuters — especially at dawn, dusk, or in rainy weather.

A safety vest with flair:
Lace Safety Vest — A bold reflective vest that doesn’t feel like generic hi-vis gear. It signals your presence to drivers and also brings personality to your commute.

Pro-tip: If lace isn’t your style, check out the selection of safety gear at the next truck stop you go to. They often have extended sizes, and reflective warm gear including jackets, hats, gloves and vests!

Reflective elements are one of the easiest ways to improve your visibility without sacrificing style.

Quick Commuter Clothing Checklist

✔ Comfy, flexible pants that pedal well
✔ Waterproof layer you can toss on fast
✔ Outer layer that moves with you
✔ Gloves for grip + warmth
✔ High visibility essentials for safety

By focusing on function first but choosing pieces you actually enjoy wearing, your bike commute becomes something you look forward to — no matter the weather.

What’s on your commute must-wear list?

How to Bike Commute - for regular, everyday people

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I’m going to let you in on a little secret - your commute doesn’t have to be a drag! It’s true - you can actually enjoy the time you spend going to and from work, school, or wherever! The secret - go by bicycle!

Marley in 2015

A blast from the past from Marley’s early days of commuting by bike.

I’m hoping by sharing my experience as a reluctant and admittedly often very lazy bike commuter, I can convince some of you to give it a try. And no, you don’t need to be in shape, wear anything special, or ride a fancy bike! Everyone can bike commute - even you!

“Middle-aged workers, in particular, especially benefitted from active commuting. Walkers and bike commuters between the ages of 35 and 54 had better self-reported work performance in the study than their peers who were stuck behind the wheel or took public transportation.”

— Bicycling Magazine

I started bike commuting a few years ago when I realized it was taking me 45 minutes to ride the bus 3 miles downhill (told you I was lazy.) I realized that I could get to work quicker on a bike, have fun in the process, and get my blood flowing - all definite wins in my book.

lock your bike

No matter how secure your building’s parking is, a strong lock is essential. At my work, people clearly left them there. Don’t do this. It’s obnoxious.

After lots of trial and error, here’s my best advice for a successful bike commute.

• Prep the night before.

  Lay out your riding clothes, lights, shoes, gloves and jacket. Prepare your breakfast, pack your lunch and work bag, charge your lights. Whatever you need to do in the morning, do as much of it the night before as possible that way when your alarm goes off, all you need to do is get dressed, eat and hop on your bike! Trust me, it’s a lot harder to find your helmet at 6am than you might think.

• Stash work shoes, toiletries, and a towel at work (if you can.)

  If you’re lucky enough to have a locker room or spot to change clothes at work, I highly recommend leaving as many of your toiletries (or getting a duplicate set) there as possible. No need to carry deodorant, a hair dryer and a towel back and forth every day! At my last company, we had a communal hair dryer and straightening iron for everyone to use, which was a total life saver.

  I also kept a stash of socks, underwear, a cardigan and shoes at work, because I would inevitably forget at least one of these crucial items most days. These lived in a desk drawer and saved my butt more than once.

• Gear up properly.

  Not to be “that” person who says you need all the fancy gear, but there definitely is some gear you’re going to want for a comfortable commute- especially if you live in a place where it rains or is dark during your ride.

  The Bike: Any bike will work - honestly. For the most comfortable experience, I’d go towards a hybrid/all-road bicycle as they’re pretty dang durable. Something that can withstand potholes, rain, and lots of miles.

  If you’re lucky enough to live in a city with a bike share, that’s a great way to test out the waters of bike commuting! More on that in a future post.

  Electric bikes are another excellent option if they’re in your budget! Ranging from $999 for the RadMission to over $10,000 - the sky is the limit on how much you could spend on an e-bike (but you don’t have to!) Definitely a future post all about why I love e-bikes so much too!

  Rack & Panniers to carry your gear: Yes, you can use a backpack, but I like having my bike carry my stuff. My go-to is the Ortlieb Classic Backroll Panniers - they’re waterproof, durable and big enough to carry lots of stuff. If you want something a bit cuter, Po Campo makes great bags that transition seamlesslesly from the bike to the office.

As for racks, it’s hard to make a specific recommendation as you have to make sure it fits your bike. Chat with your local trusted bike shop and give them your business. If you don’t have anywhere to bolt on a rack, this rack that attaches to your seat post and seat stays is a cool option though. Do NOT use this if you have a carbon frame!!

• Lights: Let’s face it, winter is coming. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s likely we will be commuting in the dark. Being able to see (and being seen) is crucial for a safe commute. Pick a light that’s in your budget - honestly I’ve tried a bunch and they’re all pretty good. I highly recommend rechargeable lights - take them into your office during the day and charge them and you’ll never be out of juice!

  Fenders: Don’t be that person who sprays everyone behind you with gross water. Put fenders on your bike and keep yourself and those behind you dry. Bonus - it’ll keep your bike cleaner. (Make sure you get the proper size fenders for your tires!)

  Lock: No matter where you’re parking your bike (unless it’s literally at your desk), you need a strong lock. I recommend a U-lock that can secure your front wheel, especially if you have quick-release style wheels.

• Do a Test Ride before you need to be at work on time!

  If you’re not already riding bikes on the regular, you might not have any concept of how long it’ll take you to get to work on your bike. This is ok!

  Do a test ride on the weekend to gauge how long the ride will take and how your body feels doing it. Make it super realistic by loading up your bags, putting them on your bike and riding with them! Nobody wants to be surprised by an extra complication when they’re in a rush. Also, keep in mind that traffic patterns might vary from the weekend to a weekday.

• Be realistic about the mileage - consider making your commute multimodal.

  I realistically won’t ride more than 5-10 miles for a bike commute. And I ride a lot of miles when I want to. Be honest with yourself about how far you are willing to ride and use transit to help reduce the distance if you need. Most cities allow bikes to be loaded onto buses and trains.

  One idea - take transit to work and ride your bike home when there might be less of a time crunch.

• Find a mentor or buddy to ride with.

  Ask around at work, in your local neighborhood Facebook group, or among your friends group. Perhaps there is an experienced rider who is traveling the same direction as you? Most cyclists are pretty friendly and excited to have more folks joining us on the road, so I’d encourage you to ask if they’d let you join on their commute. Having a seasoned rider lead you can help you gain confidence, learn tricks (or route tips) you might not otherwise know and provide extra visibility.

Bikes on the train

Don’t worry, this was pre-COVID.

Best of luck out there and more to come on this topic, including How to Bike Commute with a Laptop, How to Bike Commute and Not Get Sweaty, and How to Bike Commute in Dress Clothes!