Protective Clothes with armored pads, vents and warm liners will protect and help keep you comfy in all types of weather. A bright-colored vest or jacket will help you be seen.

Coverage that seemed fine for weekend rides may not be enough for daily commuting. A quick phone call to your agent will help you determine if you need to make changes to your policy.

How good depends on where you’ll be parking. A disc lock does a good job if all you need is a bit of protection. For extra protection, you may want a heavy-duty chain or cable that lets you lock the bike to a solid object. A “Bike Locked” tag that covers your ignition keyhole keeps you from riding off with the disc lock in place, and may discourage thieves from chiseling your ignition before they notice the bike is secured. An alarm system might be a good idea, too.

Lockable hard bags are most convenient, but can be a little pricey. Some soft saddlebags have the capacity to carry a Skilsaw, briefcase, even groceries.  A tail trunk or tank bag keeps your bike narrow. Consider something big enough to store your helmet. A bungee net can be used to strap a briefcase, a bag of groceries, or even a minitower computer to your passenger seat. Be ready for unexpected errands.

Some bikes lose as much as 15 miles per gallon with loud pipes. If you want to be heard, get a loud horn and you won’t annoy every driver stuck behind you in traffic.

The biggest safety-per-dollar bike modification. You need at least 110db to be heard, 120db is ten times that loud, and 100 times as loud as the 100db horn standard on many bikes.

More miles equal more frequent maintenance. Chain tension, oil changes, valve adjustments, and chain lubing are due more often. Don’t forget about your brake pads – commuting involves much more stopping per mile.

Bundling up only slows the loss of your body’s heat, and can get uncomfortably bulky Electric-heated clothes keep you warm without all the added bulk. Heated gloves or handgrips, and an electric vest can keep riding pleasant too.

If you have shoes that go with most of your work clothes, leave them at work and ride in proper boots. Even if you work in boots, you’ll want separate footwear on hand in case you ride through a massive puddle or mis-aimed lawn sprinkler.