I’ve been bike commuting for over a year full time and log about 100 miles per week.
In addition to or as a repeat of previous advice:
Cleaning up
• Clean up at the office or a nearby gym that has a shower or take it easy and a combination of bathroom sink cleaning or baby wipes (buy a case from Costco).
Clothes
• Bring clothes for the week into the office by car or bus or train on Monday or bring clothes in every day. Haul dirty stuff home.
• Visit Civia Cycles dot com (resources section) for good clothing recommendations based on weather.
• Helmet, gloves, wool socks, padded shorts, tights, long & short sleeve shirts, windproof vest, rain pant & jacket, headband, thin stocking cap = what I use in Seattle.
Gear
• Lights – I like Planet Bike Blaze 1W and Super flash. Consider a set of spok lights for your helmet.
• Rack/Pack – I like to use a rack and make my bike do the work. If not, consider a backpack or a messenger bag each having a waist belt to keep the pack centered on your back. Jandd is a good brand. There are many others.
• Bike – ride a wreck, ride a slick titanium bike. Doesn’t matter because your ride is short. Longer rides warrant features like ram horn bars for wind, narrow tires for speed, etc. Just make sure it’s properly maintained.
• Have a basic repair kit – spare tube or patch kit, multi bike tool, small pump, tire tools.
Research
• Research your route. Is there a local bike advocacy group that has produced a bike map for your area? What about local municipalities, what are they up to?
• Don’t think like a driver. The safest route may not be the most direct.
• Ride your route on the weekend when traffic is lighter to get an idea of how it will be during rush hour.
• Learn how to ride with traffic. Take a class, ride with someone experienced, etc.
• Bikecommutetips dot blogspot dot com = good place to start.
Misc
• Be confident but not aggressive. You will become more comfortable with time.
• Get a good u lock unless your bike is a clunker. Leave your u lock at work. Why haul the weight. Just lock it out of the way for other rack users.
• OBEY traffic laws.
• Use hand signals.
• Take the lane when appropriate.
• Pull over if you are holding up 3 or more cars.
• Be predictable.
• Thank motorists when they do something nice
• Try to avoid getting too upset when they do something mean
• Be a good representative for other cyclists