34 Miles Per Day Commute

Max_Man

Just started a new job and it would be a 17 mile each way commute. I'd have no problem covering the distance but I'm a bit anxious about doing it every day.

Anyone doing this kind of mileage?
Do you think it would be too much doing 170 miles a week?

Any comments?


(I know this is a bit of a general question, just thought I'd get some opinions).

Soreknees

My commute involves climbing out of bed and getting behind the wheel, so I'm hardly in a position to comment.

But, if you're fit enough I can't see why it should be a problem. There are doubtless many who do that and more.

Give it a try.

Good luck!

cjcp

I do 28-29.5 miles a day depending on whether I get to Richmond Park before the ped gates close on the way home. It works out to about 145 miles a week. You get used to it. And it's better than the tube/train combo whatever the weather. I suppose it depends on whether it's a flat commute or undulating.

ademort

IMO it all depends on you, my commute is 10 miles each way and i quite often work 6 days a week and have no problem with it. When the lighter nights come around i come home and change into racing gear and go and cycle another 30 to 40 miles on my carbon race beast, and love it. Wish i could do it all year round.If you are fit enough and are not put off by bad weather then go for it and good luck mate. Grretings Ademort

andrewc3142

When I'm working in the office I commute in from Woking, which is about 30m each way, although I admit I often catch the train home.

For yours, some commitment but I expect you'll be fine. Try it and see. If you get too tired at first, build back up to it.

Good luck

Andy

ash68

I do a bit less at 27 miles a day. Find I'm a little tired by my trip home on Friday night.Works out at 135 commuting miles a week. then do a longish ride on a Sunday, prob 65- 85 miles.
I only intended to do 2or3 days a week when I started 6 years ago, but found I enjoyed it so much I just did 5 days a week straight away. Yeh I do get tired at times, but a few early nights and I'm sorted. I use the car on Saturdays and thats my restday.It's probably a good time to start as well as the days are drawing out now Spring is well on the way. UNtil the snow comes off course. :roll:

Gavin Gilbert

Mines 24 miles a day. On a decent bike you'll be fine. I'd recommend building up the number of days a week you ride that distance if you're not already a regular rider.

Make sure you eat some carbs when you get to work (a bun or banana will do) to refuel.

upsidedown

Recently started doing 21 miles each way, 2 - 3 times each week. As long as you eat while at work and keep well hydrated you'll be fine, your body will let you know if you're doing too much anyway, good luck !!

prj45

upsidedown wrote:

your body will let you know if you're doing too much anyway, good luck !!

Or it might cry for more, whether that's a good idea, or possibly not!

I do 22 miles a day with the occasional day off every couple of weeks or so as dictated by my feel for it. This is a good time to do some logistical stuff like swapping towels soap and shoes in and out.

When I got back on my bike proper a while back (after a very nasty gout attack not associated with cycling) I did promise that I'd tube it on Fridays (i.e. once a week), but that's gone to pot (unless I've got a night out planned).

magicroundabout

I'm a bit close to work for my own liking - it's only 3.3 miles each way, but I've started finding other routes that are longer to build up my fitness. Last week I did about 10 miles a day and it did wear me out!

So you may find you have to build up to it - you will get fitter!

I'm in awe of people who do more than 20 or even 30 miles a day. I'll catch you up soon.

MR

Mithras

I'm looking at commuting into work. About 17 each way. However I also will be spending 6 hours a day riding around my patch....even if it is only low level effort....Not sure if it is going to be foable just yet.

TheBoyBilly

I think you will be fine. I commute six miles (and back) to the gym four times a week and even with a decent workout feel great. The first couple of times were a bit hard going but I've got used to it now. But on the odd occasion that I feel I may have overdone it a bit in the gym I may decide to sling the bike on a train for part of the way home. I think you have to just be sensible, and listen to your body.

grace72

i do brentford-hyde park-muswell hill now, works out at 33 miles a day with the return trip. i do that mon-thurs and sat just changed routes from 28 miles a day. finding it ok but thursday on the way home is a bit tiring until you tell yourself that you have a day off the next day then i tend to go for it a bit more

dirk_van_gently

I do about 17miles round trip most days, and quite often add on some more miles when the weather is good.
I would beware of just knackering yourself out, that and a full days work takes it out of you.

andyrr

I have a 35 mile round trip as a commute and in combination with other riding (turbo training tuesday nights, long ride at the weekend etc) I do not try to do the commute every day, for me it's just too much. It depends to a certain degree how physically tiring your job is and also what your route is like : 34 miles flat is very different to a lumpy 34.
Personally I'd suggest having 1 or 2 days off and use those days to bring changes of clothes, food etc in.

scalamanga007

I do 28 a day every day with a long mountain bike ride most weekends and its fine. Hard at first but fine.

It always seems to be windy on a thursday and friday just for some extra punishment!!??

Kafka\'s Doll

Three months ago I had the same concerns (I do 30m a day in total). When I started it was taking me 90 minutes one way, I now do it in almost half that. Start slowly, two or three days a week, and build up. You ache a bit, sure you do, but it gets better. I now feel a lot more alert at work than I did following a tube journey.

One thing, depending on where you cycle you'll find that other cyclists race each other. Don't get involved until you're on top of the distance, it'll just knacker you out unnecessarily.

Clever Pun

ash68 wrote:

I do a bit less at 27 miles a day. Find I'm a little tired by my trip home on Friday night.Works out at 135 commuting miles a week.

Same here yes you can get tired, but as you get fitter it's really noticeable... I use the gym 3-4 times a week as well

if you get really tired have a days break, the train journey will renew your vigor for getting back on the bike

Bassjunkieuk

I had my first week of long commuting last week as I was doing about 29 miles total each day, going from Croydon to Thames Ditton.

I have been commuting for the last 18 months so the extra few miles on my normal 10-12 mile commute to various parts of London didn't bother me to much and I was looking forward to the challenge and change of scenery! Due to the route I'm taking I'm actually able to ride for longer without stopping as it involces mainly cycle routes!

As some previous posters have said I did have a few earlier nights during the week to catch up on sleep and needed a bit of a larger lunch at work but asides from that I didn't have any major problems (asides from a minor crash (oil on road with a sharp corner!!) and a puncture, both un-related!)
I'd say give the route a go over a weekend and see how you feel and use that as a guide as to how tiring it could end up being and go from there!

el_presidente

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

One thing, depending on where you cycle you'll find that other cyclists race each other. Don't get involved until you're on top of the distance, it'll just knacker you out unnecessarily.

this is loser talk. pay no attention

C1234

50 mile round trip, but only 2-3 times a week. Less in the winter.
The time when I stepped up to doing it every day for 2 weeks, I started getting quite tired (slept like a baby), I would be noticeable slower by Friday, and unbelievabley saddle sore.

I'm sure that with time, I would get over it, just the same as I did in the transition from not cycling into cycling, but I think that it would be best to do it gradually , and to invest in a much more expensive saddle.

Oh, the other thing is that your weekly shopping bill rockets, but if you enjoy your food, that's no bad thing.