Well I am chuffed with myself today!

steve77uk

Yup...

Definitely a pat on the back for me! I am well proud of myself of something I have been dreading for weeks...

Late last year during winter I posted saying I was trying to commute to and from work. It was about 5-6 miles each way and boy did it feel like hard work - I struggled loads... I only ever managed 3 days a week tops, however it was not a weekly occurance unfortunately with a week break here and there (well more breaks than weeks cycling!)

It's weird as I started out at the worst time in the winter - riding in the wind, rain and snow, when it was only a few degrees above zero, yet when it got warmer and sunny - I never really bothered!

In fairness, I have been in the process of moving house since March and finally moved in May. However I moved further away - the next town up...

The trip is now about 11-12 miles (ish) each way and for the first time I rode to work today!

Not bad times I thought, seeing as I thought it would take me an hour or more.

Journey to work - 43 minutes
Journey Home from work - 45 minutes!

From my old house it took me 20 minutes to work and about 35+ back.

Bit harder work on the way back today as it was more up hill, but nice casual ride, sun was out too! I felt the journey to work was far easier than the shorter journey before - strange that, but I suppose the new trip is a lot flatter - will I do it every day? Doubt it, but for starters hope to do 2 days a week and see how I go from there.

Thanks for letting me blow my own trumpet! - was dreading the ride for weeks!

DavidTQ

I find my 7 mile each way commute hard work and am normally fit to drop at the end of it.

I went for a ride with a friend on a fairly hill free route - 26 miles and felt that I could have done the same distance again no problem. I reckon I could do 50 miles easily enough on the level taking it at that sort of pace. But I just cant seem to take it that bit easier on the commute. and my commute is ridiculously hilly . Silly thing is the speed difference was maybe 5mph at the most, but for some reason if Ive got somewhere to be I push myself.

Maybe one day I will learn the self discipline to pace myself for comfort. Some how I dont see myself ever having the luxury of a flatter commute...

krushgroove

Hey good job I bike from Derby to past Burton when I'm not too tired, so far I've only done it in fair weather but I *feel* I'm prepared to go it in the wet...I just haven't done it yet on a rainy day (although...I have biked in on days when it was forecast to rain, but didn't, so I'm ready) Your commute times are really good, I've got mine down to about 1.5hrs each way, about 15 miles, with one 'big' hill on the way back home and a couple of 1-minute rests each way. I'm hoping to get my time down as I get fitter, before I started I guessed at a 45-minute one-way ride!

DavidTQ

krushgroove wrote:

Hey good job I bike from Derby to past Burton when I'm not too tired, so far I've only done it in fair weather but I *feel* I'm prepared to go it in the wet...I just haven't done it yet on a rainy day (although...I have biked in on days when it was forecast to rain, but didn't, so I'm ready) Your commute times are really good, I've got mine down to about 1.5hrs each way, about 15 miles, with one 'big' hill on the way back home and a couple of 1-minute rests each way. I'm hoping to get my time down as I get fitter, before I started I guessed at a 45-minute one-way ride!

If you had been doing 15 miles in 45 minutes every day I reckon youd have been setting some fine TT records

prj45

DavidTQ wrote:

If you had been doing 15 miles in 45 minutes every day I reckon youd have been setting some fine TT records

My 12 mile commute across London involves about 50 minutes of cycling and 10 minutes of sitting still (traffic lights etc...).

On the flat I cruise at about 20mph, so if I wasn't slowed down by those bloddy cars and all the signals they need to stop them killing people I'd be in in 36 minutes.

steve77uk, good on yer, summer's here (kind of) and it won't be long before you start thinking your commute is too short, more often thatn not I just want to carry on straight past work and onto the north sea.

dennisn

I envy you. I've wanted to comutte for years(10 miles) but have been put off by the fact
that I work in a office that has no shower facilties, and I don't want to smell up the place.
I could do a, so called, bird bath in the restroom but don't know howwell that would work.
How about some hints from people out there??? Thanx

Dennis Noward

DavidTQ

prj45 wrote:

DavidTQ wrote:

If you had been doing 15 miles in 45 minutes every day I reckon youd have been setting some fine TT records

My 12 mile commute across London involves about 50 minutes of cycling and 10 minutes of sitting still (traffic lights etc...).

On the flat I cruise at about 20mph, so if I wasn't slowed down by those bloddy cars and all the signals they need to stop them killing people I'd be in in 36 minutes.

steve77uk, good on yer, summer's here (kind of) and it won't be long before you start thinking your commute is too short, more often thatn not I just want to carry on straight past work and onto the north sea.

Thats kind of my point if someone DESPITE traffic conditions manages 15 mile commutes in 45 minutes (twice a day) what sort of level of fitness and sprinting ability and endurance are they going to have? take out 10 minutes for traffic and thats 35 minutes for 15 miles or 10 miles 23 miles, should be able to go a bit faster over 10 than 15 anyway due to lower distance, and given a time trial pace instead of commuting pace you could be looking at 18 minutes for a 10 mile tt if someone can do 15 miles in 45 minutes through traffic on their commute twice a day

I can do 14 miles a day in 50 minutes (stopping at every light) with busy traffic, BUT as its spread across two trips I know I couldnt keep up the same pace for 14 miles in one trip. I could probably just tip a sub 30 minute time trial with a decent route .

If only those motorbikes didnt hold me up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYE_zFer0Zk

DavidTQ

dennisn wrote:

I envy you. I've wanted to comutte for years(10 miles) but have been put off by the fact
that I work in a office that has no shower facilties, and I don't want to smell up the place.
I could do a, so called, bird bath in the restroom but don't know howwell that would work.
How about some hints from people out there??? Thanx

Dennis Noward

I dont have a shower and I dont smell either. Wicking cycling gear helps, wearing the cycling gear untill you cool down properly and stop sweating helps A LOT, plain cotton t-shirts are the worst thing you can possible wear for commuting. I havent tried it yet but Ive heard merino cycling clothes are amazing for not smelling and keeping you from smelling.

I would guess mileage varies though I have to say Im naturally low odor.

Gussio

DavidTQ wrote:

I have to say Im naturally low odor.

Maybe you just can't smell yourself

DavidTQ

Gussio wrote:

DavidTQ wrote:

I have to say Im naturally low odor.

Maybe you just can't smell yourself

My brother who shared an office with me till recently would most definetely have told me if I did smell There was no holding back there

Gussio

DavidTQ wrote:

Gussio wrote:

DavidTQ wrote:

I have to say Im naturally low odor.

Maybe you just can't smell yourself

My brother who shared an office with me till recently would most definetely have told me if I did smell There was no holding back there

Haha....if he is anything like my brother, he would have told you that you smelled even if you didn't!!

DavidTQ

Gussio wrote:

DavidTQ wrote:

Gussio wrote:

DavidTQ wrote:

I have to say Im naturally low odor.

Maybe you just can't smell yourself

My brother who shared an office with me till recently would most definetely have told me if I did smell There was no holding back there

Haha....if he is anything like my brother, he would have told you that you smelled even if you didn't!!

There were many insults But him accusing me of smelling didnt come up, although the subject of lycra did daily

BUICK

Good going! I find myself wishing my commute was longer most days... and sometimes I make sure that it is by setting off early and going a scenic route! The basic commute is only 5 miles though.

I've found that cycling on more or less a daily basis has meant that my sweat doesn't seem to smell anymore. I do wear cycling specific clothing so it does a fair job - and smartwool socks with the merino factor. I wondered if maybe sweating regularly means that you are more 'flushed out' and not as toxic or something like that?

steve77uk

Well I certainly don't sweat as much as I did when I first started - that is for sure...

I don't have a shower room or a changing room at work, just a toilet room with a tiny basin. I leave a pack of baby wipes in the office and have a quick wipe down, spray some deodorant and that is about it, I don't think I smell and no one has said anything!

I wear padded underwear, lycra shorts with normal shorts on top with a t-shirt and a bright yellow cycling jacket...

Mithras

I've just started commuting to my mates when it's his turn to drive, either 5 or 8.5 each way depending on how i feel. Yesterday did the 5's, today did 5 out 8.5 back.
Bonus, got 20 miles done at work yesterday and 18 today.... Mileage is racking up.

biondino

If you shower before work, apply deodorant, and take a change of clothes for when you get to work, there is no reason why you'd start to smell before the end of the day. Some people naturally smell more than others, but I'm assuming I'm average and if you start off clean and don't wear already-sweated clothes, the bacteria don't have enough time to build up a pong.

Mithras

Biondino,
Can't agree with you there. I showered at work then went out on my work bike. By 3pm I was humming, as were a couple of my colleagues. If you can't shower or mask the smell you will be stinky by the time the afternoon arrives. May be different if you work in one of those disgusting unhealthy airconditioned offices!

Then again...I sweat like a PIG ( :roll: ) so it's hardly suprising that I smell bad.

dirk_van_gently

I use the "American" shower approach, can of deodorant spray, I towel off first, then apply.
Works fine for me, and I am a fairly profuse sweater.

Bassjunkieuk

prj45 wrote:

DavidTQ wrote:

If you had been doing 15 miles in 45 minutes every day I reckon youd have been setting some fine TT records

My 12 mile commute across London involves about 50 minutes of cycling and 10 minutes of sitting still (traffic lights etc...).

On the flat I cruise at about 20mph, so if I wasn't slowed down by those bloddy cars and all the signals they need to stop them killing people I'd be in in 36 minutes.

steve77uk, good on yer, summer's here (kind of) and it won't be long before you start thinking your commute is too short, more often thatn not I just want to carry on straight past work and onto the north sea.

First off let me say well done to the OP, that's a good commute distance you have there but we warned cycling can be addictive as like most addictions the only way to achieve a fix is to go further then last time, so you'll soon be wanting to ride further! I jumped at the chance the other week to help out in a sticky situation with my work, and ended up clocking up a rather impressive 35 miles for the day, having gone Croydon->Euston Station->Aldgate->Docklands->Just west of Blackwell Tunnel northern approach->London Bridge->Croydon in the day!

I've always wanted to challenge myself and having done the Bikeathon last year (26 miles around London) I went and signed up for the Capital to Coast this year, at just over double the distance it'll be a new record for me for a single days riding - this of course does leave me at a rather interesting point - where to go from there? I'm thinking that the next big goal would be a century, 100 miles in one day :-D