My Commute

moonio

Here is a map of my commute with the elevations etc
http://www.bikeradar.com/routes/?bpath=maps%2Fbike-path%2Fbromley-to-clerkenwell

Should I be able to do this on a normal bike 5 days a week within 1hr each way?
I started cycling to work in June on a pedassist bike as I didnt think I could cope with the hills, however I would like to try the route on a normal bike and was wondering how easy it should be.

Thanks

always_tyred

moonio wrote:

Here is a map of my commute with the elevations etc
http://www.bikeradar.com/routes/?bpath=maps%2Fbike-path%2Fbromley-to-clerkenwell

Should I be able to do this on a normal bike 5 days a week within 1hr each way?
I started cycling to work in June on a pedassist bike as I didnt think I could cope with the hills, however I would like to try the route on a normal bike and was wondering how easy it should be.

Thanks

5 days a week, that might be a bit of a grind (if you think about it, that's 120+ miles a week), but it is do-able if you are really keen. I think your time estimate might be about right though because the roads look pretty direct.

What's a "normal bike" btw - road bike?

downfader

moonio wrote:

Here is a map of my commute with the elevations etc
http://www.bikeradar.com/routes/?bpath=maps%2Fbike-path%2Fbromley-to-clerkenwell

Should I be able to do this on a normal bike 5 days a week within 1hr each way?
I started cycling to work in June on a pedassist bike as I didnt think I could cope with the hills, however I would like to try the route on a normal bike and was wondering how easy it should be.

Thanks

I wouldnt worry too much tbh. 12 miles is a fair distance and I'd reckon it would depend on how many hills and they're gradient.

AndyManc

13miles , not bad in 1 hr.

My usual thoughts are anything under 10miles is reasonable, over 10miles and you should have a decent level of fitness and a decent road bike.

My commute is 6miles and it's a doddle after riding it for 6 months.

If I was you I would try it a few times, if you are happy, wait till spring time before you go for it.

That will give you 6 months riding in decent weather before you consider doing it over winter.

nwallace

I see 2 big hills that will get you on the way home.
I have similar on the way to work though 1 is much shorter than the other.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Commute-Option-1

7 miles, so 5 shorter than what you are planning, very unfit and only do this twice a week (if at all) but it's nly the hills on the way in that cause any problem.

I rarley get caught up in any sort of traffic though and it's 40ish minutes for me (35 to 40 on the way home and 40 to 50 on the way in) though being in a valley there are only 2 wind options which is also an issue on the bridge as the side wind can seriously slow me down.

On the other hand a mate has a similar distance to you (13km) which includes a 1km climb of about 100m on one of the busier roads in dundee (not very) which includes 3 sets of traffc lights and does it in a similar time to me. Again twice a week.

snooks

My commute is 13 miles of flat, so that's a 26 mile round trip

But I don't do it every day, The most I've managed was 3 times a week, but I was feeling it!!

Twice a week is easily do-able but I tend to organise social nights after work, so I don't want to take my bike in every day

That was on a old MTB with slicked tyres, so on a road bike this would have been easier.

I'm not in the office all the time which suits my fitness down to the ground

My commute takes about 45-50 mins, stopping at reds and furious filtering

Hope that helps
.

Kieran_Burns

I do 14 and a bit - mix of country, suburban and urban. I take about an hour (50 mins is a pb) and I cycle home and catch the train in 5 times a week. I don't cycle in yet due to:

lack of fitness
no shower / changing facilities at work

that's going to change soon, so I'll be able to have some flexibility in when I choose to cycle

moonio

Hmm, I think i'll stick to using the electric mountain bike for a while longer then!! I just thought I was being a bit lazy, but doubt I could do the journey 5 days a week on a non assist bike to be honest.

ansbaradigeidfran

moonio wrote:

Hmm, I think i'll stick to using the electric mountain bike for a while longer then!! I just thought I was being a bit lazy, but doubt I could do the journey 5 days a week on a non assist bike to be honest.

If you have a 'normal bike' available, I'd suggest that you give it a try one day, and if you feel okay with it, do it one day the next week as well. Ease yourself in, and hopefully you'll find how much you can do without falling flat doing so.

snooks

Why not alternate between the two?...or get the train one day (or even one way)?

Just to break yourself into it slowly.

moonio

Ok cool, i'm planning on getting another bike next spring so I'll try to do the 1 day a week thing then, I'm sure it will be fine over short periods and will also help with fitness training etc.

spasypaddy

i ride that distance to and from work every day, and i started doing it on a road bike for two weeks, then moved to a single speed. So yes its very much doable. It also takes me less than 50 minutes each way, nearer to 40 on the way in

woodford2barbican

I do 11.5 miles each way 5 days a week. It is not a problem. Only had one day off in last three weeks and that was to rest a creaky knee.

which was not caused by the length of my commute but by pushing a higher gear....

Stuart Ross

I only bought a bike 5 months ago to try and get some exercise. At first 4 miles was exhausting but you soon get used to it. Now I cycle 11 miles to work in about 45 minutes although the return journey is nearer an hour. This is on a mountain bike with knobbly tyres. So, you will be able to do it but build up to it slowly.

TRADESIZE

moonio wrote:

Here is a map of my commute with the elevations etc
http://www.bikeradar.com/routes/?bpath=maps%2Fbike-path%2Fbromley-to-clerkenwell

Should I be able to do this on a normal bike 5 days a week within 1hr each way?
I started cycling to work in June on a pedassist bike as I didnt think I could cope with the hills, however I would like to try the route on a normal bike and was wondering how easy it should be.

Thanks

it wont be that easy however it depends on what bike you choose combined with your mental state of mind. I got back into riding after a break of 12 years, i started of going ten miles to work and ten miles home. this was on a 7 year old borrowed mountian bike that was far too small. I did enjoy it but it was really really hard work as my fitness was crap. I upgraded to slicks and it made it a little easier. Then I bite the bullet and bought a giant escape hybrid with the bigger wheels, and the differnce was phenomenal in time and effort, i now have the right bike, and keep setting myself little challenges to do the journey even quicker, and have got myself in the right enthusisatic state of mind.

Once you have your fitness up together combined with the right bike and attitude I think its doable. Start off doing it and give yourself 1 hour 20 mins

linsen

I do a commute of 12 miles in around 50 minutes (pretty hilly) on a decent road bike. Wouldn't contemplate it on an MTB

I can do it twice a week now with no bother, but would struggle logistically to do it more. Also, my familiy gets quite upset when I fall asleep on the sofa at 8pm!

They say you should increase your distance by around 10% a week don't they?

artaxerxes

Will you be taking the route through Greenwich Park for the return leg? The climb up the Ave is pretty steep and it might be a struggle on tired legs. An alternative would be to go down Greenwich St, Lewisham Road, then at Lewisham roundabout turn left into Lee High Road and then right into Burnt Ash Road at the Sainsbury's.