My commute is doomed...

ChrisLS
ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
edited November 2008 in Commuting chat
...it's all over. The company I work for is moving away...25 miles away...too far to ride? 50 miles a day? :?:

...I am gutted...my commute is what gets me out of bed in the morning...I do not want to be another drone in a car whizzing through the landscape with no idea... :cry:

...time for a plan B I think... :idea:
...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...

Comments

  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    1. Subject to the nature of the route, stay on the bike!

    2. Or do it two/three times a week.

    3. Retire.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • iainmoss
    iainmoss Posts: 88
    50 miles isn't too far....depending on terrain, health, equipment.......

    I ride 30 miles a day and I'd love it if I had to ride 50!
  • simple_salmon
    simple_salmon Posts: 457
    Be flexible; cycle on some days drive/car share/train on others.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    iainmoss wrote:
    I'd love it if I had to ride 50!

    Yep, that would be great. Would go a long way to solving the problem of not having enough time to train for sportives.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    Drive part way, cycle the rest.

    Time for a new 'faster' bike!
  • wgwarburton
    wgwarburton Posts: 1,863
    Can you multi-mode? I've commuted for the last few years to different workplaces forty miles apart- I cycle to the nearest station and then get off at the nearest stop to the office...
    The same thing works for buses or you can drive part of the way.

    Can you claim some sort of relocation compensation?

    When considering public transport, bear in mind that you might need a folding bike, if space is limited, or you might prefer to use a second bike for the far end (locked at the station, for example). I parked a bike overnight at Edinburgh Waverley for months so that I could use it to get to work during the day.

    Cheers,
    W.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    iainmoss wrote:
    50 miles isn't too far....depending on terrain, health, equipment.......

    I ride 30 miles a day and I'd love it if I had to ride 50!

    Cycling 3 hours a day and working 8 or 9 hours a day is not really sustainable in my experience.
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    I do 72 miles a day over summer months (well, March to September) - some hills, mostly flat, windy though!

    Get yourself prepared and kitted up. Do it a few times a week then go for a whole week. Sleep will be your friend.....

    Good excuse for new toys!
  • psychle
    psychle Posts: 83
    Change of job four years ago led to me giving up the 10 mile cycle commute for a 32 mile drive. Two years of that was more than enough.
    Last year I started using the train - better, but expensive.
    This year I tried using bike and train - 11 mile cycle to the station, 16 miles on the train and another 5 miles to the office. A decent 32 miles a day which feels like nothing as it's broken up into 4 stages, et voila, fitter, happier, healthier and wealthier!

    Glad to see you're not making my mistake of waiting a few years to consider a plan B.

    "Like a pig towing a cart-load of sausages - I draw my own conclusions"
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    Option 1 - Relocate

    Option 2 - Find new job

    Option 3 - HTFU

    Seriously, what's the terrain like and how long do you think it would take you, starting just a couple of days a week perhaps?

    We can't lose the great SCR originator!
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6
  • AndyManc
    AndyManc Posts: 1,393
    Train + bike is a good combo, check out the nearest stations.
    Specialized Hardrock Pro/Trek FX 7.3 Hybrid/Specialized Enduro/Specialized Tri-Cross Sport
    URBAN_MANC.png
  • fnb1
    fnb1 Posts: 591
    could not manage 25 miles each way, I only just manage my 23.8.

    That said needs of work and logistics of car mean that I cannot do it daily, one option I use is drive in on Monday *take shirts underwear etc for week), cycle home, Cycle in Tues, then may drive or cycle home dependant on need, hours worked, weather etc, usually mange 2 to 3 round trips in the week and generally always have the car available at work should I need it.

    My working day is usually 10 hours and the commute is mostly flat with a little lite Chilterns that I get throu in about 1hr 15mins.

    suppose as others say, depends on route, motivation etc but if fit enough (you soon would be if you did it) no reason why not, also dependant on route the time may be simlar to driving, my drive takes me about an hour so the cycle compares well.
    fay ce que voudres
  • chuckcork
    chuckcork Posts: 1,471
    I would likewise ask what the time is on the alternatives.

    My cycle to my last work was around 50 minutes for the 14 miles each way, which sounds a lot of distance to do, but the alternative bus would be a 20 minute walk to the bus, hope it shows up, sit on the bus for between 20 and 30 minutes and then 5 minutes walk to work.
    I actually had to leave the house earlier to get that bus, which got me to work earlier than I wanted, so it was a waste oif personal time and expensive too (€7.50 a day).

    If the alternative stake almost as long then just cycle, you'll be fit as f*ck in no time at all, though I would suggest building up to it as others have done with a day on/day off, and maybe just drive in bad weather.
    'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze....
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Noooooooo the originator of the SCR thread can't stop commuting!

    Drive part way. Cycle the rest....
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • lvquestpaddler
    lvquestpaddler Posts: 416
    I'd do it once or twice a week to begin with, pick the best weather days using xcweather and metcheck so you don't get scunnered!!! then during the summer you can up the frequency... :?:
  • AndyManc
    AndyManc Posts: 1,393
    lvquestpaddler wrote:
    I'd do it once or twice a week to begin with, pick the best weather days using xcweather and metcheck so you don't get scunnered!!! then during the summer you can up the frequency... :?:


    Metcheck said it wouldn't rain today , so for the first time this winter I didn't bother taking my waterproofs ..... I got f******** soaked . :evil:
    Specialized Hardrock Pro/Trek FX 7.3 Hybrid/Specialized Enduro/Specialized Tri-Cross Sport
    URBAN_MANC.png
  • croggy
    croggy Posts: 116
    AndyManc wrote:
    lvquestpaddler wrote:
    I'd do it once or twice a week to begin with, pick the best weather days using xcweather and metcheck so you don't get scunnered!!! then during the summer you can up the frequency... :?:


    Metcheck said it wouldn't rain today , so for the first time this winter I didn't bother taking my waterproofs ..... I got f******** soaked . :evil:

    But it ALWAYS rains in Manchester :twisted:
  • ansbaradigeidfran
    ansbaradigeidfran Posts: 526
    croggy wrote:
    AndyManc wrote:
    lvquestpaddler wrote:
    I'd do it once or twice a week to begin with, pick the best weather days using xcweather and metcheck so you don't get scunnered!!! then during the summer you can up the frequency... :?:


    Metcheck said it wouldn't rain today , so for the first time this winter I didn't bother taking my waterproofs ..... I got f******** soaked . :evil:

    But it ALWAYS rains in Manchester :twisted:
    No, you're thinking of Capel Curig :lol:
  • ChrisLS
    ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
    ...thanks all...some good advice here...park and ride seems the best option at the moment...I would have to get the train into London and then out again as the new location is in Stevenage, so that is not an option. The whole distance is rideable, lanes across country and then cycle lanes across town...but not everyday.

    ...my plan B is to leave and go self employed...big jump to walk away from a salary...
    ...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...
  • Paulie W
    Paulie W Posts: 1,492
    I was in a similar situation a few years ago but my commute went up from around 20 to 60+ miles and there was no bus or train option. It wasnt the distance - which I soon became used to - it was the time factor. 4-5 hours a day on the bike, leaving about 6am and not getting home until 8pm. I was tremendously fit but more or less had no life...
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    Paulie W wrote:
    I was in a similar situation a few years ago but my commute went up from around 20 to 60+ miles and there was no bus or train option. It wasnt the distance - which I soon became used to - it was the time factor. 4-5 hours a day on the bike, leaving about 6am and not getting home until 8pm. I was tremendously fit but more or less had no life...

    Woah that is hardcore commuting :shock:
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6

Categories