Commuting speed

Rich158

Hi Guys and Gals

Sorry if this topic has come up before, but I am fairly new to commuting by bike and want to know if my target commute time is realistic or not. My current commute is 21/22 miles through a mixture of country roads and south London, it can be quite hilly, although the hills are more and sharp, other than Shooters Hill which is a bit of a grind.

I have been doing this for six months and I seem to average about 1hr 15 mins, plus or minus 10 mins depending on how I am feeling.

My question is, is a target time of about an hour or under feasible? I want to set myself some new training targets leading up to the new year, but I don't want to be unrealistic as I will just get demoralised. I do however need some motivation to get me out of bed on cold, damp mornings and a new training regime may be just the ticket.

Your thoughts/advice would be appreciated

Cheers rich

Bassjunkieuk

Depending on your route it might be feasible. When you are setting your target times are you using actual tmes i.e leaving at 7:30 and arriving at 8:45 as 1hr 15min or are you using the reading of a cycle computer which will generally only count the time you are actually moving?

I have found that with the constant stop/start nature of commuting in town (central London) I can normally manage about 16/17MPH average (taken from cycle computer) and even on my quietest (traffic wise) and longest route which is just over 13 miles my best is still about 17/18mph average, taking just under an hour (end to end time) with all the traffic lights and junctions! Also this route crosses a level crossing so I sometimes get caught there which can add a few minutes!

Out on open roads or when riding around town for fun trying to avoid traffic lights etc I can get my average up to 18/19mph so I think your targets are fairly good, especially considering the time you are doing at the moment!

gtvlusso

My twenty miler was bang on about an hour, sometimes 50m mins or less - it went to put when I started doing 36 miles each way - I lost the will to be concerned about it!! But stayed within 2 hours....just!!

Rich158

Cheers. I'm using a bike computer so it's time moving.

I wasn't sure whether I was being realistic, but I aim to get the average up on the country roads and take it slightly easier in town.

My ultimate goal is to hit a gold time in the southern sportive series next year and complete the Fred Whitton challenge without pushing. Commuting is the only time I get to train so I need a target that's achievable without killing myself every day.

Bassjunkieuk

If it's time moving then it's quite feasible, when I did the London Bikeathon charity bike a couple of years ago I set myself a target of 1 hr 45min for the 26 mile route around town (no road closures so have to deal with normal traffic and the estimate was based on my commuting speed) and actually ended up coming in at under 1hr 30min - and that was on my old cr4ppy Raleigh racer!

wgwarburton

Hi,
Remember to rest. It's very easy to overtrain when you're commuting.

Cheers,
W.

linsen

wow. I cycle 12 miles to work in 50 minutes. I could never imagine doubling that in under an hour!

I can see I still have a long way to go in the cycling world....

coffeecup

I've a 9 mile commute at about 20-21mph on a road bike. what sorta bike you on??

mightn't matter, but if you're on a mountain bike with big nobbly tyres and toe clips, I'd say get some slicker tyres, put plenty of air in them, get SPD pedals and tighten the suspension right up. That'll take a good 10 minutes off the commute

linsen

coffeecup if you are talking to me I have a road bike 700/23 tyres. But a considerable number of "bumps" on the way!

c12345

mines about 23 each way, and average speed can be as low as 18mph (on a friday usually), and as high as 24mph. Basically, the 'under the hour' times are wind assisted, and quite rare, but it can be done.

things that do make a diference are, depending on conditions, its sometimes quicker (timewise) to take a slightly longer route with better roads. I also use clip on tri-bars, and if I feel like I'm making good progress at the start of a ride, I'll generally use them a lot more and push harder to see if I can get the hour: They make a heleva diference.

Most furstrating thing is watching the seconds trickle past when you're ever so slightly too slow. You can easly wipe out your evening by pushing too hard, and you've got nothing to show for it!

gtvlusso

I am in training for an Ironman event.......sort of. Did 90 miles on Saturday - non stop....on Sunday, I slept, non stop.

Rich158

WGWarburton wrote:

Hi,
Remember to rest. It's very easy to overtrain when you're commuting.

W.

So true, I've just decided to cut the commute back to three days a week as I feel constantly knackered. I'm training for a half marathon in February and 21 miles each way with a 4.5 mile run at lunchtime is too much. I figure 3 commutes and 3 runs a week is more than enough, I still want a life as well

lost_in_thought

I've been wondering if I've been overdoing it recently...

I do 70 miles a week commuting, often more, and aim to do at least another 30 on the weekend, normally about another 60 on 2 30-ish mile rides - 15-ish there and 15-ish back with a stop, sometimes. I also jog with my housemate once or twice a week, either 6 or 10 miles, do pilates once a week and go to the gym for 30 minutes sweaty cardio and weights followed by a swim (if there's time) 3 lunchtimes a week.

The running and the pilates are recent additions, but I don't think they're entirely to blame for the fact that my legs seem to ache rather a lot. So I've been travelling for work this week, then off to Barcelona this weekend, and have done none of the above.

I'm hoping that the time off will stop my legs aching!

itboffin

:shock:

WTF is wrong with you all.

linsen

lost_in_thought wrote:

I've been wondering if I've been overdoing it recently...

I do 70 miles a week commuting, often more, and aim to do at least another 30 on the weekend, normally about another 60 on 2 30-ish mile rides - 15-ish there and 15-ish back with a stop, sometimes. I also jog with my housemate once or twice a week, either 6 or 10 miles, do pilates once a week and go to the gym for 30 minutes sweaty cardio and weights followed by a swim (if there's time) 3 lunchtimes a week.

The running and the pilates are recent additions, but I don't think they're entirely to blame for the fact that my legs seem to ache rather a lot. So I've been travelling for work this week, then off to Barcelona this weekend, and have done none of the above.

I'm hoping that the time off will stop my legs aching!

]

That all sounds like far more than the average human being could manage!! Certainly than this one. If I were to fit all that in i would be either wonder woman or dead!
I take my hat off to you, LiT, but I reckon you could probably do with a few days off!

jonginge

lost_in_thought wrote:

So I've been travelling for work this week, then off to Barcelona this weekend, and have done none of the above.

Sounds like a well planned recovery week after an intense training block
Beware the Super-LiT... bluddy scalps everywhere

Rich158

That sounds similar to my regime LiT

3x 42 mile commutes with a 4.5 mile run on the off days, and a longer run, 10 miles or so on Saturday, with a bit of DH sunday. If there's a sportive I'll substitute the 10 mile run with 150-180k on the bike. I've just started to fit in 3 30min weights sessions in the evenings as well.

It's no wonder I'm at physio with patella tendonitis at least once a week.

My other half thinks it's my mid life crisis, but I'll have the last laugh..................

The only downsiide is the fitter I get the less I can drink. Still it makes for a cheep night out

lost_in_thought

linsen wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I've been wondering if I've been overdoing it recently...

I do 70 miles a week commuting, often more, and aim to do at least another 30 on the weekend, normally about another 60 on 2 30-ish mile rides - 15-ish there and 15-ish back with a stop, sometimes. I also jog with my housemate once or twice a week, either 6 or 10 miles, do pilates once a week and go to the gym for 30 minutes sweaty cardio and weights followed by a swim (if there's time) 3 lunchtimes a week.

The running and the pilates are recent additions, but I don't think they're entirely to blame for the fact that my legs seem to ache rather a lot. So I've been travelling for work this week, then off to Barcelona this weekend, and have done none of the above.

I'm hoping that the time off will stop my legs aching!

That all sounds like far more than the average human being could manage!! Certainly than this one. If I were to fit all that in i would be either wonder woman or dead!
I take my hat off to you, LiT, but I reckon you could probably do with a few days off!

And yet I still have a flabby belly! Yeah, I reckon it will do me the world of good. Have just talked myself out of going for a lap or three round Gunnersbury park.

When I write it all out like that it does seem a lot. :shock:

linsen

you and I can chat about the hideousness of being female, exercising like crazy and still carrying a "battery pack" next Friday!
The problem with cycling is that it is dominated by fat-free men :?

itboffin

linsen wrote:

you and I can chat about the hideousness of being female, exercising like crazy and still carrying a "battery pack" next Friday!
The problem with cycling is that it is dominated by fat-free men :?

I beg to differ - my arse is massive :shock:

lost_in_thought

Rich158 wrote:

That sounds similar to my regime LiT

3x 42 mile commutes with a 4.5 mile run on the off days, and a longer run, 10 miles or so on Saturday, with a bit of DH sunday. If there's a sportive I'll substitute the 10 mile run with 150-180k on the bike. I've just started to fit in 3 30min weights sessions in the evenings as well.

It's no wonder I'm at physio with patella tendonitis at least once a week.

My other half thinks it's my mid life crisis, but I'll have the last laugh..................

The only downsiide is the fitter I get the less I can drink. Still it makes for a cheep night out

Ah so THAT's what it is.... I'd noticed my tolerance to alcohol (esp. beer) had slipped somewhat. Damn.

Rich158

itboffin wrote:

linsen wrote:

you and I can chat about the hideousness of being female, exercising like crazy and still carrying a "battery pack" next Friday!
The problem with cycling is that it is dominated by fat-free men :?

I beg to differ - my ars* is massive :shock:

Same as me, I'm nowhere near fat free, the belly just won't budge.

don_don

Rich158 wrote:

itboffin wrote:

linsen wrote:

you and I can chat about the hideousness of being female, exercising like crazy and still carrying a "battery pack" next Friday!
The problem with cycling is that it is dominated by fat-free men :?

I beg to differ - my ars* is massive :shock:

Same as me, I'm nowhere near fat free, the belly just won't budge.

Likewise, but I'm heartened by the implication that not being 'fat-free' is a positive thing!

Anyway, just wait till you've all got kids, then watch the big training regimes just melt away.... nyahahahaha

linsen

I do have kids - hence the need to train!!

Rich158

Same as me. In fact the kids got me back into biking when I gave up smoking 8 years ago.

Now I've done a few downhill mtb races, completed a few sportives and am in better shape than when I was 18. It's just a matter of prioritising, just ask my long suffering other half :?

don_don

Maybe I'll have to wait until mine are a bit older then! At the moment its kids 1st, 2nd, and then 3rd :?

itboffin

I have 3 children and LOVE beer hence the need to train, oh I remember the days of 'ye olde' boasting about being able to eat & drink whatever I wish, i'm crying now...

into my beer of course

Rich158

don_don wrote:

Maybe I'll have to wait until mine are a bit older then! At the moment its kids 1st, 2nd, and then 3rd :?[/quote

I always made the excuse that taking them out on their bikes was putting them first and was goood for them It's amazing what crap you can make up when you just want to get out on your bike.

It's worth the wait, I love beating mine on our local DH track. Showing them that the old mans still got it at nearly 40 is great

itboffin

So what you're saying there Rich158 or should I call you competitive dad!!! is you "race" against your children, that truly is the SCR spirit.

Rich158

I wouldn't call them kkids at 20 & 16 but I guess I am competetive Dad, they're no stranger as to who can go bigger/faster. The kudos of them beating the old man in front of his mates is too much to resist.

itboffin

Rich158 wrote:

I wouldn't call them kkids at 20 & 16 but I guess I am competetive Dad, they're no stranger as to who can go bigger/faster. The kudos of them beating the old man in front of his mates is too much to resist.