So how did you get started?

tedlarue

Commuting I mean. Now I've come out of lurking and am about to embark on a life of expensive kit buying and discussions about pot-holes just wondering how and when you all started?

Did you go straight for a 25 mile round trip 5 days a week or start off more gently?

My commute to work is 12 miles each way but I'm neither fit enough nor confident enough on the roads to begin with that as yet. So I'm opting for a shorter 4 mile trip (I can ditch the bike at my parents place) with the remainder of the journey on a train.

Also any tips on what to expect the first few weeks would be welcomed!

linsen

My commute is a similar length, and requires supremely good organisation to manage it more than a couple of times a week.
From a fitness point of view, I have done it every week between 1 and 3 times for the last 4 months and when I started I arrived feeling dead. Now I arrive feeling absolutely fine. My target is to manage 4 days a week by the summer (I don't work the 5th, so that would be an adventure ride)
I personally would build on the number of times rather than the length, but then that is because I don't have an easy way of making mine shorter.
Make sure you have food at work to eat in case you get hungry.

Rich158

I jumped straight in at the deep end with a 23 mile commute each way last year. I have been mountain biking for about 10 years although this was only DH and didn't involve any great distance. In my favour I had been running 2/3 times a week and had worked up to about 8 miles or so.

To start I didn't do more than 2 days in a row, and even now don't do more than 4 days with a clothes changeover day somewhere in the week.

RockyHopperShow

My commute is, and always has been, since being in my present job, part bike - part train. Usually it is on my folder but occasionally when I know that I can fit in the time, I take my mtb and come back via a disused railway - lovely. In your case I should suggest starting off gently for a couple of weeks and then see how you feel about doing the whole journey by bike. 12 miles is small beer to some folk on this forum (not me may I add) and will, depending on the terrain and type of roads, take you in the region of a hour. Try to do a dummy run early on a quiet day to see how that feels. On a Sunday, for example, you can always take the bike home by train - during the week you might not be allowed on.
If you are considering commuting all year round you will benefit greatly from fitting mudguards and a rack. You should spend as much as you can on decent lights and reflectives too. All this advice can be found using the "search" facility in these forums, but feel free to ask as most people are only too willing to give their opinions which is great.

lost_in_thought

I started off on the old commuter, but only a shade under 7 miles each way across London.

I had it delivered to work, put it together, cycled to Liverpool Street that evening then cycled pretty much every day (travel/illnes permitting) from there on!

I have to say, the first 4 days did kill me a bit, but it was such fun I didn't mind.

Then I added the home to train part in Essex, 14 miles each way, which took me to a grand total of 21 miles each way with a train ride to recuperate. Problem was that it got really dark and cold in Essex at 5am in winter, and I found out I'm a big wuss who doesn't like getting up really early! So I went back to the car for that bit...

Now I commute entirely by bike, and it's great.

I have to say, you should just go for it. If it's too much, then back off, and try again the week after.

Christophe3967

If you have the base fitness, then really the only thing to worry about is the route you'll be using and getting used to the traffic. I knew from the gym that I had the fitness, so did the first few rides in at the weekend when the traffic is quieter so that I at least knew where I was going. It is a little intimidating to start with but that soon goes, and in no time you'll be trying to set PBs. Ride assertively, stay away from the gutters, don't undertake lorries and buses, remember that you're subject to the same rules as other road users, and do watch out for pedestrians. And you'll never want to go back...

woodyonthebeach

Started because it was better than getting college transport, meaning I wasn't tide down until the coaches left, so I could turn for the lecture then leave or go out and have thrash between lectures.

Bit of a gateway commuter

iain_j

I got my bike for my birthday whilst at university, and being a poor student it was great, saving me a fortune on bus fares (I still ended up with a huge overdraft though). It was only 3 miles each way, perfectly doable after an afternoon at the student union bars.

During one of the summer hols, back at my parents' house (10 miles away), I started having driving lessons. The lessons carried on when I was back at uni and I used to cycle the 20 mile round trip every Wednesday. It used to kill me

When I moved into the working world, my commute was only half a mile further into the city centre so I carried on doing it by bike.

iain_j

lost_in_thought wrote:

I had it delivered to work, put it together, cycled to Liverpool Street that evening

I missed the "Street" when I first read that... wouldn't suprise me though

tedlarue

Cheers for all the advice. I think I just need to MTFU (getting used to the jargon already!) and get out on the bike.

The fitness thing should be fairly easy to overcome as I used to play sport quite often, but my main concern is the the full 12 mile commute. I'll be on some pretty horrible roads. For those that know, I'll be going from Purley/Kenley to Wandsworth Bridge, so I think I'll do what you say and try it on a quiet day first.

I'm so stuck in a rut with my current routine of getting on the train still half asleep, that I'm hoping the bike will be the kick up the backside I need.

Wrath Rob

For my 9 mile each way commute I started on my old MTB and did it 3 times in the 1st week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and then upped it when I felt I was coping. Once I'd decided I'd be commuting on the bike all of the time and it wasn't just a fad, I bought my road bike. And then it got to winter again so I got a single speed.

Watch out, once you start its a slippery, cash consuming slope!

squired

My uncle got my brother and I into cycling when we were 12. He took us for a ride over to a triathlon shop about 10km away. We'd never ridden that far, or up any of the hills we had to navigate. At that point both of us fell in love with cycling and were doing it regularly, going out most evenings after school. School was close to home, but college was 13km away. Given the distance it was a great excuse to get more cycling in, so we started cycling to college together, then to uni and eventually to work. Once you have the fitness it is easy, but it helps if you love cycling and if the route you have isn't very nice (lots of heavy traffic, etc) I find that doing it a few days a week is better. When I used to cycle into London 5 days a week I started to hate it because of the combination of heavy traffic, danger and constant stopping for red lights every 100 metres.

soy_sauce

my commute is only 2.5 miles each way so i have no problem of cycling every day (as long as it is not icy road). i haven't cycling for 8 years or so before i started commuting to work back in September and never cycled on road before it neither, so the whole experience was brand new to me.

tarquin_foxglove

I started cycling after a 15 year break with a 7.5 mile commute across London.

I was given a crappy mountain bike and just jumped straight in to commuting 5 days a week & gradually evolved my kit from jeans & t-shirts to cycling gear.

I am a terrible prevaricator though and if I waited for the right weather, right gear, right fitness I never would have done it.

hondafanatic

I turned 30 years old. That thought was enough for me start straight away on my 10 mile commute and bumping up the mileage at the weekend.

Kenjaja1

Hi Ted,
Try building up to it by doing the 4 mile stretch as many times in the week as you are comfortable with. If you find it tough one day then rest the next and ride the day after. Get up to five days per week on the 4 mile stretch and then use the same method to build up to full 12 miles.

i.e. 12 miles one day, 4 the next and then back to 12. If it is tough then give yourself a recovery day; if it feels good then do more riding the next day.

Have a look at the cycling guides available free from Transport for London
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/cy ... efault.asp
and choose yourself a route you are comfortable with.

Try logging your mileage on one of the free websites - that can be a good incentive to building up the number of commutes. Cyclogs is good
http://cyclogs.org/default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fhome.aspx

Make sure you are suitably prepared before you set off. Check your bike regularly and do a quick check of tyre pressure, lights, brakes etc before setting off. Carry stuff for basic repairs such as p*nctures or loose nuts and bolts. Finally either wear or take suitable clothing to keep you comfy when the weather is less than ideal.

Good luck

sarajoy

Cycled around a bit as a kid that's not yet driving is generally expected to do.

Got to university and started cycling the ~2 miles into and out of lectures (FAST downhill on the way in, hell of a slog on the way back).

Worked for 6 months in a place that was about 1.5 miles from home and cycled that (over that first extremely wet summer we had a couple of years back and into the February following) - into and out of city-centre, so got used to lots of aggressive traffic and unpleasant conditions.

Got into my current job and initially assumed that 8 miles was way too far. Had a go at taking the train for most of it, then cycling the remaining 3 miles - but gave up as it took a long time, lots of stops and starts and trying to time myself for trains, and actually cost me more per trip than the drive. Also, took (on average) a good 40 min longer than driving!

Left it for a while. But my belly started getting soggy again (!) so I MTFU'd, got me a new, lighter bike via Cyclescheme, and just went for it.

Despite there being a large hill in the middle, it's not as difficult as I thought it'd be - but traffic lights, slow cars, and uphillness does mean that it's taking me about an hour to get in, when driving would be about 20 min. I'm trying to do a day on, a day off, it's only my second week, and I'm off on holiday in a day or two, so we'll see how it feels after that!

Enjoying it though

jinnan_tonnix

Always been into bikes, started on a Raleigh Tomahawk more years ago than I care to mention.

As for commuting, been doing so for almost 4 years. My fitness has improved no end, and I really miss the cycle when I'm forced to drive in (ice/bad weather/illness). I would think I drive to work about 20 days out the year.

I commute all year round, it's not a great deal of fun in the middle of winter, but I've never regretted not taking the car.

When I first started, I thought it was quite an effort, but now it's trivial. 12 miles a day on canal towpath, which means I can listen to my MP3 player with no traffic worries.

Getting a routine is important - though I still faff around in the morning looking for this and that, I can normally get out of the house at a reasonable time.

Feltup

Over the last few years I occasionally went mtn biking and used my old Peugeot to cycle to the pub or to friends houses. The last spring one of my friends decided we should do the Dunwich Dynamo. I debated doing it on my mtn bike with slicks but then thought what the hell I'll buy a roadie throught the cycle to work scheme. So last May I bought the Felt and started commuting the 13 miles into work and back and found myself loving it. Return trips in the summer often meant adding extra miles through the Chilterns just because it was so nice to be up there and cruising.

This winter my felt was getting wrecked with the salt on the roads so I bought Singlecross as my winter commuter and that is also great fun to ride. I was very grateful of the cx tyres this morning with the slushy ice etc and the bike takes me a quarter of the time to clean too!

Roastie

TedLaRue wrote:

Commuting I mean.

I started cycling to school when I was about 10 (I'd guess) - it was probably 3-4km.

DonDaddyD

6 miles

I did a dummy run on the weekend to gauge how long it would take me and to figure out what the best route would be. The commute was a modest 6.5miles and on the dummy run I got a horrendous cramp... :oops:

In the end I just went for it, the elevated feeling of awesomeness and actually being awake by the time I arrived at work (I'm not a morning person and when I went to work by train I wouldn't wake up until about 11am) was enough to convice me to turn cycling to work into an everyday thing.

Started doing that commute on a Giant M2 13miles (both ways) every day in May, June and July. Then I bought my Giant SCR 3 in August and started increasing the route until I got to just shy off 9miles.

The hardest part was just getting used to carring my work clothes in a bag and the start up bike gear.

(My commute now is 7miles).

highwaymunky

14 miles there and back.
I started to get fit and save money it of course snowballed into obsession.

Pack everything the night before so you get up get dressed and go.

You'll start off with too much stuff, eventually thinning things out to what you need.

Take a big bag Monday full of clothes and food if you can. Then you have a light / no bag for the rest of the week and bring it all home Friday.

Give your self plenty of time for the first 2 weeks.

Oh and on the 2nd day your arse will hurt like hell! but you'll get used to it.

But above all keep going with it, it'll get faster... not easier but faster.

Good Luck

b0y1nterupted

mines about 17 miles each way & got started to get fit,

dont do the full way there & back as its a little too much at the mo,

so i usually cheat & get train for about 10 miles of one of the ways

the biggest thing i have learn though is leave spare underwear at work if your carrying clotehs for that day in.....

always_tyred

I always commuted shortish (<4miles I guess) distances to school, then uni.

Then I started rowing and its the only way to get somewhere cold, remote and damp at 6am.

Then I REALLY got into rowing and its the only way to get somewhere remote, cold and damp at 4:45am.

Then my body rebelled against rowing and I had to stop. So I bought a road bike and cycled around feeverishly to keep fit, and got the bug.

Ever since, I've cycle commuted a longer distance than I really have to, so I have a nicer route, keep fit, get some miles in etc.

Tonyroc

i was hacked off at £120 per month car park fees at my local train station so bought my Brompton and off i went. Soon had it paid off and now feel self righteous and smug every time i ride to the station and don't give them money. Commute is 7 miles each way but luckily I get to sit on the train half way through to get over it!

jimmypippa

There were apalling roadworks on the A6, and I used to use public transport (bus +couple of mile walk in total)

Decided that 25mile round-trip was doable and quicker with more flexibility.

I started only a Friday, then a Mon, Wed, Fri then every day.

I had been put off by the climb, but it gets better.

AndyOgy

Commuting by bike just has magical powers that draw you in. Up until about this sort of time last year, I hadn't really ridden a bike in over 10 years. I was really into mountain biking as a kid but injuries sustained in a car crash and a few close calls with lorries etc when I was out on the bike pretty much put an end to it all. Until I came into a small amount of money last year and decided to buy a new bike. I rode it every evening and as much as hang overs would allow me to at the weekends. As the evenings started getting shorter I realised that the only way to get some decent daylight riding in was to reclaim the time that I was wasting driving to and from work and thus became a cycle commuter.

I'm lucky in that I live in Brighton, right on the South Downs and (when the weather is nice) I can incorporate sections of The South Downs Way into my commute. At the shortest distance, it's a 22 mile round trip. But I can alter the routes to and from work to take it up to about 40ish miles. So basically, I can do a days work, 40 miles of decent riding and still have the whole evening free to do whatever else I want. And all I lose is 5/6 hours a week of sitting in traffic.

I've just been made redundant and, whilst actively jobhunting, I'm avoiding any jobs that are within at least a 5 mile radius of my home. I don't function as well when I haven't started the day on a bike.

tedlarue

Well my first ride in this morning, only 4 miles but it took me just over 20 mins! The roads weren't as bad as I thought seeing as I'm only used to the odd evening/Sunday ride, but I think that half term will have something to do with that.

Only saw one other cyclist - a chap who shot passed me just as I pulled out of my road and greeted me with a friendly "morning!".

Kenjaja1

TedLaRue wrote:

Well my first ride in this morning, only 4 miles but it took me just over 20 mins! The roads weren't as bad as I thought seeing as I'm only used to the odd evening/Sunday ride, but I think that half term will have something to do with that.

Only saw one other cyclist - a chap who shot passed me just as I pulled out of my road and greeted me with a friendly "morning!".

Well Done Ted! That sounds like a good positive start of a long, healthy, money-saving and enjoyable "commuting" career. Now you have started you only have to keep going at every opportunity & you'll soon be addicted.
Best of luck

itboffin

I was out walking in the woods one day when from out of nowhere a rabid werewolf suffering from late stages of SCR madness (see GregT) bit me on the arse, can I say arse here? yes well anyway the very next commuting day I woke to find myself dressed head to toe in lycra and hi-viz, my trusty commuting steed waiting at the door.

That's my story, honest!

Damn you mods are your censorship, I will not be ..... :P

Mrs_Ragbrutty

I used to be a postman... postwoman... so I had to cycle. I was prety chuffed with myself when I was able to cycle up West Hill in East Grinstead on a naff fixed post office bike.

Started commuting in 1995 when I worked in a horticultural nursey and my bike with the engine was undergoing a serious tuning op. After that it was just too loud to commute on and I like cycling. 9 mile round trip. It hurt the first time, but was fine once my legs grew sideways.

Through various ups and downs over the years I have extended my daily commute to 30 mile round trip and as I work a split shift, today I cycled 60 miles. Find it very easy now. I love to think that I can just get on my bike and go anywhere I want... I want to go to South of France tomorrow not work, anyone want to join me?