Lighten the tone, why do you commute by bike?

simon_ramsey

Taking the stresses of the day out on your pedals (not the missus - I jest honest :oops: )

Gives you time to think

My company has an office 15 miles from my house as well as in London & I have been known to choose my work location dependent upon the weather. Nice morning for a 15 mile ride - no London for me today

P.S Good thread DDD - everyone's friends again

Deadeye Duck

Good call on the thread, definitely one to put smiles on everyones faces

Started commuting to work (well half way) about 2 months ago, with the intention of cycling all the way to work when I was at a fitness level where I wouldn't have a heart attack as I was the most unfit person ever and didn't want to be like that for the wedding day later in the year.

I quickly found out that my MTB from my early says has now siezed everywhere possible, is about a foot too small for me & clicks, clunks & pings all every turn of the pedals.

I've just got myself a road bike last night & am going to give the ride to work and back a test ride at the weekend and see how I get on. My ride is a 450ft decent then 500ft acent over 8 miles & obviously the opposite on the way back. can't remember the gradients of the climbs but it ought to be interesting to see how long it takes me :? :shock:

lost_in_thought

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Commuting on two cervelos is excessive, even by Greg's standards. I'm sure most people can only ride one at a time.

I ain't most people, baby. 8)

Have you SEEN what I can straddle?

No, but I've heard stories

Oi! Eyes off that, Pandora!

There's a deeply inappropriate joke about boxes lurking in there somewhere...

amnezia

'the embankment' - its the best part of my day 8)

Sailorchick

Started commuting back in March when I got my bike through C2W. Sold my car as wasn't using it enough to justify keeping it and I can bike to work far quicker than the bus. Its the first bike I've had since I was 15 (my old Huffy is still waiting to get to the tip after sitting rusting on the balcony for the last few years).

When I started my commute was just over 5 miles but I've moved now and its a piddly 3.5miles - going to have to find some nice long routes for hometime as really enjoy the cycling. Soo much better than the spinning classes I've been doing for years!

Just got to learn some bike maintenance now as I think I am driving my husband mad - I tried to adjust the brakes last night as rear brake was barely functioning and front brake rubbing - but just made them worse instead. In my defense at least I tried and I am making him teach me not just do the adjustments.

Soul Boy

Lived in London all my life, yes there is one, and always had a bike.

My commute started really in secondary school, aged 13, with a 5 mile each way ride from Harlesden to Kenton.

Always used my bike for everything (we had no car), so it also took me to my Thurs evening and Saturday job at Edgware Rd M&S. So at 16 I reckon I was doing 60 odd miles a week + on it and out and about on a Sunday.

Took a couple of years off whilst studying down in Southampton.

Came back to London and I thought I'd buy myself a moped, I know I'm sorry, but it cost too much to run. Suppose it didn't help that I rode it into the back of a van, but thats another story.

Back on the bike for the past 7+ years.

I JUST LOVE MY BIKE. It was my freedom, and still is to this day (still don't own a car). OK there are mornings when its grim, you think I can't be bothered, but its always best once you get going. And you really apprecaite the good days when you've struggled through the winter.

Oh, and I've never paid for gym membership and I've never got above 11.5 stone.

stuarthop

Because I love cycling, sold my car for cash purposes so bought a £260 road bike from decathlon to commute on and to preserve my Stumpy for the weekend xc riding.

Its done wonders for my fitness levels and i'm starting to get back to my target weight of 12 stone instead of the 14 i am currently.

The 10.5 mile commute each way just makes me feel so healthy and awake.

I seriously doubt i will ever commute by car again its too stressfull.

biondino

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Commuting on two cervelos is excessive, even by Greg's standards. I'm sure most people can only ride one at a time.

I ain't most people, baby. 8)

Have you SEEN what I can straddle?

No, but I've heard stories

Oi! Eyes off that, Pandora!

When did you become Gene Hunt? And no, I'm not using rhyming slang (not this time, anyway).

greg66_tri_v2.0

biondino wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Commuting on two cervelos is excessive, even by Greg's standards. I'm sure most people can only ride one at a time.

I ain't most people, baby. 8)

Have you SEEN what I can straddle?

No, but I've heard stories

Oi! Eyes off that, Pandora!

When did you become Gene Hunt? And no, I'm not using rhyming slang (not this time, anyway).

That's a bit rich, after your crack in the SCR thread about women being quite a bit dimmer and more cowardly than men! :shock:

risi

Some time in the dim and distant past I used to commute to school 3 or so miles along the main A370 (Weston-super-mare to Bristol road) on my old Prophete Sprint racer (a German company I now find). Carried on in Manchester while at Uni (buses, ugh).

Get a job, car, house in the country, kids, drive to work. Get fat. Looks at the ruddy great hill from the village up to Bristol airport & beyond thinking "one day I'll try riding up that"... carry on getting fat. Then during bike week last year I did it on my old Trek mtb and actually it wasn't that bad. I realised I could make a go of this, so I got a road bike on ctw.

My route to work doesn't have bad traffic, so I save no time cycling; I do it because I damn well enjoy it. Time be damned.

greg66_tri_v2.0

lost_in_thought wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Commuting on two cervelos is excessive, even by Greg's standards. I'm sure most people can only ride one at a time.

I ain't most people, baby. 8)

Have you SEEN what I can straddle?

No, but I've heard stories

Oi! Eyes off that, Pandora!

There's a deeply inappropriate joke about boxes lurking in there somewhere...

There is truly no such thing.

They're all appropriate.

LDN-Flyer

Basically because i can now.

Moved from zone 5 to zone 2, Shep Bush to Camberwell commute although once i move in with the missus it'll be a Hampstead to Camberwell commute.

I had been tubing it for yearsand didn't really mind it (mainly because i always got a seat and could read. The newest job required tube and bus. Buses are so grim i had to change.

Cycling FTW, plus at the weekend i get to ride to meet fellow central mates for a few beers, jobs a goodun!

nasahapley

Even though the Ilkley train line is commuting nirvana compared to the tube, I still got a bit fed up of it! But the main reason I like commuting by bike is that it's an easy way of getting a good few hours of serious exercise in a week without having to get up too early or give up evenings to do it. The view across Wharfedale from the top of the Chevin road each morning is a nice way to start the day too. I also acquired a training buddy while cycling home a few weeks ago - just started chatting and it turned out we both did sportives and long rides around the Dales - that ain't gonna happen on the train is it?!

Headhuunter

Il Principe wrote:

'Cos I can't afford a car...

You could buy a bloody car for the price of that Prince! Especially with the government scrapage scheme! Not that I'm encouraging you to get a car, why get a sh*tty car for a few grand when you can a fantastic bike?

il_principe

Headhuunter wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

'Cos I can't afford a car...

You could buy a bloody car for the price of that Prince! Especially with the government scrapage scheme! Not that I'm encouraging you to get a car, why get a sh*tty car for a few grand when you can a fantastic bike?

That's always been my motto!

Started cos I hate PT and a colleague convinced me. Stuck with it 'cos I f*cking love it.

CiB

LDN-Flyer wrote:

I had been tubing it for yearsand didn't really mind it (mainly because i always got a seat and could read.

You've got us there LDN. Most of us here can't read. It's a lifestyle thing I suppose.

lost_in_thought

ChrisInBicester wrote:

LDN-Flyer wrote:

I had been tubing it for yearsand didn't really mind it (mainly because i always got a seat and could read.

You've got us there LDN. Most of us here can't read. It's a lifestyle thing I suppose.

il_principe

LDN-Flyer wrote:

I had been tubing it for yearsand didn't really mind it (mainly because i always got a seat and could read.

One of the reasons I love cycling is that I always seem to get a seat.

jonginge

Il Principe wrote:

LDN-Flyer wrote:

I had been tubing it for yearsand didn't really mind it (mainly because i always got a seat and could read.

One of the reasons I love cycling is that I always seem to get a seat.

Ask ITB if that's always a good idea. Ouch.

Kieran_Burns

Why do I cycle?

Stress relief is the main answer. I've been a stress puppy for some time (post complete nervous breakdown some time back) That hour to and from, works for me... the exercise removes the adrenaline and my stress levels are way lower.

I started because of Uni. While I was there it was bus, walk or bike. I got a bike as it afforded more freedom and options and started going out for longer and longer leisure rides. It's in my blood now and I love it.

Eau Rouge

I moved into my flat in September, it's only abot 2 and a half miles from work. Driving the (12 year old, 150,000+ miles) car there and back every day would have killed it, and I've spent enough on repairs in the last year or so.
Just before that, while I was at home, the Tour of Ireland raced around the same country lanes I cycled on as a kid, which remined me how much I used to enjoy it.
Add the two together, via a tank of a tourer I found, and I started cycling to work.
Should have done it years ago really.

R_T_A

Good choice of topic DDD.

Always loved bikes, and my first "proper" bike was a Grifter. Oh yeah... 8)

Upgraded to a MTB for going to school (Raleigh Memphis), and then forgot the pure enjoyment of it for a while.

[/nostalgia]

Changed jobs after a 100 mile round trip (including M25), and realised that 10 miles each way is easy money on a bike, and would save gym membership.

And the enjoyment I'm getting out of it now is brilliant. Especially on an evening like this - I look forward to the journey home (via a massive loop )

Porgy

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Why do I cycle?

Stress relief is the main answer. I've been a stress puppy for some time (post complete nervous breakdown some time back) That hour to and from, works for me... the exercise removes the adrenaline and my stress levels are way lower.

Pets help too - I have two cats who never fail to relieve all my stress symptoms just by a bit of strategic purring. 8)

Mind you they can cause a bit of stress too :?

Rockbuddy

Freeeeeddddddoooooooommmm!!! {Said with a dodgy Scottish accent for effect}

Have always cycled, mostly mtb off & on road but more recently got me self a roadie (not lycrad up yet though ). Can't think of a life without cycling, commuting is just a way of doing it every day

Jay dubbleU

Il Principe wrote:

LDN-Flyer wrote:

I had been tubing it for years and didn't really mind it (mainly because i always got a seat and could read.

One of the reasons I love cycling is that I always seem to get a seat.

+1
Are you not allowed on the tube if you're illiterate? :shock:

fossyant

Started club riding at 16, out loads, did a bit of commuting (got lifts to work etc)....tonnes of racing,TT's etc etc.

Moved jobs, started a 40 mile round trip most days (took car on rubbish weather) - moved back to Manchester, carried on commuting where possible etc. - Still racing through all this......

Then ended up working miles away for 8 years, lots of business travel, too much work, not enough bike..... jacked that in and got a job nearer, and have hardly used the car for commuting (less then 10 times) in the last 2 years.....

Main reason is keeping fit, and fitting it into life - can't just get up and go riding now I have a family, and it's horrible going out in the Peaks for a 'training' ride and not being fit....you suffer terribly.

Even not living in London, the bike is still loads quicker. Even back in the 90's, I was able to ride the 20 miles to work in 55 minutes, just 10 minutes longer than the car, which went down a motorway..... :shock:

Porgy

I've tried my commute all ways

tube/ DLR / bus 1 hour 15 minutes

walk / train / walk 1 hour 15 minutes

cycle 1 hour 15 minutes

Cycling is the most expensive opttion for me too as travel is free - but I still prefer to cycle.

Mind you I always used to get in a lot quicker on night shift - less traffic in my way.

doog442

i think you city boys with more money than sense (look at my bulge ladies) do it for the pose value

the rest of us usually do it out of necessity

Porgy

doog442 wrote:

i think you city boys with more money than sense (look at my bulge ladies) do it for the pose value

the rest of us usually do it out of necessity

Hands up who's got more money than sense. I haven't got much sense, but I've got f*ck all money.

simon_ramsey

I think these days us city boys have got more mortgages than sense