How far is too far?

mattrsa

Hi Guys and girls

I got a mountain bike a few months back on the Cycle to work scheme and loved the 5 miles each way ride to work in the morning but recently I have moved in the my girlfriend and am now living about 20 miles from work

I really miss my cycle to work in the morning but am wondering if 20 miles is maybe a bit too far to cycle to work.

What I would like to know is how far most people commute and how long it takes.

Thanks in advance

Matt

iclestu

Hey there,

I am really new to this, unfit, overweight and (just!) manage a 12.5 mile each way trip 2-3 times a week (about 1h 15 mins each way - that's including the odd 2 min rest along the way!). I have read posts on here from guys doing 20 miles each way so would think that if you are quite fit you could probably do it.

Suspect you may be in for some 'persuasion' to convert to a road bike tho....

AllTheGear

It really depends how much time you have and how flat the route is. It is possible to build up to doing that most if not every day, I've done a ~22 each way a few times (not every day) and the biggest problem is the amount of time it takes out of the day and the silly hour I have to get out of bed (and I hate cycling in the morning.)

mattrsa

yeah

I went into the bike shop yesterday and looked at the specialized tricross as if I was going to try do it regularly then I would get a new bike

downfader

Hello Matt!

It can be do-able, but often the guys I have known who've tried it only do it one way and find another home. My Dads mate used to do 15 and it was about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It also depends on your route, hills and road surface.

Other more experienced people will probablyy be able to offer some better advice. But if you do try it make sure you have plenty of water and maybe a banana with you.

EDIT that was quick!

Deadeye Duck

Don't mention CXs, you'll have all the freaks in here before you can say taboo :shock:

prawny

It depends what you mean by 'about' 20 miles, if it's more like 18, go for it, if it's 22 get a road bike then go for it.

I do 20.05 miles and 1200ft of climbing each way every day now (a bit less climbing on the way in actually I like to shout about the tough bit) it takes be between 1.05 and 1.20 depending on weather and knackeredness

mattrsa

well the route is almost completely flat, from warrington to liverpool.

The route can often take me anything between 30min to an hour in the car.

I'm not the fittest at the moment do like the idea of getting fit on the way to work.
I would prob just start out doing one way and then jumping on the train home in the evening.

salsajake

20 miles is too far for a MTB, well, its not, but you will waste much time and effort and not enjoy it as much as on a roadie.

I ride 17.5 miles each way, 3-4 times a week (4 times usually, but sometimes I am out of the office 1 day a week). Much also depends on how quickly you want to do it (if you peg it back a few notches, 5 days a week is fine) and how hilly/flat it is (if totally flat, you can ride for miles before really feeling it (I tend to find that riding to a pub way up the canal anyway).

The only way you will find out is give it a go, try 2-3 times a week at first and build from there. In my experience it takes a good 8-10 weeks before you really get used to it and start to improve timewise.

Your fitness and cycling ability at weekends will go through the roof too.

lost_in_thought

mattrsa wrote:

well the route is almost completely flat, from warrington to liverpool.

The route can often take me anything between 30min to an hour in the car.

I'm not the fittest at the moment do like the idea of getting fit on the way to work.
I would prob just start out doing one way and then jumping on the train home in the evening.

Do it. Call it a TT.

You'll have aerobars before you know it, and a new bike to put them on, obv.

mattrsa

thanks for the quick replies guys,

well google maps says that the route is 21.3 miles, but that is on the road all the way. I would imagine that perhaps there are a few tracks/paths that I could use to cut a little distance off on the way

salsajake

mattrsa wrote:

thanks for the quick replies guys,

well google maps says that the route is 21.3 miles, but that is on the road all the way. I would imagine that perhaps there are a few tracks/paths that I could use to cut a little distance off on the way

Just bear in mind that if that means getting knobbly tyres, you might save distance but end up slower and more tired overall than staying on slicks and tarmac. They are leagues quicker.

PS 17.5 miles is on average 1hr to 1:15, depending on traffic, luck with the lights and knackeredness. About 400m height gain on the way in, bit less on the way home

mattrsa

that's a good point salsajake

Might drive the cycle route to work tomorrow to see what it is like, Really need to make my mind up soon as really can only see myself doing it in the summer and that is going to come and go before I know it

prawny

The only problem with driving it first is you might put yourself off, I drove my commute once and couldn't belive I would cycle down there.

Just remember, it looks worse from the car and you'll be ok.

mattrsa

Yeah, the idea of driving is just so that I know the way, As I have looked at it on a map but they are most roads I have never been on and don't want to get lost on the way.

Do that do sat nav's for bikes?

Matt

Deadeye Duck

I believe the garmin edge range is specifically for bikes

Greg T

Getting your route worked out is one of the challenges...

Give yourself plenty of time the first time you try it out.

There maybe someone on here who does your route anyway... Where is it?

Paulie W

I think you need to be realistic about the time it will take you: probably closer to 90 minutes, to begin with at least.

You also need to change your mindset from the shorter commute: there willl be days - wet ones in particular - when riding for that long will be deeply unpleasant.

You also need to have somewhere to shower and change at work because even if you take it easy you will find that you get a bit of a sweat on over that distance.

On the plus side you will get really quite fit pretty quickly.

benno68

20 miles is definitely do-able although I wouldn't want to be lumping a really heavy bag there and back every day! Do you need to take much into work with you?

As it's a flat route on roads, a road bike would be the better option but for the time being, get some slick's on your MTB and go for it. Another thing to think about is having a "get out clause" mid way through your route, try to work out a route with a train station or two on the way just in case (assuming the trains allow bikes).

I wouldn't bother going "off road" and contending with peds, dogs and more chance of a visit from the pf.

With a road bike and no luggage you'll be doing that in 1hr:15 after a month or two if not sooner!

CiB

lost_in_thought wrote:

Do it. Call it a TT.
You'll have aerobars before you know it, and a new bike to put them on, obv.

+10.

Mine is 20.43 - 20.78 miles depending on preferred route, and it's doable 3-4 times a week in reality, otherwise it becomes a daily grind and no-one likes a daily grind do they?

Simple ingredients - 1 (one) x decent road bike, 1 (one) set of carbon aerobars, a set of comically narrow tyres that learn not to have punctures after the first couple of weeks when faced with threats of physical violence if they do it again, and off you go. Your times should drop quickly - around 1h 20 at first to regular sub 1h 5m. Wind won't make too much difference, maybe 5 mins unless it's a real obgoblin of a blow. Remember to treat it as a TT tho.

ince

You could also stick the bike in the back of the car, drive part way and part up and finish off the rest on the bike. This way you can build your self up to doing the distance a bit at a time by parking further and further away.

I started by just riding home 2 - 3 nights a week, now I do both trips on the bike for my whole working week.

+ get a road bike

itboffin

With a title like that I was hoping for sooo much more

mattrsa

thanks for all the info guys

Yeah there is somewhere to shower when I get to work. I would leave all my stuff at work so would not need to carry anything with me. Maybe a small bag but nothing much

Does anyone know if it is possible to have more than one bike on the bike to work scheme since iI only bought my MTB about 7 months ago.

As far as time goes I was thinking of giving myself 2 hours and go from there. Would mean setting off at 7am which aint too bad

Mat

Aidy

I'd consider 20 miles to be able the limit of what's practical to commute by bike. A bit more if you've got a traffic light friendly route.

My road bike route's 16 miles, I believe my mountain bike route is 18 (tow path most of the way). I bike every day, although I do pretty much ride the road bike all the time now. I'm vaguely considering some sort of CX bike though, I reckon I can get a faster time along the tow path than I can along the road

mattrsa

well all this has been very encouraging
Everyday I seem to change me mind about whether the distance ins do able and today i thought it was not but it seem lots of people are doing similar distances

The guys in the local bike shop said to me that the ticross is going to be m best bet for a commuter bike as it would be able to stand up to the mileage with less up keep than a proper road bike
What are peoples thought on this?
Really need to make a decision fast so I can make the most of the summer

cyberknight

You cannot have 2 cycle 2 work schemes at the same time , i asked the same question, you need to wait until the 1st bike is paid off.

Maybe see if you LBS has ans interest free credit agreement if your desperate to get another bike? i know some one at work got a roadie from a LBS and the discount he got was in line with the cycle 2 work scheme.

I would say definitely get slicks to start with its so much easier since i put city jets on my 26 " wheel hybrid, but for that distance look out for a raodie maybe try ebay as there a lot of seemingly good bike going on there all the time , if i had the cash i would buy one tomorrow
and i`m only doing 10 1/2 miles each way .

doog442

mattrsa wrote:

yeah

I went into the bike shop yesterday and looked at the specialized tricross as if I was going to try do it regularly then I would get a new bike

recommend a tricross

stick some 25mm tyres on it that can take some stick and you can use it for road and trail (i wont say canal path because there arent any in Dorset):6 miles of my 18 mile daily commute is off road yet on road i can hold it with most roadies on the road (apart, i daresay from some of city types on here who are soooooooo fast on their plastic flying machines )

Aguila

mattrsa wrote:

well all this has been very encouraging


The guys in the local bike shop said to me that the ticross is going to be m best bet for a commuter bike as it would be able to stand up to the mileage with less up keep than a proper road bike
What are peoples thought on this?
Really need to make a decision fast so I can make the most of the summer

I tried a tricross when getting my commute bike and thought it was poor. Flimsy and way overpriced, poor equipment. I bought an audax bike, at least as tough as a CX bike, faster and comes with mudguards, rack mounts etc. the tricross does not have guards (essential if you are to be an all weather commuter).

If I were buying now I would get this:

http://www.condorcycles.com/fratello.html

So so good.

The most important thing is to try all the bikes you are considering and see which YOU like the best, it's all subjective. Also get the lbs to fit it for you properly otherwise you will get injured pretty quick doing that distance (which sounds fine BTW)

mattrsa

thanks for the info guys.

I might pop uo to the local bike shop and get some road tyres for the MTB just to give the commute a go as I don't want to work out £700 plus on a bike and end up not using it as I can't face the ride in the morning.

SimonLyons

I commute 35miles, 2-3x a week.

I have done it on
42lb Raleigh 26" (slicks)
32lb 1950's roadbike 27"
32lb Ridgeback hybrid 26" (slicks)
27lb Marin hybrid 26" (slicks)
20lb road bike 700C

As you go down the list the ride gets more enjoyable-easier-faster.

My advice would be
1.get a road bike. I go on towpaths and rubbish surfaces - just a little slower than I would want.
2.if you can't get a road bike - get the skinniest slicks+innertubes you can put on your mtb at the first go.

Pokerface

I used to ride 25 miles to work each way - with a pretty big hill on the way home (5 miles uphill)!

But on the days I was feeling a little low on energy - I'd drive the first 10 miles and cut out the big hill - so was still doing 30 miles a day. Shower at work is obviously key.

Also had a rucksack with clothes and food. Kept towels, shoes and grooming products ina locker at work.