First commute. I live!

Lancslad

Up at 4am out by 4.30am
Got to work. 17 miles about 1hr 15m, I thought it was 11 miles when I bought the bike but oh well stuff happens .

I am struggling with left hand turns, I think im being a bit mard about leaning into them but the wheels are so thin.........

Kieran_Burns

From newbie to commuting God in one easy step!!! :shock:

FOUR THIRTY!!!! Is there such a time. :shock: :shock:

cjcp

Lancslad wrote:

Up at 4am out by 4.30am

:shock:

Good effort! On both counts.

Cafewanda

:shock: :shock: Wot they sed re the wakeup time :shock: :shock:

Much congrats on the journey. John Franklin's 'Cyclecraft' will be a useful aid for left turns and all

Aidy

Lancslad wrote:

I am struggling with left hand turns, I think im being a bit mard about leaning into them but the wheels are so thin.........

Is your name Derek Zoolander?

Radioactiveman

Well done ,you hero

Top tip for an extra 15 mins in bed.

Have your bike in the kitchen overnight,get a bowl out and put 3 weetabix in it with spoon next to it. Have bag packed ready to go with helmet sat on top of it. Leave cycling clothes downstairs. Get straight up and dressed downstairs ,breakfast in gear and straight out of the door.

This saves means I get up at 0600 and out by 0615 when I am on earlies. Although I can shower and brush teeth at work. IIf I had to get up at 0430 I would die.

Soul Boy

Aidy wrote:

Lancslad wrote:

I am struggling with left hand turns, I think im being a bit mard about leaning into them but the wheels are so thin.........

Is your name Derek Zoolander?

Well done Lancslad, though 4am is an indecent time to rise.

Lancslad

Radioactiveman wrote:

Well done ,you hero

Top tip for an extra 15 mins in bed.

Have your bike in the kitchen overnight,get a bowl out and put 3 weetabix in it with spoon next to it. Have bag packed ready to go with helmet sat on top of it. Leave cycling clothes downstairs. Get straight up and dressed downstairs ,breakfast in gear and straight out of the door.

This saves means I get up at 0600 and out by 0615 when I am on earlies. Although I can shower and brush teeth at work. IIf I had to get up at 0430 I would die.

Did all that except I dont do weetabix i'm more of a crumpet man, bike was in kitchen but I'm not sure how long she will put up with it . rest of time was taken up with shower + making flask. I'm sure it will get slicker and faster as i get used to it.

zoolander comment is lost on me.

mroli

Shower before a 1 hr 15 min cycle?! Do they have showers at your work?

Lancslad

mroli wrote:

Shower before a 1 hr 15 min cycle?! Do they have showers at your work?

Yes it wakes me up properly, yep they do. Although it was so bloody cold this morning I didnt break a sweat just gasped like a goldfish a lot

Oddjob62

Two thumbs up. Welcome to the club

audaxvirgin

I'm sure it will get slicker and faster as i get used to it.

I've been doing it for 3 years now, and no matter how well-prepared I am it still takes me a good hour to get out of the door - mind, I don't have my bike in the kitchen so at least 5 mins is spent running round unlocking 4 doors, getting the bike out of the grage and locking all 4 doors again.

WesternWay

Lancslad wrote:

Have your bike in the kitchen overnight,get a bowl out and put 3 weetabix in it with spoon next to it. Have bag packed ready to go with helmet sat on top of it. Leave cycling clothes downstairs. Get straight up and dressed downstairs ,breakfast in gear and straight out of the door.

This saves means I get up at 0600 and out by 0615 when I am on earlies. Although I can shower and brush teeth at work. IIf I had to get up at 0430 I would die.

I try and have my bike in the house when I am in earlies (up at 5:40ish. out by 6) if I possibly can. I am rubbish at actually eating in those 20 minutes though... I know that this is bad in every way, but it is all I can do to pour a coffee into me.

This morning I didn't even SEE anyone cycling the same way as me until the last 400 yards of the journey.

Lancslad

I saw two other cyclists but I was nearly at work and they were on mtb ish type things going the opposite way on the section of cycle path that is to rough for my bike so I was on the dual carraige way.

Agent57

Great work, Lancslad.

I toyed with the idea of taking a 15 mile route to work this morning (my usual route is 5 miles). But my alarm went off at 6:30am and I snoozed until 7:30. Left the house at 8am, so only had time for the 5 mile route.

Greg T

Lancslad wrote:

i'm more of a crumpet man,

A 17 mile commute - of course you are.

Big commutes are very very het.

Lancslad

Must say though im not liking toeclips, the new gearing system is better than the old reach down to change thing kind of miss the extra brake handles of old though.

PBo

Lancslad wrote:

i'm more of a crumpet man, bike was in kitchen but I'm not sure how long she will put up with it .

mattrsa

Lancslad wrote:

Up at 4am out by 4.30am
.

Christ why so early, what time do you start work?

I do about the same milage but can never face eating that early so normally just have a glass of juice get the gear on and get going then have breakfast once I get too work.

Lancslad

mattrsa wrote:

Lancslad wrote:

Up at 4am out by 4.30am
.

Christ why so early, what time do you start work?

I do about the same milage but can never face eating that early so normally just have a glass of juice get the gear on and get going then have breakfast once I get too work.

perm 6am - 2pm shift. I find if I think about eating i'm not hungry so I eat without thinking :? Breakfast is so important. I'm hoping I will get faster so I can get up later Although I have no idea what I should realistically expect but I guess thats half the fun and at least I wont have a big rucksack on my shoulders in future, just a small one for flask,food & lock.

The Rookie

17miles in 1hr 15m isn't bad for a first effort, especailly at WTF o'clock, fair play to you!

Seriously 17mile in 75 mins is slow if its nice and flat and impressive if its very hilly!

As for rucksack's OK at this time of year, recipe for a very sweaty back as it warms up, get a rack and panniers! I started on a rucksack, am now on panniers.

As for locks, I double up, leave one at work, keep one at home so I never have to carry one!

Simon

snailracer

The Beginner wrote:

...
As for locks, I double up, leave one at work, keep one at home so I never have to carry one!

I always carry one in case the bike breaks and I have to get a taxi.