Is it realistc to commute 22.4miles? Each wy
DonDaddyD
Posts: 12,689
Ok so For 12 months my commute may now change from Wimbledon - Chancery Lane to Wimbledon to Ilford, which is 22.4miles.
Is such a commute realistic?
Route suggetions and times would be greatly appreciated.
Is such a commute realistic?
Route suggetions and times would be greatly appreciated.
Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
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MTFU and get it on!
The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
It'll get ya cracking fit
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
Even finishing at 4:30 meant he wasn't getting hom 'til gone 6 so it makes it a long day (he set off 12 hours earlier)
Distance - doable, time - not so nice
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
To start with I may do 2-3days.
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
Yeah.
Maybe get yourself a high-end folder like a Dahon Speed Pro TT or similar, so that you can bail out onto the train/Northern Line when your legs decide they've had enough, but still have a bike that you would be happy to ride for a good distance.
Pinnacle Monzonite
Liberal metropolitan, remoaner, traitor, "sympathiser", etc.
1hr30 journey on bike or by train so it makes little difference. And if I don't ride on the week days I will do 3hrs on the weekends.
As for route, gonna need a Garmin, maybe new wheels and possibly a new bike....
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."
The most I have managed is 3 times in a week, could prob do it 5 days a week but would be hard hard work. Also would mean getting home very late one night as I play squash
My ride time is approx 1hour 20min each way which as has been said works out at almost 3 hours a day on the bike.
Give it a go a few days and see how you feel,
My legs have pretty much got used to the distance, its more the mental challenge of gettin up early and being on the bike for so long now
Fun - Specialized Rockhopper
You maybe on to something, I could then hop on at Liverpool street and it wouldn't take up much room in the flat... Mmmmmmm the mind ponders.
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
Clear roads, no traffic lights, only two occasions where I touch the brakes makes it about 1h 10m for me now the weather's perked up. But doing it 5 days a week does my head in - it just becomes endless effort, up early every day, away by 7, back home around 6:30, plus you need to allow 20 minutes or so for a wash & scrub up at each end. Factor in those cold wet mornings, the morning after a late night of wine, woman and song, the mornings where a 22 mile bike ride to get to work just doesn't appeal, and it becomes hard work on a daily basis.
I'm on a bit of a downer cycling-wise at the minute, Wednesday & Friday is ok for me but chuck Thursday in too and 3 successive days is just that bit too much. And I can't do Monday / Tuesday during school terms so can't break it up that way. Having man-flu for 3 weeks hasn't helped, but riding in 21 miles has become a bit too routine for me now. Having to do it every day would do my head in I reckon.
Well after 22 miles each way, more than one would be really pushing it!
Pinnacle Monzonite
Liberal metropolitan, remoaner, traitor, "sympathiser", etc.
I don't think you need to be a nutter to do it at all
It's also a very good way of losing lots of weight whilst eating whatever you fancy.
And a garmin/new bike/ wheels etc? Well you will need to have a spare bike if you're gonna do it 5 days/52 weeks as you'll find that wear and tear is very high. I can't see why you'd need a garmin for a regular route though. (or any route for that matter, I can usually fit route direction or 100miles or so on a couple of post-its) of course if you like your gagets and can't think of anything more pressing to spend the money on......................
As for the tiredness thing: yes this does happen, but you do get used to it. I find I feel more tired off the bike than on it though :roll:
the nice thing about the longer route is that there's more scope for varying it without increasing the distance drastically
On the other hand don't listen to me, in the last month I've been called batshit insane and a fruitloop :shock: That tells you all you need to know
Revised FCN - 2
Yeh and he's really really really old :P
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
Monday AM - 16.8 miles
Monday PM - 24.6 miles
Tues-Thurs AM - 8.4 miles
Tues-Thurs PM - 30.4 miles
Friday AM - 16.8 miles
Friday PM - 16.8 miles
So over the week 192 ish miles and was easily doable, different distances were more about convenience (dropping my son at school etc.) than time
Only snag with that is you lose much of the financial benefit of cycling.
Ab
So
Lutely
I never understand how anyone has the time for more than one, and holds down a proper job.
Back on topic, I would say that time and tiredness are the biggest issues with a long commute. I try and leave the house at 8, and I'm not usually home much before 8. This means I'm doing well to see the little one before she goes to bed. Thinking about the things you've posted in other threads DDD, if you were thinking of moving house and starting a family, then I'm not sure there are enough hours in the week for 224 miles, but definitely worth a try for 2 or 3 days, with a train/bike combo for the others.
Pinnacle Monzonite
Liberal metropolitan, remoaner, traitor, "sympathiser", etc.
maybe, but not as old as some eh eh
Revised FCN - 2
I have a hard time making time for one, and holding down a proper job. :oops:
Bike 1
Bike 2-A
There is no financial benefit when you're doing big mileage - the wear and tear costs are non-stop on top all the tools and clothing you need near the start.
That isn't true!
I've done over 3000 miles this year so far which I think counts as big mileage. I can assure you it has been far cheaper than the £60 a month I paid for my Metrocard and I suspect that was cheap compared to what a lot of Londoners pay.
Despite the atrocious winter, all I've had to pay for in parts down to wear and tear is the odd chain and a cassette (and that partly my fault). Clothes have cost very little - most from Lidl or Aldi which also supply a similar toolkit to mine for £25 (I paid £45 from Woodrups).
There's a lot of things I've bought for hobby cycling though and I wouldn't have got into that if it wasn't for the commuting but they aren't real commuting costs.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
Also a massive plus is direct to my job is 4 miles, so if im feeling really rubbish can do this route, but its not very often unless i need to be home quick.
mentally i love my commute, getting fixie for winter so i can still do the long commute. Even on my days off in the week I tend to do part of my commute added onto a longer ride. If I was stopping starting at lights a lot I dont think id enjoy it as much
Roger, two trains or I could drive. Driving I'm not keen on as traffic around London (avoiding the Congestion charge) could make the journey well over 2hrs. Two different train journeys or bike = 1hr30.
I'm probably going to do the first month by train and then ease in the fact that I cycle to work gently...
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game