commuting to work

silverfox1

hi everyone just intrested to know what distances you guys commute to work ,as a 41 yr old male returning to cycling after many years out of the saddle i,m contemplating whether to commute to work about 5 mile each way of flat and gentle climbs.I am not overweight and do not smoke and in good health just wondering how long it will take me to get used to it and whether its a foolish thing to start when winter is on the way ,would realy like you comments on this thanks kev.

unixnerd

5 miles isn't far. Just go for it :-) I'd start out doing Mon-Tue, break on Wed then Thu-Fri. After two weeks of that you'll be amazed how much easier it feels and how much quicker you are.

waddlie

I started commuting this time last year. Best time to do it because the darkness and crappy weather then seems "normal" and when spring hits it's the most amazing thing imaginable. My commut was initially only 3 miles each way but since I've switched jobs it's now 6 miles. A lot of people on this forum do huge mileages. 5 each way is a decent starting point, if you really get into it you might find yourself taking the scenic route to stretch it out a bit!

I'd recommend practicing your route a couple of times on a day off so you know how long it's gonna take and figure out any tricky junctions etc away from rush hour traffic. Have a think what facilities you've got at work for showering/changing etc. If you're getting up earlier in the morning you might want to get into the habit of getting your stuff together the night before.

Finally, don't expect to save much money. When you use your bike for commuting you will find yourself convinced that a new bike, gadgets and clobber are all thoroughly justified. However, you will arrive at work every day invigorated and full of beans, rather needing to fight off a benzene and road-rage induced headache with caffeine...

shouldbeinbed

unixnerd wrote:

5 miles isn't far. Just go for it :-) I'd start out doing Mon-Tue, break on Wed then Thu-Fri. After two weeks of that you'll be amazed how much easier it feels and how much quicker you are.

+1 and to Waddlie too.

this is a great time of year to be starting, nice and cool wilst you get into it so you're not getting to work in a steaming sweaty mess. you'll need to sort out lights, reflectives and suitable layers of clothes & gloves. if you start now ish be aware of the clocks going back the week after next, the time change always seems to confuse a lot of car drivers and makes it a bit leery on the roads for a few days until we all get used to it,

consider facilities at work, storage, changing, washing & drying you and somewhere to put wet clothes when you get caught in the occasional downpour (won't be often TBH) also where will you have to keep your bike - dry & secure??

if you have to dress smarter for work, have you got somewhere to put a weeks worth of shirts and leave trousers/shoes/ties etc on site, I tend to do a day off run in the car with fresh laundry and a weeks worth of food and snacks.
If you've not got much or safe storage you need to consider how you'll get stuff in and out and be presentable day to day. a rack and panniers may be less of a squash for the kit and less heavy & sweaty on you than a backpack

edit - and an emergency breakdown kit for the bike - pump or co2 inflator, tyre levers, patch kit, / spare tube, right size spanner if not QR wheels, spare batteries, spare brake cable, multi tool. a swiss army knife or leatherman is always handy too usually for the pliers.

ndru

5 miles is a nice and short distance, totally doable. Plus you don't have to rush it so you won't even have to change, as you won't be sweaty. Wonder what bike you're going to be riding lycra carbon freak or dutch style - if it's the later dress as you would if you were walking, but buy a rain cape and keep it with you at all times and you're sorted.
Oh and if you haven't bought a bike and are thinking of which one to buy - get one that's maintenance free and allows you to actually carry stuff and is comfortable - so internal gears, full mudguards, hub dynamo lights and upright sitting position.

The Rookie

My Daughter does 4.5 miles each way to school in Jeans and hoodie, this on a 35lb clunky MTB, I do 6.6 miles each way on something a bit more suitable, and push on a bit more (she pootles a bit) so I wear sports shorts (cotton) and a base layer top (soft sheel when its very cold) as we have no facilities at work I 'dress cool' as I'd rather be chilly than sweaty.

Taking it easy, 5 miles will only take 20 minutes (unless you live in a really hilly area), pushing on you will only save 2-3 minutes.

Simon

Clarion

5 miles is very doable. I have 11.5 miles each way, which takes me just under an hour. I wouldn't want to have a longer commute than that. I used to do about 5-6miles, and that was straightforward, but I do enjoy my longer rides.

MarkW100

5 miles each way should be no problem,As everyone else has said, make sure you carry the right gear and take it easy to start with. 20-25 mins if it's fairly flat. I'm 51 and do 13 miles each way 6 days a week on the MTB, takes about 50 mins.

Sanderville

5 miles is definitely doable, especially since you're not unfit. I would expect to sweat though.

mark1964

I do about a 9 mile round trip from Staple Hill in Bristol, via the railway path, to Bedminster and back home each day. Downhill in the mornings, uphill at night!. Very enjoyable, loads of other commuters, arrive at office awake and not tense. 25 mins in morning, 35-40 in the evening. No hassle, no jams, few cars. But then again, we are lucky to have the railway path. I commute most places by my trusty bike. Don't worry about the distance, it's small anyway. Just go for it

triggmiester

I commute 13 miles on the way in and 9 on the way home (only because I have to get back for a second job) Only used to to 9 miles each way but wanted more of a challenge.

On the way in it takes me approx. 40mins

Nothing better in the morning than the cold air blowing out the cobwebs, working up a sweat and going past people stuck in traffic.

Just get out there and do it, you will feel great.
And when you get up to speed you can start SCR :-) which is even more of a buzz.

nikstar1

i agree with everyone else and say go for it. You'll never know till you try and as suggessted before a 5 mile commute is an attainable journey even for someone who hasnt ridden for a while. Good luck :-)

One think i would suggest is even if you dont want to invest in any gear at first incase you deciede you dont like it, make sure you get appropriate lights, what with the darker mornings and evenings setting in.

dubnut71

Well done for wanting to start it, your 5 miles will soon seem like a breeze now the hard part is done (thinking of cycling that is!).
I do 17.5 miles each way but only do it 3 to 4 times a week though, have good shower and storage places here at work and I cycle a brompton around during the day too! This time of year the queue for the shower is much smaller too!!

asprilla

I started commuting by bike as 33yo smoke who was overweight but could still run a half marathon in 1hr45 with a 50 mile round trip.

Needless to say it was quite hard and I could only cycle in one day and home the next. Within three months though I was doing a 34 mile round trip every day. It can be hard at first, but it quickly gets easier.

deptfordmarmoset

I did a 5-mile commute for a while, starting in mid-winter. (Back then I was a 54-year-old smoker, one kidney, hypertensive and heavily medicated.). By the time the days started getting longer I was looking for longer routes home because I'd started to feel that I hadn't really had time to warm up and feel exercised. So yes, it's so doable that you'll soon wonder how you ever doubted your ability.

cjcp

You'll be fine. Well done for getting started as the weather gets colder.

ride_whenever

it's 5 miles, try running it :twisted:

silverfox1

thanks to everyone for their comments and uplifting support ,i am feeling very confident and hopefully come payday at the end of the month will be getting a bike .when i was younger and the bike was my only form of transport i wouldnt have thought twice about 5 miles but i guess as i get older i doubt my own ability but thanks to you guys i now have the get up and go to just do it thanks guys ,kev.

dwaynedibley

18 mile round trip for me for work each day and i love it. First two weeks were the hardest but after that it gets much easier. It takes me 40/45 mins in as i have three reasonable climbs to do but only half hour home. One of those climbs is fairly steep so it's a breeze going home down it (that's where i make up the 10/15 minutes i lose going up it on the way in to work!!)

nikstar1

nice work, let us know how you get on with the commute!

Extralight

Like you, I've recently decided to get back on the bike after a layoff of 10 years or so. My journey's 15miles each way, and I was really worried about being able to ride this. I only ride Mondays and Fridays (but come December will be doing 4 days a week), and it's been fine physically. Stamina and fitness haven't been a problem at all. What did take time however was getting used to sitting on a bike for an hour at a time again. For the first 2 weeks my @rse was really sore!
I feel so much better on my riding days - awake and energised at work. One reason why I stopped riding was that reckless and dangerous driving stopped the commute from being enjoyable, and I found myself becoming a very angry and aggrieved cyclist, trying to right every wrong that I saw on the road. This time round, I'm taking things slow and choosing my route carefully. Rather than getting upset at every careless, dangerous or aggressive driver out there, I'm focussing on all the good road users instead. There are a lot of friendly and reasonable bike, van, bus and car drivers out there, and engaging with them and not reacting to the dangerous minority has thus far kept me happy and safe. Keep a positive and relaxed attitutude, and hopefully your return to 2 wheels will be a great experience. Bon courage!

ad213812

I've been commuting for a couple of months now. I cycle roughly seven and a quarter miles each way, 5 days a week. However, before I started commuting I was lucky to cycle once a year. The first couple of weeks were a struggle, but it's getting easier now. So glad I made the decision to start. I wouldn't go back to public transport if you paid me (well unless the payment would cover the cost of the bike I'm currently coveting;o)

Good luck

cyberknight

Waddlie wrote:

Finally, don't expect to save much money. When you use your bike for commuting you will find yourself convinced that a new bike, gadgets and clobber are all thoroughly justified. However, you will arrive at work every day invigorated and full of beans, rather needing to fight off a benzene and road-rage induced headache with caffeine...

+1 took me 2 years till i could see a profit from cycling after all you need a back up bike, back up lights,tools, etc etc etc !!

I cycle 10 miles each way on a hilly country lane route that i started on 2 times a week and currently do it 5 days a week even on night shift (well i do not do friday nights because we finish early and i would hit the p**heads coming out of clubs doing 90 mph ).

Hadgey

Hi there, I am 42 and started to commute earlier this year. My commute is 12miles each way. I was worried about a number of things, particularly the distance. I thought about driving halfway and cycling the rest and building up to 12m but in the end just went for it. It took an hour and a half but I really enjoyed it. I now do it in around an hour but I am still the slowest on the road. Regularly scalped by all an sundry. I do it a minimum of twice a week and building up some roadcraft expertese now. I would say go for it , plan your route carefully using quieter roads canal paths and enjoy it. I really miss not cycling on days where I have to drive and feel robbed.
Cheers H:D