Longest bike commute to/from London?

gingaman

Was what I could afford when I went shopping, I also quite liked the look of it (although after touring to Amsterdam in the summer I realise I should have got something more suited to my requirements). She's got semi slicks on to make her a bit faster-er, but I have an order for a Genesis Volant 00 on the cycle scheme and am waiting for work to approve it.

slowbike

StuAff wrote:

Havant (five miles north of Pompey)

Hmm... geography not your strong point? Havant isn't 5 miles north of Pompey ... it's ENE of Pompey ... !

vermin

Kieran_Burns wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

TomIOLondon wrote:

Thanks for the responses guys, some really interesting stuff here.

WarrenG, I sent you an e-mail to what I hope is your correct address (it's the one listed on here for you...)

Not sure if you got it, are you able to call me on 020 7765 1210 or e-mail me at tom.kavanagh1@bbc.co.uk ?


Anyone else have an extreme commuting story they're desperate to share? Some of you are very modest, a lot of these rides sound really impressive!

It might be good to share just how "common" longer bike commutes are (all over the country). As I've learned very much the hard way in the last few years, you are far more capable than you ever imagined you are and most of us are just limited by what we think is possible. Rather than rate commutes as "extreme" a better and more constructive approach would be the "and you could do it too" story. Anybody with reasonable health can do a 30-mile RT commute.

Agreed wholeheartedly. I started with a 14 mile one way commute (caught the train back or in) and very quickly moved on to a 28 mile RT with ease. It's more a mental barrier than anything.

If you are talking 'extreme' commutes you need to look at the nutters out when it's -8C in the Winter (Oh, wait... that's me!)

It's all about local cultural norms. 20 miles in London seemed entirely normal because it seemed everyone else was doing the same. I feel like a complete weirdo doing 30-odd up here in the sticks, where I may see up to 2 other cyclists on a good day!

On_What

There is a guy I've met a few times who does something around 20miles each way, I will point him in the direction of this thread

meanredspider

gingaman wrote:

Was what I could afford when I went shopping, I also quite liked the look of it (although after touring to Amsterdam in the summer I realise I should have got something more suited to my requirements). She's got semi slicks on to make her a bit faster-er, but I have an order for a Genesis Volant 00 on the cycle scheme and am waiting for work to approve it.

That's fair enough - I used to do about 1000 miles each winter on my MTB with Spikers and I really appreciated getting back on the road bike when the weather improved. Last year, in particular when the bridge was closed and I was doing 35 miles a day and over 2000ft of climbing, I'd really feel it by the end of the week. I had thighs to make Chris Hoy weep though (almost...

gingaman

Ive never ridden a road bike, so am really looking forward to the opportunity. I thought we aren't allowed to talk about thighs?

meanredspider

gingaman wrote:

Ive never ridden a road bike, so am really looking forward to the opportunity. I thought we aren't allowed to talk about thighs?

You'll find it twitchy and nervous at first but you'll grow to love it.

I've never been one for following the rules...

gingaman

pitchshifter

I'm considering one of these longer commutes when we move house.

Anyone on here commute in from Bricket Wood/Watford way and uses the A5? I'd very much like to know your route alternatives/experiences .

Medders

I am doing 22 miles each way. I only do it 2 or 3 times a week though (sometimes 4 in summer when time allows). I used to do 15 flat miles each way every day and that was fine - but the extra 7 and the long hill on the return leg tips it over the edge of being slightly too much both in terms of time and effort (with long hours at work and small child) for every day.

But it does mean I am one of us lucky people that enjoys the commute and it is my training for recreational rides on weekends.

Clearly from the posts above many people do not regard their commutes as extraordinary - but in my experience most non-cyclists would.

asprilla

Medders wrote:

Clearly from the posts above many people do not regard their commutes as extraordinary - but in my experience most non-cyclists would.

Only because they haven't tried. Apart from me and maybe okgo, none of us are finely honed aerobic monsters pushing out 350w for 6 hours. We are just folks who ride bikes and are probably of average fitness. I smoked for 20 years, even whilst riding (occasionally in both senses) and have never had a body fat percentage below 15% that I can remember, but riding 20 miles in London didn't seem hard for very long.

Once you get over the mental hurdles it's relatively easy; the bicycle is the most efficient form of transport known to man.

kieranb

I used to do a regular commute from Crystal Palace to Egham, a RT of 50miles, all of it on bad south London roads for a few years, moved job and that distance halved, don't miss it at all, can't think of any good bits, that was 10 years ago, very few fellow commuters going in that direction so it was a lonely slog, not like my commute into Central London these days, almost like a club run, close enough to run in some days, which makes a change from the cycling.

Agent57

TomIOLondon wrote:

Anyone else have an extreme commuting story they're desperate to share? Some of you are very modest, a lot of these rides sound really impressive!

What about people who live a mile from work, but make it a 20 mile trip by going "the long way".

Longest I did was 25 miles for a 1.5 mile commute.

Ouija

Agent57 wrote:

TomIOLondon wrote:

Anyone else have an extreme commuting story they're desperate to share? Some of you are very modest, a lot of these rides sound really impressive!

What about people who live a mile from work, but make it a 20 mile trip by going "the long way".

Longest I did was 25 miles for a 1.5 mile commute.

My work used to be only 4 miles down the road. I'd start at 3.00pm. But i'd set off at 11.00am every day and do a 40/50 mile round trip over Dalby forest and moors to get to work. Then take a 25 mile detour on the way back at 11pm. Despite working 8 hours a day i was still racking up over 300 miles a week. Now that i'm unemployed and have more time on my hands i struggle to put in 160 miles a week as i just don't have the incentive to get on the bike every day (i HAD to get to work on the bike every day so figured i'd kill two birds with one stone and put a few extra miles in each time).

stuaff

Slowbike wrote:

StuAff wrote:

Havant (five miles north of Pompey)

Hmm... geography not your strong point? Havant isn't 5 miles north of Pompey ... it's ENE of Pompey ... !

Pedant

Flyingbogey

Careful, that sort of talk can get. Your windows smashed round there!

stuaff

Flyingbogey wrote:

Careful, that sort of talk can get. Your windows smashed round there!

anonymousblackfg

I've bumped into a guy doing addlestone to canary wharf before, that's got to be close to 30 each way