anyone commuting 200+ miles a week?
BillLegend
Posts: 5
Hi,
I've been off the bike for about 2 years now, mostly with injury, but also becuase I recently got a car. I used to commute ~180 miles a week (45 round trip), over a period of about a year. I absolutely loved it, but come the end of the week I was a walking corpse. Hours of fatigue in the saddle has riddled my upper back with knots, which I am now trying to rectify with treatment.
I now work ~30 miles from home and am relishing the challenge of 60 mile round trips 4 times a week. I know I will have to build up to this. Maybe this is completely unrealistic and 2-3 times a week will be all I can achieve, but I quite like setting optimistic goals
And having the car means that 1 day a week a can drive in supplies, where as before I hauled everything on my back (which probably contributed towards my upper back problems).
Something I failed on before was calarie intake. I used to bring a packed lunch and eat a loaf cake everyday, but this never seemed enough.
Is anyone else doing very long commutes, of say +20miles each way? What challenges have you come across and how have you adapted?
I've been off the bike for about 2 years now, mostly with injury, but also becuase I recently got a car. I used to commute ~180 miles a week (45 round trip), over a period of about a year. I absolutely loved it, but come the end of the week I was a walking corpse. Hours of fatigue in the saddle has riddled my upper back with knots, which I am now trying to rectify with treatment.
I now work ~30 miles from home and am relishing the challenge of 60 mile round trips 4 times a week. I know I will have to build up to this. Maybe this is completely unrealistic and 2-3 times a week will be all I can achieve, but I quite like setting optimistic goals
And having the car means that 1 day a week a can drive in supplies, where as before I hauled everything on my back (which probably contributed towards my upper back problems).Something I failed on before was calarie intake. I used to bring a packed lunch and eat a loaf cake everyday, but this never seemed enough.
Is anyone else doing very long commutes, of say +20miles each way? What challenges have you come across and how have you adapted?
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I travel from countryside in to Manchester daily so when the light starts to fade in a few weeks my weekly commute will be put on hold until March.
Pinarello Uno
Shwin MTB
http://www.strava.com/athletes/hughes_terry
Bikes can be long-term comfortable for say 100 miles a day...
ETA:
As for your actual challenge, you already know what it's going to involve. I have to say that you're starting at probably the worst time of year as the light and temperature are fading fast.
Probably build up to it with 1 day a week, then 2 days, etc. Eats lots and lots for the first few weeks.
Leave everything you possibly can at work. Travel light.
I use a messenger bag (Timbuk2 Classic) that I find excellent and a shirt and trousers plus undies doesn't weigh much.
This is all well and good if you have a locker in your gym / cycle storage area, I think the government should be doing more to encourage companies to provide this kind of thing. Many companies give every employee a free 120 square feet of storage (think about it) but nothing in the way of cycling specific space.
Even for my moderate commute, it has had an effect on my eating, I seem to be hungry a lot more.
Best of luck.
The government do encourage employers to provide cycling facilities. I know greater Manchester do a grant of upto 10grand which I'm currently looking into
Back to OP... Be good to know What bike. I do 16 each way either side of a 12 hour shift and as for stopping till March. Get lights and warm gear
Built for comfort... Not for speed
The only real challenges are mental in terms of "getting out there," on the wet and dark days. But the greatest mental challenge is getting BACK out there if you've had a few days in the car because it's been too awful.
I drop clothing in on the weekend (I have a door pass) and that means commuting without bags etc. Which is also very useful.
https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
Facebook? No. Just say no.
Good idea with using the car one way and cylcing the other. This would be a great place for me to start. Bring on the winter!
If the bike's uncomfortable, then something's wrong. Even a decent side-on photo might be enough for us to have a crack at what's wrong.
Get your bike as comfortable as possible, full guards and a rack to get the weight on the bike. Try a steal or Ti frame to let the bike soak up the bumbs, up to 28mm + tyres to, Guards/rack/steal/Ti doesnt mean slow.
I had a good base fitness from mtbing before i started commuting but i built up to it by driving half way and riding the rest, eventually i just dithced the car part all together.
Good luck with the commute.
My commute is 48km each way. I'm not in the office all the time (tends to go in blocks), but weeks when I am I find 3 times in/train back and both ways on Friday is about right for me, especially if I have a longish ride at the weekend.
The main problem is time. It's OK in the morning but in the evening I want to get back to read the youngest a story and see the other two kids and my wife.
I'm lucky to have secure parking, showers, drying room and place to leave suit and shoes at work. That helps a lot.
Sounds like you need a proper bike fit first-off, though.
I live in Guildford and ride into the City of London, worst part is when you have traffic lights when you get into Roehampton/ Putney area.
I'd say go for it and try the drive part of the way first and build up.
Good luck
For me the biggest challenge is keeping it fun, I've got no kids to rush home to so my route is circular, 19 miles in and 21 home via a very different route with the option to add laps around Richmond Park. Strava has also really helped on this front.
I'd also not recommend this if you are having bike fit issues but adding a track/fixed bike really saved my interest a few years ago BUT it can feel brutal some days. A steel road/fixed would be better.
Key also was realising that I didn't need to flog myself on every ride but do plenty of good tempo and a few harder rides instead. Having a HRM has helped slow me down when needed. I've also found doing 5 days a week + sunday club runs early in the year really lays a good base.
Eating enough is always a problem, its constant.
I don't think I've used the train yet this year!
Distance isn't everything - how much climbing is there, are the roads congested, the number of traffic lights/junctions, wind direction, how fit you are? All of these factors will dramatically affect how long your commute will take.
Components and tyres will wear down quickly. You'll need to up your calorific and fluid intake. You'll appreciate sleep more...
You'll be saving a lot on train fares/car costs. I'd guess about £20 a day or so.
Which leaves plenty to spend on replacing/upgrading parts, decent riding gear, proper lights, etc.
A new bike ...
The challenge part is avoiding spending what you save several times over whilst deluding yourself that you're ahead financially