17 mile commute to work

[synapse05]

Hi all! Newbie here! I'm commuting 17 each day to work; I work early so I leave my house around 3:40am (pacific time, U.S). I'm making the ride to work in 55 minutes on average. I'm riding a Cannondale Synapse 5 road bike. I've been cycling to work now for about 2 months and I'm really loving it. Yes, I've already ate dirt 3 times but I'm well protected with a helmet; Keep running into road cracks and with thin tires, I don't have much to work with. Anyhow, I'm pretty consistent in riding in 5 days a week. I try to commute back but I'm still lacking to energy and the drive to do it as I get home BEAT from cycling 34 miles for a beginner. I usually take the bus home when I don't have the energy. Soon, I expect to do the round trip consistently as I work on conditioning. I have a question or two; How often should I be taking my bike in for a "tune-up"? I'm starting to feel like I'm not quite getting the performance on my bike as I'm starting to see other cyclist blow by me and I struggle to keep up with them as well. I'm 40yrs old and weigh in about 205lbs. I tipped in at 217 just almost three months ago so I know I'm slowly shedding the weight away. Next question; my hands get numb after a while; is there anything out there, besides gloves, that I can pad up the bars or some trick to help with the numbness? Any advise would really help. OK, sorry for my long rant here but this is my intro to this site and I'm very excited to meet and chat and share advice and information with you guys. Thanks.

Synapse05

 

[albion]

Numbness could be lack of circulation. It might just wear off.

Mines now gone but that is down to less driving.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

good average speed for a beginner and kudos on the weight loss, but 3 offs in 2 months?? Maybe you're going a bit too fast for your experience? Try to hone your bike handling & develop a Hawkeye for road cracks more than putting your faith in a polystyrene hat. They're only supposed to be good for one impact too. Could get costly one way or another. Is it light that early in the morning where you are? Could you need better lights on the bike to clearly see the surface you're riding onto in time to react and stay upright?

as for numbness, could be core strength, are you supporting your full body weight through your hands or using your torso muscles too to hold your body position?
were you fitted to the bike or have you sorted that out yourself? Do you grip the bars too tightly? Could be your reach, bar height or saddle angle/height aren't quite how they should be for long term, long distance comfort. If you've got some spare cash, a bike fitting would be a good investment.

Also that may well improve your performance more than general fiddling with the bike. If it is shifting smoothly, the chain is clean and lubed & the tyres kept at the right PSI (100+ is usual for a road bike to roll fast, but at the cost of a bit of comfort) all of which are easy things for you to check and do +/-weekly then you're most way there on routine bike maintainence and its performance, the people passing you may have more aggressive gearing options, years of conditioning and riding in their legs or maybe are riding to train & are in an intense bit of the session when they happen to be passing you, you're likely comparing yourself to the wrong people and not being fair to yourself. Whilst you're still a newbie, focus on beating your own personal bests for safe speed (not crashing) and doing both ways, or join a club and aim at the right people on the ladder as you improve and up your fitness and miles until you are a veteran breezing past everyone on your commute.

 

[synapse05]

good average speed for a beginner and kudos on the weight loss, but 3 offs in 2 months?? Maybe you're going a bit too fast for your experience? Try to hone your bike handling & develop a Hawkeye for road cracks more than putting your faith in a polystyrene hat. They're only supposed to be good for one impact too. Could get costly one way or another. Is it light that early in the morning where you are? Could you need better lights on the bike to clearly see the surface you're riding onto in time to react and stay upright?

as for numbness, could be core strength, are you supporting your full body weight through your hands or using your torso muscles too to hold your body position?
were you fitted to the bike or have you sorted that out yourself? Do you grip the bars too tightly? Could be your reach, bar height or saddle angle/height aren't quite how they should be for long term, long distance comfort. If you've got some spare cash, a bike fitting would be a good investment.

Also that may well improve your performance more than general fiddling with the bike. If it is shifting smoothly, the chain is clean and lubed & the tyres kept at the right PSI (100+ is usual for a road bike to roll fast, but at the cost of a bit of comfort) all of which are easy things for you to check and do +/-weekly then you're most way there on routine bike maintainence and its performance, the people passing you may have more aggressive gearing options, years of conditioning and riding in their legs or maybe are riding to train & are in an intense bit of the session when they happen to be passing you, you're likely comparing yourself to the wrong people and not being fair to yourself. Whilst you're still a newbie, focus on beating your own personal bests for safe speed (not crashing) and doing both ways, or join a club and aim at the right people on the ladder as you improve and up your fitness and miles until you are a veteran breezing past everyone on your commute.

Thanks for the advice. I wold really like to make the commute to work in 50 minutes sharp. I'm riding and an average of about 15 miles give or take. I'm guessing that perhaps my weight (205lbs) and the extra weight of my backpack (15lbs ?) also don't help on my speed. It's pretty dark out when I leave; however, I take major streets with descent lighting. I just added "slicks" to my rims in hopes of improving on speed and timing. I'm not trying to race to work; I'm simply trying to stay at a good rate and timing. As for the numbness, I think I'm putting most of my weight on my hands because after all, I am leaning forward. I do have good lighting on my bike. I have a strong rear light and a good front LED light. I'm going to add another front LED light for better lighting.

 

[classic33]

The only person you have to beat in this sort of situation is yourself.
Forget those that are "flying past you", they may not be travelling as far, or has already been suggested they may simply have been doing it for longer than you.
Work on getting there in a time that leaves you able to consider riding back home.
I did a 20 mile trip in a little over half an hour, but the journey home was done at a much slower pace, mainly because I could afford to take the time. Bike was high geared, a lot higher than most bikes out there.

 

[synapse05]

The only person you have to beat in this sort of situation is yourself.
Forget those that are "flying past you", they may not be travelling as far, or has already been suggested they may simply have been doing it for longer than you.
Work on getting there in a time that leaves you able to consider riding back home.
I did a 20 mile trip in a little over half an hour, but the journey home was done at a much slower pace, mainly because I could afford to take the time. Bike was high geared, a lot higher than most bikes out there.

You know what? you're right! After all, I am just heading home anyway. I'm just very enthusiastic about this whole cycling to lose weight thing. I consistently try to beat my best time. Keeps me going I guess. So, if I'm cycling around 500 miles a month, how often should I "tune up" my bike? I just noticed that, after installing the "slick" tires, my rims don't spin as freely as they should. Apparently, there is something keeping it from spinning as freely as It should. Perhaps this is why everyone is passing me!!!! Could my bearings be bad? Perhaps chain not properly greased? Again, I'm totally green and new at this so anything anyone can share to help me graduate from my training wheels would really help. Thanks buddy.

 

[welsh dragon]

Hi. Cant help you with your problem, but welcome to the forum from powys in wales. Hope you enjoy it here.

 

[Brandane]

Next question; my hands get numb after a while; is there anything out there, besides gloves, that I can pad up the bars or some trick to help with the numbness?

Welcome to CC synapse05, from an envious resident of the west of Scotland. Been on holiday vacation to your part of the world and loved it.
You could try some sort of cork tape, and for even better padding put some gel pads on the relevant parts of the bars before taping them. I use Cinelli cork tape which I find very comfortable.

 

[4F]

Numbness in the hands could well be caused by you being too stretched on the bike and hence putting too much weight on your hands. I would start by shifting the saddle forward slightly so that when your hands are on the bars you have a slight bend at the elbow.

 

[jagman.2003]

Welcome to the forum. For the freewheeling of the wheels, I'd be checking that brakes aren't rubbing first. The wheels maybe a little out of true now they have bedded in. After that then yes, bearings may need a check.

 

[Kies]

the wheels were ok before you fitted new tyres (slicks). most probable cause is brake rub.

 

[synapse05]

the wheels were ok before you fitted new tyres (slicks). most probable cause is brake rub.

Thanks for advice on applying cork tape on my bars; sounds like a great idea. My rims were spinning very freely a month ago. perhaps my cannondale needs some lube in the wheels, crank, chain, etc.I only noticed the not so freely spin once I slapped on my slicks; I'll begin doing a weekly check on all my components now. I'm learning as I go here.

 

[albion]

Numbness in the hands could well be caused by you being too stretched on the bike and hence putting too much weight on your hands. I would start by shifting the saddle forward slightly so that when your hands are on the bars you have a slight bend at the elbow.

It may be the backpack. I got rid of mine and thinking back I was likely always gripping the bars firmer to compensate for forces caused by the backpack.

 

[ColinJ]

I did a 20 mile trip in a little over half an hour, but the journey home was done at a much slower pace, mainly because I could afford to take the time. Bike was high geared, a lot higher than most bikes out there.

To average a little under 40 mph for 20 miles, you must have either been going down a very long descent or had the tailwind from heaven!

 

[Dewdrop07]

Hi all! Newbie here! I'm commuting 17 each day to work; I work early so I leave my house around 3:40am (pacific time, U.S). I'm making the ride to work in 55 minutes on average. I'm riding a Cannondale Synapse 5 road bike. I've been cycling to work now for about 2 months and I'm really loving it. Yes, I've already ate dirt 3 times but I'm well protected with a helmet; Keep running into road cracks and with thin tires, I don't have much to work with. Anyhow, I'm pretty consistent in riding in 5 days a week. I try to commute back but I'm still lacking to energy and the drive to do it as I get home BEAT from cycling 34 miles for a beginner. I usually take the bus home when I don't have the energy. Soon, I expect to do the round trip consistently as I work on conditioning. I have a question or two; How often should I be taking my bike in for a "tune-up"? I'm starting to feel like I'm not quite getting the performance on my bike as I'm starting to see other cyclist blow by me and I struggle to keep up with them as well. I'm 40yrs old and weigh in about 205lbs. I tipped in at 217 just almost three months ago so I know I'm slowly shedding the weight away. Next question; my hands get numb after a while; is there anything out there, besides gloves, that I can pad up the bars or some trick to help with the numbness? Any advise would really help. OK, sorry for my long rant here but this is my intro to this site and I'm very excited to meet and chat and share advice and information with you guys. Thanks.

Synapse05

If your thin tyres get caught in cracks and your hands get numb, then try bigger tyres. I commute 22 km each way on a Kona Dewdrop with 38mm tyres, drop handlebars and no numb hands.