1st Commute Complete! (almost)

[Fubar]

I finally took the plunge this morning and cycled to work, 15.5 miles Dunfermline to Edinburgh in 1 hour 20 mins.

Worst bit was a windy Forth Road Bridge, blowing me sideways. Best bit was cycling right up to work and not having to trail round for a parking space!

As my daughter is at college I'll only be able to do it once a week (today is her day off) but that is the aim for the next few months, unless the snow comes.

Feel nice and shiney and awake at work though how long that last we shall see - just got the ride home to go now!

I'll update later how the return leg goes. Mark

 

[StuartG]

Well done. A respectable time too for such a long and first journey. The point is never do too much that you stop enjoying it. Do you think an hour is crackable by next summer with a following wind?

 

[Fubar]

Thanks. On a training run I normally do about 16 miles in slightly less time, however I think the wind + I was unsure of the exact route I would take made me go a bit slower. My cateye tells me my average was 11.5 mph and I normally average 12+.

The point of doing this (aside from the parking issue) is an attempt to keep my fitness up over the winter, if I combine it with some weekend training runs as I've signed up for the Caledonia Etape next year.

Good thought to aim for sub-hour commute, I can make that my next goal.

Cheers, Mark

 

[ianrauk]

Well done Fubar, that's a fair old distance for a first commute.

 

[Fubar]

Update from yesterday, return leg completed in 1 hour 23 mins (avg speed about 10.5mph) - I was a bit disappointed as I normally average more than that but I put it down to:

A) The wind in the afternoon seemed worse than in the morning, especially on the Forth Road Bridge which was blowing me sideway;

B) The big muck-off hill I had to climb 1.5 miles from home that earlier in the day I had breezed down;

C) I was knackered by point B anyway.

Quite chuffed overall and enjoyed my leasurely pace of yesterday much more than this morning having to get across Edinburgh and back again through morning rush hour in a car.

Now when it's a dark December morning in a couple of months time that might be a different story...

 

[ianrauk]

Don't get too hung up about the speed. It's always more of a grind on the way back home. Especially if you are heading south/south west. The more you do the commute the easier and more enjoyable it does become.

 

[Matty]

Excellent effort. There are a few folk at my place that do approximately that commute. I've still yet to cycle across the bridge. Really, really must!

 

[Buddfox]

Good job - that's a fair old commute by any standards!

 

[okeydokey79]

I find the commute home relaxing ,cus after a 12hr shift its nice 2unwind before I get home, don't care bout time or speed as long as I'm in 1 piece save beating times 4 wen I'm off work.

 

[HLaB]

Mark, somebody a while back advised me to ignore the narrow NCN out of Edinburgh and take Burnshot Road from Crammond (the road past the top of the airport) turn up right to the QE yard tun left by it and at the end of that road turn right and follow the B800 (the old A8000 Kirkliston Road) onto the Bridge. At the moment (because the east side of the bridge is closed) I usually go straight to the roundabout and turn onto the west side of the bridge. Alternatively if you turn right just before the filling station and take the road behind to the east side of the bridge but you need to go down under it, (I take the service road if I'm doing that). The tip worked for me so I'm just passing it on, its better than that narrow NCN path in the dark/winter

 

[Fubar]

Thanks everyone - HLaB, I know roughly what you mean, though I'll need to review a map to familiarise myself with that route. I was actually quite pleased with the Edinburgh side as you are seldom on a road (except quiet stretch through Dalmeny), it is the Fife side that uses mostly roads - good for not stopping, bad for nervous cyclist -V- impatient traffic.

Matty I've been across the bridge a number of times now, doesn't seem to get any easier - weird sensation being blown sideways. Actually the commute is better 'cos I don't have to turn round and go straight back over the bl00dy thing!

Good point OkayDokay79 about getting home in one piece, sounds obvious now but drivers do seem much more impatient at rush hour than during my summer evening runs - I wonder why?

Had a wee look in Alpine Bikes at Stockbridge today, edging closer to that nice shiney road bike! Though was told the bike I liked was a woman's bike - hmmm, wonder what that tells me?

Catch up soon, Mark

 

[Fubar]

Well after a few false starts I am back commuting again - still just going to be one day a week but really chuffed - 15.5 miles, but only 1 hour 4 mins (down from 1 hour 20 mins in September). Could this be due to my new bike? Better fitness?? Track pump which arrived yesterday??? Who cares, feel fine and looking forward to the run home!

 

[Fubar]

Was also thinking on the way to work whether I could justify a Hybrid for those "bumpy bits" in the road...

 

[Col5632]

Was also thinking on the way to work whether I could justify a Hybrid for those "bumpy bits" in the road...

I dont know how much you would use a hybrid

 

[Fubar]

Hybrid for commuting, road bike for, er roading?!? Just using the time commuting trying to consider the possibility of another shiney new bike...