2 miles each way - is it worth it?

[MrJamie]

I'd take the route in very slow to avoid getting sweaty and find detours on the way home unless the roads were horrible and busy. It wouldnt take a lot to turn the home ride into an optional longer ride and get a lot more mileage done.

4 miles a day, 20 miles a week, around 1000 miles a year is IMHO still a nice chunk of mileage and a fair amount of cake burnt off

 

[JoeyB]

I live just short of a mile and half from work and I cycle most days. I don't drive so it's that or walk, and walking is slow and you have to wait for traffic when crossing roads and shouting "get out the way" isn't acceptable on foot.
I usually wear my uniform (black trousers and polo shirt, fleece jacket) unless it's raining then I take them in a rucksack and change at work.
I can't believe you drive that distance.

I drive because I have a company car and have to visit customer sites, I also come home each day for lunch and a car allows me to maximise my time at home. I also go on to the gym / football on certain nights so the car is handy.

I plan to leave the car at the office so I can use it for lunch and meetings so hopefully I have my compromise.

 

[Norm]

Ride but not flat out, normal clothes should be no issue but maybe just a change of shirt.

I can't imagine driving that distance, even when I had a company car but do you need the car? If you give it up, leave it at work and just use it for company business, it becomes a pool car and tax free, or visit customers by bike and claim 20p/mile.

 

[JoeyB]

Ride but not flat out, normal clothes should be no issue but maybe just a change of shirt.

I can't imagine driving that distance, even when I had a company car but do you need the car? If you give it up, leave it at work and just use it for company business, it becomes a pool car and tax free, or visit customers by bike and claim 20p/mile.

Nope, if I give up the car it will go to someone else as we are short on pool cars.
I don't really need the car, but I would lose valuable eating time at home if I cycled home and back for lunch...

I guess this would not be the best time to admit I have 4 cars including the company car lol

 

[Norm]

I guess this would not be the best time to admit I have 4 cars including the company car lol

Haa Haa

Probably not the bes time, no, but I'll refrain from the obvious advice as I've a feeling you already know what it would be.

The car for lunch is a strange thing, though. Riding there and back would take, what, 15 minutes? How much longer is that than driving? Much of that will be down to details like the relative distance to the car park and bike sheds, but it is faster for me to get out of the place on the bike than it would be in a car.

 

[biggs682]

i do 1.6 miles to work and yes its worth it .

 

[pixiepie]

My commute is only 2 miles as well. I only started in August but it's already made a massive difference to my fitness, plus it's quicker than walking or taking the bus and saves a lot of money. I cycle in work clothes except for my top - I wear a sweat wicking running-type t-shirt on the way in and do a quick wet wipe when I get there before changing into a shirt. If it's quite a clod day, I don't sweat enough to need the wet wipe. I always shower before setting off in the morning and just cycle home in all my work gear going home.

 

[HLaB]

JoeyB, I commute less tat that unless I detour and I like to just ride in my shirt & trousers. I like having the flexibility of getting up when I feel and still getting in faster than the boss. If I was to drive after sitting in a traffic jam I would have the same journey time as a brisk walk. I'd then have to look for a parking space or pay for a company one. I'd guess the bike saves me at least 15mins, £30 a month for parking, other costs and its more fun. In the summer/ autumn I can also get back to the flat and go out for a proper ride

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I worked at home for ten years, the cycle commute would have ruined the carpets.

 

[Crankarm]

I cycle 20 miles each way in trousers and shirt .... just take it easy and roll down hills. You will be fine with 2 miles

Your colleagues must love you ................... Yuk!

A colleague at my work does just as you describe and he stinks. Everyone takes a deep deep breath when they have to go into or near the zone. He smells gross.

 

[Crankarm]

I don fancy walking, that's boring! I like the idea of expanding the route when the weather improves again.

I have to wear smart trousers and company shirt / polo shirt so not too bad.

Cheers for the tips chaps!

Errr ....... walk? It's only 2 miles.

 

[Norm]

Your colleagues must love you ................... Yuk!

A colleague at my work does just as you describe and he stinks. Everyone takes a deep deep breath when they have to go into or near the zone. He smells gross.

Remarkably insensitive and remarkably blinkered, Cranky, it's perfectly possible to ride 20 miles and remain fragrant just as it is possible to stink without riding 20 miles.

 

[gbb]

2 miles..piece of cake.
Its not far enough that you'll ever really get sweaty (based on my experience), or too cold.
I used to (and wished i still did) commute 2.5 miles and did so almost every working day of the year. Very often i'd extend it, often to 10 miles each way, just for fun. The great thing is its your choice.

 

[Nebulous]

I had 1.92 mile there and 1.95 back for my commute, with a fair bit of work driving when I got there. It took me a while to let go of the car, but I biked it for about 18 months. I had over 100 metres of climb and found it difficult to do it without sweating, so I had a wash and changed into my shirt once there.

I moved jobs and now only have 1.18 miles which is flatter so I do it in work clothes. In the last 4 months I have also managed to rack up over 300 work miles at 12p per mile. Unfortunately that £36 wont go far to funding my bike habit. I'm trying to work out a way to convince my wife that I've saved enough from my work miles to buy a decent carbon bike, but I don't think I can persude her I'm there yet!

 

[Crankarm]

Remarkably insensitive and remarkably blinkered, Cranky, it's perfectly possible to ride 20 miles and remain fragrant just as it is possible to stink without riding 20 miles.

Really? Please explain as I just don't see it the same way. If you don't sweat you are quite remarkable or more likely aren't pedalling hard or fast enough .