Advice Wanted.

[PoliceMadAd]

Okay, i currently cycle 3 (minimum) days a week to and from work (9-13 miles depending if i'm coming fron home or gfs). My job involves delivering peoples shopping and driving a van, physical and could be tiring but i'm only 22 so it doesn't hit me too much. Thing is, i'm moving to work at a 'hub' from Feb/March next year, same job except i'll be 30/40 mile round commute depending where i am. 7:30 am starts, and 1 10:30pm finish (Friday night). I'm planning to cycle AND use my car, on different days, but what would YOU suggest? I'd love to lose the car, but 30 mile commutes 5 days a week, getting home around midnight on a Friday, i can't bring myself to do that. I spent 8 months car free earlier this year and got along just fine, i have a 1l R reg Polo so not a gas guzzler, and am planning to upgrade car mid next year. I just don't think i could lose the car. (Costs me £118 ins a month). So what do?

 

[Stephenite]

Post in the Commuting section. There's been several people with the same problem over the years.

Quick advice - get another job. If not realistic, then use the car for a while. Get to know people you could carshare with so you cycle in one day and get a lift back in the evening. Lift in the next day and cycle back in the evening. That sort of thing. I did it for a while. It's not an ideal situation.

 

[PoliceMadAd]

Tar, how do i move it? Unless a mod could do it for me. Pretty pleaseee. I think i'm gonna be the furthest commuter, and no-one else from my area(s) afaik. I love the job, and with whats being promised, its gonna get easier, so i dont really want to give it up. Plus, on the car side, i get 2yr NCB if i dont make a claim in the first year, an after having a car written off, and numerous numptie incidents, i'd quite like to keep the car, but its such a money drainer.

 

[Crankarm]

Okay, i currently cycle 3 (minimum) days a week to and from work (9-13 miles depending if i'm coming fron home or gfs). My job involves delivering peoples shopping and driving a van, physical and could be tiring but i'm only 22 so it doesn't hit me too much. Thing is, i'm moving to work at a 'hub' from Feb/March next year, same job except i'll be 30/40 mile round commute depending where i am. 7:30 am starts, and 1 10:30pm finish (Friday night). I'm planning to cycle AND use my car, on different days, but what would YOU suggest? I'd love to lose the car, but 30 mile commutes 5 days a week, getting home around midnight on a Friday, i can't bring myself to do that. I spent 8 months car free earlier this year and got along just fine, i have a 1l R reg Polo so not a gas guzzler, and am planning to upgrade car mid next year. I just don't think i could lose the car. (Costs me £118 ins a month). So what do?

Which part of the country are you in ie what sort of terrain is your commute? I ride minimum 33- 35 miles 6 days a week but a couple of days are 40 milers. It is very doable but you have to be single minded and look after both yourself and your bike. 15-20 miles one way should take you anything between 40 minutes and 90 minutes depending on how quick a cyclist you are. So if you have a 7:30am start then you really need to start riding at 5:45 - 6am to give you enough time at work to get ready before you have to start your shift. You could drive half way, park up and then cycle the rest as one option or ride only 3 days a week and drive the others. But you will need decent kit and decent bike as riding some cheap piece of rubbish, it will soon fall apart or make your ride so miserable and uncomfortable that you won't stick it. Also factor in winter weather gear such as warm and weatherproof kit and a good set of lights.

HTH.

 

[summerdays]

I think the suggestion of driving part way and then cycling could be a good compromise, and as you get fitter/more used to it, you could park further away. I've moved to a longer commute, and I've started having lifts part of the way. For me it removes a big hill, a very congested area and a few miles, and on the days I feel like it I skip the lift back and cycle the whole route. And I'm hoping that later next year I will be able to do the full route on a daily basis.

 

[biggs682]

+1 re summerdays comments

 

[Alien8]

Get yourself a second girlfriend who lives a bit closer to your new place of work - problem solved.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I used to have a 46-mile round trip to work and couldn't ride daily.

I rode 3 days a week from February to November. The rest of the time I drove.

It worked very well and I kept my weight down, had fun and saved a truck load of money.

I didn't do a physical job, but was a lot older than you are now.

On weeks when I felt physically low, I rode only twice. If you are setting an ambitious target in terms of miles, energy and time, then allow yourself 'day off'.

The net benefit of cycling a good distance 3 times a week is still great.

Good luck with the decision and with its outcome.

 

[PoliceMadAd]

Thanks for taking the time to reply everyone. I think im gonna cycle Tues,Wed,Thurs morning, and drive Fri night and Sun morning. Which was my original plan. And stay at my gfs when i'll be driving lol. It's DC and M'Way from hers. I suppose i'll just have to cycle faster . Cheers again.

 

[growingvegetables]

I don't have a car, so my immediate thought - any useful train routes for part of the way? Or even most of the way - for bad winter weather?

 

[chewy]

Get yourself a second girlfriend who lives a bit closer to your new place of work - problem solved.

Ummm...he's trying to save money!

 

[gavintc]

Ummm...he's trying to save money!

He doesn't need to keep the 1st one going for too long.

 

[SRS]

Okay, i currently cycle 3 (minimum) days a week to and from work (9-13 miles depending if i'm coming fron home or gfs). My job involves delivering peoples shopping and driving a van, physical and could be tiring but i'm only 22 so it doesn't hit me too much. Thing is, i'm moving to work at a 'hub' from Feb/March next year, same job except i'll be 30/40 mile round commute depending where i am. 7:30 am starts, and 1 10:30pm finish (Friday night). I'm planning to cycle AND use my car, on different days, but what would YOU suggest? I'd love to lose the car, but 30 mile commutes 5 days a week, getting home around midnight on a Friday, i can't bring myself to do that. I spent 8 months car free earlier this year and got along just fine, i have a 1l R reg Polo so not a gas guzzler, and am planning to upgrade car mid next year. I just don't think i could lose the car. (Costs me £118 ins a month). So what do?

30, 40 miles. Why not look into a decent pedelec. Electrically assisted bike. 40 miles can be a doddle or as hard as you like depending on the level of assist selected.

You also have the advantage that you can carry a good load without feeling it if required.