Ambitious or unrealistic?

[2Loose]

12 miles each way may take a little while to get up to. Take it easy, allow plenty of time and don't rush it for the first few days. As others have said, see if you can do it alternate days for the first couple of weeks to work up a little fitness and get your muscles (and bum) used to it.
I do an easy 10 miles each way every day, but then I did spend some time working up to it. I don't even notice it now...

 

[hennbell]

Depends what bike you are on, if its a inexpensive dual suspended mountain bike its to far, light fast commuter, go for it.

 

[ufkacbln]

Like the above said, it depends on your fitness really!

The sore arse thing you'll get over in time, invest in some nice padded shorts.

Why not just give it a bash on a weekend?

Actually that is what I have always recommended and practiced when I have guided newcomers.

The advantage is that there is no pressure, and you can take the time to measure the route. Is going in faster than going home?

Also take the opportunity to plan all the little things that you may need.

Look at where there are bus shelters (useful for repairs or downpours)

Is there a pub or cafe where you could stop and wait for a pickup if it goes badly?

At the end of a Sunday ride you will have a good idea as to whether it is manageable and the sort of time you will need to allow

 

[Tompy]

You can shorten that route quite a lot. Here are two alternatives, the first route (blue on the map) cuts along the Nene Valley railway and into Castor and then cutting through to Bretton on the Green Wheel path rather than continuing all the way to Marholm. This is a shade over 13miles. The second one (pink) is a little more direct but still has a big section through Ferry Meadows park and is under 12 miles.

http://goo.gl/maps/WGcO

 

[400bhp]

Actually that is what I have always recommended and practiced when I have guided newcomers.

The advantage is that there is no pressure, and you can take the time to measure the route. Is going in faster than going home?

Also take the opportunity to plan all the little things that you may need.

Look at where there are bus shelters (useful for repairs or downpours)

Is there a pub or cafe where you could stop and wait for a pickup if it goes badly?

At the end of a Sunday ride you will have a good idea as to whether it is manageable and the sort of time you will need to allow

Very sensible advice, and this is what I did before commuting in, not least so I had less chance of getting lost on a work day.

Try and leave as much stuff at work so you aren't carting things back daily. If you can do without the rucksack a couple of days a week, then all the betrer.

Make sure you carry a spare innertube with tyre leavers and make sure you can quickly change the tube in case of a puncture.

 

[400bhp]

Lets see if this works! Here (hopefully) is the route I'm looking at, through country lanes and open parkland, should be a very uplifting ride. I have a 20 year old Dawes Sterling road bike which I hope to upgrade soon to something like a Bianchi/Boardman/Merida once I've decided what I want and what I can afford!
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=warmington&daddr=Route+53+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:Ham+Ln+to:Ham+Ln/R21+to:Ham+Ln/R21+to:Ham+Ln+to:Ham+Ln+to:R21+to:Marholm+Rd/R21+to:52.58828,-0.286567&geocode=FWUvIQMdgL75_yn3HV0yy5J3SDErM_3Z0B79gw;FdUvIQMdOJT6_w;FUTiIQMdcDr7_w;FcLrIQMd_lb7_w;Fc7zIQMd4mj7_w;FUP9IQMdNFz7_w;FSj9IQMdTlz7_w;FbjwIQMd1m_7_w;Fc7zIQMd4mj7_w;FR8rIgMdIwT7_w;FdxBIgMdAAT7_w;&authuser=0&aq=4&oq=bretton&vps=15&sll=52.585868,-0.289571&sspn=0.010234,0.026243&vpsrc=6&hl=en&dirflg=w&mra=dme&mrsp=11&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10&ie=UTF8

Are you allowed to cycle down Stamford Lodge Road & Katharine Way (east of point B) thus missing out the top loop?

 

[Tompy]

Are you allowed to cycle down Stamford Lodge Road & Katharine Way (east of point B) thus missing out the top loop?

No you can't, it's part of the Fitzwilliam Estate. You can take the next turn on from there on the right - that's part of the Green Wheel cycle route.

 

[mangid]

Lets see if this works! Here (hopefully) is the route I'm looking at, through country lanes and open parkland, should be a very uplifting ride. I have a 20 year old Dawes Sterling road bike which I hope to upgrade soon to something like a Bianchi/Boardman/Merida once I've decided what I want and what I can afford!
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=warmington&daddr=Route+53+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:Ham+Ln+to:Ham+Ln/R21+to:Ham+Ln/R21+to:Ham+Ln+to:Ham+Ln+to:R21+to:Marholm+Rd/R21+to:52.58828,-0.286567&geocode=FWUvIQMdgL75_yn3HV0yy5J3SDErM_3Z0B79gw;FdUvIQMdOJT6_w;FUTiIQMdcDr7_w;FcLrIQMd_lb7_w;Fc7zIQMd4mj7_w;FUP9IQMdNFz7_w;FSj9IQMdTlz7_w;FbjwIQMd1m_7_w;Fc7zIQMd4mj7_w;FR8rIgMdIwT7_w;FdxBIgMdAAT7_w;&authuser=0&aq=4&oq=bretton&vps=15&sll=52.585868,-0.289571&sspn=0.010234,0.026243&vpsrc=6&hl=en&dirflg=w&mra=dme&mrsp=11&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10&ie=UTF8

Have you looked at the routes CycleStreets gives?

http://cambridge.cyclestreets.net/journey/2433120/

Looks like there are some cycle paths which can cut the distance down significantly when required.

 

[Browser]

As said before, it's start slowly and build up. I come in from Crowland to the power station on Fengate and have a choice of four routes, vsrying from 8.5 to 18.5 miles each way depending upon how energetic/tired I feel. Start by giving yourself plenty of time and work up to getting faster. Tried to look at your 'not bad for free eh?' link but was told I didn't have permission, can you load the photo direct to a post?

 

[Mike5537]

Hope it works this time, fingers crossed ill be repaving it with either a merida or a boardmsn in the next few months which I'm sure will make all the difference!


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[downfader]

Hope it works this time, fingers crossed ill be repaving it with either a merida or a boardmsn in the next few months which I'm sure will make all the difference!


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Lovely looking bike :-)

 

[Browser]

Ahhh, I can see you now That'll do to start, get a pump with a gauge so you can keep the tyres pumped up to nice high/max pressure (or ride over to Crowland and I'll pump 'em up for you). Are you thinking Boardman/Merida Cyclocross? If so I'd give that a big thumbs-up as a commute machine as the state of the roads around P'Boro makes me fear for my wheels every time I ride, and you can always swap for skinnier tyres if you want to try a sportive.A mate who lives in Northborough has a Merida CC and got on very well with it and the Boardman has had good write-ups from owners on this forum.

 

[Mike5537]

The roads on this side of boro are really nice to ride on, my only worry is the age of the tyres but they are holding out so far! I'm looking at the merida ride lite 93 our boardman road comp, just can't afford it yet as I don't think my workplace does c2w as no one I've spoken to had heard of it!

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[Tompy]

Not sure if you know but Boardman is a brand owned by Merida. They're built in the same factory.

 

[cloggsy]

My commute is 13.6 each way and it's easy 'do-able' but your journey will depend on your fitness etc.

Have a go at it at the weekend first, then take a punt during the week & see how it goes