commuting 15 miles each way

[deano-1970]

i do a 20 mile round trip been doing it since july!..and im the same now its winter time! im struggling with the commute back home,,but its more up hill and been off the saddle for 2weeks over the xmas holiday hasent helped me!...cheers dean....

 

[MrGrumpy]

I have a commute of approximately 15 miles each way. I started about 2 years ago, had a winter break and started again this summer. I am trying to avoid a winter break this year and want to cycle in at least 2 days a week. I am also using a mtb with slicks for the winter commute.
My issue is that my commute is now taking 1.5hrs each way and sometimes longer on the way home if its windy.

I also seem to be struggling loads. Its not so bad in the morning, as its gets brighter as I get in and there are more cyclists in the morning, but the evening stretch sometimes feels like a slog.

How are others, who do this distance managing and do you have any tips etc.

thanks

I do 15 miles each way daily and don`t really take it easy. However I built up to this, I do get tired but that is probably down to the pace I keep it at and also winter is worse as well, dark mornings, drak nights etc. However along with everyone else try and get a more road specific bike or at last make the MTB as quick an nimble as you can with slick tyres. Hell I used to run aero bars on an MTB in the early days. Other than that fuel up properly to start with and don`t expect miracles. CYcle in 3 times a week alternate days to start with and then see how you get on. I used to reward myself with a rest day, however now I cycle as much as I can, all down to fitness really!

 

[ChrisMc]

I do a 32 mile round trip takes me about 50-55 mins each way and wouldn't dream of doing it on a mountain bike so well done there. Like others have said keeping warm really helps layer up and as you go if you get to hot take a layer off, I was always told by my dad it's easier to keep warm than try to get warm. I find a skull cap an amazing bit of kit cheap as hell and they cover your ears which helps stop wind noise so you don't realise how windy it is and a good neck tube works a treat.

I find if I try pushing hard all the time I get fed up and it feels like a pain to do, where if I just think to myself take it nice and steady I enjoy it and it only takes a couple of minutes longer.

Look around and enjoy the view and ignore all the idiot drivers

Hope this helps and just enjoy it or you will sicken yourself off.

 

[MrGrumpy]

I do a 32 mile round trip takes me about 50-55 mins each way and wouldn't dream of doing it on a mountain bike so well done there. Like others have said keeping warm really helps layer up and as you go if you get to hot take a layer off, I was always told by my dad it's easier to keep warm than try to get warm. I find a skull cap an amazing bit of kit cheap as hell and they cover your ears which helps stop wind noise so you don't realise how windy it is and a good neck tube works a treat.

I find if I try pushing hard all the time I get fed up and it feels like a pain to do, where if I just think to myself take it nice and steady I enjoy it and it only takes a couple of minutes longer.

Look around and enjoy the view and ignore all the idiot drivers

Hope this helps and just enjoy it or you will sicken yourself off.

you know that is fair point, Strava is great but I think its partly to blame for my attitude to my commute. Worth just taking it easy and enjoy the ride.

 

[ChrisMc]

you know that is fair point, Strava is great but I think its partly to blame for my attitude to my commute. Worth just taking it easy and enjoy the ride.

Hell yeah I love strava and just go like hell on certain segments, it's superb for pushing yourself but dangerous sometimes when you upload a ride and think you've done a load of rubbish lol.

 

[David Parry]

Look around and enjoy the view and ignore all the idiot drivers . .

Good points in your post, Chris. As our cycling evolves, so do our routes, and I think there is some refinement here . . . finding a quality route that puts you in a comfort zone is crucial, and so it is a matter of saying on the look-out. I remember studying Google satellite maps along my route and discovering a great trail route between Surrey and Langley, and when I switched, I couldn't believe the change in enjoyment. At the time, I was getting pretty beat up along the Fraser Highway (before road and bike lane improvements)--riding uphill in the dark just inches from 80 KPH busy traffic lane--I dreaded certain sections. I might have said screw this and given it up if I commit to hunting for an alternate. So I switched and there was no looking back.

 

[Helidoc]

My commute is pretty similar at 14.1 miles. and I try to do it at least twice a week. The big difference from my rubbish miles last year to much better performance this year is the clothes. I have got a winter bike (Cyclocross), and although this hasn't been the difference to me, at your distance I can see the advantage of a lighter drop bar bike.

I terms of clothes, compared with last year.
1) Better gloves (Only Aldi winter gloves, but meraklon liners)
2) neoprene overshoes
3) A skull cap
4) Base layer plus autumn jersey plus windproof shell. Having said that I am getting a fairly expensive Castelli winter jacket this week

The right clothes are crucial, it has made a massive difference to me, but a winter bike is nice. I wouldn't fancy 14 miles on an MTB.

Dave

 

[400bhp]

the grease/oil in all the components is thicker & causing more resistance..

 

[furball]

I do the same distance. My route is flat but exposed and very windy. The wind changes direction between morning and night and I always have a head wind (it's annoying watching others flying past going the other way). I too seem to be getting slower but I put it down to the strength of the wind and getting older, neither of which I can do anything about so I don't worry about it.

 

[samsbike]

Cheers all. I took my road bike on Monday and while it felt fasfer , it wasn't really in time. I also got filthy with the rain. I would love to be able to do 16 mph in an hour. Need to get a better engine lol

 

[Andrew_P]

If I can do 15 miles each way 4-5 days a week anyone can.. That's the key 1-2 is not enough not even in winter!

 

[samsbike]

If I can do 15 miles each way 4-5 days a week anyone can.. That's the key 1-2 is not enough not even in winter!

You maybe a lot fitter than me, that's outstanding. How long does it take you?

 

[Andrew_P]

You maybe a lot fitter than me, that's outstanding. How long does it take you?

In fairness I built up to it for a month or so back in 2011 going 1 way per day. But at 48 and 17 stone at the time it was tough but one week I just decided to do it every day both ways. First few month were painful and around 1hr 10-15mins. Up until October 2013 when I came off and fractured & dislocated my shoulder it was taking me between 48 and 53 mins each way doing it 5/6 days a week, on a Carbon road bike. Been back since mid December and lost a fair bit of pace and only doing 4 times a week averaging 15.6mph for Jan and 15mph for December so slowly coming back to fitness, just got to get back down to 12st put on a stone and bit while I was off!

Winter 2011 & 2012 I did it most days Spring 2012 my speed leapt up cycling through the winter really is the trick to making you faster when it warms up.

In fairness a lot of people on here go further everyday, and faster!

 

[mrmacmusic]

Cheers all. I took my road bike on Monday and while it felt fasfer , it wasn't really in time. I also got filthy with the rain. I would love to be able to do 16 mph in an hour. Need to get a better engine lol

The key thing that I got my head round was the fact that I was going to have good days and bad days...... I started commuting 14.3 miles each way in August 2011 and built it up from a few days a week at first to 5 days (although there are odd days I need to take the car). Whilst I still log all my rides I've stopped competing against myself and trying to go "faster than yesterday" – I know I can have a bad week on my nice carbon road bike and post some slow times, or have a flyer of a week on the hybrid. The choice of bike (and fit) will affect speed, but then so does the weather, how you're feeling, whether you're eating properly etc..etc..

I'd love to up my regular average speed too (was 15.6mph for 2013 over 5,599 miles), but I'm happy having logged a best time of just under 45 minutes (19.4mph average) and accept the fact that when pushing a head-wind the whole way, I can log as much as 1hr 24 minutes

 

[samsbike]

My current average is around 12.5mph, I cant see how to get it up to 15mph, it seems like an eternity away.

Just need to keep plugging away.