feasible commute distance

[peejay78]

hi everyone,

i know there's quite a few commute distance threads around. however.

my current commute is 7 miles each way. at the weekends i ride 50-60 mile club runs, usually one, and often a longer ride during the week.

i move to bristol in august and my commute is going to be 17 miles each way. i ride fixed mostly, but have two geared bikes (colnago and condor). i think i may get hold of a proper winter frame for the wind and rain.

how feasible is it to do a 34 mile commute 5 days a week? i was thinking it's going to be tiring, but do you get over that after a while? i'd like to use the mileage as a base for racing next year.

i've ridden up ventoux this year in 1hr38, and consider myself fit. and thin.

any ideas?

nb: i can't drive.

 

[bonj2]

you should walk it. not literally walk it, that would take ages, but I mean you should find it piss easy.
I cycled 4 out of 5 commutes the other week and felt fine (missed wednesday due to playing squash). My commute's longer than yours, and I don't do club runs.
Certain things to remember though
The imperative:
* take water on bottle cage, or better still energy drink.
* eat carbs and a bit of sugar before setting off, I eat muesli with fruit (natural sugar) or porridge with jam. and lots of bananas all day at work.
* keep clothes at work to get changed into so you can wear proper cycle gear
* make sure bike's completely mechanically sound, and obviously take puncture repair equipment, and ideally money and mobile phone. I also keep some of those little disposable gloves stuffed in my saddle bag so if i have to change a tube my hands aren't black when i get to work, they take up no room.

The advisable:
* get to bed fairly early,important to get full sleep.
* travel light as possible, don't be loaded up with stuff.

, maybe teaching granny to suck eggs but 7 miles to 17 in my view sort of crosses the boundary from 'utility' to 'serious' cyclist (although no sniffing at people who 'only' commute 7, it's still commendable)

 

[HJ]

It should be possible, but I would suggest just doing a few days a week at the start to allow your body to get used to the distance at the start. One day cycling, then one day by other means to allow recovery, so that you avoid injury. Your body will soon tell you if you are over doing it...

 

[peejay78]

i've got a month to practice and warm up to it. thanks chaps.

i have good gear, but need some proper rain stuff. i.e a fairly pricey gore or something.

 

[andyfromotley]

Well you sound tons fitter than me, i satrted commuting in january and i commute 46 miles a day but havent done all five days in week mainly because i have been away for at least one night per week etc. Although i must ay i do find myself quite tired at the end of the week and going to bed a bit earlier that usual. however i started from a base fitness level of zero so am still working oon that.

I dont know how hilly your route is but what you are suggesting sounds easily doable for you.

From a personal point of view i own a car and think that if i didnt i may view the commute as a chore, rather than a choice. (if that makes sense.) But there are tons on here who commute similar distances to you every day and have done for years.

good luck

andy

 

[4F]

Personally I would say time is more important than distance. If you can do the ride in 60 - 75 mins then I cannot see a problem. I do 30 miles plus a day 4 -5 days a week.

 

[PatrickPending]

My commute is approx 45miles round trip, have done it now for 2 years. Tis a feasable distance, work your way up to it (1 day 1 week 2 next and so on) Just make sure your bike is in good nick, good quality wheels and spokes, take a spare tube etc and have fun!

 

[summerdays]

Where are you going to from Bristol ... there are hills in most directions (and that's just to get out of Bristol), but if its to Bath direction then along the cycle path should be fine (if a little dangerous recently).

 

[elvisparsley]

I found that generally I looked forward to it because it was 2 hours of cycling every day and what's not to like about that? My commute was about 13 miles each way, uphill one way. It was the time at the end of the day that I wasn't so keen on, as any delay would make it a late night getting home. A key thing as Bonj says above is to make sure you eat- particularly something carby late afternoon so that you're ready for the ride home. I used to often forget this and pay for it later! Fitness-wise it's fantastic, and I must say I quite enjoyed the awe of my car-ridden colleagues! All over now though, as I'm moving jobs to 2 miles away. Good on you for taking it on and enjoy yourself

 

[Absinthe Minded]

Yeah, I reckon you'll do it. I do about 55 miles, 3 days a week and you sound fitter than I am.

As suggested, build up to your 5 days and listen to your body. Good on yer, and good luck!

edit: oh yeah, and +1 all of what bonj says, esp the bit about sleep (which I never get enough of), you must get your kip!

 

[Riding in Circles]

I think that 25 miles one way is the tipping point, up to that point I find the commuting time is less or the same cycling taking traffic into account, my actual tipping point is now thirty miles though and oddly as I get older that is increasing, I do have one 50 mile each way trip once a week and recently have been toying with cycling it.

 

[Keith Oates]

A 34 mile commute is feasible and the advice given by Bonj valid, the only thing I would add is to pace yourself sensibly and if feeling tired at the end of the week just do it in a more leasurely manner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BentMikey]

I'm sure you could manage it PeeJay, you're a bit of a racing whippet to say the least.

 

[Perry]

I only do 7 mile each way.

Your ride is so commendable and to do long rides at weekends - You Da Man!

 

[Origamist]

Bristol, eh? At least it's not back to Barnstaple...

What's your route?

17 miles at a good tempo, with not too many traffic lights/hills, will take you an hour or so. This is not a major chunk your time, but you will feel the extra distance to begin with.

At least you'll be starting the new commute at the fag end of summer. It'll be a lot less fun when it's pouring with rain in the middle of January -but as you're a teacher, I guess it will be the highlight of the day

I'd go gears with v good lights/guards/panniers.

Best wishes for the move.