I need to speed up my commute

[cyberknight]

I had a google and the only radford bike with that name is a ladies one , does it look like this?

If so changing to a road bike either with drop or flat bars would make the commute times a lot quicker ! I know you love your bike but i do not think you are going to make a big saving in time with it.

 

[BentMikey]

Yeah, road bike with drop handlebars would be my suggestion too, as would be getting rid of the flappy clothes and wearing tight lycra. If I wear my rain trousers on my bike, I peak out at 30mph down the two big downhill commutes, when I normally get to 40mph. I'd think my cruise is also 2-5mph slower with the trousers. The loss to you will be less at lower speeds, but still measurable.

 

[Bman]

+1 for the road bike

When I swapped from flat pedal MTB, to clipless road bike I shaved over 10mins off my 8 mile commute. 28mins is my PB.

I also take a change of clothes. I couldnt sit around all day in the clothes i've ridden in.

Also, N+1. You can always keep your old bike for other rides

 

[Ian 74]

Defo get a road bike cycling truly comes alive on the road when you join the club, a bit of lycra and some leg work and your pb will drop like a stone and your fitness will be much improved. Maybe get one you can put a rack on the back to take spare clothes and your lunch. I used to commute 11 and a bit miles in rolling terrain with my spare clothes and food in a back pack, it was okay if a little uncomfortable on the spine, pb was about 37 mins over rolling terrain. If I did it on my old mb it would have been 50+ mins.

 

[John90]

Defo get a road bike cycling truly comes alive on the road when you join the club, a bit of lycra and some leg work and your pb will drop like a stone and your fitness will be much improved.

Your fitness won't improve by swapping to a road bike and your PB will improve by swapping to a motor bike, if that's the overriding consideration.

 

[annedonnelly]

That bike looks fairly similar to my EBC Streetfinder and although I'm not fast I'm certainly able to average more than 10 miles an hour.

As the OP says he's been cycling for a few years, I'd be rather worried that he's getting out of breath going up stairs. I think I'd be talking to a doctor about it.

 

[biggs682]

ok more info helps , are there any other members local to you who might lend you a more lighter bike for a few days to see what differance it would make .

i think its a matter of making adjustments to exsisting bike ie gearing so the hill climbs are a bit easier but still allow for a good flat speed to be maintained .

just a change of wheels and tyres to some narrower ones could even help a bit , its just a matter of trying .

 

[BlackPanther]

My commute is 11.2 miles, and takes me 45 mins there (steady so as not to break sweat) and 35-40 mins back as I ride home like the Devil. Proper cycling gear is essential for comfort and dryness. This time of the year I wear a rather fetching Castelli long sleeved jersey and leggings in the morning, and an even more fetching Scotts lycra short sleeved jersey and shorts for the ride home. It's amazing just how quickly the sweat disappears if you've got the right kit on, and you find yourself riding a lot faster.

Until March this year I'd done the commute on a Dawes Tanami hybrid bike. After just over a year on this bike I bought my 1st road bike, a specialized Allez, and the hybrid ain't got a look in since. A road bike (assuming your commute is on the road) is sooooooooo much easier and far far faster.

Right bike + right kit = quicker commute.....simples!

 

[jonny jeez]

Another thought, have you been tested for exercise induced asthma?

+1...get down to a docs for a quick test, although the symptoms you describe don't exactley fit with this (I understand them to be a shortness of breath like a weight pressing on your chest and wheezing...my wife suffers from it occasionally).

Also consider wearing different clothing so that you can get sweaty in (you mention you don't want to, as you ride in your gardeners gear) cycling over , say 15mph will generate a significant sweat...and burn plenty of weight

lastly, fit a computer to show your speed, this will allow you to measure, monitor and improve each day

 

[Msmancunia]

I do a 12.5 mile commute each way and it takes me 57mins-ish. Over the past few weeks I've started to streamline my load - leaving stuff at work when I can (toiletries etc) as I'm lucky enough to have great cycling facilities there. I've even got to the point where someone pointed out that I had six stupidly heavy keyrings on my housekeys, so five have come off! Then I weighed my bike - worked out that if I got a decent roadbike when the cycle to work scheme opens in September and kept my hybrid for runs out at the weekends, I'd save another stone. So every little bit helps (hopefully).

 

[akb]

I was in a similar situation when I started commuting about a year ago...trying to get to work quicker.
Most of what I would suggest has already been covered, but one point I found that helped a lot is ensuring that the bike is set up correctly to your size and riding style.
I have a flat bar hybrid which I rode to work for about 3 months as was straight from the showroom. After giving it a clean and a quick once over with oil etc I also spent about half hour adjusting the seat height, test riding, adjust, test etc until I felt comfortable. This alone managed to save me 10 mins on my 12 mile commute as I felt I could get more power from the legs through the peddles.
Minor tweaks to the bike 'dynamics' (seat height, handlebar height etc) does help. Also clothing also helps too. Im a cheapskate (and not cool enough ) to purchase full lycras. I went down the Sports Diret route where I got a tight fit running top and some shorts to tackle my commute. This also made the difference to time to work and average speed.

HTH.

 

[jonny jeez]

Your fitness won't improve by swapping to a road bike and your PB will improve by swapping to a motor bike, if that's the overriding consideration.

+1 on that.

I was totally set on buying a roadie this summer...did all the research took tests and picked the perfect one.

I managed to borrow one for a long ride and was totally underwhelmed. It was still just as hard/easy to ride and my average speed, acceleration and general movement didn't alter that much. the only real benefit I gained was an increase in my downhill speed ...but I only have one big hill on my commute.

I except that my expectations were probably too high and I'd led myself to believe that I'd float to work and I also understand that the gearing that I chose may be a massive factor...but still, what a disappointment, I'd have been livid if I'd replaced Chitty and spent a chunk of cash in the process.

Looks like Chitty's beaten off the competition once more.

 

[BlackPanther]

+1 on that.

I was totally set on buying a roadie this summer...did all the research took tests and picked the perfect one.

I managed to borrow one for a long ride and was totally underwhelmed. It was still just as hard/easy to ride and my average speed, acceleration and general movement didn't alter that much. the only real benefit I gained was an increase in my downhill speed ...but I only have one big hill on my commute.

I except that my expectations were probably too high and I'd led myself to believe that I'd float to work and I also understand that the gearing that I chose may be a massive factor...but still, what a disappointment, I'd have been livid if I'd replaced Chitty and spent a chunk of cash in the process.

Looks like Chitty's beaten off the competition once more.

Wow, must say I feel 100% the opposite! After a year on a hybrid, my first road bike felt like I was cheating! I found it so much lighter, easier, faster and, dare I say it....more comfortable. The hybrid limited my grip to the 1 position and I kept getting numb fingers. The road bike has a 3 position choice which I find far better.

My commute average speed went from 15 mph to 18 mph, and I found myself getting to/from work 5 mins faster without breaking sweat.

I've had the road bike 6 months, and now the only time the hybrid comes out is when I go for a ride at the weekend with the kids, or if I need the trailer. I guess I'll also use it in the snow.

 

[david1701]

compete your commutes and think about PBs and speed, should pull you down.

The other massive thing is do something bigger than your commute so that it makes your commute feel easy. Maybe join a local club and go on their relaxed longish ride. The reasoning is if 40 miles is hard work then 10 is a piece of piss

Oh and don't stop on the hill, just keep going (or at least try to have fewer stops) a friend of mine rides to the next but one lampost each time and uses that to make it feel more manageable psychologically

and yeah if you can afford it get a faster bike

 

[darth vadar]

Hello everyone

A simple but probably quite daft question I'm afraid - I need to become faster. Any tips?


I foolishly took a job requiring a ten mile cycle followed by 40 mins train and walking. The ride is taking 1 hour 15 mins so the whole journey is taking quite a chunk out of my day at the moment.


I never seem to get any fitter; I sometimes have to stop and rest on a steep hill cos it feels like my lungs are burning. There must be a way I could make improvements?

The bike is quite heavy but I'm reluctant to replace it with a speedier one as it's been fantastically reliable over the last 12,000 miles it's done and it seems ungrateful to cast it out!

On a side note, the job is definitely worth the commute

Have you thought of moving house ?