Increasing petrol prices and cycling inspiration can create new cyclists.

[400bhp]

I know a fair few who do this. Maybe I've fallen in with the wrong crowd

To be fair, I think it's unlikely that this will become the norm. But it's totally realistic for anyone who wants to use cycling as a force to turn their life around, if they are unhappy with 3 hours daily stuck in traffic, being unfit and overweight with accompanying health problems, spending too much on travel to work (though I need to be careful with this one - as cycling can be pretty expensive too). And yes you need some luck in getting a commute that's pleasant enough to be tackled daily.

My route home yesterday.

Can't see your route boss - is the privacy setting on?

 

[redcard]

20 miles round trip adds about 500 calories to your daily consumption, probably the equivalent of two snacks away from main meal times.

Mars Bars are 4 for a £1 in the Co-op, so an extra 50p a day

 

[400bhp]

Interesting take on commute cost and bringing food into the equation. That must be top of the "I can't cycle to work because.." excuse pile.

It also assumes that you were eating less before cycling and had no weight issues. Personally, my eating habits have remained largely unchanged as I was exercising a lot anyway. In fact I suspect I eat less now, but that has something to do with glycogen deficiency I think (one for the health and fitness section).

 

[VamP]

Can't see your route boss - is the privacy setting on?

Yes it was

Should be public now

 

[Edwards80]

As well as eating porridge in the office, I was finding I needed more sandwiches during the day, and (sometimes) a bar of chocolate as well as bigger portions of food in the evening. I was going hypo without upping my normal intake (am diabetic)

Ah, I expect Diabetes complicates things somewhat. Hope the truffles comment came across as tongue in cheek as I intended!

Greg's point about spending on quality kit and bikes is more reflective of the erosion of the savings that come from not driving.

This is true (just ordered a road bike for the Mrs after my enthusiasm made it's mark ) - This stopped bothering me when I realised I had nice stuff to look at/use after spending the "Saved" money rather than just some fumes or a train ticket

 

[MacB]

Interesting take on commute cost and bringing food into the equation. That must be top of the "I can't cycle to work because.." excuse pile.

It also assumes that you were eating less before cycling and had no weight issues. Personally, my eating habits have remained largely unchanged as I was exercising a lot anyway. In fact I suspect I eat less now, but that has something to do with glycogen deficiency I think (one for the health and fitness section).

great excuse line isn't it...well I can vouch for the fact that my commute actually saw me eating less, though more nutritiously and sensibly.

 

[Linford]

20 miles round trip adds about 500 calories to your daily consumption, probably the equivalent of two snacks away from main meal times.

That would also depend on your level of fitness, terrain, your ability to metabolise the food etc etc

Diabetics metabolise in a different way to healthy people and can end up with very high blood sugar levels from increased intake without actually getting the energy from that increased level (due to insulin resistance and lower insulin levels). Get the meds wrong and you can eat and eat, and not have the energy to get out of bed in the morning.

 

[VamP]

This is true (just ordered a road bike for the Mrs after my enthusiasm made it's mark ) - This stopped bothering me when I realised I had nice stuff to look at/use after spending the "Saved" money rather than just some fumes or a train ticket

Oh it doesn't bother me at all. I love the techno-geekiness of it all.

Sadly, I am not sure my bank manager shares my enthusiasm...

(repeats to himself - must not buy another bike just yet, must not buy another bike just yet...)

 

[VamP]

That would also depend on your level of fitness, terrain, your ability to metabolise the food etc etc

Diabetics metabolise in a different way to healthy people and can end up with very high blood sugar levels from increased intake without actually getting the energy from that increased level (due to insulin resistance and lower insulin levels). Get the meds wrong and you can eat and eat, and not have the energy to get out of bed in the morning.

I appreciate that diabetes complicates things. But the amount of calories burned will not dramatically vary from the number I gave (+/- 20%) regardless of the factors that you list. Cycling is predictable that way.

 

[VamP]

Mars Bars are 4 for a £1 in the Co-op, so an extra 50p a day

Not sure that qualifies as a 'healthy snack option' But porridge works out cheaper still.

 

[jowwy]

My cycle commute is a 30 mile round trip and i do that twice a week at the moment, but as my fitness improves and weight drops i will up it to 3 - i won't do five days i have shopping to do and other things

each commute saves me £5 in fuel costs - and there is no way i eat an extra £5 in food because i am now cycling.

 

[Linford]

Interesting take on commute cost and bringing food into the equation. That must be top of the "I can't cycle to work because.." excuse pile.

It also assumes that you were eating less before cycling and had no weight issues. Personally, my eating habits have remained largely unchanged as I was exercising a lot anyway. In fact I suspect I eat less now, but that has something to do with glycogen deficiency I think (one for the health and fitness section).

Glycogen is the form which Glucose takes when in the liver. If you have a big drinking session, you can mess with your liver function and whilst having high levels there, can actually end up with low levels in the blood

I don't have a decent bike to commute on now which is a money issue to replace the one which was pinched and not for any other reason and have lost probably all of my fitness now which will i the interim stop me commuting every day until it returns.

I will accept the penalty of time to cycle commute in the same way I do when I ride the m/bike to work - I enjoy it but don't try and pretend it is for any other reason than to make me feel better (call that what you will - the ego massage - to know I'm doing it than taking the softer options)

 

[Linford]

Mars Bars are 4 for a £1 in the Co-op, so an extra 50p a day

Mars bars are a good way of getting you out of the poo if you are on the floor, but bad for someone trying to manage sugar levels as they give massive spikes.

When I was diagnosed, they said try and keep your levels between 4 and 7. Now they say you are not fit to drive if they are below 5.0. Then they say that the type of meds I was on until a couple of months ago will (and did) send me hypo if I didn't eat a good deal more, but I'm not allowed to test as I'm not an insulin injecting sufferer. Go high and you risk nerve, blood vessel, eye kidney limb damage, go low and you can pass out - but you can't test your levels as the strips in the machines cost money

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Agree. Most of my extra food comes from fruit and cereals. I would say that overall I am not seeing any impact on the wallet, though that is also partly due to having cut out the booze.


Greg's point about spending on quality kit and bikes is more reflective of the erosion of the savings that come from not driving.

Presumes you don't use the car for owt else than commuting though....

When I had an annual season ticket I used to go to London, and other intermediate points south thereof, by train at weekends a lot more.

Since going carless myself the biggest personal hassles have been

getting shopping in (Waitrose now deliver)
getting to/from my out of town jogging club (I have to run, or cycle, there)

I suspect I may need to leave a 'shopping bike' in the office for trips to the town centre/banks and/or a nearby village sub post office at lunch time too, not prepared to leave the good bikes locked up outside the shops. (Thinks..... fix my Strida...)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yes it was

Should be public now

still can't see it.