Is cycle commuting about to go MASSIVE?

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I work shifts Carol so im not always about at the same times.

But I do a circular route (to get the miles in). I go along Downhill Lane, passed Town End Farm, Southwick to Roker then along the coast to Marsden and down to the John Ried Road where I work.

Dayshift I leave at 7.30am returning at 6pm

Nights leave about 16.30 and return the next day at 9am
 

carolonabike

Senior Member
Location
Boldon
Nice route! That explains why we've never seen each other :smile:

I'm intending to expand my route home once the weather improves, at the minute it's only 5 miles. I'll probably go from the Wearmouth Bridge down to the Glass Centre then along the coast to the Marsden Inn. That'll be about 15 miles I think. I reckon if I do Lizard Lane every day I'll be as fit as a lop in no time :biggrin:
 
Nice route! That explains why we've never seen each other :smile:

I'm intending to expand my route home once the weather improves, at the minute it's only 5 miles. I'll probably go from the Wearmouth Bridge down to the Glass Centre then along the coast to the Marsden Inn. That'll be about 15 miles I think. I reckon if I do Lizard Lane every day I'll be as fit as a lop in no time :biggrin:

Well im often along the coast, so dont forget to say hi :hello:
 

shippers

Senior Member
Location
Sunny Wakefield
Our school has been really great encouraging cycling- up to installing a bank of proper cycle lockers. Which sadly aren't quite high enough to get my 60cm Specialised in.
Happily, it's a badly designed school- the disabled toilets are unsuitable for wheelchair access (no, really) so double up beautifully as heated cycle storage...
 

Banjo

Fuelled with Jelly Babies
Location
South Wales
10 % of the workforce where I work cycle to work. The other 9 employees come by car. :biggrin:

One fit young guy travels less than half a mile by car every shift.
 

PeteStatic

New Member
I started cycling towork at the end of last summer and have really enjoyed it. Initially I only cycled a couple of days a week but now trying to do a full 5 days a week where possible. My commute is 5.5 miles into Cambridge and there are lots of other cyclists and fortuneatly a good cycle route. My employers added about 50 additional covered bike spaces about a year ago and now has room for about a 150 bikes but even now in winter it is difficult to find a free space, so I think in summer it will be impossible unless you arrive early. I have raised this with our employee representative.

Currently there is some construction going on landscaping space beside the bike shed so hopefully a chance of some additional bike spaces, I haven't enquired yet what they are doing so it might just be picnic tables ... I will let you know.

By the way does everybody cycle slowly when they start out or is it just me? I think I get overtaken by almost every other cyclist and rarely overtake anyone. Mayby it's my hybrid bike. Anyway not too bothered as somedays my cycle is the best part of the day.
 

ian emmerson

Well-Known Member
Commuted to work for nearly 3 years now and love every minute and consider myself to be an all year cyclist. I am the only cyclist at work out of approx 200. As for storing my bike it is in a warm laundry area which doubles up as a workshop for minor repairs. We have a housekeeper who has been known on many occasions without my knowledge to wash , dry and even iron my clothing which i then find on the radiator keeping warm.
Shower facility , clean towels provided.
Think i am spoilt.
Up to now i havent really seen an increase in cyclists on my 8 mile commute
 

Banjo

Fuelled with Jelly Babies
Location
South Wales
Commuted to work for nearly 3 years now and love every minute and consider myself to be an all year cyclist. I am the only cyclist at work out of approx 200. As for storing my bike it is in a warm laundry area which doubles up as a workshop for minor repairs. We have a housekeeper who has been known on many occasions without my knowledge to wash , dry and even iron my clothing which i then find on the radiator keeping warm.
Shower facility , clean towels provided.
Think i am spoilt.
Up to now i havent really seen an increase in cyclists on my 8 mile commute

Does she clean and lube your chain for you as well. Spoilt isnt the word :biggrin:

I consider myself lucky in having a secure dry place to lock the bike up in .
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
Commuted to work for nearly 3 years now and love every minute and consider myself to be an all year cyclist. I am the only cyclist at work out of approx 200. As for storing my bike it is in a warm laundry area which doubles up as a workshop for minor repairs. We have a housekeeper who has been known on many occasions without my knowledge to wash , dry and even iron my clothing which i then find on the radiator keeping warm.
Shower facility , clean towels provided.
Think i am spoilt.
Up to now i havent really seen an increase in cyclists on my 8 mile commute

Swap for a locker to keep your clothes in at work where anything damp does not dry and you dare not leave it out as someone will either steal or flush it ?
Getting changed in an unheated changing room with a cold floor you have to rush to get changed and stand on your work clothes to keep your feet from going numb?

Tempted ???:blush:
 

515mm

Well-Known Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
By the way does everybody cycle slowly when they start out or is it just me? I think I get overtaken by almost every other cyclist and rarely overtake anyone. Mayby it's my hybrid bike. Anyway not too bothered as somedays my cycle is the best part of the day.

When I started my commute 3 years ago it took me well over an hour.

Now I do it in 45mins and I'm still improving.

To increase your speed try sprint sessions. Once a week, after a good 15min warm-up, sprint flat out for 30 seconds, cruise for 90seconds then repeat. After 5 sprints, cruise for 10 mins then perform 5 more sprint/recovery drills. Cruise, warm down for ten mins and your work out is over.

You may have to extend your ride home for this. Make sure you eat properly before your ride and have a couple of riding easy days after this session. Recovery is as important as the workout itself.

In 6 weeks, you won't recognise yourself.
 

PeteStatic

New Member
When I started my commute 3 years ago it took me well over an hour.

Now I do it in 45mins and I'm still improving.

To increase your speed try sprint sessions. Once a week, after a good 15min warm-up, sprint flat out for 30 seconds, cruise for 90seconds then repeat. After 5 sprints, cruise for 10 mins then perform 5 more sprint/recovery drills. Cruise, warm down for ten mins and your work out is over.

You may have to extend your ride home for this. Make sure you eat properly before your ride and have a couple of riding easy days after this session. Recovery is as important as the workout itself.

In 6 weeks, you won't recognise yourself.

Thanks 515mm for the advice. I'll probably wait a while before trying out the drills ... as my knees get sore if I push it too much now, hopefully in time they will get stronger. Anyway I'm sure it cheers others up to overtake someone.
 

moralcrusader

Active Member
The bike racks are certainly more crowded than when I last cycled in October. There are quite a few companies in our building though - in my office I'm now the only one of 27 who cycles in - down from 2 last year.
 
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