Long-distance commute

[srw]

I've been working out of Guildford two or three days a week for the last year, and I'm getting fed up of the M25. So I'm contemplating getting a flat and staying over for a couple of nights a week. With a bit of juggling of my timetable this might mean that I'd be able to commute on the bike - ride over first thing one day before work, and then knock off early on the third day to ride back. The trip is about 40 miles each way, give or take - I'd be doing the round trip once a week at most.

Has anyone got any experience of doing this sort of relatively long distance before and after work? What's it like? I guess that nutrition and refreshment are important.

The relatively direct route would be:
Amersham - Little Chalfont - Chalfont St Peter - Gerrards Cross - Stoke Poges or Fulmer - Slough - Eton - Windsor - Windsor Great Park - Sunningdale - Chobham - Knaphill - Guildford.
I'd be aiming to leave home about 7am, and get home again by about 5pm.

 

[Bigsharn]

I occasionally do a 20 mile circuit before work on a Sunday (late start, so it's the best day)

Have a bowl of cereal (or a couple slices of toast) before setting off, take 2 extra pints of water with me, and have a Powerade ION4 or Rockstar Recovery at the other end, depending what's on offer at the local shop... I know it's full of sugar and additives, but that's kind of the point

 

[ianrauk]

Patheticshark from this parish used to do a 80 mile round commute. She wrote a blog about it.

 

[AideyM]

I used to do a 32 mile one way commute to work 2 to 3 times a week (got the train home it was downhill on the way back anyway). I was trying to lose a lot of weight at the time, so probably didn't eat enough on route, but had a bowl of porridge before setting off. I planned my clothing in advance as a loaded rucksack, wind and rain make it a pain at times. Probably not good advice but my ipod was the best accessory. I actually preferred this commute to the 10 mile each way one I have now

 

[Norm]

Not sure if you are enquiring about the distance or the route... or maybe both.

Distance should be fine. I think there are plenty of people who commute for a couple of hours each way, you'll probably only looking at 3 hours for that, aren't you? Carrying everything that you need would be my only thought, 3 days' business attire as well as the usual cycling stuff, I expect you've some dedicated proper luggage anyway.

On the route, I've cycled all of those roads, and commuted those you mention as far as Windsor. Once you've got to GX, I'd suggest having a look a few miles east of your route, though, through Cowley, Harmondsworth & Staines. The roads aren't as "nice" (IMO) through Uxbridge and past the airport, but they are flat and more urban, so I find them easier at that time of day. Fulmer to Slough and Windsor to Guildford are both commuter runs on pretty much exclusively NSL roads. It's also more lumpy around Stoke Poges and south of Windsor, whereas a more easterly run would be flat.

 

[srw]

Distance should be fine. I think there are plenty of people who commute for a couple of hours each way, you'll probably only looking at 3 hours for that, aren't you? Carrying everything that you need would be my only thought, 3 days' business attire as well as the usual cycling stuff, I expect you've some dedicated proper luggage anyway.

I'm thinking of commuting to the flat, and then taking a shower and walking to work - so keeping the amount of stuff to carry on the bike to a minimum.

On the route, I've cycled all of those roads, and commuted those you mention as far as Windsor. Once you've got to GX, I'd suggest having a look a few miles east of your route, though, through Cowley, Harmondsworth & Staines. The roads aren't as "nice" (IMO) through Uxbridge and past the airport, but they are flat and more urban, so I find them easier at that time of day. Fulmer to Slough and Windsor to Guildford are both commuter runs on pretty much exclusively NSL roads. It's also more lumpy around Stoke Poges and south of Windsor, whereas a more easterly run would be flat.

That's a good thought - I'll take a look. It would also mean I could take the road through Denham Golf Club up and down to and from Denham, which takes me straight onto the right bit of the Chilterns.

The downside, of course, would be not being able to enjoy Windsor Great Park.

 

[Norm]

The downside, of course, would be not being able to enjoy Windsor Great Park.

Indeed, and there's little comparison between WGP, Sunningdale, Chobham Common etc and Uxbridge > Staines > Egham, but that's a personal call about relative merits of faster and flatter against quieter and lumpier.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

when on placements i commute anywhere from 40 to 52 miles per day 5 days per week. it's hard work for the first few weeks but then my body adjusts and i enjoy it. i lose loads of weight as well, according to the garmin edge 500 i use 3 to 4,000 calories a day extra.

so yes it's do-able, or you could the brompton folder multi model commute.

 

[steve52]

i work from home and am a carer now, i dream of days gone past when i had a prppoer job and could commute?,ps work from home = my life is not my own