Longest commute possible?

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i'm 42, fat (18 stone) and reasonably unfit. some of my placements are 52 miles a day 5 days a week with over a thousand feet of climbing. i do it in any weather. my current commute is only 32 miles and a thousand feet of climbing...i'm doing it fixed gear on 65". so just man up young 'un....

 

[twowheelsgood]

I'd like to congratulate you bromptonfb, doing that and remaining 18 stone and unfit must rank as an achievement (of sorts).

That's more exercise than 95% of the population.

Can't hold a candle to your commute but if I do my 2*10mile route all 5 days I'll drop a kg easily. And I'm *ahem* "fond of my food".

 

[fossyant]

Well once i start working I would hopefully get a car then, but the train is a good idea. I dont really think I would be up to the challenge of riding 20 miles, in the cold, on a dark monday morning.

Get on the bike !!!!

The train could easily whizz you a good way down the line and quickly as there aren't many stations.

 

[Moodyman]

I'd like to congratulate you bromptonfb, doing that and remaining 18 stone and unfit must rank as an achievement (of sorts).

That's more exercise than 95% of the population.

Can't hold a candle to your commute but if I do my 2*10mile route all 5 days I'll drop a kg easily. And I'm *ahem* "fond of my food".

And what's even more remarkable is that he used to do it on Brompton.

 

[Amanda P]

Mrs Uncle Phil and I once cycled to a job that was around 900 miles away.

But I have to come clean and admit that it was a one-off, live-on-site contract, and we both got home afterwards by other means...

 

[jonnysnorocket]

Surprised me, how quickly it becomes part of your life, I started to commute abt 3 mths ago, 14 miles each way 3 times a week, really enjoy it, will do four days in a week or two, then upto 5 hopefully in the not too distant future

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I tend to do between 17 (min) and 18.5 (max) depending on route. Normally 1 hr to 1 hr 10. every day, each way.
I think 20 is very doable and every day.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I think that the focus should be on time rather than distance. I have found that 80 mins each way is the max I was comfortable with 5 days a week which means my normal commute plus the option of an additional 5 miles depending on weather / mood etc

^ This

I was planning a 25 mile commute this morning but without going into too much detail, I'd had a few ciders the night before and a spicy salt & pepper chinese, so had to pay a few "visits" before I was confident to leave the house (ok maybe too much detail), I spent a few minutes fitting some additional lights and the general "getting ready faff-about" and before I knew it the time was later than I'd hoped to set off, so ended up dropping it to 15 miles (its mostly uphill and on the trike, not that fast) otherwise I'd have been late

However if you have the train option then you can choose according to how you feel and what time you set off...

 

[CopperCyclist]

I think you'll probably find its fine and you enjoy it... but if you don't so what - just cycle in every other day and drive/bus/train on the other days. Find the balance that suits you. A lot depends on what you're doing it for - training purposes you'll have to push yourself a little more than if it's just a cheap commute option. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[ufkacbln]

Depends on how you define commute.

When I was drafted to RNAS Culdrose form RNH Haslar I cycled to my new place of work - 240 miles

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

thanks guys, it's a big effort to stay big........i get down to 15 1/2 stone whilst cycling that far and build up a massive appetite (according to calories used calcs i'm using 5000 extra calories a day) then when i'm finished i carry on eating and not cycling as much.....hence the 18 stone.

 

[gb155]

I tend to do between 17 (min) and 18.5 (max) depending on route. Normally 1 hr to 1 hr 10. every day, each way.
I think 20 is very doable and every day.

I agree it's doable - when the weathers nice and I don't have a crazy work/home schedule I was doing 20miles each way , 5 days a week, I've only backed off because of my new job

 

[Jezston]

I live about 20 miles from work, and I have ridden the full round trip more than once.

I considered doing it every day, but with each stretch taking around 1h 20m, and it having to be the same route every time, I quickly realised it would just be really boring really quick, to the extent it might just kill my love of cycling.

Instead I upped the commute to riding to the next station down, then riding to work, so I have a 10 mile commute, and 10 miles on the train, totalling 1 hour.

I don't think I'd ever want to do any commute that took more than 1 hour.

 

[jonny jeez]

I quickly realised it would just be really boring really quick, to the extent it might just kill my love of cycling.

this, right now, is my biggest challenge.

 

[BlackPanther]

After 2 years commuting, I don't even think about it now, I just cycle to work every day. 11.5 miles/45 mins. It's definitely the time rather than the distance. I don't mind getting up 1/2 hour earlier than if I used the motorbike.

The return journey takes 35 mins if I'm feeling eager, only 15 mins longer than I used to do on the motorbike, so really I'm only losing 15 mins with the kids in the evening.

I reckon my limit would be if it took say, 1 hr 15 mins mark to get home. If it did, I don't think I'd be cycling 5 days out of 5 any more, 'cos I'd not see the kids enough before bed time.