My commute isn't getting easier!

[Bman]

Just to add to all the top notch suggestions above :

Make sure your not running on empty. You say your commute home is the harder one. Are you hungry when you leave work? Have a banana 10-20mins before you leave

 

[jonny jeez]

Thanks for all your help! I'll have to try all the suggestions one-by-one. Now to work through the questions:

fossyant, I am still going in an out every day, though I will sometimes have a midweek day off if I'm completely exhausted, it doesn't seem to help much! I have managed to shave about 20-25 minutes off my journey time since I started but again, that's not improved for a few months.

hackbike666, I'm 26. No idea how much my bike weighs!

Jonnyjeez, I ride a 21 gear city bike made by Holloway Cycles rather than a brand name. Don't have much of an idea about other specs! The route is from north London to south London, in pretty much a straight line, all main roads. There are no hills, but an incline for the last mile home that feels like Everest sometimes! I'm not very fit but I'm not unfit either. Been cycling for years though never these distances as I lived in a small city, I'd say I'm slightly above average fitness but wouldn't call myself fit.

ianrauk, I toggle between 9th and 12th gear.

Hi trivialhirsute.

First thing's first, I have no idea how much my bike weighs either, so your not alone there. Also, I wouldn't have a clue what gear I favour…I certainly seem to be in the "big " cog all the time…other than that, it's any-ones guess.

You seem to have dropped a big chunk of time off your ride, would I be right in assuming that the 20-25 mins is over the whole journey and not the one way, on that basis I guess you are riding at around 10 mph and taking around an hour to complete the run (30 mins each way)…does that sound right or would you say it takes longer.

On the whole, I would say that dropping the time you have , is already a major achievement and you have "broken the back" of the ride already, maybe expecting more is a little too much.

Personally I don’t find my ride gets any easier on the whole, I've kind of reached a plateau of performance and speed and don’t seem to be shifting off that any time soon. I do find the hills are easier tho and can get up them a bit quicker, or with more "puff" left at the end.

Perhaps its just that you are in a "rut" and need to adapt the ride to present a new view or challenge.

You have a perfect journey to allow you to adapt it, London is a mass of roads and many routes allow you to "stop and smell the roses" a little. I often stop for a coffee on the way in and just chill for a bit, or take a different route just to mix things up a bit…any route can become monotonous after a while.

Check out this site and see if you can find another route that does not present any more challenges but that may be more enjoyable.

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php

PS, I have a big, long hill on my way home as well and I STILL dread it every night (and I've ridden it many times now), why not just stop for a bit before the hill starts, there are no rules to say you cant….it's your ride after all.

Good luck and stick at it, I'm often in south London myself so, let me know if you want to meet up…en-route for a bit of encouragement or company.

Take care

Jonny

 

[HobbesChoice]

Hi trivialhirsute,

I also very much agree with all recommendations, particularly the one about not running on empty as I'm so guilty of doing that to myself.

One other thing I'd add though is that if you decide to take a very short break from cycling then during that time build your leg muscles up with exercises you can do anywhere. My favourites are definitely squats (in all different variations including jumping squats and holding lightish weights too). Also lunges are great. To be honest, those two with variations, are literally all you'd need to do. Just 3 sets of 20 every other day and you'll be amazed at how much better you feel when you get back on the bike. If you can get to a gym then go on the exercise bike and notch it right up to as hard as you can stand - do that for 1 minute. Take it down a level each minute after that until it's really easy. At my gym in London I do 1 minute at level 20 and then take it down 2 levels every minute so that I'm on level 2 by the end. Works wonders for building up my cycle muscles.

The other thing that seriously affects my rides is how much "bad stuff" I eat. If I eat a decent amount of protein and carbs (only complex carbs) and drink enough water then I breeze each journey. If I have a bad day and start living off crisps and chocolate with a pepsi max then it's like cycling through treacle, no matter how fit I am.

Isn't it amazing though how many different factors can affect your rides? What I've told you here is what really works well for me. I cycle 36 miles a day and manage to find a little time to get to the gym as well and I only struggle with any of it if I haven't eaten properly as the cycling and gym work do the rest for me.

I hope that helps.

 

[jonny jeez]

I cycle 36 miles a day .

HC, are you up to 4 days now or have you gone the "whole hog"....

I can see that an update to the "high Rollers" list is overdue!

 

[HobbesChoice]

HC, are you up to 4 days now or have you gone the "whole hog"....

I can see that an update to the "high Rollers" list is overdue!

Hi Jonny - I'm still at college on Wednesday evenings so I can't "upgrade" to 5 days until the end of January unfortunately because I have to get the train home. BUT I've managed to fit some gym time in the mornings too now so I'm not too disappointed.

Having said that, when I see your new trophy go up with my name quite a way down on the list I may have to find an extension to my route to make up for the lost time!

Competitiveness will be my downfall !!!!!

 

[HobbesChoice]

Oops - over zealous on my reply! Yes, I'm up to 4 days both ways.

 

[jonny jeez]

Having said that, when I see your new trophy go up with my name quite a way down on the list I may have to find an extension to my route to make up for the lost time!

Competitiveness will be my downfall !!!!!

Dont be too sure...152 miles a week puts you *TOP* of the High Rollers above SilverBrows 140 miles!!

Congrats, thats a fantastic acheivement.

In January (when you hit 5 days), you will promote to the Elite High Rollers, (there are only two spots there at the moment...we are not worthy)

I must speak to the engraver and get a new shield made up

 

[HobbesChoice]

What can I say, the bike bug bites hard !!!!

 

[andyfromotley]

Ok try this, if you have a cycle computer-ditch it. Woorying about times/averages etc can spoil a nice ride.

Use perceived effort as a guide to your journey, 10 being heart busting 1 being walking pace. try to do you ride at about 5-6, i find this an enjoyable pace, and i think there is some evidence to show that this pace can improve your fitness compared to harder riding.

Always use a nice easy gear, dont worry about times or speed just cycle so you enjoy it.

try to vary your route even just a little each day/week.

find someone to cycle with.

These tactics might just make your ride easier and more enjoyable. Hope it helps.

andy

 

[jonny jeez]

Ok try this, if you have a cycle computer-ditch it.

Bloody good advice Andy...they are mostly useless in these dark times anyway.....and the rides that I have "unfettered" by the computer have almost always been more enjoyable..


Computer say's......."bye"

 

[palinurus]

I leave mine on, I've learned not to care if it reads 13 mph.

 

[Arch]

I leave mine on, I've learned not to care if it reads 13 mph.

I'm elated when I reach that!

I do keep mine on, and log my miles and I've found it encouraging seeing how they add up - I guess we're all different like that.

I do a 3 miles each way commute once a week (the other four days will only be 1.5 miles each way), and it hasn't really got easy, some days feel better than others, for me the wind direction is a key thing. My ave speed hasn't increased at all, if anything it's dropped a bit, but I rarely feel exhausted on either leg so there may be some benefit in not racing to beat your best all the time, as others have said.

 

[knonist]

Cycle slowly is actually better for you as it burn fat instead of carbohydrates in your body.
So if you want to loose weight, cycle slowly; but if you want to train your heart / lung, then hammer your journey.

If you cycle everyday, it is not worth the risk to injure yourself by cycle quickly. Gentle exercise is as good as hardcore work out if you do it 5 days a week.

 

[Matty]

Just to add to all the top notch suggestions above :

Make sure your not running on empty. You say your commute home is the harder one. Are you hungry when you leave work? Have a banana 10-20mins before you leave

Agree with this, plus make sure you get enough kip during the week.

 

[hackbike 666]

Using the Dawes Audax 2007 (Supreme) as the 2006 version is knackered and needs a service.

I was much faster today.It had only done less than 50 miles when a ped walked in front of me (without looking) at Leyton Garage yesterday afternoon.Luckily it has a horn fitted.