New and unfit!

[mcshroom]

Before you abandon the bike you could try a couple things. First lock out the front suspension (if you can). You don't need it and you lose energy bouncing on it.

Second , look at some slicker tyres. It your off road is reasonably gravelly/hard rather than mud then you would probably be fine on something like a Schwalbe City Jet or Michelin City otherwise something with a slick middle and treaded outer may be ok if it's a bit muddy, something like a Conti travel contact. Basically the slicker you can get on the road the better. You get more grip and less rolling resistance.

Whatever tyres you use keep them pumped up (somewhere near the max pressure printed on the tyre) as they will roll better.

I suggest this as you will work out over a little while exactly what you want from a bike so it may be worth riding what you already have until you are sure.

 

[laertes]

Well done for getting started. Try and get some good advice on stretching - from a good book or website - and do a few stretches when you finish. You might look/feel silly but it really minimises the next-day effects if you do some good stretches for 3-5 mins. Shoulders and neck too!

 

[quidditys_shore]

i started commuting the 5.5miles to work back in june last year. i'd not ridden a bike since i was about 12 (21 years ago!) so the first about 3 weeks i'd get the bus if i was aching to much in the morning. this would only happen if i was doing more than 3 days in a row.
to be honest, i was REALLY surprised at how quick i got into it! i now only ache when i'm against a strong wind, which only tends to happen on the way home when its uphill

 

[StuartG]

AS suggested earlier - start one day on next day off so your body doesn't get too tired and at least you start each journey fresh. Forget the time, just go steady. Add in more days as your body adjusts which will be surprisingly quickly.

When you are doing it everyday comfortably you can think about going a bit faster. One day there will be a following wind and giving it some stick will produce a thrilling result to savour. But in the end you might get as much fun at a gentler pace and enjoying the surroundings ...

 

[fozzy]

good man. agree with all the comments about maybe cycling to work then bus home, at first don't put pressure on yourself and cycle when you can. also, i find it a good idea not to worry too much about the time it takes to get in, my route is all road and the last seven miles involve a lot of traffic lights [always stop people] which can affect the time by some margin. if one day takes you fifteen minutes longer than the last it may be completely out of your control so don't worry - as long as your not late to work.

 

[crossy]

My comute at the moment would be 24 miles a day which is a bit far for me at the moment. So I cycle in on Mon morning and leave the bike locked up at work and get a lift home. Then lift in and cycle home the next day. Wed off riding then do it again Thu and Fri. Seems to work for me at the moment. Hope to build up to cycling all 24 miles 5 days a week.