Newbie- communting

[DextersLab]

Hey everyone 🤗

First of all, sorry for the whole “newbie” post, I’m sure you get them a lot. I have been stalking to forums awhile.

I really want to get fit, I decided to start commuting to work (it’s 9 miles- which seems crazy for me but some of you guys do 20+ 😰)

I’ve done research and I think an e bike will really help me (there are some very hilly areas) I was just wondering how far you all commute? Do any e bike owners find it a lot easier compared to a bog standard bike? How much time do you give yourself for getting into work?


All replies and knowledge will be greatly appreciated 🤗

 

[MichaelW2]

2*9 miles is enough to get you very fit on a bike but maybe not do fit on an electric one.
Low gears and a lighter weight will help you get over hills.
I calculate my average traveling speed at 10mph which includes stops. Many athletes can travel faster but it is a useful rule of thumb for starting out and really hard to go much slower.
Do you have a bike?
Can you start one way or halfway on the bike to ease into regular riding ? If not, start out every other day. Don't do too much too soon.

 

[vickster]

I’d allow an hour to do 9 miles until I know how long it’ll take. Build in enough time on top to shower or potentially change before you’re due to start

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

Take it slow and steady and forget the e-bike. As per @vickster give yourself an hour, but most importantly be safe as it's not a race. You want to ensure that you actually get to work in one piece. I did several years of 13 miles into central London and not a scratch.

 

[Flakey]

I do 10mile each way (couple of hills). I factor in an hour but usually manage it quicker. As others say also factor in a little time for getting changed at the other end.
Keep it up through the winter and by spring you'll be enjoying it that much you'll probably add bits on to your journey home. B

 

[si_c]

Commuting time really depends on how much effort you want to put in, your fitness and whether or not you wish to arrive at work a completely sweaty wreck.

My commute to work is about 2 1/2 miles, so I usually ride in my work clothes, which means I'm hot when I arrive but not overly sweaty. In a previous job I commuted 12ish miles each way so always accounted for having a shower in the office when I arrived.

An e-bike will definitely help with avoiding arriving overly warmed up - especially as you live in a hilly area - and you still have to put some effort in. I'd suggest that it will take 45 minutes to an hour to do that distance to start with assuming you ride in with the bike on a reasonable level of assist. I also think you'll probably enjoy it more if you ride an e-bike to commute - especially if you are not a regular cyclist at present.

 

[rivers]

My commute is 16 miles in and 10 miles home (I go the shorter route home, but the longer route is mainly off-road), 4-5 days a week. Depending on which bike I'm riding it takes me between 1:00-1:08 in, and about 45 minutes home. But that is 3 years on. When I first started, it was 2-3 days a week and about 90 minutes each way. Then I got a road bike and it became a 1:20. Sometimes, if my legs are really feeling it, I take my wife's electric bike. Depending on how much assist you use, you will slowly get fit on an e-bike. If that is what is going to allow you to ride to start with, don't hesitate, just do it. It will also keep you riding. Then, if you want to get a non e-bike in the future, you'll have some base fitness and can switch it up some days. Good luck whatever you decide​

 

[stalagmike]

I do 8 mile commute about 4 days a week. There's not many hills but a couple of longish inclines. It was 45 mins to begin with but that's no down to about 35 if I really go for it. When I first started I didn't know the route very well and that slowed me down quite a bit. I also couldn't do more than three days a week without feeling really tired. Fitness comes quite quickly if you persevere. I shower at work, and there's a 'drying' room, so I can get as sweaty as I like.

 

[HLaB]

I commute 15.5 miles which takes me an hour at most usually but the first 12miles is 'pancake flat' and pretty uninterrupted down the St Ives to Cambridge bus way so speed is easy and I can be down there in 35mins unless its a headwind (which it usually is). The last 3.5miles is a bit of a crawl but mainly because I'm pretty cautious of traffic, especially students on bikes and it can take 15mins. I've the buffer of allowing my self 20-25min for shower/ changing, and if worst comes to the worst I can forgo the wet shower and substitute with a Weegie Shower When I started out on the bike however, 12 years or so back I'd allow for a 10mph journey of that distance to allow for the possibility of a p'ture/mechanical and because its an easy number to calculate round

 

[RoadRider400]

If you want to get fit dont bother with an e-bike.
Just take things nice and slow on the way in so you are not sweaty and then rag it on the way home.
You will build up your cardio quicker than you might expect.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I do a similar commute to you on a standard bike, and am very happy with it, no desire to ebike.

A colleague, however, went from being a very occasional cyclist to work to almost daily after getting an e bike.

So really it depends on your physical fitness, preferences and budget.

The only real downside of giving the e bike option a try is the eye watering expense.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Careful: you'll start just cycling 'occaisonally', and thinking you can give up any time you want because you only cycle a couple of times a week, but before you know it, you'll by riding every day and looking for new routes to follow...

I ride a normal bike with no electric assist. At the moment that means climbing 200m three days a week which does wonders for my leg muscles. I'm not sure I'd want to do it every day for the next 20 years though...

My dislike of Ebikes (apart from the starting costs) is that if something goews wrong I won't be able to fix it whereas with a normal bike I have a chance of getting it working again. That said I'm a card-carrying Luddite and won't even stop using V-brakes. This may be less of a problem for you though.

 

[confusedcyclist]

My dislike of Ebikes (apart from the starting costs) is that if something goews wrong I won't be able to fix it whereas with a normal bike I have a chance of getting it working again. That said I'm a card-carrying Luddite and won't even stop using V-brakes. This may be less of a problem for you though.

If you are competent enough to service a hub and bottom bracket, you can probably service a Bosch motor. The process isn't that complicated. Probably best to do it only once your warranty expires, for obvious reasons.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qunu7t8npus

 

[Andy in Germany]

If you can service a hub and bottom bracket, you can probably service a Bosch motor. The process isn't that complicated. Probably only best done DIY once your warranty expires for obvious reasons!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qunu7t8npus

My son works in a bike shop where (unsurprisingly as it's in Stuttgart) they specialise in Bosch motors. He says they seem to be trying to make it harder for end users to fix.

 

[confusedcyclist]

My son works in a bike shop where (unsurprisingly as it's in Stuttgart) they specialise in Bosch motors. He says they seem to be trying to make it harder for end users to fix.

Maybe so, shrinking them down in size necessitates ever more complex engineering. Still, Bosch are very reliable, or so I hear. Focus on doing all the basics at home, and leave the motor/battery to the experts if it's overwhelming, you'll still come quids in compared to buses/car running costs. If you didn't watch the vid, buying a ebike used shouldn't be of concern. They are without a doubt more expensive to run than a traditionally propelled bike, but not by a crazy amount. I'll always have a normal bike to hand in the event the ebike needs to go to the shop.

Anyway, this is a bit beyond the scope of a commuting newbie, probably best focus on fixing flats and oiling chains
Sorry OP!