Potential newbie

[jonny jeez]

Hi everyone.

I'm considering cycling to work and wanted to ask a few questions.

These may seem obvious to all you seasoned bikers...but here goes.

1-I live in north west Kent (S.E London borders) in England and need to commute to Shepherds Bush (that 16 miles, according to my motors milometer) taking in crystal palace hill (the one with the big TV Ariel...for anyone outside London) and a few other bigish...and longish lumpy bits. I'm guessing its going to take around 90 mins...but double that for the commute home........so, in your opinion, is this too much for the average Joe to consider as a consistent method of commuting?

2- I have a sturdy, smooth and solid ali framed claude butler MTB (from days gone by) it's pretty light and has front shocks (with polymer tube inserts ...so no air leaks or service issues to consider). It's never let me down and it really comfortable and not...well...."rattly" (if that's even a real word): is this good enough for the job or should I look at a road bike.

3- Part of the motivation to commute is to get in shape for some planned triathlons (I'm nowhere near in good enough shape right now, have a lot of weight to loose and even more fitness to build up), with this in mind should the answer to number 2 also consider a tri-bike? (consider the hill thing...what with crystal palace and all...have I mentioned that already).

4- From 1-10...just how bad is cycling to work in the winter?

5- I guess I'll need to swap out my gnarly tyres as their "rumble" seems to slow me down on any smooth road surface (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!), what do you suggest?

6-Should I plan a route (a longer route) to avoid hills...or just grin and bare it, just thinking of that whole crystal palace thing again......have I mentioned that before .....not that I'm obsessing about that.......honest I'm not worried about it at all..... hardly given it a moments thought..........well...........maybe once....... or twice....every few minutes.

7-Should I sell my house and I move to the top of crystal palace even tho it's a bit grim up there, what with the lack of oxygen and stuff?

Thanks, hope you all have some advice and comments to help me make up my mind.

Apologies to anyone who lives in Crystal palace, I'm sure it's lovely way up there ...and really high...and really, really steep.


Jonny

 

[summerdays]

Hi
Not going to answer all your questions as I don't know London and not really knowledgeable about bikes.

To the question about winter - some do - some don't, you don't have to make that decission now you can just wait and see if it gets too bad for you. I cycled all winter but I have to admit I prefer summer - you need a different set of gear for winter than you do for summer (well most do anyway). On a scale 1 -10 where 1 is bad, winter is probably a 5 for me or higher on some nice days and down to a 3 on those really wet cold windy days).

Depending on what the route is like you might like to swap your tyres for puncture proof ones but yes get rid of knobly tyres.

Hills - well again try and see - its good to have alternative routes in your head then you can decide if you want a direct route one day as its tipping with rain, and know detours if a road gets closed by an accident etc. Me I would like to avoid hills but they are all over the place so I just work out which ones I most want to avoid if I can - sometimes you have to accept you are going to have to cycle (or walk) up one.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

The answers that I feel qualified to give ..

2/ I commute on a not-very-expensive Giant MTB with front shocks. It does me fine: though my commute is only 13 miles round trip, so less than half yours. I lock out the front shocks on the road .. worth doing if you can.

4/ I got through last winter OK. If you've got adequate clothing, lights and so on it's fine. The definition of "adequate" clothing will vary from person to person: I got by with what I wear in the summer with an extra mid-layer on top, plus waterproof jacket and trousers. I also swapped my cycling gloves for an old pair of ski gloves. But I don't feel the cold. The only time I didn't ride last winter was in the ice: I thoroughly enjoyed the snow but came over all frit when it turned to ice!!

5/ Yep, slicks do roll nicer on the road. Part of my commute is in the woods and so I find slicks "interesting" if it's wet and muddy. But I only put the knobblies back on for December to February in the winter. I use Schwalbe City Jet 26x1.5" which are fine, and cheap. For improved puncture resistance, Schwalbe Marathon Plus seem to be highly thought of.

16 miles each way and up and down hills will certainly get you match fit!!

 

[Arch]

[

4- From 1-10...just how bad is cycling to work in the winter?


Jonny

This is a bit obvious, but... it depends on the weather....

Some say (and I'm one of them), there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. Get yourself a decent jacket, and if you want, waterproof trousers, or Rainlegs (half trousers, they keep your thighs dry, which is really what you need), and most weather won't bother you. I dislike wind more than rain. Ice is nasty, but how often do you get ice in London? Just being aware of air temp and taking it easy, you should be fine. Ok, I wouldn't go out for fun in the rain, but it wouldn't stop me going out for necessity.

The main thing is, you'll be going at least one way in the dark, so make sure you have decent lights, and some reflective stuff.

And yes, knobbly tyres will slow you down on tarmac, and incidentally, give you less grip, so swap them for something smoother.

 

[jonny jeez]

Thanks Guys, super fast replies already....impressive...I guess your friday is turning out to be as busy as mine!!

any more thoughts from anyone else..especially on the distance issue?

Cheers

jonny

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Some say (and I'm one of them), there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

.. isn't Billy Connolly another?

I dislike wind more than rain.

Definitely. I'd far rather it rained on me than be out in strong winds. It's funny, but rain never seems as bad when you're out in it as it does when you're sat indoors looking out at it.

 

[Landslide]

90 mins for 16 miles sounds reasonable, especially if you know the route. I'm guessing this won't be appreciably longer than if you drove or took public transport? You may find that your route by bike varies somewhat - it can be easier to take different routes than you would by car due to the availability of cycle-only routes, different effects of traffic flow etc. TFL do free cycle guides that could help with planning your route.
Personally (living in Sheffield), when I find myself commuting in London I don't find the "hills" to be a problem.
Slick tyres on tarmac will make a massive difference. In the past, I've been very impressed with Hutchinson Top Slicks.

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

Hello Jonny,

I will also only answer the questions that I can help with here goes

2- The claud butler will be fine but you may wish to add a few things as you go along such as slick 1.6-1.5 tyres (these will make the biggest difference to your speed and energy expended, much more than you would believe!) Mudguards stop you getting wet when the roads are wet but it’s not actually raining. You may also find other things to add as you go along; I have bar ends and a speedo.

3- The great thing about cycles commuting is it gets you fit within your daily life, once you get used to the commute you will enjoy it much better.

4- 1 being bad 10 being good I would say 10 I personally love the challenge of the winter the worse the better! (This of course will depend on yourself)

5- Definitely slicks for road work, these make the bike easier to pedal, quicker steering and more responsive

6- I would take the shortest route and just allow a little more time until you fitness allows you to take on the hills at a good pace

7- Buy your self a house next door to work, if you buy one on top of the hill you will find your commute home is still a killer (I know this as I live on top of a hill)

 

[jonny jeez]

Belive it or not...it is taking around 120 mins by car right now!! (crossing the Thames is the worst bit...only a few roads/bridges for the whole world try and get across). However in the past has averaged at around 90 mins.

It's not a time thing, its a personal challange/fitness thing. I want to do something each day that I dont need to make a special effort to do , or rather, that I dont need to take time out to do...rushing home (after a 2 hour commute) then trying to get down the gym and not eating till 11.00 at night, before going to bed and starting all over again....is a total turn off for me and is driving me nuts. I have this journey, I have this time each day, I have a bike, I have two legs and "relative fitness" so why not try to put them all together I figure.

Lets see what I say in a few months!!

Jonny

 

[swee'pea99]

16 miles is a fair old haul, especially for a beginner. I would strongly recommend you to get a proper bike that's designed for eating up road miles - and an MTB ain't that. It needn't cost a fortune. I'd go for a good old steel-frame racer off ebay: £200 would give you loads of scope - and with patience and care you could do very well for half that.

Start now and by the time winter comes round you'll laugh in Winter's face. Ha! you'll go. Ha ha!

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Belive it or not...it is taking around 120 mins by car right now!! (crossing the Thames is the worst bit...only a few roads/bridges for the whole world try and get across). However in the past has averaged at around 90 mins.

It's not a time thing, its a personal challange/fitness thing. I want to do something each day that I dont need to make a special effort to do , or rather, that I dont need to take time out to do...rushing home (after a 2 hour commute) then trying to get down the gym and not eating till 11.00 at night, before going to bed and starting all over again....is a total turn off for me and is driving me nuts. I have this journey, I have this time each day, I have a bike, I have two legs and "relative fitness" so why not try to put them all together I figure.

.. makes perfect sense.

Lets see what I say in a few months!!

Jonny

.. ah, then you'll be into the mode of spending all that money you've saved on fuel on bikes and accessories. And then comes n + 1.

(The number of bikes you need is n + 1 where n is the number of bikes you have now).

 

[jonny jeez]

Scary thought, just checked the computer on my car...not reset it for a month or so (at least).

My average speed is showing at 23mph~!!!

AVERAGE!

blimey

 

[Arch]

I have this journey, I have this time each day, I have a bike, I have two legs and "relative fitness" so why not try to put them all together I figure.



Jonny

If only more people could see that logic....

16 miles is a decent ride - I've done a ride that distance and back in an evening recently, with a 2 hour break in the middle, and it was under 90 mins each way - but also, completely flat. However, I didn't have to do it again the next day. Don't get hung up on doing it every day, at least at first - allow, or schedule in, days off to let your legs recover. Pretty soon, you won't need it, but if you overdo it too soon, it's more likely to put you off.

 

[jonny jeez]

That'sgood advice Arch..May even take the bike halfway on a rack and park someplace that will allow me to before the grindlock kicks in.

Also, Lazy, the N+1 has already started to kick in...I'm resisting so far but can feel the urge (have already posted regards the Govnmt cycle scheme...can see discounted bikes in my sleep)

 

[Brains]

I'd say a 19 mile cross London route will not be done in 90 mins - It takes me 30-40 mins to do a 5 mile route (My PB is 29 mins and that was with every light at green and slipstreaming double deckers all the way)

However nothing stopping you doing half the route.
If you got on the train at Chislehurst and off the train at London Bridge or Waterloo you could do the rest of the route by bike.

Assuming you are travelling in the rush hours you won't be allowed to take the bike on the train, so the options are to get an old hack bike and keep it at Waterloo or get a Brompton. Or I understand 'On Your Bike' underneath London Bridge station have a bike park

I'd start by logging onto the "Transport for London" web site, looking for their cycle route planner, downloading the route.

Then get the (free) TfL Cycle maps from your LBS, and work out the best route (I would avoid the Alpine climb up Crystal Palace), follow the rivers, it may be longer, but it's more important to be flat. The best route may be follow the Ravensbourne to Deptford and then along the Thames

You can do all of that this evening.

Then tomorrow, cycle the route, out one way, back another, and see how long it takes and how hard it is. Once you know the route you will probably cut a third off the time, but I recon it will take most of a day to go there and back the first time with all the map reading and back tracking.

It will take you 2 weeks to learn the route and then you start perfecting it, but I think whatever you do anything under 2 hrs each way will be impressive.