Return to commuting

[ChrisV]

I've not commuted very much this year, returning to it sporadically for a few days then stopping again.

I have a 20 mile cycle to work one way. I can handle this in the morning but then the return is difficult after a day at work and I often go through the mental pain barrier on the way home!

A guy I work with has a 5 mile cycle each way. Not much, but he does this 5 days a week all year round.

What I've been considering is putting my bike in the car and driving to Kincardine Bridge (about halfway there). Then cycle directly in or if I'm feeling energetic, taking a detour. If tired after work, I can just cycle direct to the car and then drive home again. It means I can park in different places each way and vary my route.

Anyone else do this?

 

[jonny jeez]

Considered it myself when I had a 40 mile round commute.

It is possible to just ride the lot (not sure how exposed or hilly it is up there) but I would consider taking the car halfway if it meant I could get in more practice.

 

[DCLane]

Why not do 2-3 days a week both ways?

I did at the start and now I do 5 days commute of 12+ miles each way.

 

[ChrisV]

20 miles is different to 12. At 12 I'm just over half way. I could handle that.

It's the journey home that absolutely kills me. 20 is too long for a commute after work. For me anyway.

 

[SWSteve]

When commuting from my partner's (18miles each way) I am regularly overtaken by a van, who about 4 ,lies outside of Bristol to then cycle in (I assume as I've seen him getting a bike out the van, and he has a road.cc 'cyclists stay awesome' window sticker.

Find a way where you can easily pack/unpack the bike in the car each day, drive half of it and then cycle the rest. Do this for 2/3 days, and try doing more as time goes on.

 

[Andrew_P]

20 miles is different to 12. At 12 I'm just over half way. I could handle that.

It's the journey home that absolutely kills me. 20 is too long for a commute after work. For me anyway.

I agree, I have a 15 mile each way which I can do 5 times a week, in the summer I extend it sometime to 20 but as the week goes on I start to weaken. My job is not normally physical but weeks where I have had a lot of physical it gets more difficult even doing the 15. I would say I try too hard on daily basis to maintain a good average speed pretty sure if I pootled it would be much easier doing 20 a day x 5 days. But I just don't seem mentally able to not be pushing it.

I would experiment with the car

 

[Andrew_P]

Also simple things change it for me my prevailing wind is a headwind in and tail wind home, when it is the other way round it is so much more tiring as I go way too fast on the way in and I am knackered on the way home

 

[HarryTheDog]

In bad weather, ie heavy rain,ice and strong winds I do a half drive half cycle commute. I found a residential street I could park in 11 miles from work which works as I have a large MPV and can just throw thre bike in with no need to remove wheels.
My normal commute at the moment is 23 miles each way but 4 days a week. I have to have the break on the wednesday. I think you may be trying too hard and maybe have a rest day midweek or slow down. I tend to hammer it a bit, sprinting anything that looks like a small hill, hence I need the break. However the more you do it, the fitter you will get. When I moved from a 11 mile to my 22-25 mile each way it took nearly 3 months to get used to it.
The bonus is easier for me to lose wieght and I found I became stronger on all points of cycling, I was faster towards the end of my 23 than my 11. The 11 just became treated as a warm up. In essence I just became fitter.
Just keep at it and consider a rest day or go slower.

 

[ChrisV]

Good advice. Thank you.

The problem is sticking to it. I do it fine for a few weeks then it seems too much. Work gets busy and I reason that using the car I can be at my desk by 7/7.30 when I need to. Then a day turns into a week turns into a month.

If I can vary the distances I've got more chance of sticking to it. I have a Xsara Picasso so with 2 seats piled down one side I can stick the bike in without removing wheels or anything. So that makes it handier.

Might get some MTB shoes and pedals so I can wear the same pair of shoes from door to door.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

The problem is sticking to it. I do it fine for a few weeks then it seems too much. Work gets busy and I reason that using the car I can be at my desk by 7/7.30 when I need to. Then a day turns into a week turns into a month.

You will be able to do the 20 mile each way if you keep at it, if you make a plan to drive halfway you'll always just be riding halfway. Need to be in the office for 7/7:30? Get up earlier...
If you really want to do it you will find a way, if you don't you'll find an excuse.
In the words of Nike, Just Do It.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

You will be able to do the 20 mile each way if you keep at it, if you make a plan to drive halfway you'll always just be riding halfway. Need to be in the office for 7/7:30? Get up earlier...
If you really want to do it you will find a way, if you don't you'll find an excuse.
In the words of Nike, Just Dope.

FTFY