taking the communting plunge ???

[kaiser]

Hi all,

Again i find my only real input on this forum is to ask more silly questions.. but i'm hoping for the friendly, helpful replies i have received in the past.

As i'm new to cycling. (still) i'd like to incorporate a commute to work with a daily work out, simply because i don't really have time to train in the evenings. my work is 12 miles away (one way) on good, straight & mostly flat roads. as i'm still new to the cycling world and my fitness level is still low, is this something i should consider undertaking? not forgetting i wouldn't know how to change a puncture or even carry the tools i would require. how quick is it to fix a puncture in reality at the roadside?? or how often would it happen?


also on average how long should it take me to get there? 7 miles on my trainer and i'm beat, haven't been out on the roads much.. trying to build up some level of fitness first.. if that helps people pull some times out of thin air

it's also a new job i've only just started, so being late wont be an option, or ( sorry i got a puncture ) wont cut it either when your on a probation contract for the first 6 months.

so really i just thought i would ask some of the experts on here to voice their opinion's on how or if i should go about this..

the other option being, get up an hour early, go for a cycle.. then drive to work under no pressure.. which i'm pretty sure has to be a crime on the environment..

also what extra gear would i need, ( if any ) to be able to do this.

i have lid, cycling tights & jersey. £500 ridley

glad to get venting my concerns on here & hoping for some solid advice..

long live cycle chat.

 

[Norm]

No more gear would be required and either have a couple of trial runs at weekends or leave 2 hours for the journey.

When you arrive, you'll be sweating for about 20 minutes after you have finished cycling, then hit the toilets with baby wipes or just paper towels to freshen yourself up.

The satisfied feeling will last considerably longer.

 

[400bhp]

Hi, lots of things you could consider, such as:

-drive half way to work, then ride the rest. That way you have a 12 mile workout cut into 2. Gradually build up to the full commute, or;

-cycle in 1-2 days a week for the first few weeks.

-learn to change innertubes at home. All you will need to change a puncture en-route is 3 very small tyre levers. If you don't have quick release wheels then you will need something like a box spanner - again a small piece of equipment.

-but a saddle bag which is large enough to keep essentials in.

-as norm says, practice the route on your days off. Note that what might seem like a nice route in a car may be totally different from a cycling perspective.

-keep asking for advice here.

The important thing is to make it fun. If you don't then it is unlikely it will be sustainable.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Just go for it.

A year ago, I was less fit than I've ever been in my life. I started going out cycling with my daughter some weekends, working eventually up to 30 miles, then we did the Manchester-Blackpool ride (62 miles) in July; it took us 6 hours. In September, I started doing the 25 mile round trip to work and back two days a week. I was pretty soon up to three days, though the third day was hard work. I cycled all through the Winter, including -8C in December, and since New Year have routinely been doing it four days a week. This week I did a hundred miles cycling to work and then did a 35 mile leisure ride with my daughter yesterday.

I weight 2.5 stones less than a year ago, and all my trousers are about 5 inches too big for me (well I do have some new ones).

My route is a bit hilly, though not too bad, and it takes me just under 50 minutes to get to work in the morning (12.5 miles), and just under an hour to get back (more uphill). If you set off a bit early, leaving, say 1.5 hours for the ride, you should be fine, but give it a trial run.

 

[400bhp]

Grumps - are you doing the Manc-B'pool this year? Would be interesting to see the drop in time taken.

 

[palinurus]

how quick is it to fix a puncture in reality at the roadside?? or how often would it happen?

Very quick once you've got the knack. Practice at home.

Tyre choice, frequent inspection of tyres and avoiding the edge of the carriageway where there's a lot of debris will help to reduce the chance of puncturing (for me less than 1/ year on an annual mileage of about 6000 miles, excluding off-road and racing)

 

[palinurus]

it's also a new job i've only just started, so being late wont be an option, or ( sorry i got a puncture ) wont cut it either when your on a probation contract for the first 6 months.

If you get a puncture in the car you'll be late. Get one on the bike and most times you'll be rolling five minutes later.

The only time I'm late for work because of cycling is when it's a nice morning and I take a slightly too long detour. Mind you, I've been there ages. I could turn up at lunchtime and nobody would give a stuff.

 

[BlackPanther]

Before I started to cycle to work, I measured the 1/2 way distance mark by car, and cycled to this point on a non-work day. Then I doubled the time, and added 10% which gave me a travelling time of 55 mins for 11.2 miles. This time was pretty bang on for the 1st few commutes, and then got a quicker and quicker. Now that I've switched from a hybrid to a road bike it takes around 42-43 minute to commute in, and 38 minutes return.

I too worried about punctures. Although you can never guarantee you won't get one, the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres are pretty bomb proof. If you're unlucky enough to get a puncture, you should be able to swap a tube and be back on you way inside 10 mins after practice. Re the extra gear. Spare tube, tyre levers, a few basic tools, spare link/chain tool, and insulating tape/tie wraps for keeping you going. I use double panniers, so space is not an issue. If you keep up on the maintainence front, lubing etc you shouldn't have any probs.

Clothing wise, at this time of year I carry light waterproofs, bread bags for waterproofing trainers, neck tube for the mornings, D'arcs glasses to stop the flies, and shorts/tshirt jersey for the ride home. It really won't take more than a few weeks until you're comfortably covering the distance. I personally take it easy on the ride in so I don't break sweat, and then gun it on the way home for a much more intense workout.

After a month or 2 you'll wonder why other people sit in their metal boxes in rush hour traffic as you sail on by!

 

[byegad]

I'd agree a few dry runs on days off are worth it. Given you'll do 24 miles off the bat on the trials, when you start to commute you'll find 2x12miles at the either end of the day much easier.

 

[cyberknight]

I did a dry run the weekend before to see how long it would take, it gave me a really good idea of what to expect as i even cycled back straight away to simulate a return trip after a days labour.

I think most people have covered it for what to carry although i carry 2 inner tubes as you might get a double blow out , i prefer to use panniers as i hate the sweaty back syndrome that a backpack gives, if you cant mount a pannier then look at seat post racks or a saddle bag that clips onto the saddle .
Has anyone mentioned mudguards? i find them very useful for keeping the worst of the spray off your back and feet and face .I use the crud ones as they can be fitted in minutes and are very good for close clearance frames if you cannot get standard ones on.

i am not sure what times you are commuting so i would look at what sort of lights you have , if you need them and carry a back up pair because you can guarantee that one would fail if you only had 1 !
Finally practice changing a inner tube at home in the dry , that way you can do it easily when you need to

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Grumps - are you doing the Manc-B'pool this year? Would be interesting to see the drop in time taken.

We are intending to.

I'm not sure whether the comparison will be valid, though. Last year I did it on my rusty, 20 year old, steel framed Peugeot "mountain bike" with knobbly tyres, whereas this year it will be on my new Dawes aluminium framed hybrid with Schwalbe Marathons.

 

[jefmcg]

All good advice. I'd allow at least 2 hours the first day, and more if you are in London or similar, because the traffic is so much nicer before 7 than later, and you won't be hitting the heaviest traffic just as you finish your journey. If it's a quiet route, and the traffic is not a concern, then two hours is good.

If you're not fit, be prepared to take a breather. Don't get so tired that you may make an error on the way in. I take a flask of coffee, and stop for a few minutes in Hyde Park if I want a break - though that's more mental than physical. The two hours will allow you to do this without fretting. You also won't be tempted to take any risks at lights etc.

Measure out the route so you know when you are 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 of the way. If you know you are on schedule, you can relax more.

Bring a lock. If you do have bike problems, that gives you the option of locking the bike up and resorting to public transport or a taxi if required.

Bring everything you need in the day before and have your bike loaded and ready to go when you go to bed. For the first few commutes, just take wallet and keys + tool kit etc.

Don't worry about the distance. Cycling is about 1/3 the effort of walking. So if you wouldn't be afraid of a 4 mile walk, don't worry about a 12 mile cycle. Just go at "walking pace" (ie working about the same level as walking, so about 3 times walking speed), you'll be there in just over an hour and hardly break a sweat. Once you are comfortable with commuting, then start putting on some speed.

I started cycling the same distance last year. Went home and back 2 days in a row. In the third day, no problem. But about 6km from home on day 3, I just ran out of energy. No disaster, just a long 6km home and took the next day off. It wasn't long before I was doing 5 days a week.

Where are you travelling? Someone here maybe able to suggest a good route.

 

[Beebo]

I started cycling 12 miles each way this year as a new year resolution. It is the only resolution i have ever kept!!

The only problem i had for the first week was getting my bum used to the saddle. Use good quality cycle shorts and just accept that it will hurt in the first few days but it will get better. The distance is no problem.

only had one p'ture in 4 months and it was a slow one so just kept stopping ever few miles to pump the tyre back up. I now carry a spare tube and tyre levers.

 

[DrSquirrel]

As everyone else states: Trail run, mainly to get a timing. Don't add on too much, as you will eventually get faster at the route.

As for route planning - avoid long stretches of big A roads, it's worth the extra few miles and might not actually be slower.


As for punctures - practice! swap the tube a few times. You will end up finding your own method, but it can help to have a look online at biketutor or something similar.

 

[nich]

also on average how long should it take me to get there?

Mines also 12 miles (SE London -> City), takes me between 45-55 minutes - traffic doesn't really make a big difference as a large portion of it is bus lanes. It's mostly flat too, apart from the start.

Doesn't tend to make a big difference how fast I go really. Often I'll put some effort in, then hit some red lights anyway. I'm sure it's possible todo in 35 mins if I was lucky with lights and really went for it.

About the 7miles on the trainer, don't take this as you're base fitness level. On the road you have at least 2 other factors.

1) Your'll have red lights to stop at. Freewheel up to these and save some energy. Heck, freewheel anyway, you don't have to pedal non stop
2) Headwind. It makes a big difference to energy levels. If it's on your side then its easy peasy, if it's not, then it's orrible

Funny enough, I remember the first couple of times I did my commute.

The first time was a trial run on a Sunday. That route was using back streets for part of it. I got a puncture half way, got peed off, fixed it and came straight home.

The following day I just packed my clothes the night before, and just went for it - this time using main roads which were recommended (because of bus lanes). I hadn't done the route before, so just went for it. That was the fastest I've ever commuted I think, but I had to wait about an hour for work to open up