They laughed at me when I said I would cycle to work!

[Kies]

Respect OP :thumbsup

 

[Andrew_P]

I have a 15 mile each way commute and it really hurt me, I spent months doing it one way and didn't really feel I would ever do it both ways and 5 x a week. One weekend back in May 2011 I just decided to do it and not stop doing it. A very painful 3 months, then it just got a little better every month. Still get the odd day here and there where it hurts but not often and mainly because I have been going to fast to often.

Progress will be quick, but just plan you pace at first, don't keep chasing times and PB's as that will be recipe for not doing it as often, plenty of sleep and good food etc.

40 lumpy miles is going to be tough, good luck and well done!

 

[Pale Rider]

. Its not just about commuting.

Wise words.

Think what fun you can have on your days off when you know you can do 20+ miles.

It's another benefit of your commute - improved leisure time to add to the extra health and fitness.

I get a nice warm feeling from getting the shopping in at the weekend without using the car.

 

[Radchenister]

I'm wondering if there's a train hop possible with your bike or alternatively, a park and ride approach to allow you to increase the load incrementally? If it's a big vertical gain home I'd be a mess some days; I think making it sustainable on the rough days would be the key to success.

Also thinking there's a growing demand for cycle parks and shower facilities in places of work.

 

[Recycle]

I'm wondering if there's a train hop possible with your bike or alternatively, a park and ride approach to allow you to increase the load incrementally? If it's a big vertical gain home I'd be a mess some days; I think making it sustainable on the rough days would be the key to success.

Yup, that's what I do and it works well for me. My total commute would be about 45 miles/day which is too far for me. I use the rail service for the 7 or so miles between home and a convenient jump off point. On days when the trains are running badly I have the flexibility of cycling all the way but I do so reluctantly.

I have tried electric assist but the power cut-off at 15mph is too limiting.

 

[Voyley]

Thanks for the responses everyone, really really helpful , will look into fuelling while I'm on the bike and have invested in clipless shoes/pedals and after a couple of weeks still have a love hate relationship (love when I'm up and running, hate when I'm stop starting in traffic lights and I have to set of in the middle of traffic and try to get clipped back in fast). I've thought about the trains but they are really busy and squeezing on-off with the bike would be more of a challenge than cycling I think ha ha.

I have been driving to work leaving my car there and cycling home then catching the train in on the off days and am saving a LOT on petrol and am really enjoying my rides, the landscape around me is amazing for cycling and my goal is cycle to and from work three times a week and then do a nice long mountain run over the weekend.

I have always been a workhorse when it comes to sport and will have to learn to improve my strokes and not to burn up so much energy and be a bit smarter about how I ride (not just trying to beat my time) but I guess a lot of that will come with more and more saddle time.

Funny how I started road cycling to lose weight and get fitter, but now I want to trim down a get fitter just to be better and go further on the bike. So glad I have found this forum -outstanding fair play.

Cheers Guys

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks for the responses everyone, really really helpful , will look into fuelling while I'm on the bike and have invested in clipless shoes/pedals and after a couple of weeks still have a love hate relationship (love when I'm up and running, hate when I'm stop starting in traffic lights and I have to set of in the middle of traffic and try to get clipped back in fast). I've thought about the trains but they are really busy and squeezing on-off with the bike would be more of a challenge than cycling I think ha ha.

I have been driving to work leaving my car there and cycling home then catching the train in on the off days and am saving a LOT on petrol and am really enjoying my rides, the landscape around me is amazing for cycling and my goal is cycle to and from work three times a week and then do a nice long mountain run over the weekend.

I have always been a workhorse when it comes to sport and will have to learn to improve my strokes and not to burn up so much energy and be a bit smarter about how I ride (not just trying to beat my time) but I guess a lot of that will come with more and more saddle time.

Funny how I started road cycling to lose weight and get fitter, but now I want to trim down a get fitter just to be better and go further on the bike. So glad I have found this forum -outstanding fair play.

Cheers Guys

It won't take you long to get used to clipless in traffic. Soon enough you wont even notice you are clipping out and in.
Says me who has 40 set's of lights on my commute

 

[Voyley]

I hope so I'm ok now starting off on flats it's just when I need to start on a hill may try setting up on a tougher gear to give me more time to launch off and clip my foot in!

 

[BrianEvesham]

My siblings laughed and sniggered at me when I started cycling last year.
One sportive later and nearly 4 stone lost they still laugh, just not as loud and a little nervously.

 

[Voyley]

That's brilliant good for
You Brian how many miles do you crank up a week then, that's amazing weight loss and all through some good old fashioned grafting. My motto is to let them have a bit of a laugh adds a bit to the motivation and I always feel good when I get a "your cycling again"? Love it! And being honest I tend to give as good as I get in the old banter dept.

 

[buggi]

Funnily enough, when my office moved 17 miles away and I said I was going to cycle, my colleagues laughed at me too. 10 years later I’m still doing it, I estimate that I’ve done around 35,000+ miles now and I’m not planning on giving it up any time soon, I’m now a cycle rep at work and a qualified National Standards Instructor. I’m loving it. I’m fitter now than I have been at any other time of my life. Keep it up mate, you won’t regret it.

 

[BrianEvesham]

Not as many as I would like, some of my loops are only 8 miles, but I do go for it.
If I can, I get out every day.

 

[Voyley]

Thanks Buggi did you just cycle one way to start with or did you go straight into cycling to and from work? I suppose it depends on how good you were in the bike when work moved.

 

[spenno37]

I brought my road bike 3 months ago and have been cycling ever since. My place of work is 11.3 miles away and i've cycled to work and back 4 days in the trott this week. Going to get the train in tomorrow. Takes me 42 mins to get into work on my bike, must admit I did get cheesed off the other day when it took me 54 mins but that's just silly

 

[Jdratcliffe]

I have a 15 mile each way commute and it really hurt me, I spent months doing it one way and didn't really feel I would ever do it both ways and 5 x a week. One weekend back in May 2011 I just decided to do it and not stop doing it. A very painful 3 months, then it just got a little better every month. Still get the odd day here and there where it hurts but not often and mainly because I have been going to fast to often.

Progress will be quick, but just plan you pace at first, don't keep chasing times and PB's as that will be recipe for not doing it as often, plenty of sleep and good food etc.

40 lumpy miles is going to be tough, good luck and well done!

wise words i have justd dropped a 40 mile a day 5 days a week commute for 30 miles a day 5 days a week i work on manic mondays ( fast pace to blow dust off legs - no time for club runs with sub 2 years old) then thursday and tuesday i take as therapeutic days ( days to ponder life) fridays frantic pace and wednesdaY "whatever" days its how i break up my weekly commute so i dont over do things .