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

[Lanzecki]

Build up the days and within a few months you will be doing the full distance 5 days a week. Your body very quickly adapts to the extra exercise.
Be prepared to be constantly hungry though.... but you will as fit as a butchers dog.

This, this and this. Feed the beast, and the beast will reward you.

 

[Frood42]

I am gradually building up my commute, started at 10miles a day, then went to 20miles a day, then went to 40miles a day.

I am now going to attempt to do 60 miles a day.
So far I have the 30 miles route into work down, and now I just need to get the 30 miles home down.

I have only done the full 60 miles a couple of times due to problems with the bike and illness, but hopefully from tomorrow I can start properly.

Build up to it, try and keep it going over the winter, and you will find yourself doing it 5 days a week in no time.

 

[James Blackwell]

I live approx 20 (bumpy) miles from my work place on large but busy roads, and as soon as a bike to work scheme was launched I decided to get a road bike and build towards cycling either too or from work. My friends and family laughed when I told them my plans and a few thought I was plain bonkers. This is mainly based on the landscape (living in the South Wales valleys) with each journey presenting a staged descent then leg draining climb.

But after two months I am now cycling home 2/3 times a week with my average MPH climbing and my door to door time falling nicely. I've lost weight and am enjoying my rides more and more and can feel myself improving very well.

The next goal for me is to cycle in to work in the morning and then home on the same day, but after a one way trip my legs ache a lot and I'm not sure I'm ready to do the 40 miles in one day, is it a case of just plugging away until my legs get better at the mileage and the climbs? Or is there anything I can do training wise or recovery wise to get there. I work in an office so am sweater for much of the day too.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated (p.s. Sorry about the long message).

Thats great to hear. the best bit of advice I heard about cycling alot of miles a day ( I do 35 miles 3/4 times a week) was that at first, just complete the distance. Dont worry about the times, just start doing it.
I find that the usual suspects are good for recovery, pasta, cheese, banana before the cycle, and a chocolate milk when I get in.
You have to remember that each ride uses what 700/800 calories, nearly a 5th of your daily intake, so you can eat to recover the energy.

Im only across the way in Bristol, no serious climbs for me, just constant up and downs.

 

[Crankarm]

Is that 31 miles on the road or the path ? Maybe it is you who need to MTFU rather than your look at me, look at me willy waving.

Well done to the OP, Andrew_P and Brian and keep up the good work.

You're a class act .

 

[Crankarm]

Blimey, I bench the combined weight of you and your bike as a warm up set.

Comparisons of absolute fitness levels between two individuals when you don't really know their backgrounds and training levels are a bit meaningless don't you think?

Indeed. Brains before brawn .

 

[Radchenister]

Are you OK Crankarm?
Cabin fever taking route early?
I know the nights are drawing in fast n stuff but chill out fella, will be the season of good will soon !

 

[Crankarm]

That distance must be quite tiring, day in, day out, plus work in between.
How do you find time for other interests, don't you feel like sleeping all day on your rest days?

Not really I am used to it now. I can leave about 10-15 mins later in the mornings than if I drive. Quickest I've done it is 1hr 18 minutes on my road bike, slowest 2hrs 10 which on my commuting bike which was a couple of weeks ago when it was pushing torrential rain riding home one evening and a fierce WSW headwind. Generally though it's takes about 1 hr 30-40 mins. At weekends I ride my road bike and I get it down to 1hr 20 mins.

On rest days I catch up on sleep not because of cycling but because I am tired from work. Who isn't? Other interests, I don't understand? Cycling is my interest, why would I be interested in anything else ? Are you suggesting there are better interests ?

 

[Crankarm]

Are you OK Crankarm?
Cabin fever taking route early?
I know the nights are drawing in fast n stuff but chill out fella, will be the season of good will soon !

I doubt it will ever be the season of goodwill on here. What brings you to this forum and more bizarrely replying to one of my posts which you have never chosen to do? I am touched by your concern for my well being. Are you genuinely concerned or out to cause mischief?

 

[Radchenister]

Just wondering why a genuine request for input thread from a newbie turns into a free for all - that's my genuine reason for posting.

The fella lives in The Valleys, I've been cycling over there a bit recently - you have to be in the mood for it, nasty hills and plenty of rain at times.

Each to his own though, you go for it, tis a free forum.

Edit: ... and I'm on here most days, just don't post all that much .

 

[Crankarm]

Just wondering why a genuine request for input thread from a newbie turns into a free for all - that's my genuine reason for posting.

The fella lives in The Valleys, I've been cycling over there a bit recently - you have to be in the mood for it, nasty hills and plenty of rain at times.

Each to his own though, you go for it, tis a free forum.

Well my original input to this thread was a response to the title. Quite a few of my work colleagues are cyclists, plus the boss is, on fine weekends on a sunday though, so my commute is held in high regard, but that's not why I do it. I would ride it regardless of what colleagues thought as I have in previous jobs where the numbers of colleagues cycling has been depressingly low / non existent.

 

[Radchenister]

Great, a shining example to the OP - now if we can suss out how to apply this to the Welsh Valleys, where a 25+%er somewhere on the ride is kinda normal, in fact might happen about every 3 or 4 miles and the said bumpy stuff also causes torrential rain one minute and sunshine through clouds the next, then we've switched on the empathy valve nicely; oh, I'm guessing, but I dare say he also lives in the 'red triangle zone' from last winter as well, the place where they had proper deep snow causing problems, which admittedly wasn't quite as bad as the 2 inches of pure evil that fell elsewhere !

 

[Pat "5mph"]

On rest days I catch up on sleep not because of cycling but because I am tired from work. Who isn't? Other interests, I don't understand? Cycling is my interest, why would I be interested in anything else ? Are you suggesting there are better interests ?

Ha ha, no, not better, just other interest!
Good for you on being so fit: mind I think @HLaB and @ianrauk (just to name a couple) do similar to yours without feeling the need to put down others for not doing the same

 

[Andrew_P]

Ha ha, no, not better, just other interest!
Good for you on being so fit: mind I think @HLaB and @ianrauk (just to name a couple) do similar to yours without feeling the need to put down others for not doing the same

and they don't use a car to drive halfway and are not scared of roads with cars one swallow does not make a summer @Crankarm

 

[Andrew_P]

I don't ride on the roads. GBW, off road separate cycle paths and shared pavements. Suits me just fine. I have to cross roads but generally at controlled crossings. The biggest dangers are RLJing cyclists. But I have my Airzound which works a treat.

Not if you ride 35 miles 6 days a week. Nice day for a rest and a cream egg or 2. Part time sunday riders ..... pfftttt .

I like driving. I like cycling. Fortunately I get to do both on my commute.

 

[jowwy]

Great, a shining example to the OP - now if we can suss out how to apply this to the Welsh Valleys, where a 25+%er somewhere on the ride is kinda normal, in fact might happen about every 3 or 4 miles and the said bumpy stuff also causes torrential rain one minute and sunshine through clouds the next, then we've switched on the empathy valve nicely; oh, I'm guessing, but I dare say he also lives in the 'red triangle zone' from last winter as well, the place where they had proper deep snow causing problems, which admittedly wasn't quite as bad as the 2 inches of pure evil that fell elsewhere !

thats wee i live