Why is the commute harder work?

[CharlieB]

Why are my 10-11 mile runs in the Chilterns up/down some serious hills easier than my relatively flat commute over a similar distance ?

It's not even as if I'm always trying to go flat out on the commute, or which bike I'm using.

 

[snorri]

It's all in the mind, maybe you need a career change?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Y'know I've wondered similar about stretches of road....

One one route home I have a 3 mile stretch which varies from 1% to 3% (most of it is 2%) gradient. It's much harder work and slower going than the next 2 miles which are 3% to 5%


I think it is in the mind, that the 1-3% bit being in a valley with nothing to use as a gradient reference appears flat, that makes me try to ride it as if it were flat, where the next 2 miles are visibly more pronounced, rising out and over the valley, which makes me relax a little more, enjoy spinning up, and thus actually climb the steeper gradient faster than the false flat

 

[fossyant]

TBH It can be the stop / start nature of a commute - i.e. lights and traffic. 10 miles commute is much harder than a 10 mile quick blast training run I can do - namely the training run has very few lights, yet is much hillier.

Commuting by bike is a great fitness booster, certainly knackers your legs....

 

[gbb]

Y'know I've wondered similar about stretches of road....

One one route home I have a 3 mile stretch which varies from 1% to 3% (most of it is 2%) gradient. It's much harder work and slower going than the next 2 miles which are 3% to 5%


I think it is in the mind, that the 1-3% bit being in a valley with nothing to use as a gradient reference appears flat, that makes me try to ride it as if it were flat, where the next 2 miles are visibly more pronounced, rising out and over the valley, which makes me relax a little more, enjoy spinning up, and thus actually climb the steeper gradient faster than the false flat

I'll bet the first section of 1 to 3% is early in your ride. Its possible you've warmed and loosened up by the time you get to the 3 to 5% stage, therefor its easier.

As a comparison, i used to fo a 35 mile ride flat out, right from the start. The first 10 miles are hard hard hard.
After a while, i started doing the same ride by going steady for the first 5 or so miles....my average speed overall was exactly the same. I guess you warm up properly and can go harder, later in the ride.

The topic in general...commutes tend to be shorter than your (people in general) normal rides...i know i do a short commute flat out. No warm up, there's no time....so it seems harder work.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Y'know I've wondered similar about stretches of road....
One one route home I have a 3 mile stretch which varies from 1% to 3% (most of it is 2%) gradient. It's much harder work and slower going than the next 2 miles which are 3% to 5%
I think it is in the mind,

I had made the assumption that some gradients are easier than others simply because of the gear ratio's on the bike.
Until I changed my bike, I used to find that some parts of my old commute to work were easier on my other half's bike (usually used when finding a flat first thing in the morning ).

...i know i do a short commute flat out. No warm up, there's no time....so it seems harder work.

I used to do something similar until 8 weeks ago. 25 mins (up hill) first thing, 20 mins home. Now it is 45 mins each way with more climbing involved in both directions. The result is that it is much easier and I no longer feel as exhausted and actually feel like I am getting some exercise now.
1 major advantage of the change is that I actually get to listen to an entire album rather than never getting to the end where my favourite tracks always seem to be.
The 1 major disadvantage is that I now get up at 5:45am...

 

[400bhp]

Road surface makes a big difference.

 

[cyberknight]

Road surface makes a big difference.

Depends on how much stuff you carry as well, on my commute i have 2 panniers of stuff.

 

[Peter10]

It's the same for me, my training route is about 8 miles which ends with a fairly large climb, then 8 miles back again (about 15-16 total). This training route takes me past work about 6 miles of the way, yet I always feel shattered on my commute. I think it's more to do with cycling to work when I don't necessarily feel my best, for example, today on a Friday after along week at work I was shattered at 6am when I left the house. Whereas when you train, generally you are more motivated to cycle, as it is something you have chosen to do, unlike cycling to work where you have to do it (to go to work.. ).

 

[luther]

Road surface makes a big difference.

+1..... theres a stretch on the Bayswater Road (London) that defines this perfectly...... one minute lovely smooth silky tarmac.... next its like you're riding through treacle.....