14 miles commute. Motivate me!
Discussion
Hello pedal people,
I bought my GT Avalanche in a bid to get back to fitness mid june and that did me a whole lot of good to the point that I am now feeling confident enough to tackle the ride to work.
The aim of this thread is to get the advice of people taking on this sort of distances every morning and evening. I am feeling quite confident I can easily do the morning run, I even feel I'm going to enjoy it but I am a bit apprehensive of the return journey (which is uphill to boot) after a day at work. What's it like for you?
A few facts:
- I'll still be using the Avalanche, it's on hybrid tyres
- No cycle path and a busy 1st half of the trip in the morning
- downhill morning, uphill evening...almost all the way; slow gradient but it's there!
- Showers at work
I haven't done the route yet, that's next on the agenda but how long do you think it'll take you to do it? http://g.co/maps/jqdek
Thanks for your input.
I bought my GT Avalanche in a bid to get back to fitness mid june and that did me a whole lot of good to the point that I am now feeling confident enough to tackle the ride to work.
The aim of this thread is to get the advice of people taking on this sort of distances every morning and evening. I am feeling quite confident I can easily do the morning run, I even feel I'm going to enjoy it but I am a bit apprehensive of the return journey (which is uphill to boot) after a day at work. What's it like for you?
A few facts:
- I'll still be using the Avalanche, it's on hybrid tyres
- No cycle path and a busy 1st half of the trip in the morning
- downhill morning, uphill evening...almost all the way; slow gradient but it's there!
- Showers at work
I haven't done the route yet, that's next on the agenda but how long do you think it'll take you to do it? http://g.co/maps/jqdek
Thanks for your input.
buy some quality clothing, 14 miles in the rain is unpleasant at best, at worst its enough to put you off cycling for life...wear padded shorts, apply chamois cream daily, eat something mid afternoon, stay hydrated, consider fitting bar ends to give you a choice of hand positions, make sure the bike is comfy for the commute as you will be sat down for longer periods than usually associated with a mountain bike.
28 miles a day is no easy task in all honesty. i would expect it to take me about an hour.
28 miles a day is no easy task in all honesty. i would expect it to take me about an hour.
I'm doing similar - a 50 mile round trip 2-3 times a week. Aiming to increase that to a regular 4 days by spring/summer
Kit is by far the most important thing to get right - get stuff that's warm, windproof, waterproof.
Don't scrimp - get what you need. If you get up on a cold, wet morning and know you'll get to work warm and dry it's often the difference between cycling in and bottling it and taking the car/train/bus.
Don't underestimate the importance of rest days either. I'm not sure of your current fitness levels but if you try to do it every day right form the start, you'll be done for by the end of the week. Build up gradually (and then get Cyclemeter/Strava and aim to beat your old times
)
Kit is by far the most important thing to get right - get stuff that's warm, windproof, waterproof.
Don't scrimp - get what you need. If you get up on a cold, wet morning and know you'll get to work warm and dry it's often the difference between cycling in and bottling it and taking the car/train/bus.
Don't underestimate the importance of rest days either. I'm not sure of your current fitness levels but if you try to do it every day right form the start, you'll be done for by the end of the week. Build up gradually (and then get Cyclemeter/Strava and aim to beat your old times
)Edited by option click on Thursday 26th January 12:53
Thanks for the replies so far.
I was thinking 45mn each way taking it easy.
I am getting some more appropriate gear
such as bright windstopper, new saddle and bits and bobs. Good point on the bar ends to allow position change. I think I also need better lights now that I'll be using busier roads.
At best, it will happen 4 times a week, there's always one day where I have to pick up the little one from nursery and at worse it'll only be twice a week so I am not expecting this will be a 5 times a week thing.
I was thinking 45mn each way taking it easy.
I am getting some more appropriate gear
such as bright windstopper, new saddle and bits and bobs. Good point on the bar ends to allow position change. I think I also need better lights now that I'll be using busier roads.At best, it will happen 4 times a week, there's always one day where I have to pick up the little one from nursery and at worse it'll only be twice a week so I am not expecting this will be a 5 times a week thing.
In terms of equipment, looking at sites like Wiggle makes the decisions more difficult. There is almost too much choice. I was thinking:
- from now until end of March/April
long sleeve base layer
jersey
wind+water proof jacket
tights or shorts
water/wind proof trousers
- for warmer times
short sleeves jersey
waterproof when needed
shorts
Am I a bit 'light', especially for winter... I am thinking the effort will keep me warm enough anyway. It does now, the only weak point are the fingers, I'll need good gloves.
- from now until end of March/April
long sleeve base layer
jersey
wind+water proof jacket
tights or shorts
water/wind proof trousers
- for warmer times
short sleeves jersey
waterproof when needed
shorts
Am I a bit 'light', especially for winter... I am thinking the effort will keep me warm enough anyway. It does now, the only weak point are the fingers, I'll need good gloves.
That list looks about right for winter, although personally I wouldn't bother with the trousers. I'd add:
• Wind/waterproof gloves
• Undergloves (for really cold mornings)
• Overshoes - these are essential for cold mornings. Your feet will be numb without them (assuming you have bought some cycling-specific shoes?)
• Wind/waterproof gloves
• Undergloves (for really cold mornings)
• Overshoes - these are essential for cold mornings. Your feet will be numb without them (assuming you have bought some cycling-specific shoes?)
Edited by option click on Thursday 26th January 14:06
i am of the opinion that you buy a couple of decent bits of kit and it wil be all you need.
Personally 13 miles isn't far enough to worry too much, worst case scenario its going to take you, what, an hour to get in or home? Get some decent shorts and gloves, the two biggest things I think, and overshoes as a close 3rd place, I have managed all winter with 3/4 tights a base layer and an autmun top, this country isn't cold enough to warrant much more imo. I have some overshoes, but have used them twice I think, most of the time just use toe covers for the same reason as above.
The distance at first will feel like a lot, but soon enough you'll be smashing it! I started riding to work 2 years ago 3 miles each way, fast forward to now I do 18 miles each way 4 times a week
I won't say I love it, but it certainly allows me to eat what I want 
Personally 13 miles isn't far enough to worry too much, worst case scenario its going to take you, what, an hour to get in or home? Get some decent shorts and gloves, the two biggest things I think, and overshoes as a close 3rd place, I have managed all winter with 3/4 tights a base layer and an autmun top, this country isn't cold enough to warrant much more imo. I have some overshoes, but have used them twice I think, most of the time just use toe covers for the same reason as above.
The distance at first will feel like a lot, but soon enough you'll be smashing it! I started riding to work 2 years ago 3 miles each way, fast forward to now I do 18 miles each way 4 times a week
I won't say I love it, but it certainly allows me to eat what I want Shoes: I've been using my running shoes (adidas clima cool or reebok pump 2) with varied thickness of socks. Fine in the dry, hopeless when wet. So vershoes might be the right way.
Gloves: anything above 10/13 deg. and I wasn't using anything (comfy grips). In lower temperature, I've been using my Cold Killer motorcycle undergloves which were absolutely fine. So a combination of these + waterproof gloves might be the winner.
Lights: found a few things... can't believe the price of some front ones ...£799
The rear one I think is sorted: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moon-shield-60-rechargeabl...
Front: no idea but I need something powerful and rechargeable.
Beanie hat noted, although my skying headband did a fine job on very cold days.
For the legs I might stick with my chamois short + I've got these trekking trousers from which you can remove the legs. They're quick drying too. Or I might go for these sorts of 3/4 windproof shorts. We'll see.
Looking at it during lunchtime I can chose from roads going from 10 to 15 miles.
This one's great as it avoids a lot of the commuters roads. It's narrow but the grass verges are wider than the road. Mostly used by tractors. My only concern would be the big roundabout toward the end of the trip which crosses the A45 which is a dual carriageway http://g.co/maps/7x7te and drivers don't hang about.
Gloves: anything above 10/13 deg. and I wasn't using anything (comfy grips). In lower temperature, I've been using my Cold Killer motorcycle undergloves which were absolutely fine. So a combination of these + waterproof gloves might be the winner.
Lights: found a few things... can't believe the price of some front ones ...£799
The rear one I think is sorted: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moon-shield-60-rechargeabl...
Front: no idea but I need something powerful and rechargeable.
Beanie hat noted, although my skying headband did a fine job on very cold days.
For the legs I might stick with my chamois short + I've got these trekking trousers from which you can remove the legs. They're quick drying too. Or I might go for these sorts of 3/4 windproof shorts. We'll see.
Looking at it during lunchtime I can chose from roads going from 10 to 15 miles.
This one's great as it avoids a lot of the commuters roads. It's narrow but the grass verges are wider than the road. Mostly used by tractors. My only concern would be the big roundabout toward the end of the trip which crosses the A45 which is a dual carriageway http://g.co/maps/7x7te and drivers don't hang about.
No need to go overboard on the lights.
The really expensive lights are generally for mountain biking and are powerful enough to light up pitch black trails. They're overkill for the road and drivers won't thank you for blasting 1,000+ lumens straight at them!
If you're on a budget, you can get the MagicShine kit on ebay for around £80, just remember to run it on low or medium power!
The really expensive lights are generally for mountain biking and are powerful enough to light up pitch black trails. They're overkill for the road and drivers won't thank you for blasting 1,000+ lumens straight at them!
If you're on a budget, you can get the MagicShine kit on ebay for around £80, just remember to run it on low or medium power!
okgo said:
You need clip shoes and pedals if you are to do this regularly, it will save you so much energy and be so much quicker.
Really?That's something I've never experienced, I'd alway wonder if I'd be able to unclip my feet quickly enough should the need arise
To be honest, that's probably something I'd leave until I become really serious about it and just get a road bike for added speed.
J B L said:
okgo said:
You need clip shoes and pedals if you are to do this regularly, it will save you so much energy and be so much quicker.
Really?That's something I've never experienced, I'd alway wonder if I'd be able to unclip my feet quickly enough should the need arise
To be honest, that's probably something I'd leave until I become really serious about it and just get a road bike for added speed.
First few times they really do feel strange, but after a while they're considerably more natural. The unclipping process is also very easy - just a slight twist of the foot and your unclipped.
Another +1 for lights - I've got a Lezyne as part of my C2W order, £100 for one light, but apparently its absolutely fantastic (USB rechargeable, so can charge it from the PC at work).
http://www.eaglecreek.com/packing_solutions/packin... - great if you're required to wear a shirt at work. I leave my suit/shoes at work and just bring a fresh shirt/pants each day. Save the suit changes for the rare occasions when I drive.
I'd love to have 14 miles each way. Mine is only 6 miles each way and hardly seems worth the effort of dressing up each day, I almost want it to be further to make it more worthwhile (I do take the long route home if I'm in the mood...).
I'd love to have 14 miles each way. Mine is only 6 miles each way and hardly seems worth the effort of dressing up each day, I almost want it to be further to make it more worthwhile (I do take the long route home if I'm in the mood...).
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