The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)

The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)

Author
Discussion

Mannginger

9,032 posts

256 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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I'm finding success in preparation as I'm seriously lazy and all sorts of things will prevent me from doing it so, steps I've taken include:

Taking and leaving full wash-kit in my locker at the office
Similarly leaving a couple of pairs of shoes so I don't have to carry them in my bag
Leaving clean spare kit in the office in case I get soaked / don't want to ride home in wet kit
Preparing my bag the night before with office clothes
Buying a mini-fan to help post-shower cool down

Clearly it helps having showers in the office / local gym, I'd really not want to cycle 11 mile in office gear!

timnoyce

413 posts

180 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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As you are finding, prep is key to stop it being a massive chore. I am lucky in that we have a shower at work, and also a drying cabinet which seems excellent at drying out clothes/towel whilst I work.

I always keep shoes, multiple pairs of trousers and a rotating supply of shirts in my drawer. Also, my towel lives at work. It might seem a little skanky, but if you are only wearing a shirt for 8 hours, then I aim to get a couple of days out of a shirt to save on washing and bringing in a shirt every day. Also, the more you ride (and especially the further you ride) the more you appreciate the fact that you have packed light. I have got a frame bag and an Alpkit Koala so even on a day that I need to bring clothes, I can still ride without a rucksack.

Prep the night before in packing your clothes, filling bidons, preparing the bike and making sure your lights are on charge so that you can just stumble downstairs and get on the bike in the morning. I ride 17 miles each way and don't need to eat before I ride which also saves time (I need to have a drink before I leave the house though or I feel ropey by the time I get to work, especially if it's hot).

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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When it comes to commuting to work I'm lucky. I have access to a locker room which is well heated, and aired, so acts as a drying room. We also have covered cycle parking.

In my locker I keep a full change of emergency office clothes and cycling clothes in the bottom of my locker, just in case. I also have a spare pack-a-mac, shower gel, chamois cream and chain oil in there too, and a pair of jeans for dress down days, and my work shoes which are smart enough, but also casual enough for dress down days.

Each week I bring in clean chinos, a clean travel towel, 4 ironed and folded shirts, a dress down t shirt and 5 sets of pants and socks. I take them home at the end of the week.

All this planning means I have a rucksack at most on 2 rides out of 10, although if the wife is passing in the car, I sometimes get her to drop off a bag or pick it up.

For my cycling kits, bibs, jersey and socks last 2 days, gloves a week, and helmet/shoes about 18-24 months. (Unless I get soaked on the way home.)

If you're looking for cheap commuting kit, Aldi and Lidl are popular, but I've had some great deals from Planet X, sign up to their newsletter, follow the prices, and work out when to buy. Clue - £13 for bibs and 3/4 bibs was an absolute steal!

Henners

12,230 posts

193 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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I got very very wet on my swim ride to work today.


Fun tho!

Running_Man

356 posts

223 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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https://www.strava.com/activities/1094802927/share...

First ride on the single speed 🚴

idiotgap

2,112 posts

132 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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A lot of familiar tactics in previous posts.

I have a basket on the back of my bike to carry my rucksack. I always take one because I keep pump, rain jacket, saddlebag with tubes and tools in it, cafe lock, yellow or clear spare lenses for the glasses, ear phones for listening to my phone on the train. This means I can whip everything off the bike quickly to lock it up. At the station I have a heavy u-lock and cable so I never have to carry that. I lock the helmet to the bike so I only carry that on my head. Sometimes I have to carry a laptop which goes in a laptop bag inside the Rucksack

I do 14 miles roughly each way, plus a similar amount on the train. The main motivational tool is not possessing a ticket for the whole journey and the cost of a single. I've ridden rain or shine since early November apart from the odd day when I've been drinking (about three of those for Christmas and other work dos) and a period of convalescence after I broke my arm skiing.

Once a week or so I take a fresh pile of clothes to the office in the rucksack. I get a few wears from a shirt as I'm only in it while at my desk and not moving much.I'm lucky in that each desk has its own wardrobe. The showers are good with towels supplied and we have a decent underground bike store which is aggressively air conditioned and kept very dry so shoes dry quickly.

Paraicj

502 posts

140 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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My commute is only 5k each way so I just use a rucksack every day to bring in clothes and lunch, not worth the hassle. Work has showers in case it rains or I sweat profusely for some reason...

I drove in today, but for good reason. I have my Mountain Bike in the back of the car, hoping to sneak off early enough for a couple of hours in Cannock Chase this evening!

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Had a good ride in today. Just started using a Fitbit so all the additional stats are interesting (inc heart rate).

Of course I'm going to bugger up all the good work by stopping for a couple of pints in Soho on he way home.

MrsMiggins

2,808 posts

234 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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I'm settling into my commute now, going faster by trying a little less hard. When I first started out I was pushing hard on the flat bits so I was gassed and crawling on the hilly bits; I've eased off a tad on the flats and I'm picking up the pace a bit on the hills. Won't be winning any QOMs, but it's getting easier, I feel I'm getting fitter and I'm burning around 2000 calories a day which is nice as I'm hoping to lose a few pounds.

Steve91

489 posts

119 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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I had to sell my car a few weeks ago to help fund a house purchase, and while my better half uses the KA to commute (her commute is 20 miles each way, mine is 3!) I've been cycling in. I've been using my Giant MTB but on Saturday bought a Carrera Zelos in the sale from Halfords, which I pickup on monday. I'm looking forward to getting to grips with a road bike, and hopefully I'll be motivated to use it on weekends as well!

As the commute is so short, I chuck everything into a backpack and change at work.

Lost half a stone in the 3 weeks I've been doing it daily!

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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MrsMiggins said:
I'm settling into my commute now, going faster by trying a little less hard. When I first started out I was pushing hard on the flat bits so I was gassed and crawling on the hilly bits; I've eased off a tad on the flats and I'm picking up the pace a bit on the hills. Won't be winning any QOMs, but it's getting easier, I feel I'm getting fitter and I'm burning around 2000 calories a day which is nice as I'm hoping to lose a few pounds.
I'm currently running on 1700 cals per day net, burning 2K should work!

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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Well done MrsMiggins and Steve91, great stuff!

thumbup

Mannginger

9,032 posts

256 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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I feel bad as allowed the rain to convince me to wimp out. On the upside I joined the gym yesterday and meeting a PT today to build in targeted work on improving my core and leg strength to improve my general cycle fitness

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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Cycled yesterday & I'll cycle tomorrow.

Swimming 1k at lunchtime today and have a gym session on Friday.

Still a bit fat but much to my very athletic wife's annoyance Fitbit tells me my resting heart rate is some between 48bpm and 52 bpm.

timnoyce

413 posts

180 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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Weather forecast said rain at 7... it started at 6:55 just before I got to work. Hoping it's also as punctual this afternoon as it's due to stop before I leave for home.

I've commuted all but one journey so far in July so looking at around a 1200km month. Been a while since I achieved such figures!

Shirt587

360 posts

134 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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Arrived 7:10. Left building to cross to another one at 7:30, discovered it was raining. Perfect timing, clearly!

Forecast says it'll stop about 4pm, which should give it a little while to dry before it's hometime... fingers crossed.

Steve91

489 posts

119 months

Wednesday 26th July 2017
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Shirt587 said:
Arrived 7:10. Left building to cross to another one at 7:30, discovered it was raining. Perfect timing, clearly!

Forecast says it'll stop about 4pm, which should give it a little while to dry before it's hometime... fingers crossed.
Wish I was this lucky! Left the house and opened the garage in the dry, by the time I wheeled the bike out it was raining!

Need to invest in some waterproof gear

idiotgap

2,112 posts

132 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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Recently, while it's not been cold I've been going with less is more for waterproofing. So bibs and Jersey as usual + a gilet if it's really pouring. The full length mudguards have made a big difference and having more than one pair of shoes.

Mannginger

9,032 posts

256 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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Back on it again this morning, was a really nice ride, roads were much quieter so I'm guessing school holidays have started?

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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Two punctures last night. Borrowed a pump off a very lovely passing female cyclist, and got most of the way home.

I suspect the cause of the first hadn't been properly removed, so a mile and a half from home I was flat again. Luckily a chap in a van took pity on me and dropped me home.

All changed now, and no problems this morning.