Getting Ready For The Commute!

[BliarOut]

Parrot of Doom said:

JRM said:

Parrot of Doom said:

Progressive said:

Is riding 7 miles on a morning and then sitting all day in a shirt all day considered OK?

You won't smell, and nobody will notice. The sweat will be gone within 10 minutes.

You'd have to go at a snails pace to not be sweating and stink in the office, sorry but you've got to shower after a 7 mile ride.

Maybe you're one of those that hums then, personally I've never had an issue with sweating.

I sweat 4lb off on a sixteen mile ride in winter... And yes, I always freshen up afterwards!

[GreatGranny]

Once you start you will start doing it more and more.

We have a shower at work and a locker room to put all our stuff.

We also have secure storage with CCTV.

I have a suit & shoes at work all the time and carry in a clean shirt, socks & under crackers.

I have a snack before and take in my breakfast.

I only commute 4 miles each way but still have a shower on the way in.

I've been commuting nearly every day for over 10 years and hate it when I have to drive in.

Just wear the correct stuff, keep your bike well maintained and ride defensively on the road. Commuters aren't the most switched on in the mornings.

[Progressive]

First one down. Took me just under 45 minutes at a (very) light pace. Was a nice ride in although the air was a little crisp going down the first hill. Showered and at my desk for 8.10am (20 minutes early).

Looking forward to the return journey!

[tommobot]

My first one today, around 14 miles. Gave myself plenty of time (2hrs), was going well with plenty of time to spare and at about 8miles in got a puncture on each tyre. Gash. Got a lift in. Get some slime and try again next week.

[Justayellowbadge]

First ride for years this morning, also 14 miles.

You people do this for fun?

Dear God.

[sleep envy]

did they have oxygen waiting for you at the office?

[TwistingMyMelon]

ha-ha punctures! The arse of commuting,I once had three in three miles!

Get some puncture resistant tyres! You can get them for Mountain bikes or 700 roadies, they do make a huge difference if run at correct pressures, I regularly ride over smashed glass and thorns with no bother

[Justayellowbadge]

sleep envy said:

did they have oxygen waiting for you at the office?

No, Marlboro.

Legs were a little wobbly, but actually I was fine.

Going to try to do it a few times a week.

[TwistingMyMelon]

We should have a wiki for commuting advice and tips

[Progressive]

I quite enjoyed it. Getting a puncture would be a massive massive pain. It's bad enough when your out for a leisurely ride but on a cold morning on the way to work, nightmare! Depending on how far I was on the ride I would probably just turn round and walk back.

Hopefully going to try and do it a bit more often and get into a routine. I feel great for doing it though and have pretty much done my usual days work already because I feel so awake!

[Progressive]

TwistingMyMelon said:

We should have a wiki for commuting advice and tips

Great idea. A pool of commuting knowledge would be excellent. What to carry, trouble shooting, ideas, eating / drinking advice, making the ride more enjoyable etc.

[BliarOut]

Justayellowbadge said:

sleep envy said:

did they have oxygen waiting for you at the office?

No, Marlboro.

Legs were a little wobbly, but actually I was fine.

Going to try to do it a few times a week.

You have to get home yet

[TwistingMyMelon]

Punctures arent too bad, if you have experience changing them and a spare tube. Then it can just add 5-10 mins onto the ride, Ive had a few and it was actually nice to have a break and enjoy the scenery! When time isn't on your side they are the work of the devil!!!

BUT, you then get the buggers that reoccur. I got 4 punctures in one ride, all same wheel. I kept checking the tyre as carefully as I could to no avail. Finally I spent a good five minutes going over it and found an in bedded piece of glass, that was not visible or "feel-able" from inside or out. Took a few minutes with some tweezers and job done!

After this I switched to 700 25 Conti Gator Skins and no punctures since Jan!

On my MTB I managed 5000 miles with only one puncture on schwalbe city jets

[clonmult]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I used to have nightmares with punctures, first on the folding bike, then on the MTB, and lattery when I got the Trek FX, I sorted it - tyres with the amazing slime stuff in them, Bontrager something or other tyres - not a problem after I put them on.

But now I've got a 20 mile trip to the office, I was unsure about doing it on the bike. One of the other guys in the office did the same basic journey on his bike today, and thats it. I've got to give it a go. And having done a few miles on the bike last night, it reminded me of just how enjoyable it can be.

The bike needs a bit of a service first, but a 40+ mile trip across country should be quite entertaining. Make sure I take the camera with me, as no doubt there will be some beautiful photo opportunities on the way. Nokia Sports Tracker to keep a track on direction, altitude and speed. Maybe try to find a handlebar mount for the phone .....

And thankfully the SPDs still fit quite nicely.

[AyBee]

Justayellowbadge said:

First ride for years this morning, also 14 miles.

You people do this for fun?

Dear God.

Did 10 miles this morning from Bath to Bristol - didn't think it was overly fast, the rear wheel bearings aren't smooth at all and there is a buckle (see my other thread ), it was into Bristol during morning rush hour and I was carrying a bag. Looked at my speedo when I got into the office - sub 30 minutes at 20.8mph

[okgo]

I was having a blast the other night and did 20 miles in exactly an hour, was quite pleased really, as I too had a rucksack on and it was pretty cold too (and I forgot that there are no streetlights in Oxshott!!)

Was the 14 miles one way JAYB?

[Justayellowbadge]

okgo said:

Was the 14 miles one way JAYB?

Yep.

Perversely, I'm looking forward to the ride back.

[okgo]

Justayellowbadge said:

okgo said:

Was the 14 miles one way JAYB?

Yep.

Perversely, I'm looking forward to the ride back.

If you're not bike fit at the minute doing that even a few times a week will make huge differences. Soon your legs won't ache, mine ached at first and I was only doing 4 miles!!!. And probably spunking £2k on something carbon

[Justayellowbadge]

It is carbon!

Love the cyclescheme...

[okgo]

Justayellowbadge said:

It is carbon!

Love the cyclescheme...

Yes, wonderful isn't it. I'll be either getting another bike in oct, or another £1k voucher for kit.