how many km do you commute a week ??

[no_gtr_yet]

Just trying to get a bit of an idea how many km you do a week as a commute ? I have been riding 10 hours a week at a reasonable (for unfit person) intensity (150 km) on mtb and thought I would have a bash at riding to work 60 km round trip. The route there and back can be done pretty easily in 2h 40 min, just not sure how I will go riding working 8 hours then riding home....... followed by backing up the next day etc etc. Wildside 2008 is the medium term goal :) I realise doing km is different to specific training but it already takes 40min door to door in the car.

Cheers Alex

[funky]

An alternative, is ride in, drive / catch public transport home, drive / catch public transport to work, ride home...

Personally, my commute is 6.89km each way, so isn't a big deal.

[go to bed jessica]

My commute is a 80km round trip straight to work and back, can become 100+ if I avoid the M4 though, which I try to do as often as possible.........

If your already doing 10 hours riding a week, 60k's a day should be fine.

[Binaural]

220km a week, weather permitting. You'll find that backing up for it day after day gets easier and easier provided you take the effort to mix it up and explore :)

[Christo]

My commute is a 80km round trip straight to work and back, can become 100+ if I avoid the M4 though, which I try to do as often as possible.........

If your already doing 10 hours riding a week, 60k's a day should be fine.

Holy shite! On a bike?

I do 20km each way, six days a week so that's 240km a week...

[aaron01]

my commute is 20km thereabouts round trip which I'll do 2-4times a week, I can find it hard to do the ride home or back it up the next day, but being in hospitality & pushing 16-18 hour days at times will aid in losing your motivation to ride, I have also taken to riding a cyclocross bike & when I manage a later start or ealier finsh I'll sidetrack to the local national park & do an hour or so before/after work for a bit of fun too.
I generally will take each day as it comes.

[Techno Destructo]

~230 km/week

Queenscliff to Camperdown, NSW

My commute is a 80km round trip straight to work and back, can become 100+ if I avoid the M4 though, which I try to do as often as possible.........

Very noice!

[johnny]

I used to do about 30km round trip (Greenwich to Camperdown and back..., Sydney). It's a trek much the same as Techno's, just a little shorter and a little less intensity on the hills. Every now and then it would be hard to back up (I also had 4 intense 2 hour gym sessions..., after doing two hours of legs was pretty farkin hard to ride home sometimes!). But once you're on the bike and hitting it, you don't want to stop. I used to get so disappointed when I reached my destination.

The commute was always the high light of my day!

Now I live about 1km from uni and the ride is as flat as a tack :(

[ben1973]

2km each way
6 days per week
i take sundays off for recovery

[rockyash]

you guys are mad.

4km each way
nice and easy.

Damn cold at 6 in the morning these days though.

[jacko69]

15km each way, 5 days a week, rain hail or shine.
And then there's mountain biking on the weekends for fun :D

[DaGonz]

day, but being in hospitality & pushing 16-18 hour days at times will aid in losing your motivation to ride

I hear ya... I've ridden home after a 12+hr day in the office a few times and have just gone "what am I doing...". I've had a few 16-18ish hour days in the last couple of months too, including one 22-24hr day in the office (I climbed into a cab at 6:30 am the day after... ) and they really knock me around.

I have about a 10-11k (one way) commute which means about 25-30mins pending on lights.... If I'm feeling strong, I punch it out, if not, I just spin it out. For some reason I take some perverse satisfaction in smashing what little hills I have between home and work. I don't know if it counts, but the bunch rides I normally do twice a week will add another 40-50k's to the morning. By Thursday I'm uaually starting to feel spongy, and normally take friday off pending what I have planned for the weekend, or pending probable friday pub action :) Also gives me a day here and there to bring stuff in and out of the office I otherwise wouldn't have space on the bike for (like boxes of breakfast cereal/food etc... )

*shrug*

Cheers
Gonz

[go to bed jessica]

My commute is a 80km round trip straight to work and back, can become 100+ if I avoid the M4 though, which I try to do as often as possible.........

If your already doing 10 hours riding a week, 60k's a day should be fine.

I should have mentioned that I ride to work 3-4 times a week, on a roadie, so it's not that bad!

[Binaural]

I should have mentioned that I ride to work 3-4 times a week, on a roadie, so it's not that bad!

Hehehe, that makes it sound a lot easer. My 220km is through some of the hilliest parts of Sydney on a singlespeed converted MTB with flat pedals :)

[Pete W]

9 days a fortnight,17km/45min to work, 47km/2hrs on the way home (can be 80km or 7km depends on the programme)
hey i get lost alot....... especially in the dark:D

[triples]

I was at one stage doing 240 a week, but was finding I was fucked after a few weeks of it and needed a week recovery. I also found the more I did it the easier it got, but found it hard to get up on my day off and go mountain biking. At that stage I was working 6days 55hours a week.

Now I'm only working 15hours:D and don't need to commute, so I'm now going mtb'ing 4 or 5 times a week, doing 2 training rides a week(on road), and going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week.
I much prefer the lifestyle I have now:D:D:D

[ronald mcdonald]

i do about 100 k's a week to and from work and school on my ss roadie.
plus a few more k's from my mtb.

[Techno Destructo]

My 220km is through some of the hilliest parts of Sydney on a singlespeed converted MTB with flat pedals :)

Whaaaa??? Singlespeed, 26" wheels with flat pedals?!? Why do you do it to yourself, Binaural?!?:confused:

I deal with a nice hilly route myself, but at least I'm clipped in with gears and road wheels.

Ok, the singlespeed makes maintenance easy, maybe the challenge a little more fun, the 26" wheels can take more abuse, but why on earth would you use flat pedals?

[RCOH]

My commute is about 7km each way but I stretch it out to 15. Average about 150ikm per week + whatever additional rides occur.

Not in this bastard weather though. 5am + Brakeless + torrential rain & gale force winds = bus for me!

[alchemist]

Mine was about 100km per week, ~10km each way, pretty cruisy and I could put up with any weather. Having now moved offices its gone up to about 25km each way and with the weather at the moment, the car is a bit more attractive in the mornings

[no_gtr_yet]

Thanks guys : ) I suspect the fun starts at 545am tomorrow, with the caveat that if its snowing I will take the car...... Probably not a good time of year to be starting this in Hobart weather : ( but I figure atleast conditions and temperature should improve ( eventually cough cough ) : )

[Binaural]

Whaaaa??? Singlespeed, 26" wheels with flat pedals?!? Why do you do it to yourself, Binaural?!?:confused:

I deal with a nice hilly route myself, but at least I'm clipped in with gears and road wheels.

Ok, the singlespeed makes maintenance easy, maybe the challenge a little more fun, the 26" wheels can take more abuse, but why on earth would you use flat pedals?

An MTB set up for road is pretty efficient. I run 1.3" tyres at 100psi, low stem, high seat and a rigid fork. I run flats mainly because I have size 17/52 euro feet and have never been able to find any shoes that fit! I'd ride flats anyway I think because pedalling style is pretty stompy and I like blazing away from traffic lights. Plus, my offroad bikes all use flats and keeping some common factors to all my bikes helps me switch easily.

To be honest, I went singlespeed just for a new challenge and to see what it's like. Easier maintenance wasn't a factor (I have a small bike shop at home anyway). I've been surprised at the effect it's had on my riding - I am actually hardly slower at all over the course of a ride, although of course I have to suffer for it a bit more. But I wouldn't ride my bike so far every day anyway if I wasn't the type to take the easy way anyway ;)

Going to China tomorrow for a site trip, so will let you all know what bike commuting is like over there as well :)

[takai]

Im currently doing 15km ish 3 times a week to one of my workplaces (split across 2 sites). But to make it more painful im doing it on the hardtail 4X/DH bike, without locking out the forks. The rolling resistance of Minions on road isnt nice at all.
Soon though ill switch to an old MTB frame singlespeeded as well for the road rides. Or maybe to a flat bar racer.

[McBain]

I wouldn't ride my bike so far every day anyway if I wasn't the type to take the easy way anywayThat's the hole I've fallen in - since moving I went from having a 27km commute each way to about 11km, and now the train is also much more frequent/comparable in time. Also, I excel at finding the easy way to do things.

As a result, I'm just not riding to work. :(

Anyway, that's my whinge - now to figure out a way to make myself start riding again ...

[Binaural]

That's the hole I've fallen in - since moving I went from having a 27km commute each way to about 11km, and now the train is also much more frequent/comparable in time. Also, I excel at finding the easy way to do things.

As a result, I'm just not riding to work. :(

Anyway, that's my whinge - now to figure out a way to make myself start riding again ...

Get your girlfriend to start calling you "cuddly". Worked for a friend of mine ;)

[alchemist]

Get your girlfriend to start calling you "cuddly". Worked for a friend of mine ;)

Better still if his mates start calling him cuddly...

[McBain]

Get your girlfriend to start calling you "cuddly". Worked for a friend of mine ;)Hehe - I'd need to drop about 20% before that term couldn't be used. :)

[scblack]

I used to commute from Dee Why to Circular Quay once or twice a week, thats about 22km each way - on the Stinky Deelux I had back then.

Now I live at Baulkham Hills, and thats 35km each way to Circular Quay, too far by a long way on my Bullit or STP.;)

[scblack]

Better still if his mates start calling him cuddly...
I'd get rid of the bloody mates if they ever called me cuddly.......:D

[Wires]

I do about 2km each way. But I do it on the street bike just to keep it interesting. Often I've gotten to my door and just gone "fuck it, that was heaps of fun, I'm gonna keep going" and ended up like 4 suburbs away.

[GrubNut]

About 100km per week for me. On the venerable SS road bike.

[bazza]

got so slack and stopped riding to work. just concentrated on my training rides and social weekend rides on the roadie. its so much easier just to drive to work after getting home from a 2 and a half hour ride, cooking up some breakfast, having a nice warm shower at home than getting into the car and driving to the basic work shower and lame or expensive (cafe) food. the days where I don't have a training ride I'm really not that keen on getting on the bike again. pretty slack really. When I do ride my deuter trans alpine 25 bag is the best thing on earth though. Going to try and ride the mountain bike to work when I get it though, its only about 15-20k return.

[Dicky]

Used to do about 120-160km a week, top of Bilgola Plateau to Manly, 19km ish each way.
XC hardtail, rigid fork, skinny (proper) slicks, gears, discs.

Then got around to getting my driver's licence. Bad idea.

Now at different job(s), main one doesn't have a shower or room for the bike, only 4km away, mostly large hills. Lazy is too easy. :(

Still noticed the difference - always had a better day at work when I rode there.

Burning out can be worked around somewhat - charge the downhills and back it off on the uphills - arguably equal or faster for the same amount of exertion. Definitely more fun.
Keep an eye on the diet, warm up and down properly before/after the ride.

Driving does allow some needed rest, but you'll still find you wished you were riding instead.

/my 2c

[Dumbellina]

Commuting
20 km each way x 5 days = 200 km

Add the occassional 40 km "special stage" means more miles in the legs.

But there is some fine print:
* if I am late I take the 16 km "short cut"
* my general route is almost flat, except for a very small climb near home
* the alternative route is through Ashfield and over Anzac Bridge which throws some ascending into the mix
* I have only ridden two days out the past week because of out-of-office meetings and shithouse weather.

[Dumbellina]

I'd get rid of the bloody mates if they ever called me cuddly.......:D

I don't know, I have some cute female friends that I wouldn't mind call me "cuddly", "spank worthy" or anything for that matter. So long as Mrs Dumbellina wasn't in earshot.

[Techno Destructo]

I'm proud of my commute, but I'm not so proud to say I don't take the Manly Ferry during weather like we've been having lately...

Is there anyone honestly doing a 15+ km (one way) commute in this weather?

[rex2]

Mines a whole 2km each way, living at Neutral Bay and working at North Sydney. I normally go out for an hour ride come home and have breaky in front of the heater, then hit ben boyd hill and negotiate the shit that is Falcon Street intersection (300 meters of dodgy traffic and lane changes).

[Techno Destructo]

Mines a whole 2km each way, living at Neutral Bay and working at North Sydney. I normally go out for an hour ride come home and have breaky in front of the heater, then hit ben boyd hill and negotiate the shit that is Falcon Street intersection (300 meters of dodgy traffic and lane changes).

Well, at least you ride, man...

I've got co-workers who live less than that distance away from work and they STILL drive!

"It's WAY too dangerous to ride a bicycle to work!", they say.

Yeah... that's a REAL convenient excuse to be a lazy sod.:mad:

[scblack]

I'm proud of my commute, but I'm not so proud to say I don't take the Manly Ferry during weather like we've been having lately...

Is there anyone honestly doing a 15+ km (one way) commute in this weather?
I'm still going for lunchtime runs - does that count?

[Dreggsy]

I normally ride from,
Queenscliff to Redfern 19km
but crashed and trashed my roadie,
am waiting for a replacement
so i have been lazy and catching the ferry
in good
weather and a working bike i'd normally
ride to work, then after work do 2-3 hours around centennial park to get some mileage up and ride back to Queenscliff.
approx 120km a day with maybe not riding CP on a friday
i have the AYUP lights so they last the time and charge quickly as well.

[tjb]

I'm proud of my commute, but I'm not so proud to say I don't take the Manly Ferry during weather like we've been having lately...

Is there anyone honestly doing a 15+ km (one way) commute in this weather?

I rode yesterday afternoon Marsfield - Chatswood - Milsons Point - Newtown, but I don't have enough clothes or brake pads to keep it up all week!

And what is it about cars and wet weather - they still love gunning that accelerator even when it is wet and there is a red light ahead ? (racing past a cyclist to get to red light and wait)

[rex2]

I rode yesterday afternoon Marsfield - Chatswood - Milsons Point - Newtown, but I don't have enough clothes or brake pads to keep it up all week!

And what is it about cars and wet weather - they still love gunning that accelerator even when it is wet and there is a red light ahead ? (racing past a cyclist to get to red light and wait)

I thought you wore a skinsuit now roady tim!

[santonelli]

If you go buy yourself a cheap roadbike (god forbid) I think you will find that you will do the extra distance in the same time as what you are currently spending. Don't be fooled by the adds for slick MTB tyres there is nothing faster on the road than a roadbike. Plus it keeps your MTB is good condition for the weekends and if you go buy a old but once expensive road bike it will ride great but not be something that thieves are interested in.

[McBain]

And what is it about cars and wet weatherSydney drivers are dickheads. Plain and simple. They just get worse in the wet.

there is nothing faster on the road than a roadbike. Plus it keeps your MTB is good condition for the weekends+ one vote from here. At the very least, don't commute on your main MTB. Nothing worse than having the bike out of action for both commuting and fun.

[alchemist]

And what is it about cars and wet weather - they still love gunning that accelerator even when it is wet and there is a red light ahead ?

Which reminds me, I need to download my GPS log for my commute yesterday, after flatting with a faulty pump I caught taxi the rest of the way in to work - I think the driver was Mark Scafe (or at least thought he was)

[tjb]

Which reminds me, I need to download my GPS log for my commute yesterday, after flatting with a faulty pump I caught taxi the rest of the way in to work - I think the driver was Mark Scafe (or at least thought he was)

GPS logging the commute, now that is commitment !

Or are you plotting your course trying to optimise position vs green lights :)

[tjb]

I thought you wore a skinsuit now roady tim!

Most kilometres on road now yourself, no ?!?

A full body waterproof skinsuit with hood seems like it is just the ticket for Sydney in the next week! Good thinking rex2!

[alchemist]

GPS logging the commute, now that is commitment !


You know how seriously I take my training :eek: (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkValues=3004089)

[rex2]

Most kilometres on road now yourself, no ?!?

A full body waterproof skinsuit with hood seems like it is just the ticket for Sydney in the next week! Good thinking rex2!

I just had a brainwave!!!!!! wear a wetsuit - brilliant

[Mattydv]

If it's not raining... and it's not Sub 10 degrees, and i'm feeling in a good mood, or training heavily for the week... 300km a week to and back from school. Leave at 6:45, get to Macdonalds at 8, eat breakfast and then at school by 8:30. Everything's perfect :p
On average though, about 60-120km a week commuting.

[Techno Destructo]

I just had a brainwave!!!!!! wear a wetsuit - brilliant

There's this old dude, at least in his 60's, who regularly rides up Allambie Road (as in, a BIG LONG hill climb) on the northern beaches of Sydney in his wetsuit after going for his morning swim in the ocean. What a legend!

[scblack]

There's this old dude, at least in his 60's, who regularly rides up Allambie Road (as in, a BIG LONG hill climb) on the northern beaches of Sydney in his wetsuit after going for his morning swim in the ocean. What a legend!
Did you see Australian Story last night? 61 year old who is the worlds fastest ever 60year old - he ran an 11.97s 100m!

[nrs1mounty]

at the moment it is 0km per week with all this rain (i am a sunny weather rider)
Usually 120-160km per week (40km each day 3-4 days per week)
Easy ride with pretty much no hills on mostly off road cycleway or roads with a dedicated cycle section.

[dr.evil]

Getting an average of just over 120kms per week commuting on the SS. The shortest distance is about 15kms one way - but it is nice to take the long dirty roads to make it 28kms (and add another 20km when it is a even longer detour via Stromlo).

I took the 15km option home tonight with wind/rain/and temp of 6 degrees - more of the same tomorrow apparently but maybe some snow.

[lebronmtb]

theres a guy at my work who rides from mt macedon to moonee ponds every day, its 55km so 110km a day, 5 days a week

[lounge lizard]

Reading the start of this thread I was feeling guilty, all these 200km+ commutes. But down this end it's gotten a little more sane.
My best ever run was training for the Mont/Scott last year;30km each way, twice a week, about half of it climbing, the home run at about 11/12pm with lights for 5 weeks.
Felt really good heading off to work, but the final 10ks or or so of mostly climbing never seemed to get much easier.
I've been doing the odd commute since then, even a couple on the ss but i near wound me legs off, need a bit taller ratio meethinks.
I was intending to get a bit serious again but all this bloody rain has put my plans on hold...stick with the trainer for a while...

[Techno Destructo]

Reading the start of this thread I was feeling guilty, all these 200km+ commutes. But down this end it's gotten a little more sane.

Hey LL, it's not that bad... 200+km commutes and such. It's really like just going to the gym regularly.

A 200+km commute is really just 20km each way, each day, each week.

Look at it like you're going to a gym or fitness center.
First several times, it's not great. But just take it easy, give yourself a healthy buffer of time, and enjoy a mellow ride (10x better if you can hook up with other people riding the same route).
As you keep doing it, it'll get a lot easier really quickly. Before you know it, it'll just be routine and a piece of cake!

Everybody can do that kind of distances in a weekly commute. It's just a little intimidating to look at, but seriously! It'll become so easy in a very, very short time.

I should add that this is dependent on the bike and gear you use, obviously. Riding a monster DH bike or a BMX will obviously affect your experience....

[istepinyards]

I ride the single speed 5 blocks for a total of 1km round trip:)

[Skywalker]

My commute is 10km each way and try to do it 3 - 4 days a week depending on weather. Its so fun charging down the roads on my XC bike next to the peak hour traffic! Its a good adreneline rush =) I have a road bike but thats taking the fun out of it. :) I also look like a christmas tree at night with the front and rear lights flashing off my seat post, helmet and two on the front of my bike. Never can be too careful!

[lounge lizard]

Took advantage of the sunshine (never know how long its gonna last) and rode the SS yesterdy. Slightly more grown up gearing on it now, made all the difference. My main hassle is getting out the door. Lights on , lunch packed, how cold is it going to be t'night? Holy shit I stepped on a kid! etc... Had a great ride but it was bloody cold in the hollows at 11:30pm riding home...Car said tonight 5C...

[mtb1611]

Back in a faraway time pre-marriage, pre-parenthood and pretty much pre-responsibility, I used to ride 30km each way to work 4-5 days a week, ride to a road crit and back on Saturdays (100km all up) and then a few hours on the mtb on Sunday. Might I also add that was about 10kg ago too!

This year I decided to start riding to work 2-3 days a week again, 30km each way (different workplace though). Then I switched school and although it would be a great ride the roads and traffic conditions are extremely cycle-unfriendly, particularly in low light, and my hours are a little more "flexible" in that I can never be certain exactly what time I'll be leaving. I still manage to ride 5 times a week; since we had the twins my sleep patterns were obliterated so I wake at 530am every day. I generally get up and do 30-40km 4 times a week, but goddaaaaaaaaaamn it's getting cold! Plus I manage 60-100km on the roadie most Saturdays (not today, bloody snotman that I am) and mtb on Sunday.

[Kalgrm]

Averaging 300km per week now. Perth weather is just about perfect for it too.

Cheers,
Graeme

[lounge lizard]

MTB1611 wroteI generally get up and do 30-40km 4 times a week, but goddaaaaaaaaaamn it's getting cold! Plus I manage 60-100km on the roadie most Saturdays (not today, bloody snotman that I am) and mtb on Sunday.
Yesterday 01:53 AM

Well done getting in so many K's with twins. Kids are great for awakening the early riser within, never had so many dawn sessions till I had kids.

[mtb1611]

MTB1611 wrote
Well done getting in so many K's with twins. Kids are great for awakening the early riser within, never had so many dawn sessions till I had kids.

Cheers mate:). Must in all seriousness admit to NEVER having hit the road any earlier than 6:30am, before having children, I was never much of a morning person at all. Given the scenario now though, the simple fact is if I can't get it done at that time of the day, it doesn't get done. Daylight savings isn't so bad as I can ride after bathing and feeding the boys, but I still wake at 530m during Daylight Savings so still tend to ride in the mornings anyway. Becoming a parent certainly plays with the old priorities, doesn't it!

BTW, is that a line from an Oils song in your sig?

[lounge lizard]

MTB1611 wrote
Becoming a parent certainly plays with the old priorities, doesn't it!
That it does. You keep half an eye open for those little windows of opportunity 'cause often they're only open for a short time, gotta make the most of them.
And yes you picked it. showing my age.

[Christo]

Thought I'd gravedig this because I've just upped my commute to 360kms a week (30kms each way, six days) and I'm suffering! It's not the distance, it's the hills that are getting me. By Saturday I'm a zombie.. ...Grrrr brains!

I'm trying a few diet changes - any suggestions for nutritious, slow burning foods? I don't want to be eating chocolate or gu just to get through the commute. It's only been two weeks so far and I'm sure it'll get easier over time but I'm getting a negative reinforcement thing happening where I get the cold sweats every time I look at my bike!

Any advice form the hardcore commuters will be appreciated.

[Ham]

2km each way
6 days per week
i take sundays off for recovery

wow good thing you have that recovery day you dont want to burn yourself out ;)

My commute is a 64 km round trip although sometime i ride a bit further so i can make it an even hundred i ride my roadie sometime i put my time trial bars on and go for it due to the flat ground i can average around the 50kph mark.

[Fusion]

Oooh, good thread!

I've got about a 50km round trip, depending on my a) ability to wake up b) lazyness and c) overall outlook on the day.

So I can potentially do a 250km week, but more often than not it's ends up being around 100-120km as I hide from myself and take the train most of the way in the morning. Eitherway, I'm not really into complaining about having to ride down Beach Road to get to and from work each day!

[Pete W]

I'm trying a few diet changes - any suggestions for nutritious, slow burning foods? I don't want to be eating chocolate or gu just to get through the commute.
Any advice form the hardcore commuters will be appreciated.

Keep it simple, don't over analyse it too much
suddenly your physical output is increased dramatically so you'll have to increase your intake slightly to account for it.
All the good healthy stuff fruit, vegetables, grains yoghurt etccc.... but treat your whole diet not just when your riding
cheers
Pete

[rhysrhysbaby]

i do about 15km round trip and sometimes would prefer my commute to be longer as i tend to get to work and only just warm up!
but then there are days that im happy it only takes me 15minutes to get from my house up into my office.

[BrindiCruiser]

I ride 3.5 ks to work. It takes longer to shower than ride but it is nice way to start and finish the day. I often extend the ride to around Lake Burley Griffin or up one of the hills around town.

Gotta love commuting and riding in Canberra. Riding in Sydney freaks me out, but I supposed I would get used to it.

[DarrenHunt]

Thought I'd gravedig this because I've just upped my commute to 360kms a week (30kms each way, six days) and I'm suffering! It's not the distance, it's the hills that are getting me. By Saturday I'm a zombie.. ...Grrrr brains!

I'm trying a few diet changes - any suggestions for nutritious, slow burning foods? I don't want to be eating chocolate or gu just to get through the commute. It's only been two weeks so far and I'm sure it'll get easier over time but I'm getting a negative reinforcement thing happening where I get the cold sweats every time I look at my bike!

Any advice form the hardcore commuters will be appreciated.

you might find that eating recovery food after every ride may help. a combination of carbs and protein. from memory, the best ratio is 4:1 carbs:protein as a guide.

[LJohn]

12km return trip. Regardless of anything.

Once rode through a round-a-bout which was flooded in a foot of water, then proceeded to ride in rain and intermittent hail. Fenders can't save you from that.

[rideabike]

About 19km to work and 24km home. Like to take the scenic route around Lake Burley Griffin and behind the horse park into Weston on the way home.
3-4 Days a week. Any more and my legs are too sore to ride mtb on the weekend. I find protein and STRETCHING helps ease the pain though.

Gotta love the faster riders pacing you on your commute. Some very effective training in that!

Cheers.

[climberman]

7 kays each way, by the seaside... joggerchick bums.... check the surf... life is good. It's kind of too short to be training though.

[BrindiCruiser]

One good thing about commutting where other people are exercising is that the scenery is usually pretty good.

[projectsplat]

mine is a 45km round trip, but I only do it every now and then. (recovering from snowboarding accident)

going to try to step that up to 5 days a week as I get better & fitter. it is a nice run along the Merri Creek trail in Melbourne. you could almost forget you were in the city.

[antonfourie]

How do you all cope with the exhaust fumes, I find that worse than sharing a phone booth with a chain smoker.

No commuting for me, just a hour of DH every afternoon.

[projectsplat]

How do you all cope with the exhaust fumes, I find that worse than sharing a phone booth with a chain smoker.

No commuting for me, just a hour of DH every afternoon.

the trail I ride means that apart from the first and last 8 minutes or so, I am rolling alongside the river - no fumes for me baby! 45 minutes of sweet fresh air!

[krager]

I reckon I'd be lucky to crack 8km on the round trip. Pretty slack really, but it sure as hell beats PT or driving. If I could be bothered getting up earlier I'd be tempted to dump my bag at work then punch out some kms along Beach Rd.

After doing Round the Bay last year, it took me until Christmas to do the same number of kms (250km) on the commute!!

[Binaural]

How do you all cope with the exhaust fumes, I find that worse than sharing a phone booth with a chain smoker.

No commuting for me, just a hour of DH every afternoon.

Every afternoon? Sucks to be you :p

I generally try and take routes along minor streets. Not being too stressed about whether the ride takes a few minutes longer helps keep you away from the worst of the car fumes.

[antonfourie]

Every afternoon? Sucks to be you :p .

It helps that I live next to a hill, but my hour is going to be getting less as the daylight hours shorten and will be snuffed out when they change the clocks

[akashra]

Holy shite! On a bike?

I do 20km each way, six days a week so that's 240km a week...

Yeah, mines the same - 38km each way. At the moment I do that 3 days a week, giving me almost 240km just for 3 days riding. Only reason I don't ride Thursdays is I don't want it to affect my performance in the crits too much, and I take Friday off (after racing Thursday nights) as I do a 4-7 hour E1 on Saturdays. Once the fitness picks up, I'll move to 4 days/week or something similar - I started with absolultely no fitness back in Feb 07.

38km takes me 86 minutes, my PB for it being 82. Traffic lights and pedestrians suck :)

[TheBofh]

I'm thinking about cycling to work. I spent 20 minutes in car this morning doing a journey that would take 5 - 10 minutes on a bike. The trip in is relatively easy, about 20km on the highway, mostly flat & downhill with quite a bit of the journey covered by cyclepaths.

I'm pretty unfit so was thinking about working my way up to the full commute, maybe get the train halfway & start getting off further every couple of days until I can do the whole trip in one go.

My employer has just introduced some comp time to allow for people living a healthy lifestyle to do exercise on campus or have time to shower after riding to work etc so it's a good time to start.

I'll be doing it on a SS roadie to start with, maybe getting a rigid 29er SS in the future if I can keep it up.

Any tips on starting out? I think that the hydration pack will be getting a regular workout too.

[akashra]

Any tips on starting out? I think that the hydration pack will be getting a regular workout too.

Why would you need a hydro pack for a <1 hour ride?

[TheBofh]

Why would you need a hydro pack for a <1 hour ride?I'm genetically unfortunate being an Irish redhead; I sweat a lot while riding. I'm sure my condition will improve over time.

[akashra]

Okay, but you still shouldn't be taking in more than a liter of fluids an hour, regardless of how much you sweat. Generally the rule is 500-750ml - the upper end of that being people who sweat a lot in really hot conditions.
Only under odd circumstances do you take in more, and in those cases it's not pure water you'll be taking in.

[TheBofh]

I had the unfortunate experience of heat stress a couple of weeks ago & in my research to make sure it doesn't happen to me again I came across this useful link: http://www.mtba.asn.au/cms/uploads/policies/drink%20up%20brochure.pdf

I'd put myself at the higher end of hydration requirements. The hydration pack doesn't have to be full & I prefer it to a normal sized backpack. I can bring in changes of clothes the day I don't ride so shouldn't have to carry very much apart from a tube or 2, tyre levers & a multi-tool.

[rockymountain_ltd]

21km round trip, 5days a week to work and hit the hills on the DH bike on weekends

[ducan]

40km a day. 6 days a week. Fairly dangerous in the morning when your half asleep though.

[Cranker]

72kms to work and back home, Mon & Thurs. But 90% on bike bath path though!
I'll do anything to avoid riding on the road during the week.:D

[Home-J]

I'm planning on commuting to work but I have a few questions. Firstly, it is a fairly flat 18-20km trip in and out of the city (Melbourne).
Now, I have a roadie but I think I might buy a SS steel frame bike. Opinions? I think it might give me a bit more of a work out and increase my skill set as well as giving me a more reliable and durable ride.

I'm thinking of something like this
http://www.sebikes.com/2008/images/popups/Lager.jpg

What do people think?

[addmin]

hardly compares to some distances mentioned here, but i am only 15 :D
40km a week to and from school, up and down bondi rd if anyone knows it.

[n plus one]

I'm planning on commuting to work but I have a few questions. Firstly, it is a fairly flat 18-20km trip in and out of the city (Melbourne).
Now, I have a roadie but I think I might buy a SS steel frame bike. Opinions? I think it might give me a bit more of a work out and increase my skill set as well as giving me a more reliable and durable ride.

I'm thinking of something like this
http://www.sebikes.com/2008/images/popups/Lager.jpg

What do people think?

I think you should do it.

Don't know anything about that particular rig though.

[Michae1]

I ride to work most days, especially at the moment as my other halves car is getting repaired. (plus it's just as quick to ride as it is to drive)

Mind you it's only a 3km ride each way, but I find myself leaving home 1hr early and will ride 15-20km before work, then I ride home via the mother in laws (which is in that 3km) put the kiddie seat on and pick up my 2yo boy and depending on how I'm feeling will either, go straight home or go for a 10-15km ride (with 15kg on the back it feels longer)

So, as a minimum, I ride 36km a week for work (work 5.5days)

Once the 2nd car is repaired, I'll keep riding, beats paying for fuel and I'm starting to feel alot better for it.

I do this on my Trek 6700, with clipless pedals.

[davzab]

10kms each way, over the bridge and all that. good way to wake up in the morning, just not long enough, and not game enough to do anymore kms on those roads during peak hours. beats catching public transport which takes twice as long too.:)

[raven]

Have been riding to work on a mtb trek 4500 with clipless pedals and slick tyres (1.25" @ 100psi) for a total of 20km per week. 2k each way...
Its nearly all hills...up and down...with about 500m of flatish in the middle...so I really try to work the hills ..out of the saddle...acutally found my riding was getting stronger from these short bursts...winter time is good...really warms you up for work...ie sitting in front of the 'puter
Will be trying to get out door earlier to slot in at least an extra 10-15km in the morning...but having a bubba ...I not that keen to lose any more sleep...zzzzz
Consistently turning out 100km per week with a mid week 50k or weekend night ride...love those leg warmers ..:D

[ShorTaY]

I would be doing about 2km to work and about 2km home 5 days a week, So about 20km during the week.
But on the weekend I would easily do 100-200km of riding on average on a single speed STP :rolleyes:

[HillBilly]

Commute 4 days per week almost rain, hail, shine. Work/travel commitments can spoil the fun occasionally.

Normal route is 23km one way. Friday special I go the long way in - 80km.

Result is 240km commuting per week. Enough hills to keep you working.

Bike of choice - Yeti ARC-X crosser. How sweet it is.....:)

[thepotatokid]

I commute most days (probably about 4 days a week) from the eastern shore of Hobart, braving the skinniest bike lanes over the windy Tasman bridge, into Hobart's CBD - about 7 km, so google maps and my cycle computer tell me.

It's a great way to start up the day I reckon - but am so glad they have good showers at work - it is very cold riding in at this time of year down here.