17.5 miles each way it’s pretty flat and either on quite roads or cycle paths. I do it everyday all year round. In fact in the summer I often take the MTB and it goes up to more like 30-35 miles home as i go the long way through the forest.
I’m lucky to have secure, covered cycle storage and showers with lockers to use.
It’s often not that nic in winter but the right clothes make a huge difference, that and slipping past all the cars stuck in queues and road works.
7-8 miles each way shortest route. Was doing 4 days a week but drove all last week / this week trying to shake off a bad chest. Gradually evolving into no excuses bike mode - full mudguards, proper dynamo lights, fatter 700C tyres and Alfine hub.
13 miles is ok, my old job used to be that, I usually did it 3 or 4 times a week, never on a monday cos I played 5-a-side, so used to take change of clothes in that day. The only downside is it’s usually an hour plus, what with getting changed etc.
New commute is 7.5 miles in, 9 miles+ home (take different routes) and I can do it 5 days a week.
15 miles each way. Normally try and do it 2-3 times a week.
Only 3.7kms here, It's just a touch too far to warrant walking and barely worth getting sweaty for but I can't bring myself to use the car for such a paltry distance plus we started being charged for parking. A few years back I was doing 19kms which meant much earlier mornings as I was starting at 7am
16 miles each way with numerous options as to route - busy but fast main roads (done on my SS road bike), quieter but much hillier options (done on a geared road bike or my CX) and various off-road possibilities centred around canal towpaths which can only be done in good weather when it's been dry for a while (CX bike).
Can also combine train & bike with some forward planning as the trains are usually rammed at rush hour so it needs some thought in order to actually get the bike on the train! Or drive which can be anything between 40 mins - 2hrs depending on traffic. Riding is 1hr on the fast option, about 1'20" on the towpath.
Can't do it every day though, I'd end up bored and wrecked by the weekend!
5 miles each way, and never miss a day. Love it.
24 miles each way but I only do it once a week and have been slacking off the last few weeks and driving a bit of the way then cycling the rest.
About half is on an old railway path with quite roads for the rest (apart from 2 miles through Sandford which is horrendous). An alternative is though Wareham Forest which puts most the ride offroad and is about the same distance. There is only about 200m climbing in the whole ride so it's very flat.
I do it singlespeed on a PX London Road with proper dynamo lights so there is hardly any prep or maintenance to do.
Mine is 12 miles each way, half road, half scenic cycle path and I love it! I aim to ride a minimum of 3 times a week, going up to 4 when I've got the energy. I need at least one day off both to rest and to change my clothes over so I don't have to carry anything in. Start off 1-2 days a week and gradually add an extra journey here and there.
I would also recommend having two sets of cycling kit or at least bib shorts, leave one at work then after each commmute jump in the shower with it still on and leave to dry overnight whilst using the other set on the way home.
It's the best form of commuting without a doubt, enjoy!
Just changed office so 6.5 km each way became 4 km each way! Happy with that.
25 miles each way, tends to taper across the summer, I might manage a few weeks of 4 days in the summer but only once a month in December. Working away a lot is the killer, ive hardly been in the office since Dec 1st, won't be back till mid April so have to make the most of the chance to ride, but then it still takes a few months to get fit again.
No showers at work either, just a flannel at the sink and a clean pair of pants!
Think of it less as a commute and more as a bike ride in its own right. It takes an hour to drive in the morning and often more to get home so 1h30-2h on the bike depending on bike/route is getting me at least 3hours riding, for the price of 1 (that would inevitably be spent hitting snooze in the morning or watching the news if my oh wasnt working from home that day in the evening).
12 miles each way, generally 3 days per week, though one of those might be ran instead.
It's actually not much slower than the train and is quicker than driving so I do it year round.
15 miles each way. I'd like to do it about 3 times a week, but I'm out of the office quite a lot and need the car.
Its a far nicer way of getting to work that the M60. Even with all the close passes, left hooks etc.
I used to do 15 miles each way through town and then country roads, rolling but not mega hilly. That was a considerable time commitment, with a shower necessary after each leg. 3-4 days a week plus MTB on a Wednesday, kept me fit as a fiddle.
Now do 6 just miles each way, just through town. Don't need to shower so not much more of a time commitment than the car.
HTH.
but I’m out of the office quite a lot and need the car.
I have that problem too, and the 45p/mile is a significant chunk of my take home pay as my car is now well past the end of the depreciation curve.
But then I worked out that the money saved commuting by bike offsets the mileage anyway. So as long as I drive on the right days >50% of the time (easy enough, half the time I know in advance I'll be out of the office) I'm quids in even if I miss a few and have to take the work van to a job.
If I mountain bike:
8km of Singletrack, about 25 minutes downhill. 40 minutes home.
On the road bike:
5km. 11 minutes door to door to work, 20 minutes home.
I live 250m up a hill above town.
18km
Yesterday was a ballache
Rode in to work and first thing out of the blue I got an email that required my immediate attendance on the other side of town.
Had to take the world's shittest transit pick up.
I'd still rather that than be forced to drive many miles every day.
4 miles each way, but wouldn't mind if it was longer.
6 miles each way. Good distance but not too much fun as through city centre roads soaking up lorry, bus and car fumes. Not many other route options to take but can add a couple of miles to avoid some road sections. Don't do that too often though as usually just want to get home!
Used to do it 3-4 times a week but now everyday as we are down to one car.
12 miles ish each way, about 1000ft of climbing each way, this is all road.
8 miles each way if on the canal/MTB. 200ft of climbing.
I'm pleased if i do it twice a week but often 1 day a week or not at all.
Hope to try for three days a week when it gets a tad dryer.
Mine is 10 miles in, 275ft and mostly done on fast roads (more down than up and I'm in quite early)
But it's 11 miles home as its slightly more uphill (550ft) and I take a quieter route.
Not bad considering from a London surburb into Central London. I do it most days, basically when I don't have evening plans. Although I'm on the tube at the moment as I've done my neck in
That sounds perfect, mine is only 11k and pan flat, i spend as much time getting changed and ready as I do riding. I wish work was further away tbh
5 miles each way is the shortest route I can take. Every single day rain shine or snow.
I used to do 17mi each way on quiet country roads (50min or so). 3-4 days a week was enough - it's a great way to fit some exercise into the working day but I'd tend to drive on Fridays.
If you drive in at least one day a week, you can drop all of your kit for the week off and pick up your washing, so you can travel light. I just rode with a jacket, phone and bank card in my back pocket each day. Left my lock etc. at work.
Up to 11 miles in depending which site I'm at, usually 6/7 miles back to get home in good time.
I ride in whenever I can, even in minging weather.
My problem is that with a 21 mile round trip, my legs seem to feel regularly tired. It's not particularly far but it's a heavy set up (marathon plus tyres, rack, guards, D lock, bag etc) so after 4 days of it my legs are really feeling it.
Strangely, I'm not really sure it's particularly good training either. However, it keeps me fit enough to go on an MTB ride and it's better than the tube, there's also very little time penalty for doing it
i used to commute Wantage to Didcot every day. On route 544 it was 11.5 miles door to door but if I popped up to the Ridgeway it was around 15 miles but with more climbing. Never been fitter.
6 miles each way including some walking of kids to school, no option to extend unfortunately as all urban and childcare prevents
year round and 5 days a week
Mine's a minimum 18 miles each way, mostly quiet lanes but some busier stretches. Usually ride it once a week as I do other sports on some evenings, but those times change in summer so I can commute twice a week. Don't do it in ice or strong winds, and persistent heavy rain is also a disincentive - my main focus is riding because I enjoy it, not to prove a point. The direct route takes about an hour home, slighly longer in due to the hill profiles. In the summer II've got loads of options to extend it to ~30 miles home, all on nice quiet lanes.
Strangely, I’m not really sure it’s particularly good training either. However, it keeps me fit enough to go on an MTB ride and it’s better than the tube, there’s also very little time penalty for doing it
Most commuters i see are sitting in z3 trying to get there as quick as they can without puffing them self out
I saw large gains when i sat back and held z2 to work for the most part keeping my night rides and weekend rides for my z3-4-5 rides.
prior to that i was just a medium pace diesel with one pace which going at my Z3 pace to work and back - whcih was sustainable all week but not giving me any positive other than junk miles on the bike.
My current commute is 7 miles each way - takes just under 30 minutes regardless of direction
My general rule of thumb is anything under 10 miles is doable every day - I regularly do my 7 mile commute 5 days a week
Previous cycling commutes I've done have been 2 miles, 4 miles and 16 miles. I found the later I could only do 3-4 days a week as it tired me out too much for leisure riding.
Never done it at the current job, which is getting to me - I used to love a bike commute.
I love my job but the commute is about 18 miles, from one side of town to the other. Its about as bad as you can get for a bike - no cycle lanes, awful snarled up roads, massive junctions, I know the area well but there is no obvious, easy, or workable 'cycle' friendly route. Coupled with no facilities for a wash, or lockers for my kit, really has put me off - its a great shame, as I have the perfect bike and would love to do it!
I saw large gains when i sat back and held z2 to work for the most part keeping my night rides and weekend rides for my z3-4-5 rides.
Z2 is what I aim for too. In general principle at least. Then if I'm feeling energetic, I'll add in spurts of Z4, usually off-road trying to find the roudy* lines of local farm tracks, or urban trial-side jibstacles**.
* mole hills on a rigid bike.
** hopping up and down kerbs
Just over 13 miles each way for me. 5 days a week, rain or shine (and I’m in sunny ascotland!)
Have showers, lockers etc at the office which makes it doable. Shoes and suits never come home, just rotated through the dry cleaner. Monday morning I take shirts and underwear in a rucksack, dirty stuff home Friday. Rest of the week I don’t carry kit.
Decent Mudguards are a must.
Protein shake as I get to my desk staves off aching muscles.
Full Carbon proper road bike; winter wheels run Schwalbe Duranos, summer wheels run GP5000 tubeless. Bike gets a proper clean and service every Saturday morning.
Still a regular on the Sunday club ride plus Thurs eve club runs in summer.
Important thing is to enjoy it. Decent bike and decent clothing are vital.
I agree that it’s not great training if you’re actually wanting to train for something. If you just want to be a bit fitter then commuting is great, easy miles! Basically it’s better than not riding, but structured training would likely be more effective minute for minute. Depending on the route you may be able to do that too of course.
13 miles is perfect IMO, I used to do the same and really miss it. Sub-zero temperatures were the only thing that stopped me, it was great.
Mine’s 48 miles, from Sussex into Central London. For obvious reasons I rarely do the full thing, and when I do I get the train home. Only once done both ways in one day. I try and drive half and ride half (ish - 22 miles) at least once a week in winter and twice in summer, and usually manage it! In summer I park at the foot of Boxhill and ride in over the Downs which is 30 miles and is lovely.
45k there and back with 400m climbing. Normally do it twice a week, sometimes three times if the weather is nice. Works moving so either the commute jumps to 60k each way (!) Or I get the train to Basingstoke to get it to 60k there and back. Probably going move a bit closer as I've found commuting on my bike really improves my stress level at work.
I was doing 20 miles each way until recently, 13 would be nice. Winter and distance ground me down after 3 years but I might go back to it once the clocks go forward. The train is gash.
10km on the direct route, 17km on the safer route. 140m ish of climbing.
Direct route only before a 7am start when the road is quiet. All other times it's a no no.
Either way it's never more than 40 min. I've got a genesis longitude for the job.
6 days on 4 off, so depending on child care I might cycle 6 days or none.
Mine is between 12-20 k depending on time of year and weather. 35-45 mins ish If it’s shocking in a morning I jump on a train. Dry weather usually 4 days a week. I ride into Manchester in mainly back roads, singletrack, river routes and towpaths in the summer. Winter, backroads and the towpath which is really good and has led lights!
Had a few incidents and broken bits so I limit my tarmac time these days.
It’s great when we get those hot dry days though, could keep going some times 😉
4km each way on the road, 5km each way on a riverside path that's too muddy in winter - both totally flat. Do it as often as I can, though not when it's raining!
Mine is a 15 mile commute in, often with a stiff headwind. About 50% of fairly cycle friendly road and 50% cyclepath/traffic free seafront.
Homeward is a miriad of options, and a gravel bike means I can go for a 25 mile offroad route home of which there are loads of options, all hilly.
I have a van (free travel to and from work) and need it at work so I put the bike in the van, and then when it fits with work/meetings, I cycle home offroad, and then cycle in the next morning.
I am spoilt as there is a shower at work and my bike can sit near my desk if I need the van space, or stay in the van, so no security worries. Due to the shower I tend to ride pretty hard, I treat the homeward leg as I would if I was already home and going out for an evening ride.
When I manage to, 9.5km with 139m climb on the way home, on or off road.
Used to do 12 miles each way, with an hour’s train ride at each end. Got into a nice routine. But the office was next to the station at the other end, so nice an easy.
Now it’s a tube ride away so just bought a s/h Airnimal and am using that - 6-7 miles to the station, hour on the train and another 2-3 miles at the other end. Not much longer than driving and tubing.
I commute 46 miles a day, 5 days a week. Quite a lot of it is farm tracks and bridlepaths, only the last 4 miles is built-up city riding. On the way home, I can extend it from 23 to 27 miles and do almost the entire commute off-road (once I leave the city). I ride a full-sus MTB with DH tyres. Most people think I'm mad for doing all this! 🙂
12.5 mile each way, all year round (this week has been rubbish with the wind and rain) but love it and feel really guilty/lazy if I drive to work. Lucky to have showers at work which makes it much better. Up at 5ish, leave the house before 6 and at work well before 7, takes a little bit of effort to get into the routine but do love doing it. Sometimes use the run home as a bit of interval training (although not as often as I should).
As already mentioned, decent mudguards and reasonably puncture proof tyres along with dynamo lighting and carradice SQR bag for the win. A few quid of outlay to start with but pays for itself with very limited fuel bills and car running costs.
