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I ride half a mile to the station, put the bike on the train, ride 2 miles the other end, and same home. I love being on the bike, even for half a mile. It's quicker and more enjoyable than walking. 2 miles is way beyond being "worth it" for me. The London end is stop start traffic, and I like to be away from the lights quickly and ahead of the bike merge mess, so it's more intensive than a 2 mile canal path bimble. Although a bimble would be much more pleasant, and probably healthier overall, taking the pollution into account.
I've ridden all the way home a couple of times, (50 odd miles) some of the way off road if I take a mtb in, (35 miles), back from mid-point when the trains have been messed up and we've been kicked off (22 miles) and once or twice a week I get off the train two or three stops early and ride between 7 and 10 miles back over the hill. Maybe stopping at the Dog and Pheasant for a sports drink if the weather's nice.
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Hugo speaks sense/truth. Added bonus - a Dutch bike will get litlle if any attention from UK scrotes. And they're built like battleships. A good one will have everything you need, hub gears, kickstand, dyno/hub lighting, integrated lock/s, full guards, rear rack. Ebay - Gazelle, Batavus, Union.
For the occasional workout after work then fit sturdy panniers and a basket and do a lengthy grocery run on it
PS stepthru frames are best for around town.
Depends how fit you are, but a 2 mile pootle so you don't sweat much is still a nice way to wake up in the morning and with little time penalty.
Fixed gear beater.
My old commute was 45seconds down a steep hill and 3mins back. Still worth it for a grin.
Yes it will be a benefit, no it won't be much, no you shouldn't get changed, yes you should get a cheap but suitable bike for it rather than leaving your mountain bike out in the rain/in view of potential thieves.
Run, as long as you don't mind being sweaty, you'll get much more fitness benefit than biking for such a short distance IMO. And you don't have all the hassle of bikelocks, mudguards etc...
Hugo speaks sense/truth. Added bonus – a Dutch bike will get litlle if any attention from UK scrotes. And they’re built like battleships.
The scrotes round here seem to care little .. if they can't or don't want to steal it they will just kick the wheels until they taco... this seems especially true at the station ... based on my last look a year or so ago.
Depends how fit you are, but a 2 mile pootle so you don’t sweat much is still a nice way to wake up in the morning and with little time penalty.
Yep. Been doing that for 15 years. You'd have to give me a massive pay rise to get me back into a car.
I used to ride to the station and it was only a mile from home, I did have a 3 mile ride to work at the other end though.
I just used to ride both bits flat out and my fitness was noticeably better when I was doing it, I used to get to work in a better mood too but I'm not sure how much of that was riding or due to being able to chill out on a train for half an hour instead of having to put up with idiots in cars!
Do it, there are more good points than bad points.
I usually ride to the station, probably less than 2 miles, uphill on the way home. I had a few months off the bike following an accident and the loss of fitness was astonishing. I think those few miles everyday all add up.
I cycle a short distance to the station, take my bike on the train, then cycle a short distance to the office. I do it because it saves me nearly an hour a day over walking (no car). Not sure I'm any fitter because of it, but it wakes me up a bit and I turn up in the office a bit more awake. I bimble in so that I can cycle in my work clothes, having to get changed at the other end adds a hassle
It's definitely worth riding/running/walking rather than driving. Good reason to buy a BMX?
In fact I used to get bus to work for a few years and then walk 3 miles in and 3 miles back. Much more benefit physically than rolling along on a bike for 2 miles and then having to carry it, stow it etc,
but if you cycle then you save a lot of time over walking and can use that time for a short/intense workout on the turbo or even a run when at home - a far better use of that time and much more physically beneficial than walking.
Or buy one of those ridiculous long skateboards.
I commuted by skateboard for a couple of years - in my experience a longboard was a bit cumbersome for getting up kerbs etc. I ended up with a normal board with soft wheels. Definitely soft wheels for rough pavement. Very handy not having to lock it up anywhere, for nipping into shops etc.
Thanks all.
Won't be using a skateboard or scooter though as I'm 43 not 13 😁 but mainly due to the fact I can't ride a board.
Will get some less knobbly tyres and throw them on my old wheels for the HT.