would you?
if you ride you'll be uber fit.
If you had to drive it, how many hours would you have to work to start to turn a profit on turning up?
No.
Yes. If I had no other job then I would. Under 1 gallon of fuel in a reasonable car so 2 hrs to cover the fuel. Then post tax the rest is earnings. Once in there may be progression.
Better something than nothing.
Not if I could avoid it.
No. I'd sign on until something suitable came along or consider retraining. But I'm nearly 40 and have one specialised skill, so YMMV.
Wtf
No. I'd sign on until something suitable came along or consider retraining.
£10 in fuel puts you off? Signing on should pay less than that. I've done it before.
So drive half way & pedal the rest?
just felt guilty signing on and just sitting at home waiting and everyday online looking for work near where i live.. riding on odd days too 8) ,and i really want to buy a stumpy 🙁
I spent a short time doing 34 a day for no wage, but I wouldn't have sustained it!
But I'd rather being working than being useless at home.
Is that a round trip or each way? If it were each way - No. If it were a round trip possibly if it was something I was interested in doing longer term.
Cheers
Danny B
37 mpg is piss poor anyway but anything modern should do 50 really.
Perhaps my perspective is out having done 90mile round trips for 10-11k jobs. Unless I was confident in another job in a few weeks then I'd rather work and earn than not.
i would if i had to, my dad used to drive 32 miles, then do a 12hr day, then 32 miles back.
5 days of that, finish at 12 on a saturday, finish at 5 on sunday.
he did that for 4 years, and there was no minimum wage then (late 70s)
better to work than not ime.
Anything modern.
Bit of a general statement that really.
My van is 06 - so hardly old and does 40......
If it was a 37 mile round trip id be riding it so if i couldnt get any other job id go for it.
@ wolfenstein..what skills do you possess?
go to work.. you get a chance of overtime when working, or cash in hand work
sit at home you get lazy and depressed
work every time for me
^^
You're driving a VAN. What minimum wage job asks you to provide your own van? Ditch it, buy an el-cheapo mini-box that does 60 to the gallon. You can ride in during the summer. You don't have to do it every day - in fact, if you can leave the car there overnight you could ride just one half of the journey.
My van is owned outright and it works just fine baring a small electrical connectionh issue an i know its quirks
If i was unemployed the last thing i need is to buy an unknown vehicle that could be hiding big ticket bills.
More to vehicle ownership than mpg.
Also the tight scotsman in my balks at driving the 30 mile round trip to my current non min wage job.
depends whats the notice period?
if you take it as a stopgap will you be leaving them in the lurch when something bette comes along?
@tymbian no skills really mate, just work my way up.. was a stock controller my recent job on logistics/distribution before our site shuts down and move to the south..(is driving reach truck, PPT skills?) ..i am actually waiting sites nearby and the one who took over our site..but they just start hiring this week.. and i don't know how long is the wait, i kinda need at least to be doing something.
..only skill i know of is just mountainbiking round and round cannock chase 8)
@ Wolfenstein ..just asking as you could possibly phone the agencies and see what they have local.Any local building companies you could phone for a spot of labouring? Where are you based?
actually been and registered to different job agencies.. but the one keeps calling is the farthest one ..i think i'll MTFU this.. and wait for the response nearby.. then ditch the far one till something came along... i'm not lazy really.. i just want to cycle to work.. if only motorway has secured cycle path i would gladly get a roadbike to do 18.8 miles each way
£10 in fuel puts you off? Signing on should pay less than that. I've done it before.
hahahahahah
if i commute the 8 miles there and 8 miles back to work 5 days a week, it costs about £20 - £25 in fuel in a 1.4 nissan almera.
you think someone can commute 75 miles a day for £50 a week and therefore should take the job ?
some people will make up any old bollocks to make it fit their worldview won't they ?
not just the fuel, cars need servicing, tyres etc. I did 40miles for not much more than minimum wage for a few months, would i do it again, no, it trashes the car and their are real issues fixing the car, paying the rent, food etc.
wolfenstein
I was in a similar position a few years back. Job was minimum wage, working a 3 shift pattern. 40 hours per week. 16 miles each way. I did it for 9 months. I did the calculations with regard to signing on and I was £12 a week better off working. There's not a lot of dignity in that. Riding was not a safe option.
But a lot better job came along, well I chased it, and I don't think I would have got it if I wasn't working.
Tough decision.
37 mpg is piss poor anyway but anything modern should do 50 really
But is someone unemployed or on minium wage really going to be able to buy a newer car to get 50mpg??????
Is someone on min wage going to be able to afford a car?
i just want to cycle to work.. if only motorway has secured cycle path i would gladly get a roadbike to do 18.8 miles each way
So look for an alternative route. Drive part way if needs be.
If I had to.
Sell the mountain bike and get moped.
Easier to get work from work, but if your van goes bang you are up shit creek without a paddle. Do it until something better turns up?
Cycling part way doesn't help with fuel consumption if the vehicle doesn't warm up properly on the driven part and will knacker the engine oil in double quick time.
No
cars need servicing, tyres etc
More miles won't push your road tax, insurance or servicing up much. Fuel is by far the major factor.
Maybe you'll be able to share a lift with somebody when you start - maybe there's a riding spot close to your route? do the shopping etc. while you're already out in the van and have it warmed up. Plenty of ways to economise...
Do 3x12 hour shift and sleep in the van in the works car park inbetween?
what van? ❓
18.8miles, you need to MTFU
Not on the work front, on the bike front. That's pretty much a perfect distance. Even adding on a few miles for scenic routes it'd still be fine.
Hell, even if you just rode it 2 or 3 days a week. Just think how fit you'd get ❗
yes I would, but then my pride would not let me sign on if there was [u]any[/u] opportunity of work. I've done some truly grim jobs that most would freak out at or turn the noses up thinking that they are above such things, but for me it always kept me in a proper work ethic/mindset which meant that it was easier to get better jobs in the future.
It depends on what the job is though, if its a physical 8hr job then a 40 mile bike ride each day will soon wreck you if you are humping stuff around all day as well. Its ok for those who drive a desk all day but spending 8hours on your feet grafting then facing a long ride home when you are shattered is not my idea of sustainable.
PS i do a physical job and my commute is only 3 miles each way and I'm often flattened at the end of a day.
spending 8hours on your feet grafting then facing a long ride home when you are shattered is not my idea of sustainable.
MTFU, compared to what most of the population in the developing world have to do to survive and provide for themselves and their families, most uk workers live in paradise by comparison. Or just look at the hours and working conditions our grandparents had....
Done it before for NMW to clean out pig sheds to keep the money coming in.
Taxzy, most UK workers are overweight desk jockeys who's main idea of exercise is waddling to the vending machine!
It depends on the route, 19 very hilly miles twice a day added to a physical job will leave the OP too tired to do much else, after a while you don't want to do anything at weekends either and if you have a family they start to lose out. Its not always simple.
For what its worth ive just done a 60 mile ride with a good amount of climbing and I'm tired, not sure i could do 200 miles a week and still work my job.
i'm not lazy really.. i just want to cycle to work.. if only motorway has secured cycle path i would gladly get a roadbike to do 18.8 miles each way
OK so a 38 mile round trip - I thought that was each way, you would rather be able to cycle. I take it you can drive and have transport? If you can afford not to work then don't, turning down jobs because you would rather make the lifestyle choice to cycle to work wont go to well if you are getting job seekers etc.
I guess it comes down to need, if you need to you will.
yes I would, but then my pride would not let me sign on if there was any opportunity of work.
+1
Better a giver than a taker.
I would because it may lead onto better things.
Also depending on where you live, most jobs may have a fair commute.
I have to travel regardless of the job because I don't live near the city centre.
Working isn't just about the money, it helps your self worth and gives you some purpose.
I would, always better to be working even if the money's not great. Combining car and bike to commute is also good as it gives you loads of route options. And hopefully in our long hot summer you will develop awesome fitness and a brilliant tan - think of how much people spend on gyms to acheive that.
As tazzy says we really do have it easy.
Id get a decent map of the area, look at good routes from where the job is back towards where you live and then consider where you can park . Maybe start with a 10 or 15 mile ride.
The savings are noticible even when I split my commute and thats only about 9 miles (and I only split it when my boys cant ride etc - I can always manage the distance!).
I'd be looking at a moped or electric bike and save the car.
Certainly doable on a roadbike, but you'd have to average high speeds on a roadbike to not lose your day to commuting, and there would be plenty days when that would feel like too much effort.
