Mine’s about 30 miles, similar climb I guess, but I don’t get much chance to do it these days.

I used to do it roughly once a week, though. Initially just one way, then home one evening and back out in the morning, then both in one day.

If you’re single it’s easy. If you’re married it’s doable. If you’ve got one child you won’t have time/energy to do both directions twice a week. If you have two kids you can forget it. At least, that’s my experience 🙂

I commuted various distances for 18 years with only the very occasional car trip, probably less than 10 days over that time.  The shortest was 4 miles each way. The longest was just shy of 20 miles each way. I did it 5 days a week for 6 months over winter. It nearly killed me. I was an absolute wreck. Towards the end I had a permanent cold, I caught every bug available,  had constant niggly injuries, absolutely no fitness, I’d just used up every last bit of energy. I ended up hating my bike and anything to do with it.

I changed jobs and stopped commuting by bike, in fact I didn’t ride for 18 months. I was utterly sick of it.

It’s doable once or twice a week in good weather, if you have a very good base fitness before starting. But be warned it’s a very easy way to start hating your biking if you are forced to do it. If you are faced with that sort of ride home after a long day in crap weather it’s really not a very nice place to be.

My scenic route to work is 55 km x 900 m and takes about 2.5 hours. I do that occasionally, and once or twice I’ve even done it on successive days. I have the advantage that I work flexible hours but even so I would hate to have to do it, especially in the winter. I have never ridden the scenic route both ways either- the return would be about 1150 m climbing- and that’s just too much for a fat old bloke after a day’s work

I used to do 20 miles each way 5 days a week. Except I reduced the return trip by taking the train so that was only 5 miles. It was a bit of a drag but doable.

Now I’m 12 miles each way with more climbing (600m a day) which I do 4 days a week and I love it.

I really wouldn’t want to do more than an hour each way unless you can curtail one of the legs in the same way I did. It would become a chore.

Current commute is 42 miles each way.  I do this at least once each week, sometimes twice now that Im training for something in spring. Unfortunately half of that is through London which cannot be avoided but as long as you have kit, lights etc organised its a fantastic way to get fit. As mentioned, the toughest part for me is the 4h30am wakeup call (and I generally like getting up early, but that is a ridiculous time to be awake)

I used to do similar (25 miles each way) on an occasional basis. I was lucky in that it was lovely country roads, had some towpath options for good weather and I was usually only at that particular site one or two days a week at most.

There was secure bike storage, lockers, a place to hang kit up to dry and a washroom but no showers so I had to be a bit careful on the way in not to smash it and get there hot and stinky. It was mostly very nice although I’d have hated *having* to do the ride.

If you were doing it both ways 2+ times a week, it sounds to me what e-bikes were made for! Alternatively, look at driving part way & riding the rest, driving in one day, riding home / riding in next day and driving home. Or bike and train if that’s an option?

36 each way, tough. I used to do 25 each way, could either be on road or off (SDW Whinchester end). I used to do it a couple of times a week & it was manageable, although the time aspect was fairly invasive.

Years ago I used to do 22 each way on the road & it was an every day thing. As someone else mentioned, it’s bloody soul destroying in winter, on a Friday afternoon, when it’s freezing cold, blowing a gale & pissing with rain. I was fit, but ill a lot, ate everything & hated riding my bike. I stopped riding for fun at the weekend I hated it that much.

It’s a lot easier when you don’t ‘have’ to do it. In the summer next year i’ll probably ride in maybe once or twice a week when the weather is nice (23 miles each way).

Is this what that Ribble racer e-bike is designed for? Will help boost you up hill and out of corners / bagging inclines. But should still be pedalable at normal ish road bike speeds once the electric assistance cuts out?

For mtb I’m not convinced on ebikes just because I need the fitness and don’t have one to do big / long rides. But for a commute like that I’d absolutely be considering the Ribble.

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikes/electric-bikes/

It doesn’t even look like an e-bike in those pictures.

I found 20 miles each way doable on an every other day basis.

I moved and started doing 25 miles each way, still on an every other day basis. That wasn’t nearly so comfortable, so I parked halfway and did a 25 mile round trip most days, and that was ok.

This was in my late 30s and through my 40s when I was probably at my fittest. Everyone will be different though. Do too much and your health will probably tell you.

You can do that occasionally, and you’ll enjoy it, but be realistic about how long it’ll take you.

I spend about an hour (including showering/changing) to commute about 10 miles which I could do in the car in around half an hour most of the time. I’d need to shower once a day anyway, sometimes twice a day, so I’m probably adding about half an hour a day but getting 1-1.5 hours exercise out of it, and I find when I occasionally drive or take the train in I’m just not as ready to work!

I think much will depend on your genetics/physiology. For some it would certainly be sustainable two or three times a week, others are likely to get a bit run down. How tiring is your job? Do you have to work when you get home? Fast bike is a must over that kind of distance IMO – winter road bike frame, full guards etc. I have sustained a 20 mile each way commute for 3 or4 months at a time, then work gets busy and I just can’t spare the time. For some strange reason I find it easier to get into the routine in winter – suppose with dark nights there is less to rush back to family for. The fitness and fresh air are great when it’s going well.

Ride in one day, ride back the next?

Or do you have to be able to drive?

My commute is 25 miles each way (85 mins) by bike or 30 miles each way (55 mins) by car. I do the round trip by bike 1-3 times a week

I find that I’m more inclined to do it on the bike through Autumn/Winter/Spring than in the summer.

During summer months when the days are longer and weather better, the extra time that the commute takes has a greater opportunity cost. I would rather drive and get back home to go for a decent mountain bike ride or do something else outside to enjoy the weather.

During the dark months and poorer weather, mountain bike night rides are much more faff (still manage 1-2 a week though) so I see the additional 1 hour a day that the bike commute takes over driving as worthless time that I have managed to get 3 hours of riding out of.

I certainly wouldn’t like to have to do it every day, and OP’s journey is longer still. If there is an option or drive-ride then ride-drive over two days then that would be a good start to help figure out the feasibility

It’s certainly possible as an occasional ride but I wouldn’t like the arrangement. Much better to have a reasonable daily commute.

I did used to ride Bedford to Cambridge occasionally when I lived in the former and had work meetings in the latter, but this was always a short day (I mean short at work: long enough in total!) and only very rarely. 30 miles but pancake flat and easily under 2h on a very ordinary commuter bike (which was all I had back then).

Ride one way sounds like a half-decent option if you can arrange it. But honestly with a commute like that I’d move house or job anyway. Single, no commitments, what is stopping you from moving?

Do 125km round trip to work once a week from spring to autumn.

~42 miles and 650m climbing each way, mainly on a Friday.

Takes me about 2hours 20 and take full advantage of the lockers and showers at work.

I’m still tired on a Sunday when doing the club 50 mile run.

Needs planning with weather (wind direction mainly) and when schools are on (traffic massively increases).

Drive in, bike home. Bike in, drive home. Repeat?

This. And travel light.

so long as you can cope without the car overnight.

Also, I just discovered that my autocorrect now changes “long” to “KOM”. I may need to have a word with myself.