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Longest Feasible Commute

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  • November 11, 2019 at 12:10 pm #30263
    cycle.london

    What’s the longest feasible commute? My current run in to work is 10.2 miles door to door.  I do that between three and five times a week, giving me between 61 and 102 miles a week.  We’re moving outside the M25 in a couple of weeks, and although I’ve not done the run yet, Google Maps says 22 miles door to door, or 44 miles per day.  Five days a week, that would of course be 220 miles a week, which I guess some of you probably do.  For context: 52 years old, big bloke but moobs and a slight paunch are part of my world.  Legs are strong enough, and lungs can cope with the current commute without any problems.  Would it be a case of building up to it, or maybe do half of the journey by train?  Are there any of you who do that many miles?  

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  • November 12, 2019 at 12:45 am #952389
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    DaxPlusPlus

    Oh and I built up to this

    Oh and I built up to this level of fitness over years – can’t say really how long it took but it was definitely measured in years rather than weeks or months. Obviously everyone is different and the amount of effort you put in during a commute can make a huge difference to the fatigue generated.

    November 12, 2019 at 12:38 am #952387
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    DaxPlusPlus

    As someone has already said –

    As someone has already said – it’s not the mileage more the amount of time it takes that’s the real, ultimate limiter.

    As for the physical demands – it depends on the the route and whether you can keep your effort down to a sustainablerepeatable level on your ride.

    I’m 52 and cycle over 50 miles a day with 2700 feet of climbing. I tend to cycle 4 days a week but have done 5 days a week – but honestly I prefer having a day off, especially since I switched to single speed. The problem with the single speed is that I can’t keep my effort levels low on the hills and that has an effect over the week. The reason for switching to single speed? I was tired of all the maintance that my geared bikes tended to generate when covering approx 800-1000 miles a month. My disc braked, single speed is awesome to ride, is quiet and has so little maintance in comparison – I love it heart

    Perhaps another point to consider; If you have to commute every day then I would seriously look at getting an eBike – the only reason I havent done so myself is I can work from home  when ever I like so I can take a break when I feel I need it. 
     

     

    November 11, 2019 at 11:53 pm #952385
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    Anonymous
    BBB wrote:
    Perfectly doable. I’m in mid forties and currently commuting 42m round trip 6 times a week.
    Good reliable equipment is crucial; sensibly specced bike with proper full length mudguards, best clothes, powerful lights etc…

    We are all different, just because you are mid 40s doeasn’t indicate anything, the distance is very significant and it’s easy for you and others to say it’s “perfectly doable”, however it’s a big challenge, even twice a week IMO. That equates to 4x a week in miles, but it’s really not the same at all.

    Also you don’t need a powerful light, you ned a RELIABLE light that chucks the right beam onto the road for at least double the daily need, just in case you forget to recharge one day you’re not stuffed, also a backup rear.

    Ultimately I’d say ride the route on a non working day, there and back, give yourself an idea as to how much effort you’re going to need to put in. Consider that there maybe days when physically you’re not feeling up to or the weather is really horrible, so strategies on how to get around that.

    That doubling of your journey and exposure to the weather certainly at this time of the year can make a huge difference on you physically and mentally, it can easily feel like a lot more than double the miles.

    Maybe part driving in and increasing miles slowly, you mention getting a train but unless you have a fold up or there’s cycle specific spaces on the train at peak times that might be tricky and you certainly don’t want to be leaving a bike at a station part ways there overnight a few times a week, just asking for trouble.

     

    November 11, 2019 at 7:39 pm #952383
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    grumpyoldcyclist

    Sounds like you’re already a

    Sounds like you’re already a committed cycle commuter, so do it. Like others have said, perhaps not every day, certainly at the start, and perhaps build up to it, train one way, cycle home. If you can leave your bike at work dry & secure, how abour ride in, train home and back to work, ride home?

    I do a fairly regular 13 miles each way pretty much five days a week, but in the summer will sometimes extend the ride in to 17 miles and the ride home up to 25, depends on available time. Strong winds and ice are the biggest enemies, but I still keep going at 63 so must be doing something right. Sometimes cringe at the thought of going out the door in the dark and cold, but miss it loads if I don’t.

    November 11, 2019 at 7:20 pm #952381
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    kil0ran

    @stratman – yep, I really

    @stratman – yep, I really miss the thinking time. Used to arrive at work with a bunch of ideas or use it for planning out my day’s tasks. And on the way home in the dark (at least where I was riding) it was just me and the bike, great de-pressurisation. Really is awesome for mental health.

    November 11, 2019 at 7:04 pm #952379
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    Stratman

    I’m currently off the bike

    I’m currently off the bike due to an unrelated neck problem, but I’ve been riding between 23 and 26 miles each way for the last 6 years or so (I’m 55 now).  The longer distance is flatter, and I’ve generally managed 4-5 days per week, driven by times when I’m not in the office.  It generally takes me about 1 1/2 hours, and I too don’t have a shower at the end, just a stand up wash.  Very high winds and ice will keep me off, but otherwise it’s all weathers with good kit.  I have second breakfast when I get in, and also have mid afternoon and pre-ride snacks.

    It took me a few months to get to 5 days per week, I set a target of riding every month, which proved too easy, and so moved to every week and then most days.

    I find it quite productive too, it can be good thinking time.

    Give it a go

     

    November 11, 2019 at 6:40 pm #952377
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    gmac101

    My colleague has done 25

    My colleague has done 25 miles each way for a number of years (15?) though he his now in his mid 50’s and does occassionaly take a day off.  I used to sit next to him and his thighs are vey impressive and he does start eating about 3pm ready for the trip home.  He has no paunch or moobs

    November 11, 2019 at 6:40 pm #952375
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    kil0ran

    That was exactly my commute.

    That was exactly my commute. It’s very doable, even for someone like me who is pretty similar to you. Budget two hours each way – if you’ve got the time to spend then it’s completely possible. This time of year though you’re going to be doing most of it in the dark – which I always enjoyed but I had very rural roads or cycle paths to ride on.

    However, in my experience I just didn’t have the time to do it – family commitments and the like. I’m guessing it might be different for you just because of the circle of hell that is London’s transport network. If I’d been single without a young son I’d have done it every day. As it was I used to chop it in half by driving 10 miles or so and dumping the car in a random layby. If you have access to a car it’s a really good option – not least because you can vary your starting point according to weather and it stops the route getting too boring.

    If you are going to do it budget for dyno lights or an extra set of battery lights (or even two sets). One at home, one at work, one on the bike – by the time you’ve done that you’ll probably find that dyno lighting is cheaper. Keeping lights charged for 3+ hours riding per day is a right chore.

    November 11, 2019 at 6:31 pm #952373
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    Mungecrundle

    If you want to keep your
    If you want to keep your jobseekers allowance, you better be prepared to travel up to 90 minutes each way to whatever inappropriate job they send you details of.

    November 11, 2019 at 5:16 pm #952371
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    Rod Marton

    My longest cycle commute was

    My longest cycle commute was 18 miles each way, and this was certainly not a problem to do every day of the week. However it was a quiet and flat route, and really rather pleasant to ride. However at the beginning I certainly noticed the difference over the previous 10 mile commute, but your fitness level increases and you become accustomed to it.

    In short I’d say that 22 miles is quite doable, but don’t get too hung up about it if you can’t do it every day of the week.

    November 11, 2019 at 2:54 pm #952369
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    the little onion

    Do it, but feel free to take

    Do it, but feel free to take time to build up the days gradually, and build up your fitness and mental fortitude. Invest in good lights etc that will do a full there-and-back, etc.

     

    I do a hilly 12 miles each way, but at the moment only do that twice a week. I used to do it about 4 times, with no problems. 

    November 11, 2019 at 2:43 pm #952367
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    Rick_Rude

    Do it. Smaller moobs and

    Do it. Smaller moobs and paunch will result. Unless you immediately replenish with lard and ale.

    November 11, 2019 at 2:34 pm #952365
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    Fishpastesarnie

    I was doing a commute of this

    I was doing a commute of this distance last year. Most of it was flattish apart from some hills near to the work end (Brighton).  I was doing about 2 days a week and found that I was permanently hungry and some days was a little tired. I am late forties and in the 90-100kg category.

    The worst thing was that some days you would cycle to work into a headwind and by the end of the day the wind had shifted and you had a headwind home too.

    All in all I loved it (despite some real Jeremy Hunt’s in their cars/vans) at least 50% of this was off road on cycle paths of varying quality.

    November 11, 2019 at 2:33 pm #952363
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    BBB

    Perfectly doable. I’m in mid

    Perfectly doable. I’m in mid forties and currently commuting 42m round trip 6 times a week.
    Good reliable equipment is crucial; sensibly specced bike with proper full length mudguards, best clothes, powerful lights etc…

    November 11, 2019 at 2:26 pm #952361
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    EddyBerckx

    I do very slightly less that

    I do very slightly less that that…normally around 4 times a week. It’s certainly not a great time of year to start, but yeah, start with 2 times a week (non rainy etc days) and see how you go from there. Winter does make it a lot harder with the cold, stronger winds and with it more likely to rain – you’ll need to make sure you have some decent kit, and also carry enough spares in case of punctures and mechanicals – 2 tubes + puncture repair kit, multitool and so on. And a back up plan if that fails! Oh and a couple of lights front and rear. 

     

    You’ve nothing to lose and will even enjoy it more often than not…and it’ll help keep the weight off and the fitness up

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