Middle-aged cycle commuters typically 4-5kg lighter than those who drive to work

Re:  JeevesBath and Brooksby

Go easy on me guys. Perhaps I haven't chosen the words too carefuly

What I was trying to say was that "commuting" per se doesn't guarantee uber fitness and flat stomach as it depends on intensity volume and CONSISENTCY just like with any form of exercise.

The state of the tube made me take up cycle commuting back in 2006. Since then, it's become even more crowded down there, the summers are warmer/muggier and the chance of being blown up has increased.

Many people at work think I'm mad to cycle even ten miles each way in all weathers. If you ask me, the mad ones are those paying through the nose to sit on a crowded tube for an hour or more, with the odd change/scrum thrown in, for a ten mile journey to work.

The rise of cycle commuting in London is about how unbearable the public transport network has become as much as it is about the pleasure of cycling. Which, depending on your route in, can be very little!

I live in Zone 6, 14 miles from work in Zone 1 London, and as far as I'm concerned the cost of parking, congestion charge, and so on means the car is not a feasible option unless you're a high earner or extremely lucky - parking at work, electric car etc.  That ship sailed some time ago.  And even in an electric car you're going to be sitting in (and contributing to) traffic.

So it's bus or tube, or cycling.  To my shame I've been using the tube almost exclusively for a while, but recent unreliability, the unrelenting cost, continual exposure to disease and small though significant chance of being blown up by a nutjob mean I really should be cycling, however long it takes.  I was stood freezing my bits off in the sleet waiting for a tube last night, thinking that cycling would still have been preferable.

I've gone from 87kg to between 70-75kg since starting to commute routinely by bike four years ago.  On the downside I'm now having a harder time squeezing my thigh muscles into skinny jeans, but maybe I'm too old for that sort of thing anyway.

It's about 15 minutes faster than driving in traffic too.

There is commuting and there is commuting...

Plodding at 12-15 mph 5 miles each way without breaking the sweat will be different from clocking 30-40miles round trips at reasonably high intensity...

The effect on metabolism, appetite and weight management is quite diffetent.

I definately lost weight, but reached a plateau fairly quickly, as either the body becomes more efficient at working, or food intake increased due to additonal appetite.

Although waist size dropped more than body weight  (increased leg muscles) so it isn't all bad.

well I gained more than a stone of weight when I became a reborn again cyclist commuting + sunday rides,because I began eating constantly to stave off the hunger pangs I was getting, it was only when I paid more attention to pre/post ride nutrition, that I started to slowly lose that weight. but cycling alone doesnt shift weight at all IMO, its far more to do with what and how much you eat.

Went from 115kg to 95kg after starting cycling to work, this year i should drop more as i can fit more days in during the week.  My ride is only 8 miles which i can pull off in 31 mins when being chased by buses along some of the route.  Car is shorter but less fun.

I used to commute 25 miles a day at age 55 before I retired. I have gone from 11st 11lbs to 13st 2lbs since 2013.

Correlation is not of course causation.

It is just as likely that people who are thinner cycle (or walk) than that the cycling causes the thinness. 

Not that it matters.   Cycling is good.   Driving generally isn't.

An acceptable commute - depends on the road type/elevation/time you want to spend on the bike vs car. 

My current commute by car is at least 15 miles and takes 30-40 minutes depending on traffic/tractors. I would not ride my bike along the same roads for most of the distance. I think it'd be more like 20 miles on a bike, with much more elevation to avoid the horrendous A61 between Ripon and Harrogate. It's fine in a car, but wouldn't want to do it on a bike. 
I'd give 90 mins as a time for the bike commute, including a buffer zone. 

I don't think [my body] would get used to that commute quickly  

If I was in a city, I'd probably commute via bike as it would be faster. And probably flatter. 

"Many people live too far from their workplace for walking or cycling to be feasible" - do they really or do they just need some decent incentives to get out of their cars?

What's an acceptable commute? I'd say if you can get there quicker by bike, which has got to be between 10 and 15 miles in a city or town.