Considering cycling to work... 8 miles each way

i use the shimano mt40 shoes which have recessed cleats. I don't like toeclips as you have to spin the pedal to get your foot in. With the crank brother egg beater pedals you just slam your foot down and you get clipped in!

but try it out and you will enjoy it :) I'd never go back on the tube now - such a depressing start to the day.
 
i went from NOTHING to 9miles 3/4times a week

first month or two i was sweaty... now I go for a quicker time everytime i go... dont sweat that much... has something to do with it being -5 too i suppose

just noticed your post about pedals...

I'd go with clip in pedals (spd)... was a brilliant move me getting some

saying that, you wouldnt suffer at all without... spds take you longer to get used to if anything (uses your knees a LOT... whereas normal pedals dont... atleast not for me)
 
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Guys, you're all being really useful - so nice when I'm used to GD!!

I'm testing out a Specialized Vita Comp on Saturday - I won't be able to afford that, but I'm fairly likely to go for the Vita Sport if I like the ride (these are roadies with mtb-style handlebars, proportioned for women). Hurrah!

If I'm feeling really brave I might attempt the ride to work on Sunday. Will see about that one, though....
 
sara said:
...What are opinions with regards SPDs? Something I should just bite the bullet and get? They scare me... Would I really suffer without?
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Why do they scare you? True it takes getting used too them, but they will be hugely beneficial.

Trust me, you get used to the falling over :p.
 
I started commuting to work a few months ago (hadn't touched a bike for about 5 years). Got some SPDs, and now i couldn't imagine riding without them, especially in the wet. Only one clipless moment in the first week (silly of me to try a very tight u-turn without unclipping so early in my return to cycling :p).
 
Bought a bike last summer with the same idea about commuting to work but sold it a few weeks later! I was in love with the idea but just don't have the confidence to cycle on the roads. People in cars just don't give a toss especially in the morning when they're all rushing to work. I now walk;-)
 
tm1210 said:
Bought a bike last summer with the same idea about commuting to work but sold it a few weeks later! I was in love with the idea but just don't have the confidence to cycle on the roads. People in cars just don't give a toss especially in the morning when they're all rushing to work. I now walk;-)
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Hmmm... I found the opposite - on a bike, people seemed that much warier of me than in my car and gave me plenty of room. In Birmingham, too.

I'd say go for it, regardless of the bike you buy. Just be warned that you will start eating like a horse. I had a 6/7 mile commute to work last year which took about 20-30 minutes depending on how much sleep I'd had and I don't think I've ever felt better, physically, since.
 
platypus said:
Why do they scare you?
...
..you get used to the falling over :p.
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Well, there you go!

tm12010 - well I'm fairly used to dealing with cars - you just have to assume they're all going to do something stupid - because as soon as someone does you're very glad you were prepared for it! I've slid over a bonnet once when a woman turned left into me! Luckily it was at slow speed, but grrr. Hope she remembered her blind spot from then on...

Yeah, the food! Oh well, the canteen here is cheap enough :D

The one thing I can't abide is having to watch what I eat constantly - I mean I don't pig out but I don't like to have to always take the low-fat slim-line option. So having basically a green light to chow down would be ace :D
 
sara said:
...What are opinions with regards SPDs? Something I should just bite the bullet and get? They scare me... Would I really suffer without?
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I'd expect one "ow" moment in early days with SPDs but after a while, it almost becomes instinct to flick your heel out to unclip. My "ow" moment was down a quiet country lane when I stopped, unclipped my left foot, then overbalanced to the right and hit the deck like the usual sack of spuds :rolleyes::D

You can start with the springs on the pedals set to not need much effort to unclip, then increase the force needed as you get use to being clipped in.

Shimano do make a "multi release cleat" (SH56) which fits the standard pedals but lets you clip out in more directions.
 
sara said:
The one thing I can't abide is having to watch what I eat constantly - I mean I don't pig out but I don't like to have to always take the low-fat slim-line option. So having basically a green light to chow down would be ace :D
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An 8 mile ride on the road is hardly burning anything ;)
 
6thElement said:
An 8 mile ride on the road is hardly burning anything ;)
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But 8 miles twice a day with an incredibly hefty hill slap-bang in the middle will burn a chuff-load compared to the not-much I'm burning now :)

If it were 8 miles on flat I'd have done this AGES ago and probably would be happy on my heavy Claud Butler hybrid: http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/cl/classic-womens.jpg (I was too cheap at the time to spend the extra £50 on an aluminium frame)

E2A: This being the one I'm considering getting: http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2009/bikes/8299-22_EL_vita_sport_black_l.jpg
 
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If I were you, I'd take a few decent length test rides on bikes with drop handlebars. Initially I hated them, but they are so much nicer now when you want to give it a few more beans or the wind is picking up. Wouldn't go back to flat bars now.
 
daven1986 said:
If I were you, I'd take a few decent length test rides on bikes with drop handlebars.
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How much effort would it be to later on buy and fit drop bars to such a bike as I'm after?

Honestly, I'd like to take this one step at a time, maybe get toe clips or recessed SPD clips to give me the choice later on, etc - but jumping straight in with drop bars, SPDs, not to mention much thinner tyres and a lighter bike to get used to - I'll be all over the shop and a complete liability to other traffic!

I daresay I'll know when I start to want to be leaning forwards more...
 
I have to say I would love the opportunity to cycle to work so I really hope you take it up. Unfortunately with a 20 mile journey each way it is just too far to consider for my very unfit body. Still maybe one day I can get a job nearer home, then wild horses won't stop me. Go for it........... :)
 
sara said:
How much effort would it be to later on buy and fit drop bars to such a bike as I'm after?

Honestly, I'd like to take this one step at a time, maybe get toe clips or recessed SPD clips to give me the choice later on, etc - but jumping straight in with drop bars, SPDs, not to mention much thinner tyres and a lighter bike to get used to - I'll be all over the shop and a complete liability to other traffic!

I daresay I'll know when I start to want to be leaning forwards more...
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too much effort. I looked into doing it with my hybrid but I'd have to change the brakes, the gears and it would cost easily £100+. I understand where you are coming from, but use your current bike for a while, you can put new pedals on if necessary. Then when you feel confident go for a road bike. But try them before you commit, drop bars do take some getting used to.
 
Tested a Specialzed Vita Comp today. Lovely thing. So got a quote for the model under which is the Vita Sport (which basically has less carbon in the frame and forks) plus all the extra gubbins I'm after.

Bike was ~£390 plus a whole heap of extras (mudguards, water/windproof jacket, gloves, etc etc etc) which together added up to just over £600. Will sit on the quote for a bit before handing it into HR to get my cyclescheme purchase voucher, just to make sure I'm sure.

Wheeee! Very excited!

Usually for a hill, I've gotten used to getting a big run up, then pushing hard in every gear until momentum is lost and I find myself slogging it up the rest at a snail's pace in the lowest gear, or even getting off. On this bike I tested, it was wonderful, I pushed off from a complete stop at the bottom (set of lights), and just held a fairly steady cadence the whole way up, barely changed gear, and then certainly not to the lowest one available.

Oh, they also weighed my bike and the one I was testing... Mine weighed 17kg, and the Comp was 10.5kg! The Sport will be a little heavier esp as I'm sticking mudguards and a pannier rack on, but meh - the gear range and the skinny tyres and general un-heffer-ness will be brilliant :D

Thanks for everyone's advice!
 
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