Cycling to work

Malt_Vinegar

Malt_Vinegar

Malt_Vinegar

Don
Joined
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I put this here rather than in sport, as its not a sport! Who does this, what sort of distance do you cycle, what does it save you over driving, traffic wise?

I'm considering doing it. 14.1 miles from my house to work. What sort of time should I leave for that distance?
 
14.1 miles :eek: , that's nearly 30 miles there and back a day :eek: , a quick google says the average mountain bike rider travels at around 15mph so that would mean you'd have to leave an hour before you start work but there are lots of variables to take into consideration, ie, your fitness, types of road etc the best thing to do is give it a go.
 
I would advise against this unless you have a shower at work as you are likely to smell rather nasty to your colleagues unless you are prepared to take it a leisurely pace.

I ride about 8 miles to work and take less than half an hour, but I shower when i get in to work.

The time it'll take you to get in will depend on how fit you are obviously
 
I used to ride when I was younger, mainly cross country and free-ride.

My bike is a Giant ATX 850, which I would adapt to road riding, perhaps changing to road bike if it all works out.

It currently takes me 45minutes to an hour to drive to work, I drive a 3litre BMW, which I won't sell.

I have a shower at work, and I train twice a week playing high level hockey for Reading. I used to be a regional sprinter, I consider myself well above average fitness.
 
I do, about 12 miles there and 12 back. I set off at 6am and usually get in for just before 7am.

So glad ive started doing this - no pointing paying £30 a month for a gym when I can get into shape riding to work every day.

I would suggest you get some road tyres though as mtb ones will slow you down.
 
Malt_Vinegar said:
I used to ride when I was younger, mainly cross country and free-ride.

My bike is a Giant ATX 850, which I would adapt to road riding, perhaps changing to road bike if it all works out.

It currently takes me 45minutes to an hour to drive to work, I drive a 3litre BMW, which I won't sell.

I have a shower at work, and I train twice a week playing high level hockey for Reading. I used to be a regional sprinter, I consider myself well above average fitness.
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In which case I'd say go for it, just make sure you play it safe (as even if it's your right of way it's going to hurt you a whole lot more than the motorist who hits you) and stop at traffic lights (common sense I know but a lot of cyclists in London ignore them)
 
ramirez said:
I do, about 12 miles there and 12 back. I set off at 6am and usually get in for just before 7am.

So glad ive started doing this - no pointing paying £30 a month for a gym when I can get into shape riding to work every day.

I would suggest you get some road tyres though as mtb ones will slow you down.
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Wicked, I had thought the same about the Gym bit, i already train twice a week as it is :p

Work are willing to provide me 1k to purchase, or retro-fit my bike for road use. I figure a new lightweight wheelset, road tyres and road saddle and possible upgrade the groupset a bit :D
 
Used to do this, thinking of starting again as I'm well out of shape at the mo - about 12 miles each way. Took me about 40 mins on a Monday morning, rising to about 75 mins on a Friday night, as I got progressively more knackered as the week went on.

No showers at work, but a quick washdown in the bathroom sink and a change of clothes (kept them and a towel at work, I'd ferry a weeks worth in by car at the weekend) seemed to keep me stink-free.

Those wet-wipe things are pretty good at de-sweatifying you too, can do your entire bod with a couple or three.

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Malt_Vinegar said:
Work are willing to provide me 1k to purchase, or retro-fit my bike for road use. I figure a new lightweight wheelset, road tyres and road saddle and possible upgrade the groupset a bit :D
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Bloody hell! :eek: I was riding a £130 Saracen Halfords special... and will be again. Might invest in a sprung seatpost though.
 
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Malt_Vinegar said:
Wicked, I had thought the same about the Gym bit, i already train twice a week as it is :p

Work are willing to provide me 1k to purchase, or retro-fit my bike for road use. I figure a new lightweight wheelset, road tyres and road saddle and possible upgrade the groupset a bit :D
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1k? why are they givin u 1k just to ride to work?
 
i've recently been thinking bout doing this aswell is cycling good for losing weight hated those bikes in gym so never touched them when i went ? i'll just take a change of clothes and some wet wipes and deoderant sorted. :D
 
Well most people from my work are cycling in at the moment, as we are all in training for the London to Brighton bike ride.
 
digisatman said:
so government can give employer 1k to give to employee just to ride to work yeah?

Can any employer get the fund?
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There is some sort of scheme where you can get 50% of the cost of the bike back through your employer in the form of an income tax rebate or something but from what I have heard it involves so much red tape that a lot of employers just can't be bothered.
 
It is easily do-able depending on your fitness. My old commute was about 40 miles a day and I had no shower facilities at the work end. What you can use are baby wipes and also douse yourself with water when riding. This causes less sweating (as the clean water is cooling you) as well as making you look pro :p

However, the time thing is another issue. Give yourself an hour and ten minutes if you are going via a load of lights. If you do, make sure you filter to the front of the lights on the right of cars :p

Use slicks if you are on a MTB or get a road bike - fantastic move if you do.

I sometimes commute to work in Wigan from Liverpool - it dopes take me 1:20 to 1:30 but it is quite hilly at some points. It also removes the need to go to the gym that day :D
 
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I cycle to work. I have done so for the last five years (give or take, some days I walk, some days I get a lift)

It's only a couple of miles each way so doesn't take long. I put some road tyres on my GT Avalanche 1.0 and boy does it make a world of difference. I have also just added a quick release pannier rack and bags. Good for transporting stuff to a from work (shoes, clothes etc) without the need to a: use the car b: carry all the weight on your back in a rucksack.

My advice is not to skimp on the price of your bike but don't go mad - i.e. don;t get a 2k full susser!. A good hardtail mountain bike fitted with good road tyres is fine.

Oh and for the love of god get a helmet, even if you feel like a tit. Car drivers cannot see bikes. I fell off at the weekend at Carssington and I didn't have my helmet on. I was lucky, if I had wiped out a few moments earlier I would not be writing this, I would probably be having my food spoonfed to me in hospital!
 
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