Longest PHer cycle commute?
Discussion
Shortest route I can take is about 7kms but that's a dull route on roads, usual route is 13kms as that's all on flat quietish cycle paths, in nice weather and if practical it could easily be extended but I use a single speed so im a bit limited as its running an 84 inch gear and I'm not heroic enough to push that sort of gear up a hill!!
21 miles each way - weekly at the moment but was doing twice weekly in the autumn and am again from next week. Some people do phenomenal weekly commuting mileages. My route into London is onthe CS7 and in that group on strava, the distances and speeds people do is quite inspirational.
Mine crept up to 18 miles each way, some weeks I do it 4 times, some weeks once or twice, its not good training to the days of doing it 4 or 5 times a week have stopped.
Plenty of people who do 20 miles each way every day I know. Another chap i know is doing 30 miles each way more than twice a week.
Plenty of people who do 20 miles each way every day I know. Another chap i know is doing 30 miles each way more than twice a week.
13km each way, but am currently doing 10-13 and 19-22 so it's four times daily. Still as long as the weather is nice (which is has been thus far in frankfurt) I'm not too bothered, particularly since I built a very quick CX bike.
They've just opened a microbrewery on my route too. Considerate of them
They've just opened a microbrewery on my route too. Considerate of them
IMO to count as "a commute" it has to be a direct route not sightseeing for training purposes ;-)
Brother and I used to do 20miles into London each way, sadly speedbumps, width restrictions and road changes make the route unsuitable these days so he doesn't bother... or is it that I've moved and there is no Competition since he has the best time, Hmmm?
Now live only 3/4mile from work so any cycle "commute" worth getting on the bike for has to be creative and doesn't count if I go 10miles out of my way :-)
Brother and I used to do 20miles into London each way, sadly speedbumps, width restrictions and road changes make the route unsuitable these days so he doesn't bother... or is it that I've moved and there is no Competition since he has the best time, Hmmm?
Now live only 3/4mile from work so any cycle "commute" worth getting on the bike for has to be creative and doesn't count if I go 10miles out of my way :-)
scubadude said:
IMO to count as "a commute" it has to be a direct route not sightseeing for training purposes...
...Now live only 3/4mile from work so any cycle "commute" worth getting on the bike for has to be creative and doesn't count if I go 10miles out of my way :-)
I used to ride 30 miles a day 'commuting' but it was less than three miles in to work. The other 27 or so were miles I chose to do by taking a very long route home, for the simple joy of cycling. So I'd sort of agree that it needs to be a 'direct' route from point A to point B to count as a 'proper' commute ...Now live only 3/4mile from work so any cycle "commute" worth getting on the bike for has to be creative and doesn't count if I go 10miles out of my way :-)
I'm not sure it 'has' to be the shortest distance to count.
From the train station to work is only 2.5 miles for me, but I go trough Hyde Park. So, if I have time, then I do 1, 2 or 3 laps to up the mileage.
Alternatively, I get off the train at Wembley, instead of Marylebone, to add miles.
I used to be 5 days a week at 20 miles a day, but then we moved and now I have to have a train as part of it. I keep telling myself I'm going to do the 30 miles in to work some day, but it hasn't happened yet.
From the train station to work is only 2.5 miles for me, but I go trough Hyde Park. So, if I have time, then I do 1, 2 or 3 laps to up the mileage.
Alternatively, I get off the train at Wembley, instead of Marylebone, to add miles.
I used to be 5 days a week at 20 miles a day, but then we moved and now I have to have a train as part of it. I keep telling myself I'm going to do the 30 miles in to work some day, but it hasn't happened yet.
There's a bloke who lives near my mum and dad, he cycles to and from work, every day, Monday to Saturday, it's about 10 miles each way and he's done it for at least 25 years, if not more! It's the same bike too, some old 'racer' as they were 25 years ago! 
I don't think he's 'cyclist' as such, just goes to work on his bike. I'd love to put him on a decent modern bike and see how he does!
I don't think he's 'cyclist' as such, just goes to work on his bike. I'd love to put him on a decent modern bike and see how he does! My commute is about 30 miles each way. In the winter I do it once or twice a week (more so since I haven't been starting work at 7:30am). In the summer 2/3 times a week depending on racing programme, social events, and kids. As Okgo says it's not great training but is useful for getting/keeping the weight under control.
Try riding into Central London any time between 7-9am and you'll see why. Stop start stop start. And I don't live as far out as you so the roads right up to my road are pretty busy when I ride.
There also comes a point where just riding doesn't improve you and you need to be riding at certain intensity for certain periods which is possible if quiet in Richmond and regents park but that would be very early start. Also there are very few sustained climbs of circa 5 mins, certainly nothing in SW.
Lastly the stop start nature and the bookending of the day inflicts more fatigue than one straight ride of 2 hours without the constant stopping.
There also comes a point where just riding doesn't improve you and you need to be riding at certain intensity for certain periods which is possible if quiet in Richmond and regents park but that would be very early start. Also there are very few sustained climbs of circa 5 mins, certainly nothing in SW.
Lastly the stop start nature and the bookending of the day inflicts more fatigue than one straight ride of 2 hours without the constant stopping.
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