How far do you commute?

[mountainchick]

I've been wanting to ride to work ever since I got my bike, but its about 40-45km one way for me.

I was just curious as to how far y'all ride! I couldn't find a thread about it in the forum, so I thought I'd ask.

Thanks!

[crazycanuck]

Weeel..I don't think of my commute as a commute..i see it as training. Sorry for the long post...

My morning commute is 20km and take the short route to work.On the way home, i increase the km's-min is 30..max is 50km. I normally bike to work 3 days a week as the other two i'm off swimming & need the car..

This week's been blech though..Long mtn bike event last sunday, holiday in WA on monday/drove back to Perth. My legs were still sore on Tuesday plus it was going to be 42c & had pilates after work so took the train in. Wed am biked in but again 42c so didn't bike home. YAYAAYYAYAY..today I swam & biked home!!! Tomorrow bike in but going to the Hurricanes vs the Force(rugby) match..

Next week i'll be back to my normal 200km week..

c

[7rider]

Wow. 40-45 km is a haul. But not impossible. I know a guy who did it 4 x's a week for years (well, okay, it was closer to 35). It just takes dedication, an early start, and good lights!

My own commute - when I get my butt in gear and start again for the season - is about 12 km each way.

[makbike]

My commute, when the weather is nice, is a short, quick 2 miles to work. Once the school day has ended I depart the building on my bike and ride the back roads of my community until it is time to return to school to pick up my belongs and make the two mile commute home. I'm looking forward to commuting again just have to let the temperatures increase a bit in the morning. It is simply too chilly for this weather wimp.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I only commute in the summer when the days are long enough to support my ride in daylight in both directions. (Yup, I'm a chicken. The traffic around here scares me enough that I don't even want to attempt riding around the edges of daylight...)

I commute by bike 2 to 3 days a week during the long days and good weather season. My morning ride is usually 16 to 18 miles (25 to 29 kilometers), and my commute home is 18 to 22 miles (29 to 35 kilometers).

--- Denise

[Trek420]

I only commute in the summer when the days are long enough to support my ride in daylight in both directions. (Yup, I'm a chicken. The traffic around here scares me enough that I don't even want to attempt riding around the edges of daylight...)

It's actually 20-25 miles to work, but I take the train. It's roughly 2 miles to the station.

Between traffic and one lonely ped/bike bridge I do this spring/summer. As soon as we Spring Forward I'll ride 1-3 days a week.

Sometimes I get off a stop or two early on the way back which adds a few miles. I don't have a computer on the commuter so not exactly sure of the difference.

[GLC1968]

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't been commuting lately. I don't mind dark and I don't mind cold...I just don't like the combination of cold and dark!

I commute a couple of days a week during the summer and it's 22km each way.

[lph]

13,5 km each way, and as of this winter I try to commute every day, year-round.

That is, I try not to wimp out because of the weather or light conditions, only if I have to transport something large, or if I'm going to a party or suchlike after work...

[missymaya]

Typically, I commute about 15 miles each way. If I have to rush home for something or have a big school project due that night, I take a shorter route, which is about 7miles each way. Since Im in Florida, the weather is usually pretty good and tolerable until the rainy season kicks in (which means leaving later to miss the afternoon t-storms).

[LBTC]

I could bike to work, but it wouldn't be worth it....I'd get less exercise than what I do, which is walk. 2.5 km takes me around 25 minutes to walk each morning. I've had a few poor feeling weeks where I've gotten a ride from DH many days, but this week I'm really trying to make sure I get the morning walk in. Once we spring forward I'll have to decide each day if I'd rather walk home after work, or get DH to pick me up on the way by so that we can get out on our bikes after.

Good luck with your longer commute! I agree that it is doable with good planning and if you leave yourself lots of time!

H&B
~T~

[KnottedYet]

4 miles downhill to work, 4 miles uphill home.
15 minutes to get to work, 30 minutes to get home.

[sbctwin]

5 miles uphill to work, 5 miles almost all downhill home. I take a different route home. I don't mind the dark in the morning because there is very little traffic at the hour I ride. I don't think I would care to ride home in the dark around here because my ride home would entail too many very busy streets. It is bad enough late afternoon. I also, don't like to ride when it is lower than 30F and in the dark. I would like to find a different route home that would make my ride longer, but, again, I hate riding in traffic and any route I choose, I would be competing with cars....

[uk elephant]

My commute is 37miles each way, but I also take the train. I only ride the last 2miles from the station to my office. Once a week (when I only work a half day), I cycle all the way home and once we "spring forward" the plan is to also cycle half way home a couple of times a week (when I work a full day).

[Tater]

I have a twenty four mile round trip, but that could get longer this fall when I go back to school to finish my degree.

[uforgot]

1.3 miles to school. After school, I go to the Post Office, Grocery Store, etc. so that makes it around 5 miles home. No excuse for me to EVER use my car to school! No traffic here. Sometimes I don't even see a car if it's early enough! Guess there has to be some perks to living in the middle of nowhere.

[Triskeliongirl]

My commute is 16 miles round trip, which is just right. Long enough that its worth it, short enough that its doable regularly. Today I had a great commute in, as the weather is dramatically improving. Its supposed to be 78 for my ride home! I am also glad the days are longer and we are getting ready to spring forward so I can ride both ways (if its dark I take a ride home with my DH).

[Toni]

I have a 20 mile round trip commute. I ride 3 times a week, and I love it!! :D

I have lost 65 pounds and I am POSITIVE that the commute is keeping it off!! That, and my daily "Eating for Life" regimen!

[mountainchick]

Thanks for the replies. I know its going to get me in great shape, and I reeeaaally want to do it. I just have to get myself past that inital ride.
:rolleyes:

Hey Regina....what kind of helmet is that? It looks like the one I have, and I haven't seen any like it anywhere. Giro (Pink) Encore?

[HappyAnika]

Mine is about 40 miles (64 km) round trip. I did this about 1x a week last summer, hoping to bump that up to 2x/week this summer. There is a thread below that is similar from last fall:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=10857

I'm excited with next week's time change I can start doing "half commutes", that is, ride home in the afternoon and take the bus in the next morning. (Still way too dark and cold to ride in in the am). I haven't commuted since August or Sept. . . .

[anakiwa]

11 miles- Uphill both ways.

(Okay it's actually up and down both ways :) ).

I won't start for at least another month or so (and with various evening activities and sometimes needing a car for work I struggle to average once/week).

Good luck with the longer commute (is there a back-up plan?- I have several co-workers who can give me a ride home if I'm feeling tired and want to take the easy way home)!

[withm]

About 13 miles for me one way. Mornings are almost always upwind, and if I'm lucky it won't shift during the day and I can get a fast ride home. I'll start riding next week with the time change - going to try to ride 1-2x/week.

Often I need the car during the day so it does require some advance planning, and this year I'm going to start keeping more clothes in the office. Don't need any more surprises like the day when I went to my backpack and find no underwear. :(

In a couple months our office is moving, and it will be a little farther but haven't measured it yet.

Just bought a new seat post so I can use a seat post rack to carry my stuff. New toys! Cool!

[divingbiker]

7.1 miles each way; about 16 miles home in the summertime if I take the long way. Hilly both directions, but generally downhill in the morning and uphill in the evening. Next week will mark a year that I've been commuting by bike full time, except for days with snow or ice or sub-20 degreeF temps.

[anorange]

My commute is roughly 6.5 miles each way, with a big uphill just before I get home! I commute in all kinds of weather and have finally figured out that good gear really helps and I am basically dry on the inside when it is pouring out. Well, at least not wet from the rain. I get to ride to work four days a week and look forward to every ride, thinking of them as training rides tht just happen to get me where I need to go. Even though I have been commuting by bike for many years it was just this past year that I really started to feel this way. Now, I'm excited every night when I go to bed because I get to get up and ride in the morning:D

[lph]

Now, I'm excited every night when I go to bed because I get to get up and ride in the morning:D

And if that isn't THE reason to bike commute - who else feels like this about going to work! :D

[missymaya]

Mountainchik, once you start commuting, you'll realize how easy it is. I don't even think twice about it. But, as anakiwa said, it's good to have a back up plan.

[7rider]

Hey Regina....what kind of helmet is that? It looks like the one I have, and I haven't seen any like it anywhere. Giro (Pink) Encore?

Me??
In my avatar??
It's a ski helmet, not a bike helmet - a Giro S4 - but I thought one could barely see it for the big red goggle strap coving it (Anon. goggles).

[CorsairMac]

avg 6.5 miles each way (10k) It's an most Awesome downhill descent in the mornings and the most grinding uphill climb on the way home: 20 mins to get to work, 30-45 mins to get home. I usually ride all year but Albuquerque got slammed with some really bad weather (hey.....we even made national news once they figured out we were really In the US! :p ) and then it got bitterly cold and then I got sick blah blah blah. I'm back to commuting again and have missed it - greatly!

[sarahlou]

When I lived in Australia I had a 30 km each way commute. But because I had to be to work early (7 am) and worked at a very physically demanding job (boatbuilder) I usually only did the half commute (lift to work, ride home) 3-4 times /week. I found that riding to work made me too tired to get through the day and then ride home.
I live in Alaska now and still commute (except this week as I'm recovering from the flu). It is a short ride, 10 mins. each way, but can be quite a work out none the less; snow, ice, gale force winds, bitter cold and bad drivers. Riding in the winter in Alaska can really be a lot of fun you just don't want to have to ride too far!

[MomOnBike]

I think I win. My round trip is 4.2 miles. (We are going for shortest commute, right?)

Often, depending on weather, etc., I take the scenic route home and stretch the ride to just over 9 miles.

It's not much, but sure beats driving, in so many ways.

[uforgot]

I think I win. My round trip is 4.2 miles. (We are going for shortest commute, right?)

Often, depending on weather, etc., I take the scenic route home and stretch the ride to just over 9 miles.

It's not much, but sure beats driving, in so many ways.

Nope! Sorry, you don't win. 2.6 miles roundtrip for me. Of course I have to make it longer if at all possible, but 2.6 there and back. I guess since my commute is so short, I win larger thighs since my daily ride isn't as long???:D

[Duck on Wheels]

Nope! Sorry, you don't win. 2.6 miles roundtrip for me. Of course I have to make it longer if at all possible, but 2.6 there and back. I guess since my commute is so short, I win larger thighs since my daily ride isn't as long???:D

I think mine's 2.375, but I'll have to check again once the snow's gone since they've rerouted the road now. Then too, my average this term would be even lower, since one day a week I'm at a campus only a mile away. But I don't get to even enter the "contest" until the snow is gone and the sand-and-salt cleared away. Should be soon now, what with today's rain.

[newfsmith]

17 miles/28 km round trip for me. Spring to Fall I ususally ride 9/10 of my commutes, Dec to Mar I usually have ridden 6/10. After my osteoporosis diagnosis I decided to not ride if it looked wet, so the end of this Feb I only have 140 mi/224 km on my tripmeter. I'm about to go for my first recreational ride of the year. I like my commute a lot, and really miss it when I do drive.

[lph]

Digression: My "commute" on Friday was a bit unusual.

I took the day off from work to do two things - take care of our cat who had been spayed the day before and was still pretty groggy, and go down to the "traffic station" and take the theory test part of my drivers licence...

Set off midmorning to do the latter. 8 km in unfamiliar territory later a nice young man in a uniform tells me I should have brought my passport with me. Desperate dash home to fetch said passport, and back again. So after biking hard for 24 km in rain and fog alongside heavy traffic I get to sit down and take the picture that will go in my drivers licence. The photo will show me redfaced, wide-eyed and sweaty, in bike clothes, complete with marks in my forehead from the missing lining in the front of my helmet. Which is pretty appropriate, I guess ;)

I did pass :)

[kellichou]

My commute is 20 mi (32 km) roundtrip.

It takes about an hour for me to ride to work (I have a hybrid, ok?), and about an hour & 15-20 minutes coming home. When I'm almost to work, I get to ride through a gorgeous historic cemetery. It's so beautiful and peaceful, especially at 6:45 in the morning when no one's around.

My commute has got a lot of downhill sections on the way to work, which can make riding chilly yet FAST early in the morning. Coming home there's a couple of challenging hills. I love riding so much, especially in the morning! And riding home gives me a chance to work out some stress of the day, mull over things, and just feel strong and exhilirated! I find myself a much calmer, more centered person at work on days I ride. S'nice.

Although, especially on chilly morning rides, a nice hot shower when I got to work would be absolute heaven (alas, there's no showers at my place of employment). At least I can make some hot oatmeal for brekky!

[susiej]

I think mine's 2.375, but I'll have to check again once the snow's gone since they've rerouted the road now. Then too, my average this term would be even lower, since one day a week I'm at a campus only a mile away. But I don't get to even enter the "contest" until the snow is gone and the sand-and-salt cleared away. Should be soon now, what with today's rain.

I've got y'all "beat": 2 mi round trip to the train station. :D There is no reason for me not to bike. My plan is to bike to stations further and further down the line this summer, until I'm riding at least 5 miles a day. I've just got to get out of bed and out the door on time.

[CorsairMac]

When I'm almost to work, I get to ride through a gorgeous historic cemetery. It's so beautiful and peaceful, especially at 6:45 in the morning when no one's around.



How do you Know there's no one around?....maybe you just haven't Seen them yet..................:p

[snowtulip]

My commute is 30-40 miles roundtrip depending on detours I take if I hit rush hour. It's a grind in the morning (I live in the valley and work near the foothills), but piece of cake at the end of the day.

I took a break because of weather as Corsair mentioned, but it's so beautiful out now, you just can't help ridding! I'm also contemplating a few longer routes after work.

[mountainchick]

Tomorrow is my first commuting day! Eeeeek!:eek:

[Trek420]

Tomorrow is my first commuting day! Eeeeek!:eek:

woo hoo!! Let us know how it goes.

[KristenT]

My commute is 5.25 miles one way, the short route; I've found a route that's a touch over 11 miles one way, and I'll be trying that this week.

I generally like it when it's a bit lighter in the morning than it has been this week (since we've Sprung Forward early), but I'm aiming for 1 to 3 days a week commuting by bike. During the Bike Commute Challenge in September, I'm shooting for 3 to 4 days a week! :) It's good to have goals!

[mountainchick]

ok, so i didn't quite make it....i couldn't drag myself out of bed at 5...

Monday...Monday... :)

I'll try again next week...I'm such a weenie

[Juniper]

My commute is 4.8 miles (7.7 km) each way.

I used to walk 1 3/4 miles (2.8 km) to school every day, and gained 20 lb. (9 kg) once I graduated. The length of my commute inspired me to begin biking regularly for the first time in my life.

[RoadRaven]

I commute to work sporadically as it has to fit in with school runs and my partners availiability to help out, and whether or not I am teaching first thing in the morning.

But my commute is 22 km each way... I go from 600m above sea level (home) to just above sea level at work... going home is not only uphill but often into a head wind.

Its interesting to see all the different distances and terrains here :)

[RoadRaven]

My commute is 4.8 miles (7.7 km) each way.

I used to walk 1 3/4 miles (2.8 km) to school every day, and gained 20 lb. (9 kg) once I graduated. The length of my commute inspired me to begin biking regularly for the first time in my life.

Juniper! I just realised this is your first post!
Welcome to TE... so many of us have stories we can each relate to... so fantatstic that you are biking regularly... I guess you have discovered by now it is a tad addictive??? ;) :p :)

[Juniper]

Thanks for the welcome, Road Raven! It certainly is! I'm looking at the century riders with admiration and envy.

[lauraelmore1033]

The ladies on this board have inspired me to do a spot of bicycle commuting here and there and to drive my guzzlermobile as little as possible. I work at home (unless I'm going through a terrible dry spell) but I ride to my volunteer job at PAWS(6.2 miles on a very cushy bike lane) and to the store (1.7 miles through cut-throat shoppers looking for the fastest path into the mall ). I find that it makes me really look forward to going to PAWS and running errands. Oddly, it doesn't seem to take me much longer to bike to these places than it does to get there by car.

[CyclaSutra]

As gas prices climb and the desire to look good in summer clothes rears its ugly head, I'm trying to figure out how many days per week I'll try to commute this summer ... here in Wyo. it's so dadgum cold that I can only commit to commuting for six months, May-October.

My commute is 10 miles each way on the country road that's a third gravel, and takes 40-45 minutes each way. If I get on the crazy highway, I ride my road bike the 14 miles each way, and it takes a solid hour.

Right now, I'm going to shoot for commuting on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, three out of five days. I might commute on my mountain bike on Sundays and add a 9-mile mtb loop to the 20-mile commute. But I'm getting a sit-on-top kayak this summer, so now the only question is whether to buy a trailer for my bike so I can drag it to the river...:D

[kelownagirl]

It's Bike to Work week in Kelowna this week. I commute a whopping 3.5 km downhill to work (5 min max) and closer to 20 minutes home the same way. :) Often I do a 20-30 km ride before I go home though.

[10ch]

I just gmap'd my route and it's a whopping 4.5 miles to work and 4.8 miles home (about a half mile less each way if I take the majorly hilly road).

[madscot13]

Two blocks.

This is pure laziness. I am pure laziness

Although if you want you can count the two blocks of riding through campus.

But I am riding 10- 11 miles a few times a week and 6 miles another few times.

I would like to surprise my parents by biking to see them. they live 19 miles a way. How did you long commuters start out? I think I have a route, but I don't have a method. Also ater this summer I was thinking of staying with my folks for a little bit unless I find something better (Knotted Yet?). I would like to commute for then. Can you give me any substantial hints?


And also for the long commuters what do you think about your long commute? you probably ride faster than I do so my commute would be longer. I would love to make biking a bigger part of my life. There just aren't too many around here who feel the same way.