How far is too far?

[li10up]

I keep toying with the idea of commuting but can't commit. The thing holding me back the most is having to get up early to ride in. I am so not a morning person. Plus the shortest route to my job is 15 miles and that would be interstate...so more like 20 taking back roads. It would take me almost an hour and a half just to get to work. Does anyone commute that far?

[mimitabby]

My commute is shorter, but do it on a non-work day first. Test out the ride
I don't think 20 miles is too far, but in the winter a lot of us would be in the dark for much of the ride.

[mtbdarby]

That would be up to you to decide, I think. What other responsibilities do you have after/before work, ie spouce, kids, pets, etc? Is the time going to hamper those committments or is it the dark that has you worried?

My commute is 28 miles each way. I did it once this year I would love to do it on a regular basis a couple times a week but I'm a single mom to a 4 yo and I only get him during the week. So for now it was an easy choice of not doing it because I'm not willing to give up almost 4 hours of my day with him. Plus there is this whole daylight thing now. When are they gonn stop doing daylight savings anyway???

[Bad JuJu]

I think you might want to judge by time and safety of route more than miles. As Mimi noted, you need to think about whether you'd be riding in the dark, which could be all right, depending on the roads, the traffic, the lights on your bike, etc.

I used to ride my bike to work almost every day, but that was when I had only a 12-mile commute on a road with a nice bike lane and had my bike lit up like a Christmas tree when we went off daylight saving time. Also, I live in northwest Florida, where a "cold day" means, at the lowest, in the 40s, and almost never any snow or ice.

Now, it's 23 miles to where I work if I don't take the interstate, and that's 23 miles of heavily traveled roads, 55 mph speed limit (which means everyone's doing around 65-70), and I'd be risking life and limb the whole time. Plus, as you've mentioned, it would take so bloody long to get here, and then some evenings, I have classes that don't end until 8:30. Love those late classes, but they sure cut into my cycling time. *sigh*

[Mimosa]

The distance it not that bad, it can be done ... at least I would think about it too. Like the others said, first look if the ride is safe, especially in the dark.

And about that getting up problem, you don't have to do this ride very day, you can also decide to do it twice a week. That would still mean 3 'normal' mornings.

[veloputt]

One option is drive in the morning, ride the bike home, ride back to work the next morning, and drive back home... I did that a few times. My commute is 17 miles each way--1/3 on streets, the rest is on bike/multiuse path (which can be crazier than the road on sunny afternoons). I'm lucky I can flex my hours, so when I ride, I start work later and leave later than when I drive since I'm not worried about getting on the road before the commuting back-up starts... but now sunrise/sunset does affect bike commute timing

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another option might be to drive part of the way to work and find a safe place to leave your car parked. Then only bike the rest of the way and then back to your car again in the afternoon.