How far do you commute?

[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!!

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.


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

[lph]

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

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

[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! ) 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???