Aibu to as: is anybody cycling to work? how far and how hard is it?

[catwoman0815]

posting for traffic.

background. have a car and work school hours only (Dc1 has severe ASD and learning diffs so we cannot get wrap around childcare). Have also DC2. boths at primary.

I drive them to school (they go to the same primary), about half a mile. Then drive to work (10 miles). Work my hours and drive back to school to collect them. Even though it is 10 miles, it takes almost 1h (city traffic, stop and go)

I won't have car anymore from early next year (long and complicated story) and I am trying to figure out how to get to work and back quickest.

public transport won't do (takes too long) but there is an mostly off traffic cycle road.

Does anybody cycle in these kind of circumstances, i.e. kids, school run, child with severe ASD that would need to walk to school (physically fine) and then a longing bike commute? Looks like my only realistic option.... I am also overweight and it might actually do me good. I am pretty sure I can do 10 miles in under an hour (I cycle as a hobby and have a decent bike)

or am I deluded?

Work has showers BTW.

My partner and I both cycle 10 miles + each way into Mcr. It depends where you are cycling to. Getting across Mcr is fraught whereas heading to our side is ok. Takes approx 40 mins to 1 hour plus and we don't do it in bad weather unless neccessary ie we get caught in it. We've done a lot of miles and it's been ok but had some 'incidents'. That's the negative bit. If you do it, good tyres Schwalbe Durano Plus or Marathons are good. Disc brakes are useful but learning to change an inner tube is essential. Don't bother fixing it until a weekend - have a spare at work and in in your bike bag. Quality pump not a £1.99 market special. A Topeak or Park tool one that is full size. You want to be moving not faffing with a useless pump. Disposable gloves are useful and reliable bright lights either rechargeable or battery but change the batteries or recharge regularly. A helmet light is also useful. Our lights collectively prob cost £500 between us but in traffic/low light we are visible

I dint anymore (baby to deliver to childcare) but used to cycle to work 2-3 times a week. Decent bike and flat where I live, it took.me about 40 minutes to do 9.5 miles. Could have done it quicker but no showers at work!

It was a bastard if it was windy though.

I cycle 8.5 miles to work through central London and it takes me 35 mins actual cycling time with 5-10 mins stopped time at lights etc. I leave a basic toiletries kit and wardrobe at work and shower there.

I love it, and on days when I take the tube I'm far less alert and productive in the mornings,

Yes I bike to work on and off.

5 miles each way. Do have showers and a locker but depending on my work outfit I might just. Ike slower and not change.

Do hair and make up at work. Not that I do much make up!

Biking works really well when I am not working late nights. Also works when I don't have social engagements.

Doesn't work at all if I have meals out, theatre, drinks planned.

Check out Liftshare.

Gloves, omg, the longest leg of my total 8 miles RT commute is 3.3 miles, including lots uphill to keep me warm. But on a cold day I I arrive at work with painful hands. I couldn't do 10 miles each way in winter, even with neoprene gloves (have circulation problems anyway).

Ten miles in an hour is easily doable. If I do a long bike ride, so 30+ miles I average between 10-11 miles an hour and I'm not pushing myself, just going steadily.

I often commute to work which is 8 miles each way. Flat but the last road is a really steep hill which I have to walk. 6 miles of the commute are on a crushed gravel type path which slows me down.

You need to think about tyres. I have marathon supreme plus which are pretty much puncture proof. However the trade off is that they're slower tyres as they don't roll as well.

This is very doable OP. I do 12 miles in 48 mins, though I am fit, male and on a road bike.
Once you get going the miles drop by really easily, and once you're used to it it becomes the 'new normal'.
Riding in the rain is fine too. You are protected in a special water-proof covering. Rain clothing would further assist.
You'll be fine.

Tis lovely, winds you up to the day, winds you down from the day.

Leave shoes (bulky), washbag and spare knickers at work, I've forgotten them all in my time. No shower at work, so I shower at home, get into cycling gear and onto bike. 10 miles very doable, and you've got to work, had exercise and not got stressed with sitting in stationary traffic. I reckon when you start, your time will be 55 mins, and within 8 weeks it'll drop to 45 ish.

Buy good gloves, and bright cycling gear. Have a puncture repair kit on you, and know how to use it.

Most drivers are decent (I drive a car too, but it's just faster to cycle, 90% of the time, and I don't have to find or pay for parking).

A handy thing re sweating is to slow down as you get nearer work - less sweat and general stuff when you arrive.

I do 5 miles to work after walking kids to school. Get a decent pannier fitted, much easier than carrying everything in rucksack. Far quicker than car or bus. Take work clothes, spare tights etc each Monday plus keep shoes and small wash and makeup kit at work. Get good gloves, thermals and waterproofs if you're going to do it long term. Enjoy, it's a great feeling when you rock up at work having got there under your own steam!

I'm not entirely sure how to change a puncture

Can you buy a puncture repair kit that has all the stuff you need? (I assume I can just pop into a bike shop if I get a puncture)

You need to learn how to change a puncture. Yes a bike shop will do it for you but how will you manage if you're midway? So five miles from home and five miles from work? You'd need to walk, pushing your bike either home or to a bike shop. Are there bike shops the length of your route at good intervals? Even if there are they might not fix it there and then if they have other bikes in for repairs, etc.

You can buy a slime tube to do an emergency repair with, so you squeeze slime in and it patches the hole in the inner tube. This will work for most but not all punctures. I've had two "slicing" type punctures on my second bike which slime wouldn't have sorted.

I just carry a spare inner tube and change that. No wish to faff around with a puncture.

Agree, but you still need to learn to change the inner tube which is the harder bit of the process.

I do this. 12 miles each easy is about 45-55 mins depending on traffic. I don't I've to school with bike on back of car, drop the kids, leave car parked on road outside school and cycle to work. Reverse in the evening. Means I am not reliant on public transport / bad traffic, and I am super fit.

thanks all. will trial it next week.

I am well kitted out (good bike), clothes, lights, and have the indestructible Schwalbe tyres.

will just see how I get on. thanks for all the encouraging words. was kind of thinking you would tell me that I am flying

DH (who works hard enough to cycle 25 mph) had frozen hands this morning, in spite of 2 prs of gloves. Temps were 4 or 5 below freezing. I'd have some of these handy emergency backup for a 10 mile commute in winter.

Bikeradar has an active commuters board if you want to swap more notes on successful commuting. You might want to invest in neoprene booties for your feet, too. I guess you already use SPDS?

omg, the worst part of puncture repair is getting the sodding tyre off. Modern deep rim wheels.

My ancient 1970s Tourer with 27" wheels it is only a mild effort to get tyres off/on. But the modern MTB, I could weep. I always break out in a sweat. I have given up ever changing tubes away from home.

Gloves are key. After much trial, error and incredible pain in my hands, I've found that ski mitts with silk liners are the only thing that keeps the cold out for an hour on the bike once it gets down to zero. I have very bad circulation, though - if yours is better you might not find it such a problem.

Which ski mitts do you have that work on the bike (thinking breaks & gear levers), @LordPeterWimsey?

I cycle 5 miles to work after dropping DS at school. It takes me around 40mins but I take my time.
Personally I prefer winter cycling. I'm fine with a good pair of gloves and warm up quickly. I get too hot in summer.
It's a fantastic way to keep fit.

I drop of 2 dcs at nursery for 8 and the kids cycle 12 miles to work, then back doing the same journey in reverse.

We have a bike trailer which folds easily, so I leave that at the nursery and then cycle on all lightweight...

Hardest part for me is the preparation. Change of work clothes, enough food to get me through the day, rain gear and all the stuff the kids need. Then setting up the trailer in the morning. And it really is a long way to go every day! I tend to feel a bit shaky by the time I pick up the dcs at nursery in the evening.

I do have an alternative way (public transport) of getting to work though which helps.

Best part is feeling like superwoman when I finally get to pick up my kids in the evening. And my cycle ride is beautiful and I wouldn't want to swap it for being stuck in traffic or battling the trains.

Good luck!

*I then cycle 12 miles to work, not the kids, sorry!

lijkk, I don't have gear levers which probably makes a difference - my gears are on the handlebar and change by twisting (hub gears, fabulously practical German bike). Ski mitts are OK with the brakes. They're not an identifiable brand: I got them on Ebay after previously spending ridiculous amounts on specialist cycling gloves.

I cycle to work intermittently now, but used to cycle there & back every day even in bad weather. Neoprene waterproof shoe covers made such a difference, as one of the worst things was getting soaked on the way in, then having to put wet socks & bike shoes on again for the journey home. Lidl/Aldi often have these on sale during their cycling promotions. I also have a pair of showerproof over trousers which pack right down so that they take up very little room in my bag. And a neck gaiter/Buff to stop cold wet draughts down my neck. 2 pairs of gloves for winter biking (thin pair under heavy-duty winter pair). I was very fit back then & regret not being able to keep up that level of activity