Commuting - New PR to work.

I know most of you just commute but I enjoy racing to work and trying to beat my previous personal records. I don't do it all the time but occasionally if I feel good when I get started I'll give it a go. Maybe once or twice every couple weeks.

My ride in 18 miles. My previous record was 1:02 with an average of 17.2mph.

Today I killed it at 0:58 with an average of 18.6. I've wanted to break an hour to work since I started commuting in September and finally did it today. This may not be very fast to some of you guys either, but I am super excited about it.

I hope everyone else's commutes today are just as good and fun.

Congratulations! That's pretty good especially when you consider you're on your commuter w/ all your gear.

I always try to do my personal best, always riding as hard as I can. I think I would do better if I did interval training, so I could put in bursts of high power for the short climbs or sprinting from lights. I have 17 miles and my best is about 1:05. I think traffic lights and wind make more difference than my level of fitness. Other traffic doesnt affect my time much.

I was already impressed by the 18 mile distance of your commute. Mine is only 5 miles each way. Good job! It's normal to set challenges for yourself, lest you become bored with your daily grind.

Congrats!

I keep track of my PB. I try to set a new one every... year or so. Yes, I know that's a little whimpy.

I try to push is hard about twice a week, on the way home.

Thanks for the congrats everyone.

What is weird is I seem to have my better times in the morning. This one and my previous record were both on trips to work. Even though there are way more hills on the way to work instead of home I'm still faster. I work 10 hour days though so I think by the time I go home I'm just exhausted and can't push as hard. I worked 8 hour days for a few weeks between semesters at school and found I had a lot more energy on the way home than normal. Can't wait till school is over and I get to work regular hours and days like everyone else. Although being at work only 4 days a week sure is nice.

Mine pb is pretty embarrassing...23.5 min for a 5 mile commute. Slightly under 13 mph. But that's urban commuting with several stop lights and 200 ft elevation difference according to google maps (a bit more than 200 ft actual climbing since I have to cross a few small rises). I don't push it going the other way since I try not to sweat going to work, but I've gotten there in 17 min (17.6 mph) on a Sunday morning with little traffic. And that included a lot of coasting.

A PR is a great feeling when everything just comes together and clicks. I don't track my time, but there are some days when I just feel fast. It's cool!

Good job.

I keep rough records of my times (no computer). Helps me optimize my route and gives me a goal to beat.

I don't really track my speed, but I tend to be faster in the summer when I can wear/carry less stuff and ride skinnier tires. Like pinkrobe said, I can tell when I'm riding well, and it's a great feeling. Of course, the opposite is also true.

I'm still working on getting to or from work without putting a foot down. I came very close once but lost it at the last light :(

Most days I'm the opposite. It is hard enough just to get out and do the 17 mile commute that I tell myself I don't have to push hard as well. So I only really push like once every three weeks. If you can do it more, then good for you.

I do like the fact you have a 1 hour goal. Maybe that is what I need, a nice round number to shoot for on my different routes. I'll give that some thought.

Having said all this I don't know how meaninful it all is. The biggest factor for me is the conditions. Summer sure helps a lot and what really helps is a tailwind. Does it mean as much if you set a PR on a day with a howling tail wind?

Tailwind or not, I say it counts. Because you still went so much slower on those days you had a rough headwind so I say you get to brag even if a tailwind helps. Haha. My average is usually around an 1:10 with a comfortable cruising pace around 15 or 16mph. It is fun to push occasionally though. I'm still new to commuting and since this will be my first full year doing it, I'm keeping a log and am interested in what I do over the course of a year. I'm also training for a triathlon so my commutes are more time on my bike so I like to push occasionally to see if I'm getting any faster. I love riding my bike and plan on it for a long time. I'm sure I'll get bored with the numbers after a year or two as many others have and take the computer off and just relax.