Training & Nutrition - training while commuting

Due to general time constraints, the only time I get for training during the week is during my commute to and from work. Of late, I have been riding 3-4 days a week, pushing hard in the morning, then doing a "recovery ride" home. I was just curious as to what the general thoughts are on training when you are biking twice a day for nearly equal distances.


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When I smile and wave, don't worry, it's just the southerner in me.

Me too. But I live close enough to work that it's not much of a workout, so I'll usually make one of the legs the long one.

My thinking is that your body doesn't care that you're on the way to work (or home).

My ride is only 13.5 miles each way, but it has some good hills in the first half. I am certain your body doesn't care where you are going, or if you are going anywhere at all, but it might care that you just rode 8 hours ago, and you will ride again in a little over 12 hours. Or vice versa.

Mainly, I guess I am asking, what is a good way to use this commute for training purposes? Is a hard push in the morning followed by a moderate paced ride in the evening a good approach?

While commuting offers valuable training miles, just be cautious about falling into a rut. It's pretty easy to master that specific ride at the expense of others.

While commuting offers valuable training miles, just be cautious about falling into a rut. It's pretty easy to master that specific ride at the expense of others.

That is an interesting point. I do ride on the weekends as well (1 or 2 ~40 milers), would you think that to be enough to break the monotony? I'd like to get some other rides in, but right now I just don't see how. My commute takes 2 hours a day whether I ride or not, so I figure riding is better than not, ya know?

holy crap, 2 hours for a 13.5 mile commute by car... god i hate the dc/metro area haha, but personally i like to go harder in the PM only because i don't have to be tired at work all day, maybe do a moderate long ride in the morning on your way in and then hammer it the whole way home, maybe add a few more miles to that one as well

That is an interesting point. I do ride on the weekends as well (1 or 2 ~40 milers), would you think that to be enough to break the monotony? I'd like to get some other rides in, but right now I just don't see how. My commute takes 2 hours a day whether I ride or not, so I figure riding is better than not, ya know?

You've got the mileage, so why not work on different things each ride? Spinning, one leg drills, sprints, going really easy, etc, etc. A few route variations are a good idea as well.

Plenty of other sports have "2 a day" practices, so I dont see why cycling should be too different (i.e, splitting your cycling time into 2 shifts is probably ok)

I would agree with several others that changing routes periodicaly would be important if training while commuting. Hell, I'd just say changing up routes while commuting is a good idea as long as you time them out and don't wind up late to work.

i'm just getting back into cycling. I really want to commute to work. I work the night shift 7p-7a. its 35 miles oneway. I'm thinking that this might me alittle to far for me. I know that I'm just trying to talk myself out of it. It will be alittle bit before I venture out and do this. I'm guess I'm just trying to see what you guys thought. I'm also using riding the bike to lose weight. I'm 6'0 and 255. Well I know its out of my reach right now. just wanted to put it out there.

Wow. A 70 mile round trip, particularly the return leg after a 12 hour shift, might be a bit much. Is there a way you can split it up? Maybe drive part way or alternate driving the bike to work?

Wow. A 70 mile round trip, particularly the return leg after a 12 hour shift, might be a bit much. Is there a way you can split it up? Maybe drive part way or alternate driving the bike to work?
Yeah good suggestiong. Drive to work with a bike. Return on a bike, in the morning commute on a bike, return on a car, etc.

I'll look into that. I work at a hospital and they are so strict with parking around there I really need to look at that. I work nights so we park anywhere we want. I didnt even think about splitting up the ride. But I'm determined to do it. One way might be alittle more resonable. thanks guys