Commuting - AAAGGGHHH!!! Not my commute!

I've been commuting 36 miles/day RT for a number of years, but I'm starting a new job at the end of April that's 60 miles away. While cycling once in awhile will certainly be feasible, it won't be practical on a daily basis so I'm basically swapping a great bike ride for a horrible car ride.

I'll toss a bike in the back of the car and ride the last few miles because it's faster than driving in town, but I've still basically lost my commute. Unfortunately, moving closer isn't an option at this point in time. No one forced me to take the position, but it really is an ideal situation aside from the commute. My current employer treats me very well, but this new job is as good as it gets.

The good news is that my new employer is sensitive to my dilemma. Even though my duties require lots of face time, I will be able to telecommute 2 days/wk with additional days negotiable depending on how things work out.

Better still, they are trying to arrange a new base of operations for me only 25 miles away -- which would actually be a better commute than what I have now. So not all hope is lost....

keep the faith.
till then, can you maybe combine a ride with public transportation to pick up the slack?

keep the faith.
till then, can you maybe combine a ride with public transportation to pick up the slack?
I'd love to, but my town has no bus or other options (it's a small place -- we don't even have a grocery store).

Riding to a vanpool 25 miles away may be a possibility. I could also throw my bike in the car and park 10 or 20 miles out. The only problem with that is that it makes the day so long that it would be hard to maintain on a daily basis.

I'll definitely ride some days -- during the summer, I'll bike the entire distance a few times just out of the principle of the matter. I'm still holding out hope for getting my base relocated 25 miles away. That would solve everything.

Bike one way and drive the other. So one day you keep your car at work and the next day you keep your bike at work. Etc...

Hey just remember A CENTURY a day, keeps a naggin wife at bay" (For at least a couple more hours) :p

I could also throw my bike in the car and park 10 or 20 miles out. The only problem with that is that it makes the day so long that it would be hard to maintain on a daily basis.


Thats what I do. I live 40 miles away, drive 30 ride 10. It adds one hour on each side. Same as it did when I lived 10 miles from the office.

Hey just remember A CENTURY a day, keeps a naggin wife at bay" (For at least a couple more hours) :p
The only problem is the dog gets ripped off :p There also would be a fueling issue. I think eating enough would make me want to puke......

Riding one way is certainly feasible on an occasional basis, but the time issue makes a daily trip impractical. One way should work out to 3 hrs, maybe a tick above if the wind isn't a problem.

Welcome to the world that I and many others live in, pal, and condolences. You just gotta look at the bright side...splitting the commute between the car and the bike is better than not riding at all. ;)

Welcome to the world that I and many others live in, pal, and condolences.
Dang it! I like living in my own world.... :rolleyes:

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to mourn a wonderful Commute. He was a good commute, not too long, and not too short. It could always be said that yes he had his dogs at times, but in general, he was a good route. Upon occasion, as cagers come into our lives, so do transfers. This day, a corporate transfer has struck down our beloved commute, may he rest in peace and not be bothered by screaming morons. Let us not say our commuting days are dead, but a new challenge lies before us, to find a new commute, or hope that he will rise again! Do I hear an Amen brother?

Hope they get that new center of operations going soon. I'd go crazy without my bike commute.

Maybe you could keep an eye out for a place to park along the way so you could bike say, the last 15-20 miles of the trip. I thought about doing this at my last job but there were no reasonable routes I could have biked without taking extremely dangerous roads. Good luck though, I hope you figure something out.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to mourn a wonderful Commute. He was a good commute, not too long, and not too short. It could always be said that yes he had his dogs at times, but in general, he was a good route. Upon occasion, as cagers come into our lives, so do transfers. This day, a corporate transfer has struck down our beloved commute, may he rest in peace and not be bothered by screaming morons. Let us not say our commuting days are dead, but a new challenge lies before us, to find a new commute, or hope that he will rise again! Do I hear an Amen brother?

Hope they get that new center of operations going soon. I'd go crazy without my bike commute.

Amen.

May you RIP (ride in peace). :p

But seriously. If you could plan it right to either drive part way and ride back to the car or take the suggestion to drive in and ride home and then ride in then drive home. Then maybe take a day off from riding and do it again you could end up with some great rides and cut back on the use of your car. It's a tough one though and I feel your pain. :cry:

I just want to say you've been an inspiration to us. Keep working on a solution. We want you to hang around on this forum.

Is moving not an option. 60 miles is a long commute even in a car.

Why don't you just use it as an opportunity to get your brevet miles in? ;)

Hope they get that new center of operations going soon. I'd go crazy without my bike commute.

Tell me about it. I had to take car today cause I couldn't sleep last night with a heavy bout of asthma. I felt so out of touch. BTW what part of AZ are you from??? I lived in Chandler for a few years and possibly will matriculate my way back there. Reason I ask, is because I wonder how bike commuting will flow with 110 degree temps in the summer. If I dislike car commuting here in South Bay then I would absolutely loathe commuting over there. :mad: Any tips??

keep the faith.
till then, can you maybe combine a ride with public transportation to pick up the slack?

It's what I do. Works really well.

The good news is that from the very beginning, I will be able to telecommute 2 days/week. On those days, I can easily "commute" 30-50 miles so there's no chance of getting no saddle time in.

I talked to my new employer yesterday about the base 25 miles away. This looks like a very real possibility, and I am cautiously optimistic that it will happen. I will most likely know the outcome of this before I even start.

Sorry to hear this, banerjek. Hope the other base works out! 50 miles RT sounds hardcore, though -- would you be riding that daily, or still keeping a few telecommute days?

Sorry to hear this, banerjek. Hope the other base works out! 50 miles RT sounds hardcore, though -- would you be riding that daily, or still keeping a few telecommute days?
That would be with 2 telecommute days. In many ways, this is the perfect option because I can ride hard on facetime days and rest on the telecommute days. To make matters better, I just happen to have a buddy that already rides that route daily (yep, 50 mi/day) so we can go together. He is a very strong rider.

The route is straight and fast. There's a section of about 20 miles with no lights and there are very few entrances and exits. The shoulder is wide and the road is relatively safe, 2 or 3 dangerous bridges aside.

If this option works out for me, I might use it as an excuse to get a highracer or an F40 because the route is almost perfect for those sort of bikes. My regular workhorse would be reserved for pure slop. It's a shame about that -- I just had some wheels built last year and put on new cranks in the fall.