Commuting - Commuting Week 3 complete

I just finished my third week of commuting by bike. (I'm driving tomorrow)I'm hooked! I'm not riding every day because of the distance, but I may start riding in 5 days a week if we ever get morning temps above 45 degrees! My commute is roughly 24 miles each way. Here are the three week stats:

Round trips: 8
Commuting miles: 391
Gallons of gas saved: Aproximately 11 ( My Yaris gets 35 mpg)
Gas dollars saved: Aprox. $43
Weight lost: 5 lbs.

I just replaced my Nashbar Mountain Panniers with a pair of Deuters. The Nashbar panniers tore on the first use, bounced around due to a mediocre attachment system, and were slightly too small to hold my lunchbox with my clothes, etc. The Deuters are much higher quality and slightly bigger. After one trip, I have to say I'd never buy a set of Nashbar panniers again. :beer: Here's to week four!

cool!

that is good news keep it up ... to commute is a great thing to commute by bike comes with so many diverse benefits.

Hey tcmers,

I'm more than impressed, 24 miles each way, that's some commute. How long does it take you, and what sort of terrain are you travelling?

Indeed cycling offers many benifits. the last 3 weeks i have commuted i would have spent $40 in gasoline, however I only spent $5 in parts.

Hey tcmers,

I'm more than impressed, 24 miles each way, that's some commute. How long does it take you, and what sort of terrain are you travelling?

It's taking an average of slighty over 1 1/2 hours. My best time has been 1 hour 10 minutes on my unloaded road bike. (My car and clothes were at work, so I didn't have to carry anything). My slowest time has been over 2 hours in a terrrible head wind and rain on my loaded mountain bike. This week, every trip has been between 1:30 and 1:45. The terrain is extremely flat. A couple of sections that are mildly rolling, but no significant climbs in either direction. I start out on country roads, go through a secion with some traffic and cross a couple of state highways, then I'm back on country roads for the last 12-13 miles. There is a stretch of mearly 10 miles with only one stop sign, so that helps significantly with cutting down the time.
It seems like I'm not really losing a lot of time out of my day. The drive is 60 minutes round trip. Assuming 3 1/2 by bike ( 10-15 minutes to clean up before work) I'm spending an extra 2 1/2 hours riding each day. I leave an hour and 15 minutes earlier than when I drive, and have just accepted the loss of sleep. So, my evening time lost on ride days is only an hour and 15 minutes. I'd spend that amount of time riding or running most days anyway, so it's really a wash. I haven't noticed any negative effects from losing 3 hours of sleep during the week. I've also found that I'm far more ready to start the work day when I get to the office.

I haven't noticed any negative effects from losing 3 hurs of sleep during the week. I've also found that I'm far more ready to start the work day when I get to the office.

You will. Give up some free time and sleep.

You will. Give up some free time and sleep.


On the days I ride, I am still getting 7 hours of sleep. On the other days I get 8. I'm not putting myself into sleep deprivation mode. I'll see how it goes after a few more weeks before I adjust anything.

Better to sleep 8 hours (balance!) or so to let's your body rest and working while you sleep, if you know what I mean! You should never trade off "Sleep" Unless you sleep 10 or more hours unless your body need rest, but only trade off if free time, but riding bike is free time, right? Try music if you feeling discouraged!

Hey tcmers,

I work 12 hour shifts, and when I'm dayshift, I have get up at 03.50 am., and don't get home till 18.45 pm., part commuting on my bike 11 miles each way. If I was riding 24 miles, I'd probably have to get up another hour earlier, no way I could cope with that. What time do you get up and what hours do you work?

medical field?

It is good to ride any distance, a 12 hour day is fun for awhile I was doing 16 hour days, biking point to point that was surely alot of fun, I guess it all depends on what you are shooting for. Commuting is a wonderful way to live. Considering it as free time makes sense besides the fact you are making a difference in your life and in the environment.

I thought my 15 mile one way commute was long!