Long-Distance Commuting

[The Buckster]

What's the longest distance you regularly commute on a recumbent? And what type of recumbent is it?

[bobbycorno]

12 mi one way. I ride a RANS Force5 highracer. No problems at all riding in stop-and-go traffic. (But, Bend is only 75,000 people.)

Scott P
Bend, OR

[unixpro]

I go just over 14 miles each way, 5 days a week. I start in the suburbs and end just north of downtown Seattle. My ride is a Giro 20, with fenders and an aero trunk that carries all my stuff.

[madhouse]

My commute is 15 miles one way... slight rolling hill countryside. Sun's EZ-Rider.

[Shantar42]

My husband commutes 21 + miles one way on his recumbent. He rides a Bacchetta Giro 26. He'll stretch it out even longer most times though.

[Wilbur Bud]

13 miles each way. LWB/USS Ryan Vanguard.

[Drifty Baker]

I have a 15 mile one way commute and have ridden my Giro 26 at least one round trip each week since May 5 of this year.

[ronsmithjunior]

27 miles, one way, on my Bacchetta Corsa, twice a week.

[bobbycorno]

12 mi one way. I ride a RANS Force5 highracer. No problems at all riding in stop-and-go traffic. (But, Bend is only 75,000 people.)

Scott P
Bend, OR

...and this was "commute options" week at work - an effort to get people out of the single-occupant-vehicle mindset. I got special mention because of my 120 mile recumbent commuting week. Yippee!.

SP

[charly17201]

geez...... I feel like a real slacker.:innocent:

I only ride 7 miles one way. I live north of town and work south of town - shows how big Chambersburg is..... :D but I like smallish/country settings

[Dr. Derailleur]

I am too afraid to commute to work. My commute is 14 miles one way. I've driven many experimental routes. Unfortunately I need to go through some heavily congested areas and cross two highways to get here. The other option would be to go really far out into the country to avoid the urban areas. making it about 20-22 miles one way, which is definitely an option. I have no issues riding country roads with moderate to light traffic.

[SingleSpeeDemon]

I just checked my route...17.2 miles one way, with most of it on divided 4-lane roads. Ugh.

[JanMM]

9.3 miles each way on a CLWB RANS Tailwind. Excellent suburban/urban commuting bike.

[ronsmithjunior]

I am too afraid to commute to work. My commute is 14 miles one way. I've driven many experimental routes. Unfortunately I need to go through some heavily congested areas and cross two highways to get here. The other option would be to go really far out into the country to avoid the urban areas. making it about 20-22 miles one way, which is definitely an option. I have no issues riding country roads with moderate to light traffic.

I live south of San Diego (Chula Vista) and work north of it (Sorrento Valley). From home to work I go through 12 stop signs, 68 traffic lights, cross railroad crossings 6 times, pass over or under I-5 4 times, and ride along I-5 once.

Obviously, I am very comfortable riding in urban environments. :D

[unixpro]

I live south of San Diego (Chula Vista) and work north of it (Sorrento Valley). From home to work I go through 12 stop signs, 68 traffic lights, cross railroad crossings 6 times, pass over or under I-5 4 times, and ride along I-5 once.

Obviously, I am very comfortable riding in urban environments. :D

You've COUNTED the lights and signs?? Must be a pretty boring route! I like to watch the pretty girls on the sidewalks :rolleyes:. I love baseball season because my route takes me right past Safeco field, which is filled with "distractions" when they have a home game :thumb:.

[ronsmithjunior]

You've COUNTED the lights and signs?? Must be a pretty boring route! I like to watch the pretty girls on the sidewalks :rolleyes:. I love baseball season because my route takes me right past Safeco field, which is filled with "distractions" when they have a home game :thumb:.

Believe it or not, I actually counted them on the way to work. See, to get to the office by 6:00 am I have to get up at 3:30, leave the house by 3:50, and do the commute in 1:45 or so in order to have time to shower before showing up at my desk. There are no pretty girls out at that time of the morning, only me and the homeless people downtown.

Now, on the way home in the afternoon.....:D

[hold4d]

right now I ride five miles to Fort Jackson on a Bacchetta Giro 20. The combat boots are pretty comfortable cycling shoes. When I go civilian in the fall, it will be a two mile ride to the Veterans Hospital.

I'm really looking forward to being able to cycle home for lunch if I want to.

[Cyclaholic]

I'm only riding 30 miles a day at the moment but I'm ramping up to 50 miles a day as my 'bent legs get better. I've only been riding a 'bent for a few weeks.

[Rogerinchrist]

...and this was "commute options" week at work - an effort to get people out of the single-occupant-vehicle mindset. I got special mention because of my 120 mile recumbent commuting week. Yippee!.

SP

Congrats!!!

[BikeZen.org]

50 miles round-trip, 2-3 times per week.

It's a great way to start and end the work day! :)

[saljam]

I regularly travel 30km each way to work and back; I usually work nights and the first 10km is fairly rural--i.e., no streetlights--which has presented challenges for lighting. I ride either a Trice Q or titanium Kettweisel, both of which are outfitted with front fairing.

[dragonwlkr]

I usually work nights and the first 10km is fairly rural--i.e., no streetlights--which has presented challenges for lighting.

I was Driving at night for the first time with one of these (http://www.batteryjunction.com/ufoledcaliwi.html) fixed to the front of the kingpin facing forward. You need rechargeable batteries as it eats them, but does a fair job of showing the stuff in the road in the way. I am thinking a pair would about do the job.

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/theshorelinemarket_2005_50185277
On looking I see there are 60 led lights available as well
http://m2.sourcingmap.com/smap/images/item/n/07c/ux_a07070200ux0008_ux_n.jpg

[steelbikeguy]

It's only 5 miles to get to work, so I arrive fairly fresh. The route home varies depending on weather, etc., but is typically 20 miles. The prefered route home includes a few miles overlooking the Illinois river, and a number of miles along the river bluffs. Very scenic and pleasant!

The only disadvantage is that the ride home includes pedaling back up the bluffs, which usually includes about a quarter mile of 14% grade. I'm riding a Bacchetta Giro 26, with a low gear of 23". As such, my speed is 4 mph or so, and I'm working hard to keep the bike upright. The downhill route to work is much faster and more fun. :-)

Steve K.

[Artkansas]

What's the longest distance you regularly commute on a recumbent? And what type of recumbent is it?


A whopping 3 miles. :eek: But it's a hilly 3 miles. :innocent:

Every other week or so I do ride into downtown Little Rock to work at the Arkansas Twisters game. That's about 10 mile one way.

[squirl]

13.5 miles each way from des moines to dowtown seattle on my trike, 3 + times a week. Great ride 3 or 4 miles of rough traffic through south park and boeing field. So much nicer on my trike than my DF. UNIPRO, Ive seen you zipping through town, nice to see others out there.

[biskil1]

I commute 13-16 miles one-way from Virginia Beach to Norfolk, an extremely flat ride. I have a 2006 Rans V-Rex with one pannier on the left side. If I rode the most direct route, it would only be 11 miles, but I probably would get hit by a car before I got there.
I have to take an access road around the top of the airport, and then cut through a bunch of neighborhoods. It's a nice ride, but lots of stopping, which the V-Rex is great for. I'm starting to see a lot more bike commuters lately, but no other bents. Ah wells.

[livin4eternity]

I go 12 miles or 16 miles one way depending on my route. I do this about 3-4 times a week. My bike is an Actionbent Jetstream 3. I ride from Issaquah to Carnation; which Seattlites will tell you is a reverse commute, so traffic, although busy, is not crazy. Lots of hills though.

[dcrowell]

My shortest commute is 16.5 miles one-way, and mostly flat. I've been researching other routes (for safety), but then I'm looking at over 20 miles.

I ride a Bacchetta Agio with one pannier (for clothing, laptop, and lunch), and a rack bag for tools, tubes, lock, grease rag, cell phone, wallet, keys, etc.

I just started commuting by bike this year, and I can't seem to do it every day. I'm thinking about selling my house and moving closer to work.

[kilen]

I commute 10 miles one way to work on a Rans Rocket. It's a perfect way to start and end the work day, assuming the weather is good. This is the bridge that I cross twice a day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimfrazier/51942191/sizes/o/
With it being darker in the mornings now, I just rigged up my old head lamp (Diamond Head Shot) on my Rocket. Mounted the headlight on the handlebar, and ran the wire for the six AA battery box down to behind the seat. I'm using rechargeable NiMH batteries in it and so far it's working great.