Fifty Plus (50+) - I'm biking 13.2+miles one way each day - anyone else?

Hello everyone, I'm new to this site. Just wondering if anyone else is biking to/from work. I started biking in 1971 during the first gas crisis. Been biking off/on since then. Anyone out there biking? I'm 60 1/2 yrs old. Loving the ride!

Welcome!! Good for you for continuing to ride all these years. Wow!

I'd love to ride to work and back, but the 26-mile route would take me almost 2 hours one way. If I lived 10 miles or less from work I'd definitely try it.

Hello everyone, I'm new to this site. Just wondering if anyone else is biking to/from work. I started biking in 1971 during the first gas crisis. Been biking off/on since then. Anyone out there biking? I'm 60 1/2 yrs old. Loving the ride!

HERE (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20) is where you want to look for other commuters (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20) ....

Howdy. I commute 5 miles into work, and vary the ride home..sometimes
as much as 25 miles, sometimes as little as 5 miles.

Welcome and Happy Trails.

Biking to and from work semi-regularly since 1973. Currently a couple of times a week 9.3mi. each way.

Hello :) Thats a long time riding wow. 15 miles each way for me.

Hello everyone, I'm new to this site. Just wondering if anyone else is biking to/from work. I started biking in 1971 during the first gas crisis. Been biking off/on since then. Anyone out there biking? I'm 60 1/2 yrs old. Loving the ride!

Welcome.

We had a thread about this a couple of months ago ...quite a few 50+ers checked in, and provided some commuting tips and facts as well.

here was the thread...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=395009

bb

Welcome! I envy people who can commute by bike.

I wish commuting by bike was an option for me. It's 30 miles one way and I just don't have enough time for riding the bike to work:(

I bike to and from work, 11 miles each way, 4 days a week. I am wondering how cold-proof I am come winter. I'm betting I'm back on light rail or the car by the end of November. Keep riding!

Congratulations. My current commute is a mere 3 miles each way, but I've had them up at 9 miles and 17 miles each way. Welcome.

Hiya, nats1mom.

I don't do daily work commutes, but the distances you're referring to are about what I like to ride on a daily basis, whenever possible. It'll vary for different people, but to me that sounds like about an hour morning and evening, and that's a really enjoyable thing to do!

:thumb:

I've just starting to dabble in it. Twice this week, 7.7 miles one way. Most of it is pretty safe. A couple of long light waits to cross major roads, but I don't actually ride on any major roads. I've brought in a cache of clothes to wear, so I can ride in light on my road bike. Hopefully I can make it a permanent habit. Doubt I'll do it in the dark or the winter though.

Hello everyone, I'm new to this site. Just wondering if anyone else is biking to/from work. I started biking in 1971 during the first gas crisis. Been biking off/on since then. Anyone out there biking? I'm 60 1/2 yrs old. Loving the ride!

Yep, me. 24 miles R/T daily to work; 61 yrs old. Good to see that there is at least another regular commuter on this list. I agree with another poster's implication that this list is almost barren of any useful commuting discussion, but disagree that commuting is not an appropriate topic for this list.

I think it would be improved with more such discussion of 50+ cyclists perspective on commuting.

13.8 each way, only been doing it this year and part of last year. I am 48 and love it. Gotta find some way to have my morning coffee on the way though.

13.8 each way, only been doing it this year and part of last year. I am 48 and love it. Gotta find some way to have my morning coffee on the way though.


http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/SuzieGreen/cupholder2.jpg



I get to ride occasionally, 12 miles each way. Welcome to the forum! I've also been riding steadily since 1975, though you have a few years on me! :D

I try to ride 40 miles round trip once a week to a bike shop that I wrench at. It takes two hours one way. But being in the Metro Detroit area which is not exactly bike friendly it seems like a long two hours.

Dave 53

link
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/mi/st+clair+shores/759717170128

Welcome!! Good for you for continuing to ride all these years. Wow!

I'd love to ride to work and back, but the 26-mile route would take me almost 2 hours one way. If I lived 10 miles or less from work I'd definitely try it.

A guy I work with drives about 1/2 way from his house and parks at the outer reaches of a big box store (Home Depot) parking lot and rides a 5 mile flat route to and from work. It has made a big difference for him and he's riding more and more and feels good. He couldn't ride the whole way to work and back without beating himself up physically because of both the distance and hills. By the way, he did talk to a manager at Home Depot and the guy said OK, and was actually surprised he bothered to ask.

I commute 12.5 miles each way, typically about 3-4 times per week. 1/2 fo the ride (near my office) is flat and a very pleasant with little traffic and easy street crossings. The first half in in the morning is rolling hills, tending downward about 1,000 ft. This of course means the ride home ends with some steady climbing for 5-6 miles. Always feels worth it, even though inertia makes it difficult to get going 1/2 hour early in the morning.

My normal commute into work is 4 miles. I add a 4.5 mile loop in the morning. I have been commuting on and off since Jan 06.

I have a 12.0 mile commute to work that I currently do twice or 3 times a week, depending on the schedule. Once you get used to it, things get better. My first couple of trips took me an hour and a quarter; the last one took 65 minutes. It really depends on just how you hit the traffic lights on the way in. Sure beats driving the car!

I am going to start commuting the 14th of this month when I get off of vacation. I have driven all of the routes in my truck, rode them on my bicycle and I have it planned. I can not go all the way because the last 6 miles is a private 2 lane road very busy with construction traffic and also a security check point that doesn't allow bicycles. I will drive my truck to work on Monday with my bike in the back and then on the way home leave my truck at a business where I know the owner and then ride 15 miles home. Tuesday I will ride back to my truck and drive it the rest of the way and so on. I am going to start out riding 3 days a week and see how it works out. We have a nice locker room with showers at work so I will be able to leave clothes there and shower every morning. I was going to ride my sons converted mountain bike but I just like my road bike so much better that I am going to ride it.

I rode my bike during the winter months. Wore a wool cap under my helmet, wind/rain-proof jacket and pants. Wore baggies over my socks. Not bad once you're rolling - just cannot bike on the first snow day until "after" the roads are cleared. I believe snow tires are now available for bikes. It's refreshing to bike in the early a.m. during cold weather. Good luck!!

I prepare my coffee the night before in my one-cup expresso pot. I pour the hot coffee into an insulated mug, place plastic wrap over the top of the cup and then place the clamp-down lid. I then place the insulated cup inside a baggie and tie it off with a twistie. I then place the baggie/cup inside my bike bag and drink it when I arrive at work - my reward!! I love drinking my coffee mocha in the a.m. - the best!

My first couple of trips took me an hour and a quarter; the last one took 65 minutes. It really depends on just how you hit the traffic lights on the way in. Sure beats driving the car!
For me the elapsed time for the 12 miles depends on temperature - cold weather means heavy shoes; and more importantly, wind direction. I prefer the comfort of an upright riding posture but there is a price to pay when the wind blows in the wrong direction. The comfort benefit is more important than saving time, I just ride slower into a headwind when commuting, no big deal for me since I am not in "training" for a race. Probably even burn up a few extra calories - a good thing!

I occasionally ride to work - mostly I carry so much work back and forth that I don't because I don't have a cargo rack set up on the Gary Fisher. My commute use to be 2 miles until they move my office to the middle of the campus, now it's 1.5 miles - all on the bike path. It doesn't get any better than that.

I prepare my coffee the night before in my one-cup expresso pot. I pour the hot coffee into an insulated mug, place plastic wrap over the top of the cup and then place the clamp-down lid. I then place the insulated cup inside a baggie and tie it off with a twistie. I then place the baggie/cup inside my bike bag and drink it when I arrive at work - my reward!! I love drinking my coffee mocha in the a.m. - the best!

May I make a suggestion? Try a Sega insulated stainless steel bottle. They fit into the bottle cage well, have a very secure screw-top lid, and keep coffee hot for about 2-3 hours - much hotter than those leaky insulated cups. I leave a cup at work and bring coffee daily on my bike. Works very well, and I don't have to carry a container of liquids in my bag.

Thank you! I will definitely try this!! See, you learn something new 'every day.'

I'm 51 and ride 12.25 miles one way pretty much daily. If I want to vary it, I get up early and do a 30 mile ride in. I have a small town gass station that has somewhat decent coffee about half way on those days. Lots of hills on that day too. Love it. I do tend to be a bit of a fair weather rider. Can't stand riding below 30 degrees and not real fired up about the rain, at least in the morning. After work it's not bad.

19 miles each way. I have an 18 mile route as well, but the 19 mile route is much more pleasant.

Welcome!! Good for you for continuing to ride all these years. Wow!

I'd love to ride to work and back, but the 26-mile route would take me almost 2 hours one way. If I lived 10 miles or less from work I'd definitely try it.

Why not drive part way, park the auto and ride the rest?

I ride a 14 mile RT, about three times a week. I don't mind heat, but I am a real wuss when it comes to cold and rain. I am in awe of those from more northerly climes who continue to commute no matter the season or weather.

Commuted to work for 16 years; retired (!) 13 years ago.
Still pedaling 100+ miles a week at the young age of 75.
Can hardly wait 'til I get older!

WOW! You are so inspirational! Age is definitely a state of mind!!! Continue on!!!!

I am 60 and I have been thinking about commuting 4 'hilly' miles each way. It has been real hot lately. 101 today...........I think I will let it cool down some to start after a 20 year layoff. Does this count?

I do 7.5 miles each way several days each week. I can never seem to get 5 days on the bike each week, but usually do 3 or 4. I always feel better when I ride rather than drive. :thumb: