Commuting - Longest commute?

I am thinking about possibly finally biking instead of driving for my commute, but I am reluctant since it is pretty long. Before giving it a shot I wanted to hear what long commutes you guys have.

If you don't have a long commute, what would be your cut-off point?

Also, what type of ride is it? for me it would be very hilly with very populated narrow roads. I am willing to do it after all I have read on these forums.

70 minute average each way was my longest. I probably wouldn't want one any longer than that unless I only worked 3 days a week. I moved to get closer to my work a few years ago. Sometimes I think about moving closer still.

Your proposed commute sounds like a nightmare unless you roll in to work around 5 am.

If you don't have a long commute, what would be your cut-off point?

My longest commute was 17 miles each way. I found it really cut into my life. Currently, it's 9.6 each way. Thats about as long as I'd like it. I think that 5 miles is about ideal.

My commute's a little over 9 miles each way, probably 5 miles suburban streets, 2 miles MUPs, 1 mile rural road, and 1 mile downtown. It's Sacramento so it's flat as a pancake and winters are easy (summer afternoons can be a drag tho).

With all the stoplights/stop-signs (and my weak engine), it takes me 45-55 minutes. That's a pretty good distance for me. I wouldn't mind about 3 miles shorter, but 9 is okay. I probably wouldn't do it if it were over 15 miles.

Partly for traffic reasons and partly for day care reasons I go in early (6:30 arrival) and leave early (3:00 leave). That means I ride in the dark every morning. That's okay too, in my book it's safer than the higher traffic at rush hour.

My longest was 15 miles each way... I found that while I could do it, It was not to enjoyable. Now I ride our train (NCTD Sprinter) and ride about 5 miles. Much more enjoyable and keeps me wanting to ride everyday.

It depends if you have a car or fast mass transit.

I am car free and don't like anything over 10 miles.
I figure 10mph.

Right now my commute is 12 , but it might be temporary so I am not moving.

Wow. I must really have no life left and have a sucky commute reading others posts :P

24.8 miles. One way. It's "my time" and while sometimes I have downer days I love it.

I have a pretty short commute. I think I would drive if it is over 10miles. However it really depends weather conditions, traffic, safety of the route, the time it takes, and especially the terrain. If I had a longer commute I might consider driving part of it and biking the rest.

I do about 9.5 miles each way, but I will add 1/2 to 3 miles most days just for fun. I like to change up the route. The longest I would go is probably 20 miles. After that it just takes too much time. As to the route, it is almost all uphill to and all down hill home. The ride breaks down almost exactly half MUP and half rural frontage road. Most of my alternate routes add quite a bit of climbing and take me through subdivisions. At it's shortest, my commute takes about 45-50 mins to and closer to 30-40 from.

My commute lasts about 1/2 hour each way. That's about as long as I'd want to commute. Long enough to give me some exercise, but doesn't take up too much of my time.

Wow. I must really have no life left and have a sucky commute reading others posts :P

24.8 miles. One way. It's "my time" and while sometimes I have downer days I love it.

+1 more or less the same distance--and I wouldn't trade it for anything (except in the winter--when they don't plow the bike paths...and I'm stuck on the bus/metro)

Mine is 10 miles each way and takes about 40-45 minutes. Could be as short as 6 but I like the extra distance. Any longer would cut in on my free time too much.

My last commute was 2.5 kilometres -- way too short. I think about 15-20 kilometres is ideal as you can actually make training out of that.

Working from home for yourself is the ideal ideal though, as long as you can drag yourself out and put some distance in ... but then that wouldn't be commuting.

In my college days I commuted something like 45 miles to school. This was one way. I actually lived about 5 miles from the school, but I would go around the back way and take a long country route on the way... Took me over 2 hours.

Then I would shower in the college gym locker rooms, go to class (basically spend the day at college); then go to work a few miles away and finally ride the last 4 miles or so home. So my entire round trip was about 50 miles.

Later after I graduated, I bike commuted about 24 miles each way... took about an hour and a half each way. I decided that was as far as I ever wanted to ride though the city on a regular basis.

All my most recent commutes have been under 12 miles each way.

At one point I heard of a guy that commuted 65 miles each way... most of it was country road. Never met him though... so perhaps an urban legend.

+1 more or less the same distance--and I wouldn't trade it for anything (except in the winter--when they don't plow the bike paths...and I'm stuck on the bus/metro)

If you're commuting from Reston, we're probably on the trail together :)

I like to commute by bike but I'm sure it's not always viable. It would depend on several factors. In a big city commuting by bike is usually faster than anything else: distances are shorter - I ride 8 miles each way, few people ride more than 10 miles - and traffic makes driving unbearably slow during rush hours and mass transit is unreliable.

So as long as my other commuting options are not significantly shorter and more convenient I'd ride a bike. Let's say it'd take 30 minutes by subway and 1 hour by bike I'd still ride a bike. If I could drive to work in 10 minutes (and have a free parking spot LOL) versus 1 hour by bike, I'd probably couldn't resists and would drive, so I'm glad that's not the case :D

In rural areas commute distances are longer and driving is usually quicker so my cutoff would be probably be 20 miles each way in flat area and in hilly areas probably 10 miles each way. Also the quality and safety of the road would be a big factor.

Also, if my job provided a shower facility, lockers, etc. I'd opt for longer commute by bike.

The ride is supposed to be fun. If it becomes frustrating and dangerous I wouldn't ride to work.

Adam

On the streets, 11 miles round trip. 14 by MUP. If it was much longer than that, I'd consider moving.

I go 20 miles one-way to work about 3 times a week when the roads are clear. I really enjoy it and it keeps me sane. When it's really bad winter conditions, it can go down to about 1 day a week, and the lack of exercise can leave me feeling a bit depressed (or maybe its just the lack of daylight... who knows).

I frequently read that 10 miles one way is somewhat the cut-off. I have a 7.3 mile one way commute and find it just perfect, wouldn't want it shorter or longer. And while a lot of people have 10+ miles commutes and seem to manage just fine, I understand the (somewhat arbitrary) cut off at 10 miles one-way.

Mine was 10 miles each way to school and 4 each way to work. If I didn't work I would usually do another 8 each way to a friends house and a few more if he felt like riding, but I still haven't done more than 60 in a day.. Now that I live in Chicago my commute has become a lot less and a lot less fun with all the traffic :(

Length of commute = how often I'd want to ride it. At 12 miles one way, I average 3 days a week most months of the year. If it was shorter I'd do it more often, longer less often. Even a 30 miler would beg me to do it a few times a month.

My Commute would be 30 miles.. 4 days a week. that's 60 a day. i could probably manage it, but I would most likely hate it. it would be hilly and on main roads. I'll probably do it a few times but never as my actual commute.

But home demands are a crucial bit of the equation. I'm nearly 50 and have a 7 year old daughter. If my commute ran much longer than an hour each way, I'd be stealing time from my family and I don't want to do that. (In fact, I quit a perfectly good job because I had to DRIVE an hour each way).

If I was 20 and single again, a 2 hour commute might seem very reasonable. In that case it's more a matter of: what do you want to spend your time on?

Mine was 28 miles each way and about 3-4 days a week. Now it is 0.0 miles.
I would rather work from home and go out when I want.
56 a day resulted in frequent burnout. Especially with a young child and a lazy (now ex) wife.
For me the perfect distance would be 15miles each way 5 days a week.

10 miles one way would be my cut-off for a daily commute.

12 miles each way here (35-50) minutes depending on direction and the wind). I'm not sure what my upper limit is. Probably an hour each way. Come to think of it during the last stretch of bad weather it was taking 60-70 minutes each way and that was starting to be a bit much.

The two main reasons to avoid a long commute are its too hard and it takes too much time.

Regarding the first, you can build up to it over time. After a few months it won't be nearly as hard.

Regarding the second, for me at least commuting saves time. Not because I can't get to work faster by (car is about 15-20 minutes faster), but because I am combining working out with going to work. If I went to the gym in the morning and then drove to work, it would take much longer than simply riding to work.

Paul

BTW, the short commute I referred to up thread was a really great way to start and end my day. Some commutes are better than others and my most recent is certainly more pleasurable than some big city commutes I've done over the years.

Video of my commute here (http://www.veloweb.ca/bikommute.html).

I envy most people because I have probably one of the shortest commutes, at just over 2 miles. I can stretch it out to as much as 3.35 miles if I'm not running late, but I still wish it was longer. My girlfriend and I have been talking about moving for some time now, because where we live is just too expensive and she asked how far I'd be willing to commute by bike. I said I'd be willing to do as much as 25 miles one way. Weather is not an issue, I just need a job, a place to live and some sort of surface to ride between the two.

I ride about 1.5 to 2 miles one way to work, I come home at lunch and that makes it around 6 miles a day. It is way to short. I am moving around 13 miles away. I am almost sure I am going to love this. How ever time will be more of an issue and I will have to drive on some days, when stuff needs to be done after work.

I know that guy with a 65 mile commute... he recently moved a little closer to the city as with winter upon us that was too far to be riding on a daily basis.

I liked my old commute a great deal... it was 6 miles that i could complete in anywhere from 21 to 45 minutes depending on the season and conditions. My new commute is just over a mile so I need to work on putting in that daily mileage but it is equally nice to be so close to home as I can go and check on my dogs through the day, have lunch there, or pop over the shop in the evenings and not be too far from my daughters who are old enough to be left at home for decent periods of time.

The GF has a 3-4 mile commute that is really quite pleasant and I have been riding her to and from work while we have been spending the Christmas season together.

I envy most people because I have probably one of the shortest commutes, at just over 2 miles.

That sounds perfect to me. Mine's 3.8 miles each way. I frequently take a side trip downtown after work, making it 10 miles or so.

About 10 miles for me one way. However that is just part of the journey. I hitch a car ride with my wife part way. I did once rode all they way home last summer. It was about 21miles! My record so far. It was actually quite fun. Plan to do it again next year.

I have a choice. Along the Coast (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/4926135) or Over the Mountain (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/4926374). Note that over the mountain is 10 miles shorter than around the coast but not much faster because, well, I've got to climb the stupid mountain. I usually go around the coast just because the road is more laid back with less traffic. The downhill on the over the mountain ride is not for the feint of heart although I think maybe Garmin got confused when I went through the tunnel which is why it shows me reaching 73.6 mph after going zero (see spike on timing graph), I usually don't get over 50 mph but this is often in heavy traffic (nerves of steel). There are lots and lots of things that make this an easy commute even though my usual round trip is about 45 with with 2,400 feet of climbing. First, the weather is nice, almost always. Second, I can bail at any time and put the bike on the bike rack on a passing city bus. Third, I don't have to go into work every day. Usually on three times a week (I'm a professor and I can do my non-classroom teaching work from home). Fourth, it has to be one of the most scenic commutes anywhere so you cannot possibly get tired of it. Use the satellite view and zoom in a bit and you'll get some idea of what I mean.

I used to have a 12.1 mile commute (each way) over rolling farmland which was just about perfect. I rode it every day and averaged about 45 minutes in the summer to about 55 minutes in the winter. On really nice days, I would take an alternate route to stretch the return trip an extra 10 miles. That was ideal.

Last September, we moved into a new house and now the commute is 21.8 miles each way with a few big roads and much bigger hills (we live in the Alps, so there isn't much flat road between here and work). I still ride it, but now that I have the option of taking the train, I often do so part of the way in and ride back home. My round trip commute time is about 2.5 hours when I take the morning train and 3 hours when I ride the whole way. The train doesn't save much time, but it cuts out the most dangerous routes and makes winter commuting more comfortable. It's a big chunk of time, but like CCrew said, it's my time and generally the best part of my day.

My commute (one way) is 15.5 miles. So I ride 31 miles each day. It's doable, but I do have to add that I'm here in the Netherlands and the area is pretty darn flat except for 2 bridges and a couple of speedbumps :lol:

Good morning

When I first started work I was quite happy doing 15 miles each way, but the job was at a jeans and t-shirt place and the firm ran flexi time. I am a morning person, so I started and finised early and was home by 5:30pm.

I am now doing 7 miles each way but its hilly and I have to wear shirt, tie and smart trousers at work. It feels wrong getting off the bike and into smart clothes without a shower or cycling slowly in the office clothes.

I find that boredom and resentment of the time spent coming home is much greater than it was, especially in the cold and rain. Also I feel that I should have outgrown cycling in the cold, "it's something that you do when you are young".

Part of boredom may be caused by the fact that I can't change the route by much.

I don't have a car, if I did I am pretty sure that I would use it instead, I just don't get the pleasure from a commute ride that I do from a ride at a time and speed of my choosing. Also I have lost interest in cycling for pleasure during the weekends.

Bye

Ian

My commute is around 11 miles each way - takes about 45-50 minutes (including a little walk under the Thames!). My cut off point is where taking public transport is quicker than cycling, at the moment cycling is faster and FAR more comfortable than public transport. Distance wise I probably wouldn't want to do more than 20 miles each way.

Edit: I have showers at work which makes it nicer!

Current commute is 11 miles each way. I would go up to 15 without any problem. I wondered what would happen if I had a 20 mile commute. I think I'd do it, but not 5 days a week, not because I couldn't, but coz it would take up too much of my time.

I know one guy who commute 20 miles each way, 3 days a week, lives in a beautiful part of Italy/Swiss border.

My commute is 22 miles round trip, 10 going to work and 12 riding home a longer way, riding 3-4 days/week. In a year or so, my office is moving downtown, so my commute distance will increase to about 15 miles each way. That is very doable in my book. However, it would be difficult for me to jump up to say, 20 miles each way, just because of the time involved. Right now, my commuting takes about 1-1/2 hours each day, and it will take about 2 hours each day when it jumps to 30 miles RT. Commuting 40 miles/day would take me about 3 hours, and I wouldn't want to commit that much time riding 3-4 days a week. However, I would probably still try to ride 2 days/week if I had a longer commute distance.

I seem to fall right in the middle with an 8 mile each way commute on fairly flat land. It takes me 30 to 45 minutes each way (the 45 is usually coming home after a 12 hour shift!) and I occasionally change the route to get in a few more miles if I have the time to do so. I'm a rain weenie, so I have a really hard time getting the bike out of the garage if it's raining, but I just added fenders on the Fisher and picked up some rain gear, so I'm trying hard to talk myself into it!

14 mi to work, 15 home. Usually takes 50-60 minutes. If my ride was flat I'd easily do 20-25 one way, as it is, there are quite a few steep climbs on the way home.

I do 10 miles each way.

That's a comfortable distance.

12 miles would be better. 15 I could do, but more than that I'd be facing burnout.

It helps that our winters are mild. 10 miles in the snow would be a test.

We do have killer heat and humidity in the summer (and summer here begins in May and runs into October).

It helps that I have a locker and a shower at work. I don't think I could do it without the shower.

Mine is 20 miles each way. It is almost entirely on paved bike path and I have showers at work so it is enjoyable and helps me through the day.

However, since it has turned cold and I have had to resort to studded tires, the distance has become a bit of a burden. The increased rolling resistance of the snow, ice and tires has made it seem like I am dragging my car behind me the whole trip. Taking nearly 1 1/2 hours now to make the trip, it is more difficult staying warm and dry for that length of time. Well, I have no trouble staying warm but with the increased effort, staying dry is more of a challenge.

Anyway, I may have to cut way back over the winter or shorten up the commute some by driving part way.

I commute 2-3 times per week about 12 miles each way, 24 miles round trip. I have about 3500 feet of climbing on the round trip. The route is suburban at my starting point and ending point with some more rural area in between. The trip usually runs about 50-58 minutes going and about 48-55 minutes returning because prevailing winds are from the NW. I have a couple of routes including one 6 mile stretch of off-road path partly gravel. The off-road portion is impassable for a couple of days after snow because of rutted ice. I do not ride if my route is icy or snow covered because drivers are unpredictable along portions of the route. I highly recommend the Lake winter cycling boots (for commuting get the MTB style) when temperatures are below 35. Booties are okay for me above that. My bike is a Surly LHT with Schwalbe marathon plus tires. I have never had a flat since changing to those tires including touring. I am 58 y.o., self-employed and work at home a couple of days a week. I go to my office to meet clients and pick up my mail etc. No shower at the office. I keep a pack towel, wipes and toiletries at my office. This has worked well for me for the last 2 years.

My commute is 12 miles each way, and it's perfect for me. It also depends on the type of bicycle you have. There is no way I would do that distance on a mountain bike with knobby tires (too slow) or a single speed as I also have hills on my commute. I have to cross several major highways and encounter many lights so my commute time is aout 65 minutes. I'd also be very concerned with the quality of your commute, as narrow roads with no shoulders are no fun and you will tire of it quickly. In my opinion, the key to a comfortable longer commute is to be as efficient as possible in terms of your total weight, gearing, tires, etc. With the wrong setup, even a 4 mile commute can feel long and tiresome.

But home demands are a crucial bit of the equation. I'm nearly 50 and have a 7 year old daughter. If my commute ran much longer than an hour each way, I'd be stealing time from my family and I don't want to do that. (In fact, I quit a perfectly good job because I had to DRIVE an hour each way).

If I was 20 and single again, a 2 hour commute might seem very reasonable. In that case it's more a matter of: what do you want to spend your time on?
Yeah, it is the time that is the issue, not the distance. I commute 18.5 miles one way. But I only do it 2 days a week because of the TIME. By bike it takes about an hour and five minutes, including red lights. By car, it is 25 minutes. Thus, cycling consumes an additional 1:20 each day I commute by bicycle. I used to drive home from work, jump on my bike, and do a 25 mile training ride two days a week. Now I get 37 miles in for the same amount of time by exchanging 50 minutes of sitting in a car for 50 minutes of cycling. A most excellent trade.

The point is, distance is really not an issue, as it can be controlled by the number of days you choose to bike, and by driving part of the way. I say, bike for as much as you can afford the time.

I commute 5 days per week, 30 miles round trip per day, 55-60 minutes each way.
I have a flat ride, half on paved paths, half on the street. My work does have showers.
Mtn bike, 2 panniers, I carry food and clothes for the day and a laptop, 60+ lbs fully loaded.
No traffic jams, which is nice, but you need to stay alive, be visible, and watch out. I was hit by a car 3 years ago while riding in a bike lane.

I've got a 18.5 mile one-way commute (37 RT), with about 1000 feet of climbing in each direction. It takes me between an 1:10 and 1:20 each way. Mix of semi-rural roads, city streets and MUP. I ride 3-4 days/week and I love it. On the days I don't ride, I usually wish that I had.

5 miles (two lights) was just too short.

13.5 (one light, 50-55 min, 40% traffic free) was a nice distance.

The big difference was the times per week during the winter. It's hard to get inspired when it's dark dank and 40 degrees.

For me, 1:15 with with a flexible starting job would be my max.

My commute is 17 miles each way and I only do it a couple of times a week if the weather is nice. Half that distance is the max I would want to do every day regardless of weather. My commute is mostly flat with a 135' climb on the way to work, 135' and 80' climbs on the way back, with only about 5 intersections where I have to stop for traffic.