Commuting - Commuting vs exercise bike!

Hi all,

I'm about to become the proud owner of a new bike, and I'm planning to use this to commute the 16 miles (each way) on a brilliant, mostly tarmac or paved river path I've found which goes practically door-to-door (and hence keeps me away from those nasty drivers).

Now, it has been a few years since I rode a bike, so I'll be doing some building up before I go for broke, however I've already spent the past three months every lunchtime on a stationary (exercise) bike, to the point at which I can now do an indicated 16 miles, on a 'difficult' resistance, in approximately 55 minutes.

I know that this time won't be achievable in the real world, with that wind and the effort and skill involved in actually moving and balancing (and the variable surface), however I also know I won't be constantly pedalling like I have to on the exercise bike. I guess I'm just nervous, and need to understand if this is logistically something I can do every day. So, my question is:

How much more 'difficult' do you find cycling for real vs. a stationary bike?

It depends on many conditions, as you have pointed out. It is probably somehow harder than on stationary bike. Wind and hills can make the ride much harder. But I wouldn't even worry about that. Don't overthink this. Do a test ride on weekend and you will be fine.

16 miles each way is a long commute, but from what you describe it should be a really nice ride, away from traffic and on good pavement. I'm also guessing it's not very hilly, so it should be totally doable. However, I'd figure more than an hour. That's why I'd suggest doing a ride on weekend to see how it is.

Best thing to do, ride the route on a weekend. That way you will know and if it takes longer than you thought, at least you will have an idea on the commute time.

You also have to think about how sweaty you want to be when you arrive at your destination. May be worth taking a little extra time and riding slower to reduce the exertion level.

EDIT: Adam beat me to it. hahaha

If there is someplace to safely park your car along the river path, you could start by doing a partial bike commute. Pack your bike & gear in the car, drive to the parking area, unload bike, hop on and pedal the rest of the way to work. Then reverse in the evening. When you are comfortable with that, park the car further away, or just take off from home.

I use an exercise bike at the gym, and most times I find it much more difficult than riding my actual bike. I live in a relatively flat area, and the progam on the exercycle does hill intervals.

My view is that you will find it easier riding your real bike compared to the exercycle. That's because it's a lot more fun and engaging. Exercise bikes are boring and you sweat a lot without having the wind to cool you off. On a real bike, you will have changing surroundings to keep you from getting bored, the wind will cool you down, and you can coast on downhills and flats. That said, you will probably get a better workout on your bike due to hills and wind resistance.

Before I started bike commuting, I went to a lot of spin classes on weekdays when it was too dark or cold to ride outside after work. They really push you in spin classes and you sweat like a pig. However, I think you can get a better workout riding a bike outdoors as long as you aren't coasting all of the time. You just can't get the same workout on a spin bike or exercycle that you get from riding up hills and into the wind.

It all depends upon several factors. It depends upon your resistance settings on your trainer (inside) and the weather conditions. Sometimes, the wind is at your back and it can actually assist in propelling you to your destination. Of course, this usually doesn't occur unless you're Sagittarian. OTOH you could be a Taurus and the wind will always be in your face, both ways, going and coming. :lol:

Alright, seriously then...

Actually, your commute can be broken up into halves each way. You can ride for half an hour, take a 15 minute break, then finish your commute. You should scout out your route in order to determine the most convenient places to take a break, each way. During your break, you can change your t-shirt, that's under your windbreaker. Keep your workshirt dry and change into your workshirt upon arrival at work.
So you've got 2 t-shirts and a workshirt. If you can keep your work clothes at work, all the merrier! Keep a wash rag at work, along with deodorant. Try to get to work before anyone else, so that there will be no witnesses. You don't want to be an object of gossip, or bring unnecessary attention to yourself.

- Slim

PS.

You might want to have a small snack during your break.

Thanks for the replies!

I live in the flattest part of England, so there's little concern with hills, and I'm a member of a gym right next door to work so will be able to shower and change there.

Really looking forward to this!

EDIT: Adam beat me to it. hahaha

:innocent:


Thanks for the replies!

I live in the flattest part of England, so there's little concern with hills, and I'm a member of a gym right next door to work so will be able to shower and change there.

Really looking forward to this!

So I think it won't be a big deal at all and you should be able to do the entire 16 miles the first time. You're probably fit enough. It'll get better as you ride more, so you'll be able to do this faster eventually. Although, if the ride is nice you might not want to rush it :) I still think you should do a test ride on a day off just to get the feel for the route. I'm actually jealous, it looks like a really nice commute and you have the gym to clean up. I ride 8 miles, almost all in the stinking city traffic with a mile maybe of dirty bike lane, and I'd love to have a longer but nicer commute :) Have fun! You'll like it!


My view is that you will find it easier riding your real bike compared to the exercycle. That's because it's a lot more fun and engaging.

That is very true, yeah. Time goes faster so you think less about pedaling and the physical aspect of the ride.

It sounds like you are basically just looking for reassurance that you can do it. If you can do it on the exercise bike, you should be able to do it on the real bike as well. There are a lot of factors at play, (wind conditions, what type of surface the trail is, etc) so it may take you longer at first that you think, but you should be able to do it no problem. You may be a little sore the first few days because you may be using a slightly different riding style on the real bike, but not too bad. Doing a weekend ride is a great way to hash things out, see how long it takes, etc. If you can swing it, ride in on a weekend, grab a long lunch somewhere close to work (or do something else that takes a few hours) then ride home (or have someone meet you at work & drive you home if you don't think that you can cover the round trip all at one time). If you can't make it in on a weekend, I'd give myself extra time to make the commute during the workweek the first time in case it takes longer than you think it will). If you're anything like me (and a lot of us) the commute will become one of the best parts of your day.

Good stuff, thanks again everyone - and you're right, I think I was looking for some reassurance I think!

I actually quite look forward to lunchtimes in the gym, now that I'm fit enough for the 'alpine course' setting - so fully expect to love the commute!

I chose commuting over an exercise bike for several reasons. The number one being cost, commuting by bike (and I am committed to do it rain or shine) is saving me a ton of money on transportation costs (which I find myself spending on neat new things for my bike). Second is the fact that I am fairly new to this city & area, and I feel like I am getting to know the city much better by bike then I would by car. last.. up until I was 17, I was never without my bike, and foolishly abandoned it, got lazy, and fat... When I started commuting it was like finding a long lost friend ...

Ventilation is definitely better on a real bike than an exercise bike. So physically the actual ride will probably be easier is my guess. But there is a lot of brainpower that goes into dodging pedestrians, cars, intersections, obstacles, etc...

Just depends on whether you want to hammer in a spinning class like high intensity level of exercise.

in that case you are safer trying to get the heavy workout,
where you are not endangering others, on the route,
and do that on the stationary spinning rig.

Or out on the open road on the weekends.

Now if the pace is JRA reasonable and co-operative with the other people
using the MUP, then that is less of an issue.

spinning bike and concentrating on your workout, you wont be hit
in an intersection by a Car you did not see, or they hit a cyclist
while they were talking on the phone.

+jillions on trying out the route this weekend. It'll be easier than you think, and way the hell more fun.

I'm a new commuter as well...

It took me about two weeks to figure my ride to work out. My direct route is 5 miles and the long way is about 8.

I push it too...


The sore factor is something you may have to work through as well, my commute is shorter but I push it... I'm really feeling it today...


Maybe drive halfway and bike the rest for a while...

I ride my road bike on a trainer once in a while, and it is mentally harder to be putting in effort, but not going anywhere. Physically, a trainer doesn't use as many muscles as riding outdoors, so it is a little harder on the muscles you are using.

The stationary bike is much harder work. Commuting is easy. You get fresh air and the resistance is less.

I don't know if one is easier than the other but my commute is 15miles through urban traffic. My best time is 1hr flat including stop signs/lights/traffic. So if you have a straight shot in a path you should be able to do it in 55. All depending on the other types of users of this path. Don't want to be the jerk flying by way everyone.

remember that your exercise bike was 55 minutes in one day. Your commute is twice the distance--once in the morning, and once in the evening. You will be on the bike twice as long. However, riding a bike is MUCH better than a trainer--the time flies by, whereas on a trainer 55 minutes feels like 4 hours :) Do it.

train safe-

I'm doing a 25 to 30 mile round trip most days that is mostly on a combination of shared use trails that sounds similar to what you are planning. While there is little interaction with motorized traffic, remember that the non-motorized users of your proposed route are sometimes worse than the "nasty" drivers. We've had spectacular weather over the past couple of weeks and there are lots of newly hatched cyclists and runners who don't know the written (or unwritten) rules of the road. Also, since you mention a paved river path, be ready for insect swarms and learn to not be a mouth breather. ;)

viii - Did you get your bike yet? That's hard, having to wait for it, right?

To an extent the ride is only as hard as you make it. One cool thing about biking is that if you want to take in the scenery or not sweat too much, just dial back your speed. If you want more exercise and thrills, go faster. I'm waiting for a bike now too, and during this wait, there's nothing to do BUT to overthink things!

Also, did I understand correctly, that you're going to work out at lunch time AND ride 32 miles per day? You're either very optimistic, or you are a fitness BEAST! :) It is worth noting here that many non-cardio exercises you do in the gym will actually slow you down on your bike. How? Weight. If you do a lot of upper body work-out to look buff shirtless for the ladies, then you will also be adding weight in the form of muscle that is worse than useless on a bike.

Which bike did you get?

I admit that every time a European posts about commuting on this forum, I get a little jealous. European cities are SOOO much nicer for biking than US cities. I've been to Krakow, Gdansk, Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Zurich, Antwerp, and Brussels, since they are all old enough to have been developed as walking cities, they are better for cycling too, and the drivers are more considerate toward cyclists. (esp. in Belgium and Austria)

Do you happen to know how English cities compare in that regard?

Hey ho all!

I haven't got my bike yet - the store is being really crap. I'm going for the Specialized Crosstrail.

Anyways, in the absence of a bike, I walked some of the proposed trail at the weekend, which was a really good idea as it is really not what I thought and isn't suitable for a number of reasons. Happily, there's another route which is going to work - sadly will have to share bits with cars though.

Gym and commuting? No way! I'll still use the gym on non commuting days, and commuting days to take a shower and change (only). Cycling in Britain is good (we have national cycle routes signposted), but continental Europe has a definite edge, certainly in the cities.

You could always do both the stationary bike and commute...
http://i.imgur.com/vU25T.jpg

It seems an almost idyllic commuting situation. I think you'll have no trouble with the actual ride and find that it's much easier in the real world. Spring is coming and you'll be sharing your ride with the birds and animals, feeling the wind, and smelling the trees and flowers (rather than your fellow gym patrons).

Get out and ride.

Bummer about not having the bike yet.

I ordered my Schwinn Coffee Thursday night, and am picking it up tonight. (though it was built and ready last night)

You might consider supporting a different shop or ordering online if that isn't practical.

It has arrived! But I can't put it together (got handlebars on but there's weird plastic axle thing on forks). I'm so inept. Going to LBS for build and safety check now....then taking tomorrow and Friday off work to go play.

Thanks all!

Hi all,

I'm about to become the proud owner of a new bike, and I'm planning to use this to commute the 16 miles (each way) on a brilliant, mostly tarmac or paved river path I've found which goes practically door-to-door (and hence keeps me away from those nasty drivers).

Now, it has been a few years since I rode a bike, so I'll be doing some building up before I go for broke, however I've already spent the past three months every lunchtime on a stationary (exercise) bike, to the point at which I can now do an indicated 16 miles, on a 'difficult' resistance, in approximately 55 minutes.

I know that this time won't be achievable in the real world, with that wind and the effort and skill involved in actually moving and balancing (and the variable surface), however I also know I won't be constantly pedalling like I have to on the exercise bike. I guess I'm just nervous, and need to understand if this is logistically something I can do every day. So, my question is:

How much more 'difficult' do you find cycling for real vs. a stationary bike?

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlUgPV4ChshkLBA4xNCANuWJ82Lu2zuZMz6xjw0LudHzL8o-5UKA

Guy, did you happen to catch the NPR segment yesterday about the marketing guy who coined that phrase? Interesting stuff.

16 miles each way is a long commute

Turned out to be too much for me. I can do it, sure, but I get out of work at 5 and wouldn't get home until nearly 7. That period of time- say, 5:30 to 7:00 pm- is face time with my wife. After we have dinner together and chat a bit, she usually retires to her den to grade papers or write lesson plans (she's a teacher). So if I don't get home until 7, we are either eating very late or we just don't see each other much.

Part of the issue is that I almost always have a headwind when heading home; nearly a half hour difference in commute times going to work versus coming home.... yeah, wind can make that big of a difference.

Trainer miles are exercise, but they don't take into account wind, hills, traffic and the effort it takes to handle your bike with the added gear you will be carrying (change of clothes, lunch, etc.) Though you say you are in a flat area, you may be surprised to find out how many small grades turn into hills when you are riding a bike on them. Even after doing my commute for some time, I usually averaged about 13 mph (based on total time, not just rolling time).

If your family situation doesn't influence your commute, and you can handle winds and the traffic you will see, it is a very feasible commute length.

Guy, did you happen to catch the NPR segment yesterday about the marketing guy who coined that phrase? Interesting stuff.

That was a parking lot moment for me and I wasn't about to be late for work for that. I just caught the beginning of it. Sounded like an interesting start.

Yeah. Here's a link: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/19/148777350/how-creativity-works-its-all-in-your-imagination

I took the great advice here and did a short one in controlled circumstance this morning; did 9 miles in just over 40 mins (bike paths are quite rutted so not too fussed).

I loved it, my bum nor legs don't hurt at all, just my girly wrists. Maybe I should unlock the suspension!

Thanks guys.

Congratualtions! It's always nice to have that first ride down & know that you can do it, etc.

One thing, you mentioned your wrists hurt. If your bike is flat bar bike, a pair of Ergon grips may be a worthwhile investment. I had pain/numbness in my wrists/palms & the Ergons completely fixed that problem for me. There are knock-off brands as well, but I've had mixed results with other brands.

How much more 'difficult' do you find cycling for real vs. a stationary bike?

Actual cycling is much easier. I can't do more than about 20 minutes on a stationary bike ... I start to feel like I'm going to die of boredom and silliness, like a hamster racing on its wheel. Outdoors and moving, this isn't a problem.

16 mph as an average speed is very attainable.

It seems an almost idyllic commuting situation. I think you'll have no trouble with the actual ride and find that it's much easier in the real world. Spring is coming and you'll be sharing your ride with the birds and animals, feeling the wind, and smelling the trees and flowers (rather than your fellow gym patrons).

Get out and ride.

+1 Having spent some time cycle-touring in the UK myself spring means than it rains slightly more than during winter months. :) Kidding aside, don't overthink it. You're probably much more fit than you give yourself credit for being.

As others have recommended cycle your route on the weekend and time the first leg. Make sure you're loaded w/whatever you'll be carrying to your workplace in terms of food, clothing, etc. That will give you a much better idea of what you'll be facing longterm. Give your self an extra ten minutes for cool down and clean up.

This may or may not apply to you, but it's a rule of thumb I go by: Never commute in one's work clothes or work in one's commuting clothes. How one makes those arrangements is individual. It works for me really well.

Congratualtions! It's always nice to have that first ride down & know that you can do it, etc.

One thing, you mentioned your wrists hurt. If your bike is flat bar bike, a pair of Ergon grips may be a worthwhile investment. I had pain/numbness in my wrists/palms & the Ergons completely fixed that problem for me. There are knock-off brands as well, but I've had mixed results with other brands.

Thanks for the tip - I've read some reviews and comments and it seems I'm far from the only person with troubles with the 'ergonomic' Specialized Crosstrail grips, so I've gone for some Ergon GC2s. I went for a quick blast (literally only a mile and a bit) and my hands got numb, if the Ergons don't help then I'll just have to face up to it being a bedding in process.

Oh, and I live in a part of the UK where - believe it or not - it rains very rarely (our water company pretends less than north Africa, but I remain unconvinced!). Yes, such a dreamland exists!

Thanks for the tip - I've read some reviews and comments and it seems I'm far from the only person with troubles with the 'ergonomic' Specialized Crosstrail grips, so I've gone for some Ergon GC2s. I went for a quick blast (literally only a mile and a bit) and my hands got numb, if the Ergons don't help then I'll just have to face up to it being a bedding in process.

the other thing that it might be is if the bars are significatly lower than the seat. This puts extra pressure on your hands. I bought a stem extender for $20 from Performance Bike (I don't know who would sell them in the UK) and it made a huge difference in comfort by bringing the handlebars level with the seat.

Update!

I worked Saturday :( but decided to cycle. 15 miles, did it in just over an hour, hopefully it'll get under at some point.

Then the trains broke, so I decided to cycle back, too! Took much longer, fatigue plus headwinds but I did it! My butt is really sore but the Ergons really helped my wrists!

Just wanted to say congrats! The first ride is always the worst (Well, maybe the first ride with wind is the worst) but they mostly get easier from here on out. I think it has to do with banishing the unknown.

Anyways, congrats on the successful round trip commute.