Commuting - How far is your commute?

My commute used to be 6.7 kms each way for a total of 13.4 kms, and if I felt like it, I could extend the trip home. That commute was completely city riding, but for the most part the streets were fairly quiet. And that commute was almost entirely flat. I could take a different route home which would include an overpass ... and I did that fairly regularly to get some hill climbing in.

Now it appears that I will have a commute of 30 kms each way for a total of about 60 kms. The route is mainly in the country, which might be a nice change from city riding. It also appears that my commute will include at least 2 hills each way ... real hills, not just an overpass!

That's quite a different from what I was used to!!


But it makes me curious - what is your commute like? Length? City or country? Terrain?

Shortest possible route: 9 miles round-trip ... but who wants to take the short way? :)
Normal route: 21 miles round-trip
Longest route yet achieved: 25+ miles round-trip, but not in the winter.
Of course, they all get longer if I have to make other stops.

All of the routes are a mix of industrial neighborhoods, suburbia, and multi-use path (what 15mph speed limit?).

Average speed tends toward 16-17mph... it's pretty flat.

15 miles each way, but I generally only commute one way. It's pretty hilly overall with one or two decent climbs along with long stretches of just mild uphill. It's not overly strenuous, but it can be a challenge. I generally can average 12-13mph on my 32lb MTB with semi-slicks.

I go 8.5 miles. I start downhill as I head toward the beach. I ride along the beach, then it gently starts to rise. At the end is a steep hill. It begins gently for the first quarter mile, then the last quarter mile it is a granny gear affair. Twisty, no shoulder, no room to share, lots of frustrated short-cut seekers and diesel trucks--I can barely breathe--all lined up seething in anger behind me, waiting for their chance to make a break for it.

I think 8.5 miles is just right.

I guess its about a 1.5 miles or so each way. Just over to Lexington, down to 57th, over to Park, then down to 47th, 42nd over to 5th, then down to 38th. City traffic the entire way, lots of pedestrians crossing all over the place, busses and taxis galore

Five miles/9 km. Takes about a half hour to ride. Urban conditions -- stoplight every block or two.

Paul

17 miles each way. I normally do both ways. Commute about 4 times a week. I work 5 days though.

25 miles both ways in the city.
I average around 15.5-16mph in the winter with (I think I last counted) 74 lights plus a couple hills. Last summer I was averaging 15.5-16 in the warmth with a few 17 days. I think I can push close to 17-18 this summer. I'm so proud, I'm improving. :)
Ironically the speed's just about the same with my 18lb road bike or my 35lb mtb.

4 miles/6.4 km each way, and I usually ride home at lunchtime, so 8 miles/12.8 km for the round trip. The two circuits daily lets me have 16 miles/25.6 km daily. My 4 mile route is 1 mile on 2 lane country road then 3 miles on 4 lane suburban arterial. Marked bike lanes all the way. There are a couple bike paths that cross my route & in the Summer I frequently take a long detour on the path before resuming the trip home.

I'm lucky to manage 13.7mph going TO work if I opt to ride in. The problem is all our stupid hills... The entire way, there's absolutely zero flat ground. Everything is either uphill or downhill in some form or fashion. Seems that it's more uphill than downhill, too. Tennessee is a pain to ride, but makes for strong legs.

25 miles both ways in the city.
I average around 15.5-16mph in the winter with (I think I last counted) 74 lights plus a couple hills. Last summer I was averaging 15.5-16 in the warmth with a few 17 days. I think I can push close to 17-18 this summer. I'm so proud, I'm improving. :)
Ironically the speed's just about the same with my 18lb road bike or my 35lb mtb.

??74 lights?? what's your technique for getting through all those lights without tanking your average?

14 miles each way. Combo of canal MUPs and streets, all basically flat. I've been finding more street routes lately, because biking on the sandy canal banks when its raining is grueling. Some days, I have detours to class or volunteering or appointments, and the total day stretches into 30 miles or more. My longest day recently was 42 miles.

??74 lights?? what's your technique for getting through all those lights without tanking your average?
I go through 20 or so... the difference is, my speedometer is auto-start so stopping doesn't tank my average at all. When I state my average it doesn't include stops (since my stops will often include lunch or something to drink at a convenience store).

??74 lights?? what's your technique for getting through all those lights without tanking your average?

Bike as if my life depended on it lol.
My computer has a little arrow showing if im above or below my average speed. So I just try to keep my speed above the average as much as possible. The steep hills I go up around 15, the bridge I go over, I hit near 30 on the way down and hold it for a while and eventually stay at 20 till I get to a light a mile away.
One trick at lights though, look at the pedestrians. At stop signs and lights, I look for pedestrians jay walking in my same direction, if they stop and look, I'll keep my speed up and jam on the brakes at the last minute then stand and get back up to speed. If they cross, that means a car isn't likely to get into the intersection, so I just run the light at full speed.
I think this summer I'll save myself for taking out the road bike on weekends and stop treating my commute like a time trial.

I ride at a pace which doesn't kill me. Our hills are steep enough that I'm lucky to mash 9mph up them. TN is full of mountains and hills, so that kills anything resembling a good average speed. I don't mind it TOO much but it does get kind of old when I'd just like to go tool around on some flatland, there ISN'T ANY!

My commute's about 16 miles each way with the short route, 19 if I take the scenic path along the river. The short route is a blend of multi-use paths and busy streets (although I avoid the busy streets in WA, as the drivers there are maniacal and don't ever seem to notice bikes). I hit 3 pretty decent hills along the way (including crossing the Glen Jackson bridge over the Columbia), but they just make the ride home that much more fun. Unless there's a headwind. It generally takes me about 1:10 to get in and 50 minutes to an hour to get home. With the short route, of course.

I bike in 2-3 times a week (working on keeping it closer to 3) out of 5.

20 miles each way- 40 RT... I ride fixed on a bike I built myself for next to nothing... normally it takes about 1:15 there, and a bit longer getting back, although I did make it in less than an hour once when I had a good tailwind (and going to work has a net drop in elevation).

Bike as if my life depended on it lol.
My computer has a little arrow showing if im above or below my average speed...treating my commute like a time trial.

Me too. Hey, who wants to spend years getting into work...sleep in-pedal hard! Hey which bike computer is that?

16 miles if I bike the whole way. I usually let lite rail help me. mostly flat, but I am slow, so it takes more than an hour if I don't use lite rail.

I'm not here to add My distance of commute. I definite (My commute) for when I have to go to the grocery store, etc. When I go to a grocery store, in which I drive My bike on My return trip (to where I began from). ----And using those plastic grocery-store bags---- I make sure that AT LEAST ONE of those bags will be hanging on the left-side handlebar. The BULKIEST / HEAVIEST BAG. >>>So if / when any car attempts to get too close to Me, that it will bang onto its door. And it works; when I hang that bag there, I get more space given between Me and those oncoming/passing motor vehicles.

4.8 miles there, about 5.2 back. On the way there: 2 miles of hellish 35-mph strip mall and interstate overpass, followed by a lovely tranquil 3 miles of trails onto campus. On the way back: a bit of trail, a bit of residential roads. I have two big downhills on the way there, one big uphill on the way back. And I'm riding a fixed gear.

7 miles each way, all flat,on streets that can sometimes get busy.

Well, I drove the route today just to see what it is like.

I don't think there's more than about 0.5 of a kilometer that's flat. It's very gently up and down to the first time I drop into the valley ... and climb back up. Then it rolls for a bit, then starts to gradually climb, until the second time I drop into the valley ... and climb back up. That climb is a good kilometer or more and probably about a 8-10% grade. Then it continues to roll the rest of the way until it finishes with a gradual climb to the plant.

On the way back, the first valley I reach has a climb of about 1.5 kms long at an 8-10% grade, then it just keeps going up more gradually for the next 5 kms before I finally reach the top and plunge down to the city where I live, up and over some more rolls, down into the valley, along the river, and back up and out of it.

It's beautiful, but looks like it will be quite a challenge!!

That sounds pretty similar to my commute... It's not really that bad once you do it a few times... and it makes for strong legs. I doubt you'll have any problems doing it given the other rides I've seen that you've entered. lol

That sounds pretty similar to my commute... It's not really that bad once you do it a few times... and it makes for strong legs. I doubt you'll have any problems doing it given the other rides I've seen that you've entered. lol


I figure it will be good training. It's just that I moved here from Manitoba where it is tabletop flat and the biggest things I climbed were overpasses. Riding hills every day should improve my hill climbing skills.

East TN is like that... no such thing as flat ground.. middle TN is more like you're describing manitoba. It's pretty flat with a few gentle rolling hills. Living around here kind of forces you to be a good climber. The one nice thing is that I have a good 5 or 6 routes to work with varying amounts of hills such that I can take a different way depending on how I feel. Normally I don't ride in, I ride home but same difference.

Normally I don't ride in, I ride home but same difference.

I'm wondering how you manage that.

I've got a couple routes to work as well, I'll have to check out the other one to see what it is like. If it is less hilly, I may use it on the way TO work.

Me too. Hey, who wants to spend years getting into work...sleep in-pedal hard! Hey which bike computer is that?

Cateye astrale 8.

16 mi. each way, mostly flat. to be honest i wish it was shorter. i think about 8 would be ideal.

I'm about 20 miles round trip, there's one really really big hill, and after that it's just beat roads and sidewalks.

18 km / 11 miles each way, all flat and mostly on good cycle / pedestrian paths. About 8 miles is parallel to the freeway and I'm often faster than the traffic at peak hour. Only thing is that it is quite exposed and with the offshore / onshore wind pattern it's nearly always in my face. No complaints at all tho, I love it.

11-13km, depending on the route I take. The ride in is usually faster, going from suburbia (~4km), onto a main road (~1km), through a mall area (~1-2km), then back roads for the rest of the way until a section of fast road (~1.5km) into town to the office. Terrain is hilly - Halifax is fairly well known for its hills. The real killer is on the way home, a hill that's about 1.5km long and has four steep uphill sections interspersed with flat sections. I think the grades are (guessing) 9%, 8%, 10% and 15% - the last one is the real killer (I'm currently walking that section due to a knee injury). For anyone in Halifax I'm talking about Central Ave; I'd be interested to know if anyone can make Flamingo in one go.

I'm currently taking between 35 and 40 minutes to ride in, and 45 to 50 to ride home.

I am a newbie but loving the challenge of 7.4miles each way. All urban, some bike lanes (which I use) fairly flat until the last 1.2 miles going in (first 1.2 on the return) then just hilly enough to leave me struggling to reach the top of the last hill. My avg is picking up every week (commute 2-3 times a wk) yesterday I hit 14mph for the avg -- seems harder going home for some unknown reason ??? People aren't as easy-going in the afternoon as they are in the mornings.

0.8 miles each way. It is straight downhill to work and straight uphill coming home. Average 35mph on the way in and 11mph on the way home.

17 miles each. 2 hills each way. 1 is a mile the other is a mile and a half long at about 6% grade. Plus other little hills that I don't really count. Only about 3-4 miles of flat ground.

Excluding any errands I may need to run:

On mondays my commute is 18 miles to my internship, teach for 30 minutes, 18 miles to college, 5 miles from college home. Not bad except for the 18 mile return trip where I have one hour to get to my college, shower, then go cross campus before class starts. On top of that the biggest and worst hills are in those 18 miles, and they're also on 45mph roads so no slowing down for me- If anything I gun it harder. Oddly enough, the last 5 miles the part I despise is the downhill, uphill is fine. Downhill just hurts so much by then.

The other 4 days it's 10 miles round trip, but it's also fairly common for me to make that trip multiple times.

All hills. Most aren't too bad, some very large and very steep. Took a while to get use to and I'm still breaking in the mondays.

I'm wondering how you manage that.

I've got a couple routes to work as well, I'll have to check out the other one to see what it is like. If it is less hilly, I may use it on the way TO work.

I ride the bus to work and bike home, normally... Unless I'm feeling really frisky (or wake up before 4:30pm), then I'll ride both directions. Normally I sleep so late that I *have* to take the bus to work or I'll be late.

I ride between 3.75 and 4 miles one-way to work, depending on the exact route I take.

The time? Not quite sure, but it depends on road and weather conditions; most of the year it takes roughly a half an hour each way. (I'm slow!!) :lol:

I used to do 24km round trip, flat and mostly bike/ped shared paths.
Now I do 42km total. I still go via the bike paths to work, but on the way home I detour to my fiance's work so we can ride home together :D It allows me some hills and off-roading, and of course the chance to share my favourite activity with my favourite guy. :love:

A bit over 22 miles round trip. The trip in is largely downhill on a gentle railroad grade trail, so the trip home is slightly uphill on the same railroad grade. Its a wonderful bike trail with only a couple of at grade street crossings, everything else is bridges or tunnels. I'm still new to the trip so there are struggles with gear and such, but I love the ride!!

18.5 km one way.

Thank goodness I'm commuting again...too much snow, felt like a real l00ser not riding...at least I got to lead some indoor cycling/spinning classes.

The sun goes down at 18:00 today! YEAH!

Spring's a commin', I can feel it in me bones.

ride carefully,
Tom

Oh, by the way:

The terrain in my area is quite rolling with few, if any, "true" flat areas.

I also carry, most rides (except rides purely for sport), some load.

If it's a "cargo run", it can be 40-50 lbs. or more; with the trailer, 70-100+ (estimated--I know
the load's heavy!! :eek: )

Maybe that's REALLY why I'm "slow"!! :roflmao:

I ride the bus to work and bike home, normally... Unless I'm feeling really frisky (or wake up before 4:30pm), then I'll ride both directions. Normally I sleep so late that I *have* to take the bus to work or I'll be late.

Taking the bus takes me an hour. Biking takes 25 minutes. It's a 5.5 mile commute. It must be nice to live in a place where the bus is usable. :rolleyes:

My route to work is about 4.25 miles/6.8km, city riding. Because of hills, I average 9-10 mph/14.4-16kph. On the way home, I'm slightly faster, averaging 12mph/9.2kph, because more of it's downhill. There's another route home that I sometimes take, that's actually faster, despite it's being 4.75 miles/7.6km; it has some long stretches where I can get up to 30mph/8kph while coasting downhill. Rarely take that route at night, though.

Way too far when it is down right cold. 12.5 miles if I take the mostly bike path route. Only 7 miles if I go right to work via streets. 19.5 miles if I take the river path for most of the way home. 32 miles when I take big loop home. 22 when I ride with co workers. So it looks like about 19 miles average on the way home and 12.5 to work. I no longer commute in the snow. Rain is okay.
Only one heartbreak hill with the wind in your face all the way up.