TransitBiker

Should be no problem. Just stay away from any mountain bike or suspension bike, as it will take way more energy to ride. It should take you about 2 hours give or take. Try to bring some electrolyte beverage with you, be it gatorade, club soda, something. Does not need to be cold unless you are trying to stay cool, tho gatorade needs fridge once open. +1 for eating something before, what that is you'll have to figure out as everyone digests differently. Would also suggest thin moisture wicking socks, shoes that are very comfortable and preferably some semblance of built-in waterproof if you plan to ride on wet days, same for over-pants. I personally recommend a helmet, tho that is a personal choice thing or it may be a local law for wherever you are. If you do get one, get a good one (not a cheap discount one). Then the bike itself.... you can ask about which bike in a separate thread as to not confuse the topic, same with helmet.

I used to date a girl who lived a bit over 8 miles from me on a route that has 2 crazed hills, and i could get there or home in 45-55 minutes even on my old broken 4 speed cruiser. I prefer listening to music to keep my brain's gears spinning in bike mode, but not everyone prefers to do that, as it may affect situational awareness.

- Andy

Leebo

Not too far, my commute is 18 miles one way, 2-6 trips per week. By car takes one hour, good weather by bikes takes 10 -20 minutes longer. Enjoy. Racks ,bags and fenders is how I roll.

HydrogenCyanide

Thank you for all of the information that everyone has provided. Since is has been brought up this ride will be relatively flat. I posted the following in the Hybrid forum. Any opinions here on this?


I have done some looking around and narrowed down to three different bikes. These are all within $100 of each other. I am posting these prices but please keep in mind these are Canadian prices and we typically pay more for most things. All of these would be assembled by a local, reputable bike store with the exception of the GT. This would be put together by a semi-big box sporting good store (Sportchek). From what I have read the disc breaks are not really necessary, but I really like the feel of them compared to the older style V breaks. All of these have hydraulic disc breaks.

Norco X.F.R 3- $699
Giant Roam 2 (This year model)- $669
Giant Roam 2 (Last year model)- $600
GT Transeo 2.0- I can get through employee discount for about $550.

I am less concerned about total cost and most concerned about bang for the buck. I also don't need the best of the best and prefer to stay midrange where the best bang for the buck typically is. The Giant Roam (This year model) looks fantastic but I think it mechanically the same as last years model. What do you guys think? Any advice? Which would you buy?

If I am completely wrong and you recommend something different......I am also open to that.

ItsJustMe

I do 15 miles one way daily, that's 24km, and it's not a problem at all. Next year I'm going to have to go to 26 miles (40km) one way, I'm hoping to be telecommuting every other day then as the time committment might be a bit much. I'm 51 years old FWIW.

It's nice to have showers at work. You are going to need separate cycling clothes, but I don't think two sets.

12strings

Second most of this. I have a shower at work, but will often skip the morning shower so I can get right to work quicker...as Baron said, clean sweat doesn't stink...You will likely stink after your ride home, though.

I have 3 pairs of cycling shorts, so I can make it a week, but i generally wash them the night of the ride because they smell, and there is usually enough laundry around the house after a day or two to do a load (Kids, you know...)

mhifoe

I commuted 25k miles on a cheap hybrid and would make the following observations:

Disc brakes are good especially in the winter. I spent $300 replacing wheels with worn wheels due to rim brakes.
Avoid suspension forks if possible for such a long distance.
Get panniers for luggage, preferably ortliebs.
Consider drop bars. I had a lot of trouble with flat bars (hand/wrist pain), even with ergo grips and bar ends.
I would actually choose a 9 speed over a 10 speed rear derallieur for a commuter, for longevity and price of replacement chains.

TransitBiker

You really don't need a suspension fork on a flat paved route.

My 2 cents:

Breezer Bikes - Downtown EX - Bike Overview

Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | FITNESS | ABSOLUTE 2.3

I feel both are reasonably priced, and both would be a joy to ride. That second part is important on a 2 hour trip.

- Andy

TransitBiker

Oh, all most forgot. If you like that Fuji but want disc brakes instead of rim brakes:

Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | FITNESS | ABSOLUTE 1.9 DISC

- Andy

Reynolds 

As said above, distance should be no problem. Is it OK for you to spend 2 1/2 - 3 hrs a day commuting? If the answer is yes, great, by all means do it.

Darth Lefty 

@HydrogenCyanide, I think you should ride a bunch of bike styles before you commit to a given style. Then pick brand by price, or shop level of service, or coolest decals, or whichever criteria you want. The bikes you list and their prices aren't much different. I think most of us for such a long day would want a rigid fork and drop bars and smooth tires, BUT we don't know you or your ride.

When you do get a bike, remember to budget for some lights, patch kit and spare tube and pump and tire levers, a little bike multi tool and a mini Leatherman knockoff. If you are going to ride in inclement weather, get fenders and rain gear.

fietsbob

Try the route you will need to use on the weekend and see how you feel about it and how long it will take

Stuff Happens .. add time to mend flat tires so you dont get sacked for Being Late.

icyj

My commute is 20.3km each way (shortest route) although I will ride longer routes for a change of pace, all country roads. 31yo

You can always do the hybrid commute thing like you alluded to:

Day 1: Drive auto in, bike home; Day 2: Bike in, drive auto home. (Repeat)

Might I suggest a cyclo-cross bike? It will give you the option of wider tires for gravel/snow but allow for narrow road tires (for weekend rides). I find mine to be a great balance of on/off road speed and handling.

spivonious

I'd definitely get a road bike and not a hybrid for that distance. Other than that, good advice in this thread. Get a bike and start riding!

noglider 

I commute 21 km each way, twice a week. I plan to increase that to three to five days a week as the weather gets warmer and my body becomes accustomed. But I can't say if it's too much for you. One drawback to cycling that kind of distance is the opportunity cost of the time. Do you have things you would rather do? On days when I don't ride my bike, I ride the subway, and that allows me to read. I enjoy reading, and I can't do that on my bike. If the Kindle or Nook app could read out loud to me, I'd love to know about it.

FBinNY 

Amazon, Hulu and others now have a large library of audible books. Obviously you need a device with speakers to take advantage. I'm the opposite and prefer to tune into my surrounding as I ride. Even on roads I've ridden over 1,000 times, I'm still being surprised by new things, or things that were always there but I never noticed.

Best, so far, is a hawk coming in behind me and just over my head, to take a squirrel out of my way about 20 feet ahead.

noglider 

Some days, I want to be fully aware of my surroundings. Other days, I'm bored and I just want to get there. I'm aware of audio books, but it would be nice if I could hear synthesized audio of ebooks I've already purchased. I think I could get used to the synthesized voice. My father in law (RIP) listened to one reading the NY Times on his kindle after his vision almost completely left him. He would tell me of the funny mispronunciations, but they were not deal breakers for him. His favorites were Derek Jetter and Colonel CAD-a-fee.

enigmaT120

There are lots of audio books available for free to me through our library system. But I hate being read to, so I don't get them.

I hear you about wanting to get audio versions of books that you've already paid for.

RaleighSport

I'm 34 and do a 24km one way commute, 48km round trip when I do commute.. which has been rare this year due to outside circumstances. But I've never had an issue with it and my route is slightly hilly and usually I ride a very highly geared fixed gear... it's quite fun actually.

ItsJustMe

This is sometimes very cheap on Amazon. They have deals where sometimes if you already own the Kindle version, you can get the audiobook as a companion for cheap, sometimes only $4 or so. Plus, they auto sync between devices - if you read a few chapters on your Kindle, when you pick up the audiobook for your commute it will have jumped to where you left off on the Kindle, and it works the other way too.

mstateglfr 

Your definition of 'leisurely pace' is very different from mine. That's impressive if averaging over 16mph on a commute is a leisurely pace.
A 10mph commute pace is what I would consider leisurely.

alathIN

If you haven't been riding, you will need to work up to it. Also will take some time. If you have that time in your day, I would certainly do it.