thechemist

So, I am debating starting to commute again but its a longer distance than I have done at other jobs. I am looking at ~240 miles a week. I am doing my base training now for the race/crit season so I have been on the rollers and weekend rides but would probably do less of that with this many miles. I have done this trek a couple times last week its ~30 mi in and 30mi out. Now I will be taking care of myself food and water wise on the bike but my main concern is if this is even good for me? Should I look at a bone and joint supplement?

mikhalit

I am doing 2 times 60 miles commute per week. Not doing anything special, a bit of junk food (snickers bar, jelly bears, sandwich) and 2-3 l of self made "sport drink" (nothing really special). Soon it will be five months as i am doing so, feeling good!

cosbike01

This isn't an answer to the supplement question (I honestly wouldn't know), but I'm curious, what kind of bike are you on?

thechemist

I am currently riding a cannondale synapse but will likely upgrade to a caad10 or specialized tarmac within the next month or two.

nashvillwill

Will this all be on city streets or can you follow the greenway at all?

cehowardGS

If I am doing the math right, that is a 40+miles every day!! Wow!

Mark Stone

OP: You can break in to the distance gradually by using your car at first. You said 30 miles in, 30 home - so install a rack on your car, start by driving 20 miles and riding 10, then gradually increase the distance until the entire commute distance is comfortable. I don't think a bone and joint supplement is necessary above what you would use normally, but I'm not a doctor and don't know you well - use your own discretion.

Ridefreemc

If I were doing such a commute I would try to remind myself that it is supposed to be fun and adventurous. You can make it a chore and it will grow into something that you dread. YMMV

mikhalit

Yes, something what i experience from time to time. If the time allows i take Gps navigator with me, set the preference to unpaved paths and just let it go in the right direction. Always happy afterwards. On the way back i just stick to the fastest way, really eager to get home as soon as i can.

tarwheel 

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. I would recommend commuting 2-3 days/week both ways, or combining bike commuting with driving. Eg, drive to work with bike on rack. Ride bike home that afternoon and back to work the following morning. Repeat as often as desired. For me, trying to ride 60 miles/day would end up seeming like a chore. It would take so much time out of my day that there wouldn't be much left for anything else. I have ridden that far day-after-day on week long bike tours, but that's on vacations where all you have to do is eat, drink beer and chill out after riding. That's totally different than doing it daily commuting, when you have to work 8 hours during the day and then come home and fix dinner, do chores, pay bills, etc.

PdxGecko

Commuting 5 days a week at these distances would have a negative effect on your race training. It would be hard to mix in enough interval and anaerobic training into the commute. Race training involved specific efforts both hard and slow. At these distances you would be stuck in the " no mans land " of training. Too hard for recovery and or not hard enough. You would be too tired to do hard training on days off and then not have recovery time during the week. What is the purpose of the commute on the bike? Try the suggestions of adding in a car or mass transit, or reduce the frequency to 2 or 3 times a week and use the commutes as Long Slow Recovery Rides.

MNBikeCommuter

I've been doing a half century round trip commute for the past nine years and still don't feel qualified to answer your questions. :-) So here's my experience: I'm averaging about half the commutes by bike--fewer in the winter and more in the summer. Initially, three times a week was about all I could handle. Two in a row was doable but a third was a bit much. It seemed like it took a couple of years to really get hardened to the point of being able to handle four or five in a week. From what I've read, that's typical.

I've found commuting harder on my body than long distance rides in the country. A 450 mile seven day ride isn't as taxing as a five day 250-275 mile commuting week. Commuting, I average one or two controlled intersections (stop sign/light) every mile, and all those starts is what kills my legs over time. If you've got a straight shot to work with minimal stopping and starting, that's certainly in your favor for a 240 mile week.

I haven't had any joint issues, so haven't even considered any supplements. My main issue, and one I keep pretty quiet about given the national state of obesity (which also means friends and relatives), is getting enough calories. A side effect of that is not always acknowledging the drop in miles over the winter and continuing to stuff my face more than I should. It seems like there are always a couple extra pounds to work off once the spring ramp up comes.

Along with the physical strain comes mental strain. It gets to be a lot of hours in the saddle, along the same routes, and there are many days I would rather be doing something else. During decent commutes my mind is mostly elsewhere and doing fine, but with colder weather (10F one morning last week), I can't get it off the "why the hell am I doing this?" loop.

On a side note, today is my 1000th commute to this employer. That's 45,000 miles saved on the car, and my body is holding up just fine. My bike--a '92 Cannondale T600 touring bike, hit 97,000 miles on the way into work this morning. Its winter counterpart is a '95 Cannondale H600 hybrid with "only" 18,000 hard miles on it. Given the forecast, I'll probably have to switch bikes by the end of the week. As the hybrid, with studded tires, is slower, that means more time under worse conditions. Let the mind games really begin in the cold and dark... :-)

ThermionicScott 

I'm not an expert on racing, but some of the greats put in long rides every day. The option to vary the intensity as you wish (hard days, easy days) is always there.

MichaelW

There was a training regime from middle distance running (1500m), devised in New Zealand, which involved running a marathon every day. The idea was that once you became hardened and conditioned to this effort, then pushing yourself over shorter distances would be easier.
If you do decide to ride it and buy a new bike, I would suggest one with the clearance and fittings for fenders and possibly a rack, or at least a large saddlebag. You also need components with extreme durability. In the UK there are some high performance, winter training bikes made from carbon fibre.

thechemist

This will be on city streets that have bike lanes. The road will be very smooth but I will deal with some traffic but I have plenty of space. I will have reflective gear, front and rear lights and wheel lights(all the usual bright and shiney stuff).

I do have a mile here and there in which I will be without a bike lane but for the most part is should be pretty safe.

thechemist

As to some of the mileage questions. I was originally planning to get 1 day or 2 in by car and each day by bike would be 60miles total.
The day in day out mileage doesent bother me, I have done a bit of this last week and found it very enjoyable. I am more concerned with the long term health and just getting in the calories.I have a pretty high metabolism and at 29 years old I eat alot.

thechemist

hmm, lots to process here and some good points. This may be the route I take.

krobinson103

My commutes are a little shorter, at 15-20km one way, but I ride those everyday along with 35km before dawn and 100-160km every weekend. Turns out at around 300-400km a week and as high as 1800km a month. Apart from needing a lot more food and being prepared to maintain the bike as it does wear out faster my body feels good. Been doing it for 8 months now and no ill effects.

Surrealdeal

This site needs a "Like" button.

dramiscram

++1

I commute 55 kms/day, 4days/week and I'm quite proud of myself, 270-275 miles/week??? I don't think I could.

AsanaCycles

there is a ton of info on this stuff.
i recently picked up a book, "Race Weight" https://www.amazon.com/Racing-Weight-.../dp/1934030511
or download it, whatever.

typically I put in 15-20hrs/wk, be it commute, training, or the reality... the bike is my church? <-- well, you know what I mean... I'm on the bike about 20hrs/wk, no matter what.

I have friends that put in +30hrs/wk.

you can totally do mileages like that.
Hammer Nutrition has a bunch of into too. I use HEED for under 3hrs, and Perpeteum for over 3hrs, along with some vitamins, etc...

30 mile ride each way? <--- sounds perfect!