Originally Posted by
Alligator
I'm still new here, but I just started using my bike for all of my local commuting with great success. I say "local" because I still haven't taken it to work yet. It's 22 miles to my office, and although I have a bike-friendly office, the 22 miles just seems too far. I figure it will take me almost 2 hours if I bike to/from work, each way, right?
How do those of you who have a family and a LONG commute do it? Leaving at 6:00 a.m. to get to the office by 8:00 doesn't seem realistic. Plus, I wouldn't get home until ~8:00 at night! Are the long distance commuters all family-free?
Excellent thread! I've been meaning to start something similar to this because I've been wondering the same thing myself. I have a wife and kid (9 months as of right now). 22-miles is quite a stretch one way. Depends on the terrain as well. Is it flat? Hilly? Combination? My commute is 15-miles one way. It takes about 65 min (no traffic) to get to work, since its going downhill for the first 3 miles, then it changes to uphill then flattens out at sea level. On the return trip it takes anywhere from 1 hour 20 min to 1 hour 45 minutes. This is entirely due to lack of fitness and gear inches my freewheel offers for top speed. Will change this soon or get a new full-size bike.
I found something that works. I have a 20" folding bike that I can stick in the trunk of a Corolla pretty easily. I "hybrid" commute. Before the last hilly section of the way home (last 4 miles). I have the wifey pick me up at the bottom at the small shopping center. My work is very physical and there are some days that I get really tired. So I have to budget energy for the family and the next day. Sure as you cycle more and more, fitness level increases. Which is what I am trying to get out of this. I'm not trying to save the planet or anything. I figure this is a start in keeping up with the spawn in the future when he runs around.
Originally Posted by
2wheelcommute
My commute is actually a little faster by bike than by car (traffic-clogged LA...), so I can't offer advice from personal experience. But I know that a lot of the long distance commuters who can't find the time every day will make a point of doing the long bike commute at least a couple of times a week.
Also, a lot of people (with and without families) regularly spend an hour or so in the gym/jogging/whatever. When you bike commute, you're obviously both getting to and from work and getting your workout for the day, so maybe you shouldn't think of it as: time to commute by bike vs. time to commute by car. Instead, think of it as: time to commute by bike vs. time to commute by car and go to the gym. This may help put the extra time in perspective.
Initially I thought that long distance commuter MUST be single guys with lots of time on their hands. Or at least that they can afford a large chunk to cycling. No family responsibilities are handy when you just come home and crash, or nobody needs to wait for you. But there are all types of commuters.
2wheel brings up a great point! You could view the time difference as the time you would be spending exercising anyways, or should. Making it part of your lifestyle is just an easier way to get fit. Plus time should decrease with fitness level rising.
In the beginning it seems like you're investing more time than you should, because the "return" is not as quick. There is also the possibility of getting run over by some idiot which worries my wife at least. Chances of survival are probably greater in a car wreck.
Originally Posted by
mikepwagner
My wife would call "only adding one hour to the day" because I leave for work earlier utter nonsense - if I left earlier and drove to work while they were still asleep, I would be home earlier and be more available.
She would not buy the comparison between "get up early and ride" and "sleep in and drive" is valid. She'd want to hear about "get up early and drive - and get home early".
Yes! Agree 100% Everyone is snoring when we get up in the morning, so that part of the commute does not "exist" to other than your timeline.
Really interesting to see everyone's take on this!