Originally Posted by
buzzman
I'm curious what your elevation change is over the 8 miles. After most of my year commuting in Boston and then 3 months in NYC I'm now commuting in the Berkshires. About 1/2 way into it I have a brutal 2 mile dirt road climb with a gain of about 1100'. I could go another route and stretch out some of the climbing over more miles but I'm liking the challenge. Unfortunately, it's so steep and the road is so rough in parts coming down that I can't really take advantage and descend at too much speed.
I can do this for a couple of months but I'm not doing it every day- only 3-4 x's per week and year round I think it would grind me down. My wimpy flat commute back in Boston is 5 miles shorter each way and has an elevation shift of about 80' over ten miles. Hilly commutes can be tough for sure. 8 miles with a steady uphill is a ton of work every day. You will sure get stronger from it.
Mine is about 500 feet change according to googling elevation points...so I go down 200 feet in about a mile, then I'm at the river. Cross river, and start climbing 500 feet over 8 miles with a couple of miles of flat here and there. Sounds like nothing compared to your climb but again, so conditioned to 12 miles right next to the Pacific Ocean, don't think I could've gotten a flatter commute if it tried. I'm going to look into a few options. Also seems like my bike doesn't climb efficiently out of the saddle. Got a trek 520, maybe it's my Arms and legs that are noodly and not the frame....running 32s nothing too fat, good tire pressure. Going to do a few adjustments, and keep truckin!