Cyclocommting vs. Car commuting time
#27
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
I've never really considered my morning prep time to be different. The biggest morning time suck I found was shoe covers and unlocking the bike and getting it out the gate in the fence with a full load of panniers and kid. Also gearing up with my lights and computer after work was the thing I disliked about the winter. I've always hated the extra time needed for shoe covers and lights in the winter; I wished I could just get on it and go.
I find going home is where biking loses as far as prep time goes. I have to change out of my work clothes and get into the bike gear, then reapply gear to the bike. But traffic home is always worse so it is still a win, I tended to pass most co-workers on the line up for the bridge anyway.
In the morning if don't shower at home I then do it at work.
If I drive when I get home I tend to change clothes anyway, so getting back home is no different than the bike.
I never really worried about packing time for clothes. I had a good routine where every about three weeks I'd bring my stash of four or five pants and seven or eight shirts home from work and wash and iron and slowly return them to work for a few more weeks of wear. I would bring undergarments to work and back in a drybag every day. If I took the bus, my likely option when not riding, I tended to change at work anyway so that prep time was similar, just the bus took an hour and twenty minutes on the old route and I never took it on the new route.
I had a spread sheet with costs somewhere but I've not given it much thought in the last nine months. I always kept meticulous records for the car repairs, fuel, mileage, and driving and weather conditions. I always saved all my cycling receipts and started tallying them last winter. Other than brake pads and cables most of my gear lasted multiple years.
In total I am convinced I save time cycling since I'd need to workout and decompress when I got home if I didn't ride.
I just need to convince my wife to let me ride again someday.
I find going home is where biking loses as far as prep time goes. I have to change out of my work clothes and get into the bike gear, then reapply gear to the bike. But traffic home is always worse so it is still a win, I tended to pass most co-workers on the line up for the bridge anyway.
In the morning if don't shower at home I then do it at work.
If I drive when I get home I tend to change clothes anyway, so getting back home is no different than the bike.
I never really worried about packing time for clothes. I had a good routine where every about three weeks I'd bring my stash of four or five pants and seven or eight shirts home from work and wash and iron and slowly return them to work for a few more weeks of wear. I would bring undergarments to work and back in a drybag every day. If I took the bus, my likely option when not riding, I tended to change at work anyway so that prep time was similar, just the bus took an hour and twenty minutes on the old route and I never took it on the new route.
I had a spread sheet with costs somewhere but I've not given it much thought in the last nine months. I always kept meticulous records for the car repairs, fuel, mileage, and driving and weather conditions. I always saved all my cycling receipts and started tallying them last winter. Other than brake pads and cables most of my gear lasted multiple years.
In total I am convinced I save time cycling since I'd need to workout and decompress when I got home if I didn't ride.
I just need to convince my wife to let me ride again someday.
Last edited by joeyduck; 10-29-15 at 09:23 PM.
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,014
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From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
I think @wphamilton has a great point. On the old route driving times could be 35-70 minutes for me. Cycling was always 53-56 minutes.
Cycling is reliable time wise was a thing I loved.
Cycling is reliable time wise was a thing I loved.
Last edited by joeyduck; 10-29-15 at 09:23 PM.
#29
Let's Ride!

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
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From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Driving is around 22-30 minutes and riding is 40-1h20m depending on how far I go. I am not counting the time it takes to change/ shower/ dress in the morning and change to ride home.
the Mrs appreciates the positives me riding regularly.
the Mrs appreciates the positives me riding regularly.
#30
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,688
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From: Sioux Falls, SD
Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk
Similar to getting dressed. I have to get dressed the first time either way. If I bike, I have to account for time for a clothing change.
#31
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Vandalia OH
Bikes: 2011 Cannondale Quick 5, 2014 Raleigh Revenio 2.0
I figure the shower is a wash (pun somewhat intended.) I have to shower before work regardless of whether I drive or bike. When I drive I do it before I leave the house, and when I ride I do it after I arrive from work.
Similar to getting dressed. I have to get dressed the first time either way. If I bike, I have to account for time for a clothing change.
Similar to getting dressed. I have to get dressed the first time either way. If I bike, I have to account for time for a clothing change.
#32
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,228
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From: Toronto, CANADA
Bikes: ...a few.
I think a big part missing from the formula is prep time. When I drive my car I basically walk out the door, then walk into the office and sit down at my desk. When it's time to go home I hop in the car and drive home.
When I ride my bike, I've got to pack my work clothes, check my tire pressure, then when I arrive I have to change clothes. Have to change clothes again before I head back home, then change out of my sweaty clothes after I arrive. Prep time will add probably at least 10 minutes each way in the summer and 15-20 in the winter.
When I ride my bike, I've got to pack my work clothes, check my tire pressure, then when I arrive I have to change clothes. Have to change clothes again before I head back home, then change out of my sweaty clothes after I arrive. Prep time will add probably at least 10 minutes each way in the summer and 15-20 in the winter.
#33
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Toronto, CANADA
Bikes: ...a few.
Are you driving mainly on the freeway? Or do you have to take a very circuitous route when riding?
#34
Dart Board

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,787
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From: Happy Valley Oregon
Bikes: 13 Super Six EVO Red, 2005 Six13, 2024 TREK DOMANE SL 6 GEN 4, 1986 COLNAGO Master
Traffic is bad on the commute home by car that is why I try not to drive sometimes I can beat my time home by 5 minutes. Time by car averages between 15- 25 minutes. Time by bike can average between 18 and 22 minutes depending on wind and weather. So to me its almost a wash for time. So I turn to the best thing and that's what I get out of it. Better health, outlook and save enough to by bike stuff. I win!
#35
70 minutes to ride; 45 minutes by bike and train, or 60 minutes by foot and train; TCQ =1.5 to 1.2.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 10-30-15 at 06:17 AM.
#36
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 18,701
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
13mi of interstate and 6mi of highway with only 4 lights total.
To ride, it's a lot of start and stop. Probably 14mi of it is on MUPs, but a good bit of those MUPs are in residential, so it's slower going.
#37
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Toronto, CANADA
Bikes: ...a few.
I'm a bit envious of that. I have the option of ending my commute to work on a MUP that's only about 2.5-km long, and whenever I get on it it's, phew! such a relief. But I count myself lucky to be able to take several routes that do not require me to stay on any main thoroughfare for an extended period of time. Side roads and residential streets where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less is the way for me.
#40
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
It takes me 20 minutes door to door whether I ride or drive so my number is 1.
#41
There are more stoplights on the driven commute than the bike commute. It's typically 20-25 minutes driving and 25-31 minutes biking for a ratio of 1.25. When I drive, I average 16-18 mph or so; bike is 13-15 mph.
__________________
"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
#42
Don't have exact numbers but; This morning it took ~30 min to get to work. The drive would take ~25 min. That yields ~1.2.
My typical ride home is ~25 min. The drive is from 20-25 min. That yields from 1-1.25 depending on traffic.
Yesterday I went the long way home. ~55 min. If I went for a joy ride in my car after work it would be for at least 2 hrs more like 3. Using the 3hrs, rounding 55min to 1 hr that yields 1/3!
My typical ride home is ~25 min. The drive is from 20-25 min. That yields from 1-1.25 depending on traffic.
Yesterday I went the long way home. ~55 min. If I went for a joy ride in my car after work it would be for at least 2 hrs more like 3. Using the 3hrs, rounding 55min to 1 hr that yields 1/3!
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,720
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From: North of Boston
Bikes: Kona Dawg, Surly 1x1, Karate Monkey, Rockhopper, Crosscheck , Burley Runabout,
Ouch, over engineered. I'm coming from my artist side. In the car, grumpy like all the other cagers, on the bike, happy like all the other bikers. So it's the HGQ. How do you like to spend your commuting time?
#45
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Kota, Aichi, Japan
Bikes: 2011 Giant Seek R3, 2015 Specialized Allez Elite, 2017 Giant TCR Advanced 2
I haven't driven, but judging by the number of cars I pass on a 30 - 35 minute ride on the way to work, the bike would be slightly faster due to traffic. Maybe I could make it home 10 minutes faster by car on the way home (again depends on traffic).
Biking + train + walk to work is around 35-45 minutes. Walk + train + walk is the worst as like 50-60 minutes.
Biking + train + walk to work is around 35-45 minutes. Walk + train + walk is the worst as like 50-60 minutes.
#46
Zip tie Karen
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,005
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From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Commute is less than 8 miles. 17 to 18 minutes by car, or ~35 minutes or so by bike, depending on how hard I want to ride and whether there is an afternoon headwind from the northwest.
My quotient is about a 2.0, I guess.
My quotient is about a 2.0, I guess.
#48
I thought this might be an interesting survey.
My car commute about 60 minutes round-trip. My bike commute is 100 minutes, if I take the most direct route. So I've bought an 100 minutes of cycling for 40 minutes.
So consider this ratio--time cost quotient (TCQ) = (time spend commuting)/(average car commute time). The lower the quotient, the easier the commute. The quotient would be largely determined by your speed, stop lights, circuitousness of your cycling route compared to your drive, etc. It'd be interesting to compare.
My TCQ is 1.67.
What's your TCQ?
My car commute about 60 minutes round-trip. My bike commute is 100 minutes, if I take the most direct route. So I've bought an 100 minutes of cycling for 40 minutes.
So consider this ratio--time cost quotient (TCQ) = (time spend commuting)/(average car commute time). The lower the quotient, the easier the commute. The quotient would be largely determined by your speed, stop lights, circuitousness of your cycling route compared to your drive, etc. It'd be interesting to compare.
My TCQ is 1.67.
What's your TCQ?
#50
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
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Mine is 1.59 on a good day and doesn't vary from that too much. I take a slightly longer route on the bike for safer roads on my 12 mile (each way) ride. Only 2 traffic signals coming in and 3 on my return and one busy road to merge into for a left hand turn.
My average speed is about 20.5 mph on the bike.
I use my commute for training so usually I'm pushing pretty hard.
I have limited time to bike so taking advantage of the time I would otherwise be driving has been a real bonus.
My average speed is about 20.5 mph on the bike.
I use my commute for training so usually I'm pushing pretty hard.
I have limited time to bike so taking advantage of the time I would otherwise be driving has been a real bonus.




