Adding In A Long Ride To Commute
 

I am considering adding a long ride to the start of my commute once a week, as long as the weather holds. Right now to get started I'm talking about doing 40-50 miles to begin the day. I would have to get up extra early, obviously. I can probably only sustain commuting three days a week and if on my middle day I do a longer ride that would add some miles for sure. I wonder if I could accomplish that consistently. Anybody ever do something like that?

I already leave around 6:30 am for my 9 mile commute, so I'm not motivated enough to get up another hour or so early. However, I do like to add an extra 20 or 30 miles on to my ride home occasionally.

A gentleman I work with bike-commutes 25 miles each way; he does this about once a week in the summer time.

I have a direct one-way 14 mile commute in the morning (commuter train home with bike at night). During the nice weather, I try to follow a training program with daily, increasing mileage quotas. By about week three, the weekday mileage exceeds 14 miles, eventually up to most days 25 miles, occasionally up to 30. Fortunately, my routes can be extended into the best bicycling regions in Metro Boston.

On Saturdays scheduled for the long ride, 40 to 70 miles, I usually go into work for few hours at my convenience, so my commute is further extended. Having a mileage schedule, and keeping track, is very motivating to get me out on the Road during the nice weather, besides commuting, far more in my busy life than I would go for recreation.

Besides the schedule, good routes, and nice weather, I have a great road bike, and I am a super-early riser.

All summer I was stretching my 13 mile round trip to 20-30 miles each way every day. Dropped the detours like a hot potato when fall came in full force.

Lately with the cold and dark closing in on us I've been getting my extra miles in the morning by riding around the neighbourhood roads. I'm able to get in 25-30 km of quiet riding on very familiar roads early in the morning, but I am never more than five minutes away from home, just in case. I don't bother to carry any tools with me. Then when it's time I head home, pick up my backpack and ride the 20 km or so straight to work.

Somehow I am comforted by being so close to home, especially under adverse riding conditions--wet roads, darkness, cold.

If the weather is nice and I get up early enough I will do 15-30 miles, but not on my commuter bike.

3 days a week I will meet a teammate for a training ride before work. Depending on what's on the agenda, it could turn my 4 mile direct route into a 35 mile ride.

I add 10-15 miles a day to my commute on the way home when there are no time constraints.

I do the opposite. I ride the shortest most direct route in the morning and take a "scenic route" home on the days when the weather is great and I have no obligations to meet.

Marc