I posted on here a long time ago about whether or not it would be feasible to commute by bicycle into university 5 days a week, all year round. And this is an average of an 8 mile journey.

I have tried this three times (in and out) as well as a little bit extra in the city before returning home.

The only real thing I hate about this is the large hill at the end of the route, it has a sharp corner where cars might not see me which also makes it dangerous as well as a hell of an effort required to get up it and not stop until I'm in the safer zone. This is at the very end of the return journey, and it's the only part I'm finding myself hating.

I posted a screenshot of the first Strava run, shows the route and the hills.



Will I get used to this over time?
So far it's a big push to do it. If you guys (who commute much more than me) think there's a good chance I will eventually be able to do this with ease then it's not so bad. But if this is always going to be a struggle that scares me into thinking days will come when I just can't do it! :-(


How do I avoid getting sweaty when I turn up at university?
So far, from my other thread, I'm thinking buy some clothes for cycling and take my 'normal' clothes in a bag. Change when I get there, change back before I leave. Some deodorant, a hair brush and dry shampoo should keep me decent? Or is this idea fundamentally flawed?

Can I keep this up in all-seasons?
I know some of you guys from the USA and Canada deal with more extreme seasonal changes than where I am (in the UK). We get heavy rain showers, dull skies and sometimes moderate winds. I'm thinking with the right clothing I can tackle this, but some people tell me my idea of cycling 'everyday' even after September I'm told is stupid and that I should just take the car on the first sign of rain. Right now, I'm tempted as I don't want to get soaked, but by September I'll have all the clothing I need as recommended by you all so I'm thinking it can be done.

Thanks again for all replies, most of the time I just need to check with you that I'm not planning crazily and that these ideas are humanly possible.

Unless I have a very good, or a unique solution to cycling problems I‘m not inclined to propose specific solutions, but as a general principle to ride under difficult conditions,

I won't even comment about people the who think you are stupid, but I've been called a "saint" for my gumption.

It's not a stupid idea at all!

For your dangerous intersection- are there other routes you can take to avoid it? Even if you're detouring a couple miles, it may be worth it just to make the route safer. Plus variety is a nice thing to have, as doing the same exact path twice a day, 300 times a year can get dull.

Do you have nice waterproof bags (large backpack or set of panniers) for your schoolwork/books/laptop/clothes? You'll want to iron that out long before bad weather sneaks up on you.

Congratulations on making the transition to bike commuting. Don't listen to the naysayers who tell you that it's too cold, too hot, too dangerous, too stupid. Doing it is good for your health and good for the environment. It's not easy, but a lot of things in life aren't easy. It doesn't mean we give up, or not do it at all.

Learning what works for you takes time, and always remember that it's a work in progress. There's lots that I'm still learning, though I've only got about 240 commutes under my belt. Each season presents its challenges, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, mother nature or a dumb motorist throws you a curve. Keep at it. It does get easier.

Does the school have a recreation centre at which you can shower? Could you rent a locker there to keep toiletries, or perhaps they even have towel service. This would be handy.

Im also a student that commutes by bike and have been for the past 3 years now. Im just now buying a real commuter bike though as I have been using a mountain bike I built up from the frame myself and while that is a very pleasant ride with e suspension cushioning the horrible roads/sidewalks in my area. It is not the lightest bike by any means weighing 30lbs and has knobby tires too that are 2.3 in width. As for why I have these tires on instead of some fat slicks is because I do this bike for trails so I need the tread for the paths.

Anyhow I DO ride all year long as I dont own a car and I live in the United States where we receive snow and the absolute worst combo a bike can have... ice with temps as low as -24 C. For these times the proper clothing with a quality softshell jacket and layers will go a long way. The wind also really sucks here too as I live at a elevation of 7000 feet which if you just happen to be facing a head wind while climbing a hill is the absolute worst which for me is the exact direction I have face in my commute.

As a result of persevering and not taking the bus I can say that I have become a much stronger rider now and so will you will. So I think if you keep at it you will adjust to those monster hills, Im not sure what kind of gearing your running but if the hills are too much swapping to a larger cassette may be good idea. For comparison my mtn bike has a 42/28 crank and Im rolling a 11-36 cassette which was a great way to ease into commuting by training with lower gear ratios for easier climbs.

When I commute to my university I do pack a set of clothes that I change into after using the showers in the gym we have. I own a massive backpack that I use instead of having panniers which can suck if I shove loads of groceries in it though lol.

I've done the 8 miles or more for years, every day in all weather and I'm not extreme. There are people in this forum who do twice that or more, in much more extreme weather. Of course it's possible for you. You'll get used to it.

I don't know anything about your dangerous hill, but I'll bet there's a way to handle it.

It really depends on your current fitness level and your ability to grow fitness. With time that kind of commute is very feasible.

You can start out slower though, like twice a week for a week or two, then grow to 3 for a couple of weeks, etc. until you're OK doing 5 times a week. You can also ride slower. Mixing 'slow' days in between 'hard' days. By slow I mean you hardly puff. The point is to ramp up your fitness and incorporate rest days.

With time the difference between slow and hard days won't be that much in terms of the time it takes.

And yes, bring clothes. Its easier with panniers and you'll eventually figure out ways to optimize what you wear

Anyway take your time, it will grow. If you plant a seed, with time and care, a tree will grow.

You will get more fit. If the "hill" is on your return, that is perfect. Go as fast as you can every trip. You will be a monster soon.

I leave belt and shoes at work with baby wipes and deodorant. I bring Chinos and an oxford shirt with undies each day. I ride in cycling attire. I ride easy on the way in and hard on the way home.

Stick with it.

Will I get used to this over time?
- yes, and the hills will get easier to climb. not a lot easier, but you'll get better at climbing them


How do I avoid getting sweaty when I turn up at university?
- you can't, work on the issue of being sweaty and proper cleanup and re-dressing after arrival


Can I keep this up in all-seasons?
- time will tell, others have, so you might

That hill does look like a bit of a beast, but time will tame it. Have you been able to find other routes to avoid that intersection? Is there a bus that you can hop on to avoid the hill and intersection, many here do multi-modal commutes.

Commuting year round isn't a problem, I like in Vancouver and I have no issues riding in the rain. Some days are colder and more wet than I like but I do it, and I always had the bus on really nasty days.

Who cares what others think?

Is there a gymnasium at school that has lockers? Or lockers you can rent anywhere at school? Showers? I used to rent a locker per semester at the school gym and that was a great home base for leaving gear like a shower kit, shoes, and clean clothes

Just give it time and figure out what works best for you is the most important thing. Those miserable days that you successfully commute will build into being little badges of courage.

But remember being safe is the most important thing. Wear a helmet.

Everyone is different. In my case, I would not be able to commute if not for the nice network of paved bike trails in this area. The idea of spending 3 hours on the local roads, in the middle of rush-hour traffic, would put a damper on any commuting plans.

The 15 to 20 minutes I spend on roads are absolutely the worst part of my commute. And, half of those miles are spent riding on a sidewalk or through subdivisions and industrial parks. There is a nice 20-minute stretch of country road that I enjoy riding early in the morning, but I avoid that route at night, choosing instead to take a 10-mile detour in order to stay on the trails instead of facing afternoon traffic with texters and drunks or people not paying attention. Morning traffic on that road is sparse and the drivers are courteous.

I usually tell people that they should commute by bike for eight weeks before deciding whether or not they like it. That allows them time to improve their fitness. Commuting by bike often sucks for people who are not used to riding frequently, but becomes much more enjoyable once the exercise aspect doesn't feel so daunting.

It's also something that gets better as the years go by. My first year commuting was quite challenging: what to wear, what to eat, how to carry clothes, how to carry food, which routes do I take, etc etc etc... The questions were stacked up like airplanes coming into O'Hare on a Friday night. But, as the years went by, I developed a nice routine. Now, it's almost second nature.

+1 to all that.

Yes. The human body is remarkably adaptive. Still however, as suggested above, you might want to research alternate routes. Your body will grow stronger so the hill is doable, but nothing you do to your body will change the layout of the road or the (in)attention of drivers.

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How do I avoid getting sweaty when I turn up at university?

Well maybe you can't avoid getting sweaty, but what facilities are available at your University? I know American universities are a lot more sports-oriented (-rabid) than our European counterparts, but at basically every american university, all students have access to a gym with locker rooms and showers. I am fortunate to have that situation as my work as well; I am able to leave jeans, shoes, and towel in a locker full time, and just carry fresh shirt, socks, and underwear daily. (And transport jeans/towel home for washing occasionally). Look into what facilities your university might offer.

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Can I keep this up in all-seasons?

Yes. A great saying goes: there is no bad weather, just bad clothes. Unfortunately proper gear to keep a cyclist comfortable in UK rains is expensive, but it's out there, and these guys can give you good advice about how to find it.