bmthom.gis

Does your Better Half work within a 10 mile radius of your work? If so, carpool then bike from her place to yours! It will take some coordination on getting out the door in the am and her possibly waiting a little while for you, but that sure beats 22 miles each way 5 days a week. You could alternate, do 2 times the full distance, 3 times bimodal. My Better Half works ~3 miles from me at the moment, and it's a good alternative if I don't want to go the whole ~12 miles each way instead.

tarwheel 

The time commitment would be the biggest issue with a commute that distance. My regular commute is 32 miles round trip, which takes about 2:00-2:15 hours depending on the weather, traffic and how tired my legs are. However, I sometimes take the long way home, which is about 29 miles one way, making the total round trip about 45 miles. On those days, I don't get home until about 7:30 pm and I'm fried. My wife doesn't like it when I am that late, so I don't take the long way home unless she has other commitments in the afternoon-evening.

My regular commute distance was about 22 miles round trip for many years. When my office moved about 4 years go, the distance increased to 32 miles. The longer distance wasn't that much more challenging physically, but adjusting to the time commitment was much more difficult. I had to leave for work much earlier and got home later in the evening. I still have trouble getting up as early as I need to. My wife doesn't like my later schedule but has adjusted.

TenSpeedV2

I think it is the overall commitment vs just the time. This means inclement weather, storms, windy days, really hot days, colder days if you find that area to be cold. This means keeping your bike in 100% running condition all the time. You will get a flat, you will need to repair it on the spot unless you happen to be near an LBS. Then you can factor in the time on top of all of that. I don't know anyone who would want to tackle this on an upright dutch style bike. I would personally go for something faster like possibly a carbon endurance road bike that would fit 28's and have room for fenders if needed.

Joe Minton

1962 and I was 20 yrs old, a club-level road racer and in possession of my new Schwinn Paramont.
I still lived with my parents; they/we moved from about six miles from campus (Santa Monica College) to Wilmington, 32 miles from campus. I had just signed up for a special astronomy summer class and did not want to miss it. So --- I rode 64 miles-per-day to attend that class. I was able to average 20mph going and coming (traffic lights, stop signs, traffic and all).
When I asked swimming coach Joseph, whose swimmers held six national records at the time, if there was any way I could get shower privileges, he looked at me (he could really, really 'look' at you) and said: "Joe, of course you can shower here. Pick a locker!" --- Youth and the fitness that can go with it is an amazing thing.

The really, really Good Old Days ;o)

Joe

PatrickGSR94

dang, how do you only have 450 miles on the commuting mileage thread?

ptempel

I've been doing about 100 miles per week or 400 miles per month with park and ride. Going from my home would be more than double that (250 per week or 1000 per month) which is a tall order for me. The most I've done so far is three days from home and two park and ride during the summer and fall months last season. So that's about 190 per week or 760 per month. That's about as much as I'd want to do for now. Even then, I noticed that I was burning out after a solid month of that. So needed to park and ride for a week to "recover". I'd recommend doing something similar to break it up into two or three days per week. Then, after a month or two of that, you can try ramping it up. Or if you can't reduce the distance a few days a week, then go REALLY EASY on those days. Like take another 20-30 min getting into work kind of easy.

TexMac

LOL.. been lazy to update esp with racing. I'll update right now

Surly2698

I commute 36 miles round trip
5 days a week and have been doing so for a couple of years
If there is snow on the ground I take the bus
Which taken longer than by bike
It gets tiring at times but for the most part I like it
All done on a fixed gear bike
May get a gear bike soon

79pmooney

OP, how many stops? Stops are the killers. If this is 20 miles you can roll, that's not so bad, but a dozen lights will make it a lot worse. They may well become more of a drag than the elevation gain.

Ben

kickstart

It all depends on the conditions. On my commute the speed potential of a given bike may allow greater speed when moving, but has very little bearing on overall travel time.

pepsi4all

I commute... its 22 miles flats one way, sometimes 30miles if I take the long way. That hills will make you stronger. It takes an hour for me. If you want to start commuting, you have to try 2 times, then 3 times, then 4 time and lastly 5 times a week. You have to let your body get used to it.

You need to have lights that is seen during the day.

I have a lot of change of clothes at work, shoes, towel, gel for my hair and toothbrush. You expect to save a lot of money. You will save, but not by much, because you will be eating a lot.
One good side, you can stuff yourself and not gain weight.

Stay away from traveling at night, this is when I was rushed to ER with a broken bone, got hit by car.

Also, I have 5 pair of gloves, 5 jersey, 5 pair of socks, 5 bibs and etc.

You will be in shape... having sex, you wont even breathe hard, and can last for 2 hours or more.

I am concern about that main road, I think it is a bad idea. You should probably should find a better one if you can.

SouthFLpix

Sure. I have no doubt that you can do it.

ptempel

Maybe you could do some mini low gear sprints off the light? No luck getting around this in the NYC area. Only repreive is the Hudson Greenway but you still have to slow down at times and watch out for others there as well.

ptempel

You were kicking some gleutus maximus averaging that speed with lights. Its fairly tough to do 20mph average in my area. If I do the 23 mile ride in 1.5 hrs, then its only doing around 15.3 mph. Prolly could go a bit faster but would be baked for the same return trip home for sure. Chapeau to you for still riding. Ride that Eddy Merckx like you stole it!

ThermionicScott 

You can practice your standing starts that way.

PatrickGSR94

Jeez man are you an elite rider or something?? 22 miles would take me nearly 2 hours some days, 1:45 at least.

blue192

I have done the 20+ mile one way to work and I suggest you might want to rethink the plan. 20 miles x 2 ways x 5 days a week = 200 miles that is going to take a toll on your body in time. Unless you are relatively young and have a light office type job you will end up sore daily.

TenSpeedV2

Totally depends on the route and amount of traffic. Back country roads with no lights, this is doable. City streets, no way.

PatrickGSR94

22 MPH average is like "A" group rider status or beyond.

kickstart

IDK, averaging 22mph under any condition is E-bike territory for me.

pepsi4all

This what commutes makes out of you. I have seen a lot of people do that average or more. Our critz group ride is 24-27mph. Most of the times we pass ebikes... in Pacific coast highway. The old people uses them.
My commute is mostly riverbed... and easily can attain this. Sometimes, it's not that how much you ride... is how much you can take the pain threshold.
Today, I did 30 miles on my way to work, mostly the whole way pulling and pulling 21 mph headwind... and when it turns a little tailwind was doing 25mph easy.
Too bad my buddy and I had to slow down... some of the groups were dropping. It's because I commute, and use to the ride.
Thursday night critz is were the pros come out....I see them in strava sometimes average at 28mph. My buddy average 26 yesterday night on that critz.
I was gonna go since I am training... but I had to work late.
So many people are faster than me here... especially cat 123. They are unbelievable fast.

I think the hardest ride for me is critz break away... when you have 2 or 3 people taking turns to pull a high speed. No rest there.
Anyways... commute is awesome but, you have to be safe. Dont do it, if it is not safe... not worth it
You just need your body to get use to it also.
I was biking 300 miles 5 days a week 3 months ago... I was on my peak... yet still my friend was faster than me.
Anyhow... just be safe... no matter what... you will be tired doing at first... then getting used to it, then eating a lot... lot... lot. If you stop biking... your body will crave it.

pepsi4all

Oh I forgot to tell you... you need a spare bike... your bike will give up.

Walter S

I'm 56 and commute 40 miles RT daily plus live car free, hauling heavy loads in with a cargo trailer regularly. A few hours of good exercise daily does not wear you down if you build up to it and listen carefully to what your body needs and ride accordingly.

I have a mass transit option and that's how I trained. I used to ride my bike in the morning and ride the train home. Then I'd get off the train early to extend the ride. Then started doing the whole ride and save the train fare.

I'm stronger for it - not wearing myself down.

TenSpeedV2

E-bike territory is a scooter or moped for me. At that point, why not just get a motorcycle and call it good?

Refreshing

Three summers ago I had a 40 mile round trip commute. I did it 2 to 3 times a week on wide shoulder highway all summer. The ride to work was always fun cuz I viewed it as a work out. The ride home was relaxing and quiet as I pedalled along. HOWEVER, after switching jobs and going totally car free (12 mile round trip to work) I can not imagine riding a 40 mile round trip commute 4 or 5 times a week. This is especially true now that I have a family and sometimes when I get done working I just want to fricken be home with them. Also, I never realized how much the cold-rainy season sucks until I sold my car. Just my 2 cents!