Average Miles Per Commute?
#31
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
My minimum round-trip is 8.5 miles, but my commute ranges up to 30ish in the summer.
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,498
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From: Toronto
Bikes: Sekine 1979 ten speed racer
Before I retired, I would ride 4.5km to work. At work I knew a fellow who would ride 10 km. I also knew a guy who cycled 20 kms before he got struck and ended up with a dislocated shoulder. When he saw me riding in, it encouraged him to take it up again but was trying to find a safe way to ride across the city.
#34
Average Miles Per Commute?
I have previously described my bike-only commute:
I can easily incorporate the Commuter Rail since as an off-peak commuter I can take my bike on the train. The station near my home is about 1.5 miles away, and the station near work is about 0.1 mile away; those distances would be the minimum. A shortcut for the usual distance is to take a different line from the home station to a station about six miles from work. Very often I take the train home in the evening.
During the nice weather, especially when I’m planning for a long, organized ride, I can extend my commute through particularly popular cycling suburbs according to a Century Training Schedule printed years ago in Bicycling magazine. There are two variations called "Easy Century" and "With Strength to Spare" and I try for the latter. It’s very motivating, and not impossible to comply. FYI:
I have previously described my bike-only commute:
Reverse commute from downtown on four different routes of a minimal one-way distance of 14 miles, each defined by a different hill; can expand to about 30 miles to train. The commuting mileu in order of hill difficulty: gritty (but safe) urban, pleasant suburban, pleasant urban, ritzy suburban.
During the nice weather, especially when I’m planning for a long, organized ride, I can extend my commute through particularly popular cycling suburbs according to a Century Training Schedule printed years ago in Bicycling magazine. There are two variations called "Easy Century" and "With Strength to Spare" and I try for the latter. It’s very motivating, and not impossible to comply. FYI:
... My modification of the plan is to make Sunday my rest day, and Saturday is my century day.This won't print on the Forum as a nice table, but I think you can figure it out:
WITH STRENGTH TO SPARE:
Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Weekly
Easy Pace* Brisk* Pace Pace Pace Mileage
10 12 14 Off 12 40 15 103
10 13 15 Off 13 44 17 112
10 15 15 Off 15 48 18 123
11 16 19 Off 16 53 20 135
12 18 20 Off 18 59 22 149
13 19 23 Off 19 64 24 162
14 20 25 Off 20 71 27 177
16 20 27 Off 20 75 27 177
17 20 30 Off 20 75 32 194
19 20 30 Off 10 5 Easy Century 184
1,516
[On a recent Commuting Forum thread, Commuting Safely Impacting Recreational Fun?]
WITH STRENGTH TO SPARE:
Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Weekly
Easy Pace* Brisk* Pace Pace Pace Mileage
10 12 14 Off 12 40 15 103
10 13 15 Off 13 44 17 112
10 15 15 Off 15 48 18 123
11 16 19 Off 16 53 20 135
12 18 20 Off 18 59 22 149
13 19 23 Off 19 64 24 162
14 20 25 Off 20 71 27 177
16 20 27 Off 20 75 27 177
17 20 30 Off 20 75 32 194
19 20 30 Off 10 5 Easy Century 184
1,516
[On a recent Commuting Forum thread, Commuting Safely Impacting Recreational Fun?]
Most of my riding is commuting, so I don't really differentiate "fun rides" from "commutes"
However, I don't see the dichotomy…

However, I don't see the dichotomy…

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 02-26-18 at 09:17 PM.
#37
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
last job 1st location - 34 miles round-trip (typically rode 3 days a week but I did at least one full week, all during good weather only) wash-up was in a not so private bathroom (sink only) in the basement
last job 2nd location - 26 miles round-trip (this felt perfect to me. rode this approx 3 days a week thru an entire year thru rain, wind, sleet & snow) wash-up was in private bathroom w shower
current job - 44 miles round-trip (I only do the round-trip as a joy ride on a weekend. when I commute during a work week, it's during fair weather, summer mostly but a little into the fall I think too. I split it up so I only do one-way 22 miles per day: drive to office Sunday afternoon, ride bike home. then ride bike to work Monday morning & drive bike home. riding home on a Sunday is pretty safe, cuz there isn't much traffic, then riding in Monday morning super early is pretty much OK, cuz the traffic only picks up when I'm close to the office) wash-up is at my nearby gym. throw the bike on the car & drive 1 mile to the gym
last job 2nd location - 26 miles round-trip (this felt perfect to me. rode this approx 3 days a week thru an entire year thru rain, wind, sleet & snow) wash-up was in private bathroom w shower
current job - 44 miles round-trip (I only do the round-trip as a joy ride on a weekend. when I commute during a work week, it's during fair weather, summer mostly but a little into the fall I think too. I split it up so I only do one-way 22 miles per day: drive to office Sunday afternoon, ride bike home. then ride bike to work Monday morning & drive bike home. riding home on a Sunday is pretty safe, cuz there isn't much traffic, then riding in Monday morning super early is pretty much OK, cuz the traffic only picks up when I'm close to the office) wash-up is at my nearby gym. throw the bike on the car & drive 1 mile to the gym
#38
rebmeM roineS

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
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From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Round trip is about 19 to 24 miles, depending on whether I take the most direct route home or a longer, more interesting route on the homeward leg.
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#39
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From: Music City, USA
Bikes: bikes
#40
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,139
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Most people reporting in have long commutes. I don't think it's representative of most bike commuters.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#42
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,139
Likes: 6,365
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Even a poll isn't all that useful because it is self-selecting, i.e. the set of respondents is the the set of people who choose to respond. People in this forum are not typical bike commuters, and people in this thread are particularly proud of their distances.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#43
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
#45
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,139
Likes: 6,365
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I wish you would.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#46
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
#47
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2015
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I'm about 11km each way. Works for me and is faster than transit.
I could go shorter, but that would mean using streets instead of a bike path for most of the way which would be more dangerous, more annoying and probably not any faster when you factor in lights, stop signs etc.
I could go shorter, but that would mean using streets instead of a bike path for most of the way which would be more dangerous, more annoying and probably not any faster when you factor in lights, stop signs etc.
#48
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,139
Likes: 6,365
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I'm about 11km each way. Works for me and is faster than transit.
I could go shorter, but that would mean using streets instead of a bike path for most of the way which would be more dangerous, more annoying and probably not any faster when you factor in lights, stop signs etc.
I could go shorter, but that would mean using streets instead of a bike path for most of the way which would be more dangerous, more annoying and probably not any faster when you factor in lights, stop signs etc.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#49
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Queens, NY for now...
Bikes: 82 Lotus Unique, 86 Lotus Legend, 88 Basso Loto, 88 Basso PR, 89 Basso PR, 96 Bianchi CDI, 2013 Deda Aegis, 2019 Basso Diamante SV
For everyome else: my daily commute is about 5.5 miles, and the vast majority is the evening ride home. I take a ferry in the morning, to avoid being sweaty and whatnot. I tend to push pretty hard on the ride home though, to get the juices flowing.
#50
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,139
Likes: 6,365
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Do people stop for those lights during the day? I've only ever ridden that path at night (after 8 or 9pm), and they are pretty much ignored at that time.
For everyome else: my daily commute is about 5.5 miles, and the vast majority is the evening ride home. I take a ferry in the morning, to avoid being sweaty and whatnot. I tend to push pretty hard on the ride home though, to get the juices flowing.
For everyome else: my daily commute is about 5.5 miles, and the vast majority is the evening ride home. I take a ferry in the morning, to avoid being sweaty and whatnot. I tend to push pretty hard on the ride home though, to get the juices flowing.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.





