How many miles is your commute?
#1
Thread Starter
Member

Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 42
Likes: 1
From: -
I used to commute 15miles round trip to and from work, but i moved not to long ago, and its closer to 50miles round trip. So i guess im just wondering how long commute is? I usually ride to work once a week, but 50miles is just killing me on a FS MTB... gota go invest in a road bike i guess 
How long is your commute?

How long is your commute?
#2
Junior Member

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Texas
My commute is normally pretty short. I have to work like heck to add more miles onto it! What it lacks in miles it more than makes up in excitement, though--kamikazi car commuters jam the streets and that really keeps me on my toes.
So, actual mileage would be about 10 but add in the excitement factor and multiply that by the square root of a late office worker trying to put on mascara in the rear-view mirror and then multiply that by lane hogs than take that figure and round it to the nearest whole number and (clickety clack ching ching) that comes to roughly...um...100 miles a day! Wow!
Acqua =)
So, actual mileage would be about 10 but add in the excitement factor and multiply that by the square root of a late office worker trying to put on mascara in the rear-view mirror and then multiply that by lane hogs than take that figure and round it to the nearest whole number and (clickety clack ching ching) that comes to roughly...um...100 miles a day! Wow!
Acqua =)
#4
Newbie

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
My commute is around 9 miles each way.
If you want to get some comfort for your ride, get a recumbent like me.
Visit my site at https://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/...913/index.html
Pure comfort!
------------------
Burn Fat NOT Oil.
Ride a recumbent and ride in COMFORT!
If you want to get some comfort for your ride, get a recumbent like me.
Visit my site at https://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/...913/index.html
Pure comfort!
------------------
Burn Fat NOT Oil.
Ride a recumbent and ride in COMFORT!
#5
Marathon Cyclist


Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 0
From: Perth - Western Australia
Bikes: Road Bike / Mountain Bike
Mine's about 14km. That gives me a round trip of about 28km. in miles that's 17 or 18 miles.
Fortunately part of my job is to organise bike rides so I can often get out and do a bit more all in the name of work.
------------------
Rodney Olsen
Creative Director
Media Creations
www.bigfoot.com/~MediaCreations
Fortunately part of my job is to organise bike rides so I can often get out and do a bit more all in the name of work.
------------------
Rodney Olsen
Creative Director
Media Creations
www.bigfoot.com/~MediaCreations
#6
Newbie

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand
I commute 30kms each way to work and back. On top of this I can chose a number of different routes giving me inexcess of 5 miles of steep climbing, having deviated from the valley floors or the coast line. The only problem I have is the wind, with an average wind speed for Wellington (NZ) of around 40km/hr ranging upto 100+km/hr on the not so calsm days!
#7
Junior Member

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
My commute is about 34 kms round trip. The road is fairly nice and bike designated shoulders are designated on most of my commute. I've had to battle some strong head winds at time but I can usually cover the distance (one way) in about 35 minutes. The fresh air sure does wonder after work and often helps to get rid of headaches.
happy trails
happy trails
#9
Newbie

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI, USA
I commute 4 miles each way for a total of eight miles. I usually ride old bikes from the '60's, which are heavy, so it is like doing more miles in terms of effort.
Usually, I do all my other travels and errands by bicycle too, which all adds up.
I commute all year, even in winter when it is -10F to -20F and when it is snowing and rainging. Yup, I have a working automobile, but it sits for weeks at a time without being used.
A day without bicycling is like a day without..., Hmm... well like a day without, Uhm, well a day without bicycling sucks.
Usually, I do all my other travels and errands by bicycle too, which all adds up.
I commute all year, even in winter when it is -10F to -20F and when it is snowing and rainging. Yup, I have a working automobile, but it sits for weeks at a time without being used.
A day without bicycling is like a day without..., Hmm... well like a day without, Uhm, well a day without bicycling sucks.
#10
Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Silver Creek, N.Y.
For about 10 years my commute was 16 miles one way / 32 mi. round trip. Unfortunately, I now live 32.5 miles one way from work. The trip runs directly through the heart of a large metropolitan area. I drive it.
#11
Junior Member

Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Golden Valley, MN, USA
My commute is 15 miles one way. The morning ride goes pretty easy, but at the end of the day the flakes are out in abundance. Sometimes it takes me over an hour to make the ride. If my kids were older I would do the ride every day, as it is I only commute twice a week at the most.
#13
I was commuting 5 miles each way till I got sick of it a little over 2 years ago. Now I'm retired (early, age 60) and need to start riding again! So that's on my agenda for tomorrow morning, March 23. I don't have a car, and when I commuted I did it in all weather, including downpours and sub-zero. I use both mtn bike and road bike and have no real preference, except that the mtn bike deals with the rough streets a little better.
#14
Today was the first day I communted to work, which is about 11 miles each way. Considering how out of shape i am (and the fact that it was pouring rain) it's wasn't that hard at all. But next fall my commute might go up to 16 or so miles each way. Not sure if i'll be able to bike it every day, but we'll see.
#16
Junior Member

Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: lacey,wa.
miles for commute
I now have a short commute. About 4 miles one way but I have one of those dumb computers so I try to break my average speed and time every ride. I should throw the thing away before it kills me.
#17
Junior Member

Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI. USA
Long commutes are now within reach
To all who are wondering if they now live too far to commute, or who need a break once in a while:
Get an electric kit for your current bike (even recumbents)! They can add 20 or more miles per charge, at speeds up to 17 mph without pedalling. (More range and / or speed if you pedal as well).
The US Congress is currently changing the law so that an e-bike is considered a "bicycle", not a "motorized vehicle" or "motorized bicycle", which means the DOT does not have a say, just the CPSC. This means you ride the bike wherever you want, even where it says "no motorized vehicles"!
(BTW I don't sell them, but I am a big supporter of them)
I ride 24 miles each way to work (Schwinn Hybrid), and I don't smell like sweat when I get there!
I recharge batteries at work, and on my way home, I pedal more than on the way in so I get a workout, because it is OK to come home a little sweaty.
Drivers aren't always that friendly, but I found bike paths, sidestreets and sidewalks for most of the route (pedestrians are not an issue in Detroit, cars are).
Search on "Electric Bike" on Yahoo, and you will see what I mean.
And to all the "purists" who think a bike should not have an electric motor, it is high time we all start thinking "outside the box" and actually DO SOMETHING to solve congestion, not just talk about it. E-Bikes put otherwise unreachable destinations within range, and you can always pedal as much as you want, for both your health and your conscience.
Search yahoo, and see the links below, and start planning your own route to places you never thought you could ride to.
Get an electric kit for your current bike (even recumbents)! They can add 20 or more miles per charge, at speeds up to 17 mph without pedalling. (More range and / or speed if you pedal as well).
The US Congress is currently changing the law so that an e-bike is considered a "bicycle", not a "motorized vehicle" or "motorized bicycle", which means the DOT does not have a say, just the CPSC. This means you ride the bike wherever you want, even where it says "no motorized vehicles"!
(BTW I don't sell them, but I am a big supporter of them)
I ride 24 miles each way to work (Schwinn Hybrid), and I don't smell like sweat when I get there!
I recharge batteries at work, and on my way home, I pedal more than on the way in so I get a workout, because it is OK to come home a little sweaty.
Drivers aren't always that friendly, but I found bike paths, sidestreets and sidewalks for most of the route (pedestrians are not an issue in Detroit, cars are).
Search on "Electric Bike" on Yahoo, and you will see what I mean.
And to all the "purists" who think a bike should not have an electric motor, it is high time we all start thinking "outside the box" and actually DO SOMETHING to solve congestion, not just talk about it. E-Bikes put otherwise unreachable destinations within range, and you can always pedal as much as you want, for both your health and your conscience.
Search yahoo, and see the links below, and start planning your own route to places you never thought you could ride to.
#18
I commute about 15 mi. one way. I drive to work with the bike on a rack. I bring a change of clothes for the following day as well as my bike clothes. At the end of the day I put on my bike shorts, put my keys and wallet in my seat pouch, and ride home. The next day I ride in, and I have clean clothes waiting for me. I like having the car at work in case I need to get to a meeting, I also like riding without having to carry a change of clothes and a briefcase on the bike. I'm lucky enough to have a rail line within a few blocks of home and work so I can take the train if it is raining/snowing too hard in the morning. I've thought of using an electric motor accessory, but I don't think I would like the added weight, and for the length of my commute it isn't necessary.
#19
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Spokane WA
Bikes: Seven Axiom Ti, Trek 620, Masi cylocross (steel). Masi Souleville 8spd, Fat Chance Mtn. (steel), Schwinn Triple Bar cruiser, Mazi Speciale Fix/single, Schwinn Typhoon
about 10 miles one way mostly flat and through town about 12 or 14 miles one way if I go by the river on the trail
#20
I commute about 32 miles round trip, three days a week.
Most of that ride is on a levee-top towpath alongside the Savannah River... think century-old trees draped with Spanish Moss, numerous sightings of deer, river otter, egrets & cranes, bats, and rattlesnakes. Often, at 6:00am, I am the only human out there, and I have this nice wide, flat, well groomed dirt road all to myself. Evenings, I must pick my way around the joggers and dog-walkers, but there's plenty of room.
The paved portion of my ride starts with a few miles of rural two lane blacktop... a great pre-dawn test of one's survival skills, and on the other end of the levee ride, a few miles of decaying urban city streets, featuring the popular bus swerve-around and homeless wino bunny-hop.
I've tried several bikes on this ride, and wrecked two beyond salvage. Presently, I'm using a ten year old Trek 7900 alloy framed hybrid, with Zefal mudguards and Cateye lights. This particular bike, which was dubbed "rainbike" years ago, has a total of 62,000 miles on it, to date... and it certainly looks it.
Most of that ride is on a levee-top towpath alongside the Savannah River... think century-old trees draped with Spanish Moss, numerous sightings of deer, river otter, egrets & cranes, bats, and rattlesnakes. Often, at 6:00am, I am the only human out there, and I have this nice wide, flat, well groomed dirt road all to myself. Evenings, I must pick my way around the joggers and dog-walkers, but there's plenty of room.
The paved portion of my ride starts with a few miles of rural two lane blacktop... a great pre-dawn test of one's survival skills, and on the other end of the levee ride, a few miles of decaying urban city streets, featuring the popular bus swerve-around and homeless wino bunny-hop.
I've tried several bikes on this ride, and wrecked two beyond salvage. Presently, I'm using a ten year old Trek 7900 alloy framed hybrid, with Zefal mudguards and Cateye lights. This particular bike, which was dubbed "rainbike" years ago, has a total of 62,000 miles on it, to date... and it certainly looks it.
#21
Junior Member

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
My commute is "going" to be between 22-25 miles each way, I'm currently working out route options and checking traffic flows. Currently (fairly new job) I'm working half-days on Fridays, so I'll start by riding in on Friday's, which will give me all afternoon to get home. 
Between now and Christmas I'll be trying different routes on the weekends with either a road bike or a mountain bike. One route is mostly a rail-to-trails path, but with enough major arterial roadway crossings that I might be better off on the road bike on the road than messing with the pathway.
Why I'm looking at starting to commute to work in Wisconsin in the winter I have no idea, but having grown up in Washington state causes one to do stuff regardless of the weather.

Between now and Christmas I'll be trying different routes on the weekends with either a road bike or a mountain bike. One route is mostly a rail-to-trails path, but with enough major arterial roadway crossings that I might be better off on the road bike on the road than messing with the pathway.
Why I'm looking at starting to commute to work in Wisconsin in the winter I have no idea, but having grown up in Washington state causes one to do stuff regardless of the weather.
#22
Newbie

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Commuting my mileage
I enjoy commuting by bike enough that when I changed jobs a while ago I went from 10 miles r/t to 22 miles r/t. This has been a lot of fun playing in traffic and dealing with cars and trucks. I have three routes that I can take and they have their own appeal and benefits. Some of them avoid traffic and there is a route that shields me from most of the wind.
Keep riding!
Keep riding!
#23
Commute Length
My commute is 20 miles rt, 9 miles in, 11 miles home. Luckily, I am able to work an early schedule so my ride to work is on main arteries starting at 5 AM - very little traffic. Going home I have found scenic parallel streets and go a couple of miles out of the way to ride on a bike path by the lake to avoid other traffic. There is still on particular intersection that is both unavoidable and extremely dangerous. I walk or (shame, shame) ride on the sidewalk a couple for a couple of blocks to get through it; there is no realistic "around" option right now. As my conditioning, confidence and speed build, I may brave the traffic or try an alternate route that will probably add about 4 miles. Since most of those extra miles will be through the park and more miles by the lake, it may be a great tradeoff. Hmmm. Sounds so good I might try it tomorrow.
Today, Wednesday, is my driving day. Since I have only been at this a couple of months, I still feel like I am in a conditioning phase and think it prudent to ride 2, drive 1, ride 2. But I sure hate not riding so that may change real soon.
Regards,
Raymond
Today, Wednesday, is my driving day. Since I have only been at this a couple of months, I still feel like I am in a conditioning phase and think it prudent to ride 2, drive 1, ride 2. But I sure hate not riding so that may change real soon.
Regards,
Raymond
#24
Newbie

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, Kentucky
what up. My commute is 4.2 miles going in. then it is
1.5 miles and 3.0 miles going out. I have two jobs. IN the morning I leave the house at 6:15 a.m. to go to my
eletrical engineering intership. I get there at 6:45 and stay until around 4:30p.m. Then I go to my other job as a Bellman for the largest hotel in the Ohio Valley. I leave there at 1:00a.m. and go home and do it all over. Lucklily I do not have to work that second job but 4 times a week, cause some mornings I am very tired and the prospect of riding in does not feel to well. But I do it anyway since I am the bicyclepriest. I have five bikes for the task. ONe is 1970's Azuki road bike fitted with such aftermarket accessories as scott at-3 bars, fenders, and Suntour BAr end shifter. This is my main bike. When I want to ride in a more upright position, I ride my '76 Schwinn Suburban which is one of the cleaniest Suburbans you will ever see. For the rain rides I use my "beater" which is yet another Suburban but it is a brown '73 one and the other is metallic blue. For snow coditions, I ride a 1970's Sears Ted Williams fixed gear at 58.5 gear inches. Of course it did not come with a fixed gear, I changed it over from a ten speed. Lastly, for severe conditions (i.e. ice) I ride my Trailmate Desoto Classic three-wheeler, of which I have changed from a coaster brake drivetrain to a multispeed via a complicated drivetrain that includes a "flip-flop" hub. All of the bikes a 27" since I like this size better since I am 6'3". The three wheeler was a 24" but I converted it to 26". Bringing up the rear on all of my squadron is a B.O.B.(Beast of Burden) YAK trailer. I carry alot of things, i.e. brief case, rain gears, groceries, books etc. I breathe, eat, and think bicycles 24 hours a day. I think all that math I have studied has made me go insane. enough about me. Bicyclepriest says "Keep on riding for the fun of it"
[Edited by bicyclepriest on 12-04-2000 at 12:43 PM]
1.5 miles and 3.0 miles going out. I have two jobs. IN the morning I leave the house at 6:15 a.m. to go to my
eletrical engineering intership. I get there at 6:45 and stay until around 4:30p.m. Then I go to my other job as a Bellman for the largest hotel in the Ohio Valley. I leave there at 1:00a.m. and go home and do it all over. Lucklily I do not have to work that second job but 4 times a week, cause some mornings I am very tired and the prospect of riding in does not feel to well. But I do it anyway since I am the bicyclepriest. I have five bikes for the task. ONe is 1970's Azuki road bike fitted with such aftermarket accessories as scott at-3 bars, fenders, and Suntour BAr end shifter. This is my main bike. When I want to ride in a more upright position, I ride my '76 Schwinn Suburban which is one of the cleaniest Suburbans you will ever see. For the rain rides I use my "beater" which is yet another Suburban but it is a brown '73 one and the other is metallic blue. For snow coditions, I ride a 1970's Sears Ted Williams fixed gear at 58.5 gear inches. Of course it did not come with a fixed gear, I changed it over from a ten speed. Lastly, for severe conditions (i.e. ice) I ride my Trailmate Desoto Classic three-wheeler, of which I have changed from a coaster brake drivetrain to a multispeed via a complicated drivetrain that includes a "flip-flop" hub. All of the bikes a 27" since I like this size better since I am 6'3". The three wheeler was a 24" but I converted it to 26". Bringing up the rear on all of my squadron is a B.O.B.(Beast of Burden) YAK trailer. I carry alot of things, i.e. brief case, rain gears, groceries, books etc. I breathe, eat, and think bicycles 24 hours a day. I think all that math I have studied has made me go insane. enough about me. Bicyclepriest says "Keep on riding for the fun of it"
[Edited by bicyclepriest on 12-04-2000 at 12:43 PM]
#25
Newbie

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Europe, Brussels, Belgium
i recently changed my commute from 5 to 7.5 miles, since my office was moved to another place in the brussels area.
the short route is quite different from the new one. the first was through rural quiet areas (schaarbeek->zaventem) with long straight lines and a bit of countryside. the latter is straight through the serveral cities in the brussels federal state (schaarbeek->linkebeek). apart from the extra traffic, i experience more accidented terrain and more side road alternatives and because of that i am getting lost frequently in my persuit of more optimal routes. this will probably inprove in a few weeks, but still, taking the route to work is not always the best the other way round. i keep trying and exploring all the time.
planning trips with a plastified map of the city and a overhead water solluble projector pen is the best for optimizing.
the short route is quite different from the new one. the first was through rural quiet areas (schaarbeek->zaventem) with long straight lines and a bit of countryside. the latter is straight through the serveral cities in the brussels federal state (schaarbeek->linkebeek). apart from the extra traffic, i experience more accidented terrain and more side road alternatives and because of that i am getting lost frequently in my persuit of more optimal routes. this will probably inprove in a few weeks, but still, taking the route to work is not always the best the other way round. i keep trying and exploring all the time.
planning trips with a plastified map of the city and a overhead water solluble projector pen is the best for optimizing.




