Here's the deal, spring is here and I want to start commuting to work on my bike. I just started getting back into biking, I'm 50, out of shape (not necessarily fat, but certainly out of shape), and what little riding I've done so far has me huffing and puffing and my legs burning. Problem is, I just don't have time to do any kind of conditioning or recreational riding.

So ... I'm thinking screw it, I'll just do it. It's 14 miles one way. First and last couple miles involve nasty hills, but the middle 10 to 12 miles is perfect flat rural road. I figure if I just take it easy, give myself LOTS of time at first to do the 14 miles (1.5 hours?), walk the bike up the meanest of the hills, take rest stops etc., I should be able to just launch into the commute right? Then as this old body gets whipped into shape I'll see my commute times drop and I'll be able to peddle up the hills.

Does this sound good? Or am I stupid to even attempt such a commute without some more practice and conditioning first?

You'll know if the idea was stupid by mile 8.

Seriously, make sure you can fix a flat on the road, wear hi-vis clothing and use lights front and back if you'll be in darkness. Good luck.

Okay - find a place where you could park the car and then ride the rest of the way to work. Maybe make it 4-6 miles round trip the first time - do that for a week, then increase it every week until you can do 14 miles one way. Doing 28 miles round trip the first time you will most likely have to have someone take you home or come get you. I started out doing a 8.2 mile round trip, I stopped and rested going up hills and it got better every day/week as I did it. Last year I was going to do 48 miles for the MS Bike ride, but after a month of being off the bike prior to the ride hurt me and my legs quit working at 32 miles - that is only 4 more miles than your round trip ride. Granted there was lots of hills and such, but still was hard to make that 32 miles.

If you insist on riding it, then be prepared to do 2 hours for the 14 miles - figure on doing an average of 7 mph (or less) figuring in the rest stops and walking.

Almost 30 miles a day is a pretty agressive starting point. Is there a way you could drive part way and bike the rest? Maybe start with drive 9 / bike 5 and see how it goes then, as your fitness level improves up the distance. +1 on all of rwp's advice and don't forget nutrition and hydration.

14 one way is long if you're just starting out. If you feel you need to take days off from riding the bike and take the car into work instead, don't feel discouraged. It's perfectly okay, and it will actually do your legs some good to give them a rest so they can recover. You will gain the fitness eventually; it just takes time.

Lets see...you have this going for you: nice and flat 10 to 12 mile stretch and decent NW temp's. If you had nothing but climbs or if you lived in South Texas, I'd have some concerns.

First question: How hard is your job? Is it a nice office job where you can sit and chill a bit upon arrival, or are you in a fast paced factory environment that needs you to hit the floor running 5 minutes BEFORE you got there? If it's the latter, I'd rethink the whole idea. I commute 27 miles, but have been riding forever, and I need at least a minute or two to catch my breath and munch on a snack after arriving to work in the AM. My last job was not condusive to that, so I did not commute.

There are many other things to consider, but some here are of the opinion that I tend to over-think this commuting thing, so I will just let you decide while others put in their two cents.

Go for it. I would personally recommend riding the full distance and taking days off the bike than driving half-way every day - from a fitness standpoint at least.

What kind of bike?

Also, if you gun it the 14 miles I would arrange for a ride home in advance, pick up the bike the next day.

Give yourself at least 2 and a half hours, JUST IN CASE

Thanks for the great advice folks. The idea of driving and parking part way at first is great. There's a town 5 or so miles into the trip that would be a good spot to start from, plus it would eliminate one big hill. I think that's wise advice and I'll probably follow it.

Regarding my job, I'm a desk jockey. I sit on my ever-expanding ass every day drinking coffee. No problem relaxing after the morning commute in.

And yes, my bike is decked out with lights and the necessary commuting stuff, I know how to fix a flat and carry what I need for it, along with other tools and goodies.

Thanks again everybody.

Us 50+ folks have to be a little more cautious with just jumping right into the thick of it. Sure you will probably make it there, but the ride home might be an issue. Bonking out and hitting the proverbial wall when your muscles go on strike and your body starts to look for a grassy bed to take a nap in hits different people at different times. Plus if you do bonk out it might delay things later on. Building up more slowly can actually put you farther ahead as you get deeper into the season.

With that said I'd recommend on getting some evening miles in after work, 5-10 to start off with, then build up to a 20 mile ride on a weekend. If things go well then you can ramp up faster, and if the knees and neck and other body parts start to complain then you can slow down the gains until your body adjusts.

It's better to bonk in the evening or on a weekend when you can call for a ride or take a two hour recovery break than it is to bonk on the way in to work and then end up huffing and puffing and sweating profusely for the entire morning at your job.

That being said I'm planning on just jumping right into it with my 22 mile each way commute once my home and side job schedules allow for the bike time. Just because I'm over 50 doesn't mean I follow my own advice. 8-). I will however try to get a few miles in around town just to wake the legs back up some.

You could do just fine, or you might have issues, as might I. Use your best judgement and take it from there.

That's how I did it--three years ago last week. I lived to tell. You will too.

Do it. I am 67 and rode 17 miles to work last Thurs after 5 months of 0 exercise. I took my time and stopped half way to eat some refreshment and take off my jacket. I slept very well that evening and my back ached the next day. Dont bother if the forecast is for rain or snow.

Good advice so far.

Ain't nothing to it, but to do it.

You are going to want to eat as soon as you get to work. Rather than eating your lunch at 9:30am, you should bring some snacks. I eat a banana and a granola bar or something like that every morning after I get to work.

+1 on the eating.

It's vitally important to replenish the body after the strenuous activity within a half hour of coming to a rest. I usually down 8-16 oz of water (if I'm not carrying it with me) and will eat an energy bar of some sort and that seems to have helped tremendously, especially the water!

Sorry to pick nits, but you're misusing the term bonk.

Bonk would be glycogen depletion, which isn't going to happen on a 14 mile ride.

After you start commuting you will want to continually beat your speed. Then, you will want to ride on the weekends. Then you will want a new bike. Then, 14 miles won't be enough, and you will take detours. I could go on and on.

Welcome.

Sometimes you just have to dive in or else you'll never get started. Doesn't sound like too tough a commute but, you may want to do it on non-consecutive days or do a multi-mode commute to ease into it. That said, the sooner you ride, the sooner you'll get into riding shape...

That's exactly what I did. I'm suffering from a back injury that laid me up for over a year. I'm still in pain everyday but I just hop on my bike and try to not think about it. I peddle through the pain.

I say, just go for it BUT do it smart! Get a checkup from your doctor before going hog wild. Then load up on quality food, hydrate yourself and take it SLOOOOOW. Stop as often as you need to and easy on yourself.

If you want to attack the task a little bit more timidly, then drive part of the way, park, then ride your bike the rest of the way until you build up some stamina.

Good luck!

NOTE: I can't stress enough about having enough food to fuel you through your trip and being properly hydrated. I can't even pedal 2 feet without feeling like I'm going to pass out if I don't eat right and am properly hydrated. You have to fuel up on quality foods and have lots of water before, during and after your trip. Also bring along a filled water bottle, a Powerbar or another snack to nibble if you need it.

You want it honest?

Does this sound good?
++ NO it doesn't sound good.

Or am I stupid to even attempt such a commute without some more practice and conditioning first?
++ Yes, please get some practice and conditioning first.

The good thing is, commuting by bicycle is naturally self limiting. Meaning if you can't make it - you just won't. Try it on the weekend one day first and see how you do. You might be able to do it once every 2 weeks, and work your way up from that.

One thing I haven't seen thrown out here.... make sure you have enough time for a good nights sleep. Rest between rides is everything.

Be careful...I said much the same thing once to somebody here who did not yet even have a bike but still wanted to start commuting 18 miles (in South Texas, no less), and somebody here who is overly concerned with the number of H's in his monicker jumped down my throat for voicing that particular opinion. I believe he called me a Troll.

Have you seen my location? Wastern Washington. The forecast is ALWAYS for rain. Got me some decent rain gear and fenders on the bike to avoid the racing stripes, I'm not planning on letting the rain interfere with my plans!

Yup just had a complete physical. Doc says all is well, but I'm out of shape. Nothing physically stopping me here. 'course, now I'm supposed to be scheduling myself for a colonoscopy .... ummm, I think I'm busy that day

Awesome! I'm not seeing any downside here, other than maybe the cost of that new bike!

One thing I would add that biking back to back day after day can be really tiring. When I start biking after the winter (or the way I used to do it before I started winter biking) is to plan to bike on day, then rest a day, then bike the next day, then rest a day...it always seemed to work the best for me. I know they say if you're building muscle lifting weights every other day is ideal - your muscles take 48 hours to rebuild themselves.

Just do it. People think too much.
You will find out quickly if baby stepping would be a better idea. However, it very well may be IMHO.