I'd categorize it in TIME rather than distance. More than 45 minutes each way and it's just too much time out of the already-short day.

YMMV

I also do this, but if it is going to take me longer than my threshold time to get to work by another means (or if it is shorter but much more inconvenient / uncomfortable) then I will go over my threshold. I can probably get to most places in South / Central London by bicycle quicker than I can by car / public transport.

Ten miles is probably my cut off anymore. I did a fourteen mile commute for a bit. It was just too long. Didn't help that it was all downhill going there, and all uphill going home. I could do ten miles though.

I much prefer my three mile commute to school and rather enjoy my six mile commute to work.

Looking at a new job which would be almost an eight mile commute, but it would be a rather enjoyable commute along a nice MUP.

My commute is 17 miles each way, and I try to do it about 3 times per week (usually M/W/F). I drive other days.

I wouldn't consider the extra time spent cycling to be time wasted: it's fun, relaxing and it's my daily workout. I purposely seek longer routes when the weather is nice and the days are longer.

Adam

i ride 5 miles one way. if i'm really hoofing it, i can make it in under 20 minutes. a lot of my commute is uphill (and some are quite steep) though, it totals out to about 45 minutes of commuting a day. i wouldn't mind a longer ride if it involved less hills. sometimes i'll ride laps around a park's car loop just for some extra mileage/exercise.

I look at it from a time perspective as well. 10.5 miles each way (45 mins (lots or traffic lights)) then a short trip on the LA Metro Subway (10 mins) gives me a commute of nearly 1 hour on the nose.

Driving the 405 and 101 freeways into Hollywood takes pretty much the same amount of time. I'd rather be on the bike than in the car (usually!)

I wouldn't consider it wasted either. My wife on the other hand...

commute to first career: 9.10 miles
commute from first to second career: 5.0 miles

Second job ends around 9:30 or thereafter. I usually take the bus to a stop as close as possible to my home address. And driving at night in this city is a recipe for disaster.
Commuting is difficult because traffic is so heavy. Sooo heavy. Very busy two possibly three lane streets. There are bike lanes but--a lot of cell phone texting is going on--
I feel a sense of accomplishment when I reach my destination. I have a buzz. Probably from the noise. Wish I could wear ear plugs. Cities are so noisy. My commute is not stress free but it is much less stressful than driving.

To the OP: I suggest keeping your muscles loose and exercising. I have to. Otherwise, I am sooo tight and sore. Get plenty of rest.

My commute is 16 miles each way. Honestly I like this distance. It is long enough to get a good workout (I don't run or do any other exercise on days I ride) and this is a long enough ride to warrant the effort of putting on all my bike clothing and showering. I think the best commute is either under 3 miles (wear street clothes) or over 15. Unfortunately my life is pretty hectic and I'm lucky if I can ride in 3 days a week. Maybe not riding every day is the best option for you too?

-Scott

I've been doing 22 miles each way 3 times/week for the past 3 yrs. The five years before that, I did 18 miles each way 5 days/week. Both are mostly two lane highway. Once you get used to it, it's really no big deal.

Riding conditions rather than length would affect my decision the most -- open highway with some light rollers in the mild OR climate is much easier than urban cycling, something with wicked steep hills, or insanely cold temps or consistently strong winds. With my current riding conditions, I would definitely ride less often if the commute was over 30 miles each way.

Mine used to be 12.8 miles each way. I moved a while ago and it is now 9.7 to work and about 10.5 from work (I take a couple of back roads with a lot less traffic on the way home).

I did the 12.8 miles for a couple of years, and some days in the winter I was tired -- but that was mostly due to not getting enough sleep prior. Now my routine is a lot more manageable, but like others have stated, 5-6 miles would be ideal -- not too short, not too long. I get a lot of podcast listening done when I ride -- about 15 hours a week, so I find my commute to be very productive.

Damm , my house to work is about 5 minute ride in the morning and about 10 minutes in the afternoon because of traffic . I couldn't handle anything over 30 minutes because I like to hit the gym after work.

Well if you commuted 30 minutes (or better yet an hour) each way, you'd have no reason to go to the gym

My commute is 17 miles (1:15 minutes, more or less) each way. I try to do it 3 or 4 days per week in the summer (less in the winter). Since it can easily take 45 minutes (and frequently take an hour) to drive the route, I'm really not giving up that much time. Besides, I'd much rather be on the bike than in the car.

My commute to the gym is 30 mins each way , ill join a closer gym once this membership expires. Great ride when its dry out but sucks when its raining .

The jealousy is already eating away at me.

My commute is 13-15m depending on the route. There are a lot of hills, even more stoplights (I don't run reds, too nervous), and I'm a slow newbie to boot. So it takes me 75-80m.

I ran a bunch of stop signs and red lights once and it cut 5-10m.

My longest commute was 56 miles round trip from Columbia, Md to the Pentagon, 5 days a week, including a hand full of snow days.

My current commute is between 25 and 44 miles round trip of riding; depending on which days I lift weights or do shopping.

My ideal commute was 24 miles a day with about 2,000 feet of climbing.

flat route is 30 each way

hilly route is 50 each way 5k of climbing. I have only done the hilly route both ways a few times, usually I will take the hilly route in and the flat route home (usually once a week during race season)

right now in the off season i have been taking the flat route both ways 5 days a week

short version:
theres this kid that i often see on my ride to work. he only lives 5 or so miles from work he does this crazy 30 mile loop before he goes to work. guess he loves riding. try the ride and if you like it do it. if not, figure out plan B.


long version:

so the longer version of the story is he use to live maybe 10 or so miles from work but took the bus. during a bus strike he got on the bike and found he enjoyed it and has been riding ever since. not sure what the deal with the loop is, but if it was me i would take the 5 mile commute and be happy.
my 13 miles one way isnt so bad though its all uphill going home. 40 min to work, a bit longer coming home. i hated it for the first week or so but now the miles fly by and i sort of day dream through the ride. i love it. with traffic and stop lights i only lose 10-15 min VS driving. previously i worked 25 miles away but took the train for 20 of it.

9 miles each way for me. It takes me about 50 minutes each way. Mostly flat, I have to cross the Alex Fraser bridge both ways, it is the only hill. I gave up driving just over a year ago, I love it. I would not mind a longer commute. My daughter is not living with me right now, so I dont have many obligations to deal with, time is not that pressing. The exercise is great, gives me lots of time to think. Keeps me from kicking the dog when I get home.

That's my situation as well. 15-20 minutes to drive vs 30-40 to bike, get some exercise and generally clean out some cobwebs and straighten out the ol' noggin a bit!

This summer I tried door to door 50 miles round trip with a mix of trails and streets. Takes me about 2 hours each way. 50/50 hills & flat. Kept it up through summer/fall..man the first couple of weeks were tough..
Before that, I had been driving part way and biking 20 miles round trip. Since the snow started, I,m back to drive/bike but only 15 miles round trip...boy I'm slow in the snow!

Nearly 10 miles each way for me right now. I'm not a diehard yet so I only do it about 2-3 times a week now that the days are shorter. I get to work sweaty and have to do the whole cool-down and prep time. That is annoying in some ways. I also cannot be late for work so I'm wary of flats etc. I'm about to pick back up the frequency when my Lemond Poprad is put together.
I'm sure if the commute was about 3-4 miles shorter I'd ride every day. While not a "training ride" on the way in it would be a simple commute. Afternoons are for adding the miles.

Lol... I was thinking the same thing... Along the Coast or Over the Mountain sounds like an awesome choice to make... my fastest choices are, "Along the Highway" or "Through the Ghetto". I take the longer route and avoid both.