How far is your commute one way?
#51
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 15
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
I switched library branches in March, in part for a longer commute. Through the winter I'd only ride directly to and from work at 1.7 miles, and it wasn't enough to stay anything remotely resembling in-shape. A longer commute fixes that.
The new commute is 4.65 miles one-way (between 15 and 20 minutes depending on direction, winds, traffic, etc.) by the most direct and safe route. So far, I've developed several variations out to 16.5 miles. But my favorites are the flat 4.65, a hilly 10.3 and the flat 16.5. This past week, the average of all trips was 11.25.
The new commute is 4.65 miles one-way (between 15 and 20 minutes depending on direction, winds, traffic, etc.) by the most direct and safe route. So far, I've developed several variations out to 16.5 miles. But my favorites are the flat 4.65, a hilly 10.3 and the flat 16.5. This past week, the average of all trips was 11.25.
#59
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
3.8 miles by the most direct route. Which I rarely take. 24 miles is my most favorite route.
#60
xtrajack
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Bikes: Kona fire mountain/xtracycle,Univega landrover fs,Nishiki custom sport Ross professional super gran tour Schwinn Mesa (future Xtracycle donor bike)
My commute is about six miles or so, (one way) depending if I go by road or rec.trail, not much difference either way.
Last edited by xtrajack; 05-07-10 at 06:25 PM.
#65
Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Bikes: Marin Muirwoods 29er (2010), Charge Plug (2015)
About 5.3 miles one way.
Google Maps helped a lot. I just picked my start and stop points, picked 'by bicycle', then tweaked the results by swapping in some less busy roads in a couple of spots. That was it.
Google Maps helped a lot. I just picked my start and stop points, picked 'by bicycle', then tweaked the results by swapping in some less busy roads in a couple of spots. That was it.
#66
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 16
21.8 miles, but when it's nice, I have two alternate routes which are 26.1 and 30.5 miles. In the winter, or when the weather is really bad, I take the train part of the way coming in which shortens the incoming trip to 9.5 miles (I rarely take the train going home since it's always so crowded in the evenings).
#67
Four different nice low traffic routes to work, each about 14 miles in, then Commuter Rail home with bike, about 2 miles from the station.
When training for a century, the weekday mileage to work increases from 14 to as high as 30 over a ten week period. If I go in on a weekend at my convenience, the miles are from 40 to 75.
When training for a century, the weekday mileage to work increases from 14 to as high as 30 over a ten week period. If I go in on a weekend at my convenience, the miles are from 40 to 75.
#69
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others
10 miles. About 8 of them are on bike lanes, through the park, or on the bridge. Only the last 2 miles in Manhattan are in the street in traffic. It is pretty amazing to me that I can go that far without being in a car lane in NYC. Those last 2 miles on 1st Ave are slated to get a bike lane as well, but it may take a little while. On the way back home, I have another mile or so of bike lane on 2nd Ave.
It takes under an hour if the lights are in my favor. I'm not one to blast through intersections like some of the crazies do, but I'll soft pedal through a red if there's nobody coming. I better watch that when I get to Seattle next week since nobody does that there. It takes me 45-50 minutes on the subway so it is basically a wash, bike vs train.
I've thought about trying a longer route home to get more miles in, but the best place for me to get more miles is in Prospect Park by doing a few extra laps. But every time I consider that I decide that I'd rather go home and get my road bike for that since that is the very end of my ride. Then reality hits when I have 3 hungry teenagers when I walk in the door.
It takes under an hour if the lights are in my favor. I'm not one to blast through intersections like some of the crazies do, but I'll soft pedal through a red if there's nobody coming. I better watch that when I get to Seattle next week since nobody does that there. It takes me 45-50 minutes on the subway so it is basically a wash, bike vs train.
I've thought about trying a longer route home to get more miles in, but the best place for me to get more miles is in Prospect Park by doing a few extra laps. But every time I consider that I decide that I'd rather go home and get my road bike for that since that is the very end of my ride. Then reality hits when I have 3 hungry teenagers when I walk in the door.
#73
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
18 months ago it used to be 6 miles each way. Then we moved offices and now it's 10 each way. It's also a U-shaped commute now, before it was pretty flat. When the commute first changed, it was a pretty hard adjustment. Now it's old hat.
#74
Full Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Northern New England
Bikes: recumbent, mtn bike, road bike
#75
Full Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Northern New England
Bikes: recumbent, mtn bike, road bike
I switched library branches in March, in part for a longer commute. Through the winter I'd only ride directly to and from work at 1.7 miles, and it wasn't enough to stay anything remotely resembling in-shape. A longer commute fixes that.
The new commute is 4.65 miles one-way (between 15 and 20 minutes depending on direction, winds, traffic, etc.) by the most direct and safe route. So far, I've developed several variations out to 16.5 miles. But my favorites are the flat 4.65, a hilly 10.3 and the flat 16.5. This past week, the average of all trips was 11.25.
The new commute is 4.65 miles one-way (between 15 and 20 minutes depending on direction, winds, traffic, etc.) by the most direct and safe route. So far, I've developed several variations out to 16.5 miles. But my favorites are the flat 4.65, a hilly 10.3 and the flat 16.5. This past week, the average of all trips was 11.25.
My problem was two-fold: Commute is only 7 miles one way and a job which is stressful, exhausting, and long (don't worry love my work but at the end of a 14 hour day the last thing I want to do is ride home-sometimes): Can make for a VERY LONG day. So, I concocted a convoluted 13 mile ride to work when I feel fresh and the direct 7 mile ride home. Voila!






