PJCB

My commute is 17 miles to work until October. I feel like I should bang this out on a bike, since its not too far. What do you guys think?

https://goo.gl/maps/nEB5

I want to do it, but I'm not sure how long it would take or if I'm up for the challenge. Because I work 8-430, I hit traffic in and out, causing what should be a 20 minute car ride turn into over 45 mins.

Important detail: I ride a 197? Motobecane Mirage mixte at the moment.

tjspiel

Some people simply do not want to spend that much time getting back and forth to work. Others would think that's a perfect commuting distance, especially if they're someone who also likes to do long recreational rides. It's entirely personal.

You can always take public transit or drive part of the way and ride the rest. Might be easier to start that way and gradually work up to the whole distance.

PJCB

I've been considering driving part way and biking the rest. Public transport is not an option, living out in the boonies makes that a no go. I want to build up to the ride, I think I'll start slow and increase the increments.

Surrealdeal

Mine is a hair over 20 each way. I love it and would go up to 30 without hesitating.

Drew Eckhardt 

It depends on hills and traffic lights.

It could be a very pleasant two hours a day 3-4 days a week. It could be a frustrating 3 hours a day with 25% of your time stopped for traffic lights and more time that you're coasting to a stop or getting back up to speed.

Ira B

Mine is about 14 miles but hilly.
Just because of scheduling and being a busy person I have a hard enough time biking it 2-3 times a week. If it was any longer I would probably just have to stick with driving.

gmt13

I did a ~25 mile (one-way) commute a number of years ago and, other than having to get up way too early, I enjoyed it a lot. At the moment, I live less than 2 miles from work (which is nice when I have to beat heavy weather on the way); however on most days I take a round about route to give me about 10 miles one way. I would certainly give it a go.

-G

dramiscram

I commute 61 kms (38 miles) round trip each day, I work 4 days/week and I take between 2h15min and 2h30 depending mostly on the wind. So from my point of view it's totaly possible.

dramiscram

I don't remember which member exactly but the signature of someone on BF is something like ''There no such thing as too far, there's just lack of time''. I totaly agree!

zonatandem

On your day off ride your bike from home to work and return.
That will give you an idea on time/effort.
Traffic is something you learned how to deal with when you learned to drive a car.
Same thing for a bicycle.
Commuted for 16 years in Arizona. Went to work at 7 and got off at 3:30 PM.
Traffic? Sure. Weather? Sure. Seldom rained.
But can you ride in 100+ degree temps in afternoon for about 3 months?
Try it, you'll like it!

BarracksSi

You don't start work till 8? Must be nice. I'm there between 6-6:30.

If it were up to me, the choice would depend on my obligations outside of work. If I had a family to tend to, I'd either pick the shortest commute time possible or ask that they be understanding of me riding longer.

lungimsam

I live a 15 mile one-way bike commute from work, give or take.
I bike part way to a park-n-ride 5.5 miles from work, then ride to and from the park-n-ride. Fun commute.
I think about one day doing the whole 15 each way. I have done it on weekends before and it took about 1hr 15 min each way, if I remember correctly.
Physically no problem, just a time issue and do I want to leave that early for work every day.
But then again, it is a bike ride, not "leaving for work that early".
Anyhow, for now, I am doing what is fun and enjoyable.

flipped4bikes

Hey--
I used to live in Manchester and took my bike time to time for my work commute to South Windsor. If I remember correctly, it was a 14 mile ride and took me about 50 minutes to cover, best time. I gave myself about an hour to do it. The route took me through some of the MUP running alongside I-84/I-384. Looking at your route on google, it's seems pretty flat. My guess is that it'll take you about 75 minutes.

As for your bike, sounds pretty vintage. If it's in good shape, you're in good shape, why not? How much do you plan to bring with you? Or do you stage your work clothing at work and change there?

chasm54

My last commute was 16 miles each way. Took me just under an hour. With the traffic, it used to take 45 minutes by car, so that was fine. And I felt it was pretty much the ideal distance as far as exercise was concerned, ten hours a week on the bike just doing the commute...

My longest ever commute was 29 miles each way. Slightly downhill on the way in, uphill on the way home. Just under 90 minutes in the morning, a shade over two hours at the end of the day. That one was too long, really, it took too much time out of the evening.

PJCB

I would plan on a backpack with a change of clothes and lunch, thats it. I'm thinking I'm going to start in stages and build up for the commute. You think its not too difficult to commute in CT?

chefisaac

Ride it a couple of times a week at first and then move to three days a week and see how you feel. But you need to find out what the riding does for YOU.

For me it is four fold:

1) Helps me lose weight and it is like hitting the gym twice. I love it. Speeds up the metabolism and I feel great.
2) It gets more miles in and I enjoy chasing the miles.
3) I commute on a mtn bike and it is heavy which makes me stronger for the weekend rides when I use the road bike.
4) The ride clears my mind and it wakes me up. I "like" my work but not love it so on days that suck (which are days with little to no cooking or meetings all day) I really need the commute. The bike is like a shrink.....

akohekohe

Looking at the map you posted most of this roads are rated bicycle friendly and you go past some nice scenery including a state park and a wildlife area. You also pass some shopping centers where you could do some shopping on the way home. What I suggest is starting out doing it one way. If you can park your car at work over-night you could drive in with the bike and ride home and then ride in the next day and take the car home. I also think you should start out just doing the commute a one or two days a week. What will happen over time is that you will resent it on the days you are in the car more and more, while at the same time enjoying the bicycle ride more as well. Eventually you will start doing the round trip commute almost every day. The key is to not view it as a chore but as joy. It helps my commute to stop on the way home to enjoy the scenery, get dinner, etc. Adding in some variety makes a difference.

CigTech

I commute 65.2 miles to work every day and love it. As far as time goes I look at it like this. If I go for a fun ride on the weekend I ride for 2 or 3 hours and don't get paid for it. But when I ride to work I get paid for it in a way and have fun doing it. So yes it takes me about 1 hour and 36 minutes to get they. But I like to ride. In the car if it breaks down I stuck. On the bike I just fix it and ride on. I take a long a 6 inch piece of chain to repair the chain. I also take extra cables just in case. I also have patch kit, tube, pump and a folding tire.

People at work think I'm crazy. But that’s a plus, they leave me alone LOL. But at the end of the week I have $60 saved from not buying gas. That comes out to $3120 a year. And that’s not counting the weekends that I work as well. Oh and did I say that I build cars at work LOL. I know that’s like a deer making guns LOL. But it gets me more bikes and bike stuff.

chefisaac

cig you are my hero. I want a commute like that!

gerv 

I'm definitely not in Cigtech's league. I'd be considering this advice. I don't have a car, so I'd think about a commuter mixed with public transit. If that wasn't available, I'd either consider buying a car or shooting myself.

JPprivate

And you do that on a Walmart bike, correct? You are an inspiration!!

z90

"Like a deer making guns"

CigTech

Yes a Schwinn Empire XL for $249.00. Made my own bags out of a old black leather chair that someone throw out. I ride it like it like it owes me money.

CigTech

PJCB: Here is what you would need to figure out the time to travel that 17 miles. If you take the miles divided by the avg speed then times it by 60, it will show you how many minutes it would take. So 17 miles / 12mph / 60 = 85 minutes. Now if you’re looking for the avg speed then you take the miles / avg speed * 60 = Time in minutes. So 17 miles / 55 minutes * 60 = 18.5 mph avg speed.

alexaschwanden

I would probably do between 10-20 miles, that seems reasonable.