[QUOTE=Crawford53;17470019]Back a couple years ago, I was doing an 18mi commute each way about three times a week. It was worth the time for me, but then again I didn't have kids. My partner understood the need I had to ride, and was happy with the decrease in car-related costs. I'd say it depends on what you think is worth it. Additionally, you could always drive in one day, ride home then ride in the next day and drive home to save some time.[/QUOTE
why don't you try to see if you could do a partial ride?
I drive with my bike on a rack; park the car; and ride the rest of the way in

Some good advice here. Whatever you do make sure your wife is on board with you. Also make sure that your route is safe enough that she'll not worry about loosing you. Tri and similar pursuits eat up a lot of time and money so enter cautiously. That said, I think it's important to have sports or hobbies to enjoy and I've known many kids who've gotten in to bike racing or tri through their parents. Might not be a bad idea to wait just a bit though until they're a little older and don't require so much time from you and your wife. Also consider doing rides with your kids where you can get some exercise and talk to them. Highly recommend a bakfiets or seats up front (mounted on top tube just behind handlebars is my favorite) for this. I don't know many kids who enjoy staring at their parents sweaty rear for any length of time.

My commute varies from 2 miles to 11 miles each way with a few hills in the longer distances. I do it all on a city bike. Very comfortable, carries stuff, and no extra time spent changing clothes, showering, etc. If I had to go much farther than maybe 15 each way I'd likely consider a road bike.

I would go with the E-Assist myself... 1/2 the time, 1/2 the effort, 1/2 the sweat going to work, and what ever you feel like going home, right up to pedaling 100% of the ride...

You can do it, 12 miles is a very nice distance if it isn't too hilly. I have two campuses I commute to. One is 15 miles each way, the other is 18 miles each way. Both are relatively flat but my fitness is improving a ton. Sometimes I take a light rail with the bike if I'm exhausted.

I have two kids, 5 and 2 yrs old, and I don't miss out on much time since traffic in my area is crazeee and cycling adds maybe 20 minutes each way. But I'm in better shape than I'd be if I drove everyday, and I have more energy and MUCH happier than being stuck in traffic. So I'm a better dad for it plus it's one less set of car-related costs for our budget. But I'm in Cali and can commute year-round easily.

Dont sweat the bike too much. I ride semi-heavy steel touring/cyclocross bikes to work and since I ride 100 miles a week, my "engine" is pretty strong now and I pass or keep up with folks on road / aero tri bikes all the time (and I'm not trying to "race" folks on my commute). Ride what you've got, INVEST IN GOOD LIGHTS AND COMFY, WEATHER-APPROPRIATE BIKE CLOTHING AND LEARN HOW TO FIX A FLAT, CARRY A GOOD PUMP, and MAKE SURE YOUR BIKE FITS RIGHT SO YOURE NOT HURTING YOUR KNEES. Sorry for yelling, but that's the non-negotiable part of a 12 mile commute. Everything else is gravy and once you're a seasoned commuter you will be a better, more discerning shopper should you choose to get a new bike someday. Also, the best bike for commuting May not necessarily make for a good tri bike, but the engine (you) is the important part.

You can do it! It's often the best part of my day. Be safe and find the safest routes. Godspeed!

I agree with the rest. Get a faster bike and make sure it's okay with the wife.

I think an hour each way would be my max, which means about 15-20 miles depending on terrain. After that, and the speed advantage of the car takes over.

Those were my initial thoughts too. My children are grown, but job committments have increased so much, that I often stay over at work. To a great extent I can do my work on my own schedule. I figure I save about 3 hours a day (cycle in for about 1 to 1.5 hours; get to train station; train ride home, with bike; ride home from station). The advantage is I can work later, and be at my desk at 5:00 AM (a great time for me). The downside is that I miss the morning ride, and suffer a loss in fitness.

For me, one of my best investments in time management is cycle commuting for the cardio benefits and sheer enjoyment that encourages the habit. I do realize that I am deficient in strength (and flexibility), but don’t see the need spend the extra time in my busy day to go to the gym.

For a few years I readily improved my flexibility, at the work-place on my time, by doing yoga. For strength, just this morning I was a sporting goods store, and looked at some free weights, kettleballs, and stretch bands that could be easily stored and used at my office.

Despite my long hours, the elasticity of my schedule is a benefit allowing many possibilities for exercise. BTW, I suffered a serious cycling accident in 2012, and my injuries have discouraged the extra effort to improve flexibilility and strength, and have contributed to my loss of cycling time. Posting this note may well give me the Moral Support sought by the Opening Post.

+100 on this. My wife had some doubts about my bike commuting when my son was born... all she could think about was "that one driver..."

This became a non-issue when I went to work for a company that granted me some nice stock options with an interesting death clause... If I died, the options automatically vested. Suddenly she was OK with my bike commuting.

As much as we want to consider ourselves invincible out on the road (or whatever) the fact is, "stuff happens." Make sure you're covered and tell her that the exercise will keep you around longer.

You may want to check with HR... perhaps they have a policy available... that's what I did when I worked for other companies... and I always made sure that I had enough insurance to cover the house and then some (like the 100K per person mentioned). It wasn't that much on a company life insurance policy... maybe $15 more a month out of the paycheck. Well worth the peace of mind.

Gotta agree... I felt that 12 miles was "just right." Any shorter and you don't feel like you're getting a good workout. Any longer and it starts to get old... Although one year I was making a 30 mile commute... it worked, but only because the hours were very flexible.

+1. I consider about 10 miles a minimum, and my current early morning commute is a minimal 14 miles one way in the reverse usual commuter route, and in the past was 11 miles. Currently though since my accident, I had to make promises not to commute at night, so it is only one way, but better IMO than two separate seven mile rides. In fact, a one way commute is quite pleasant, with a train ride home in the reverse usual commuter direction in a nearly empty rail car, and eliminates the drudge component of riding home after a full day’s work, in denser traffic.

In the nice weather I engage a training schedule with daily mileage quotas, and can expand the inbound distance gradually up to 30 miles one way, through some premier cycling areas of Metro Boston.

LOL my ideal commute is about 12 miles... or maybe a touch more... and downhill to the office.

Sure, going home is uphill... but you're highly motivated at that point.

I'm kind of the opposite here. My actual commute is 6 miles (minimum), and if I had a choice, I'd consider 3-4 miles perfect. This allows a dash to work under ANY conditions, then I can make whatever kind of ride I want to out of the trip home.

As I said, my current ride is 6 miles minimum. The trip back home varies up to 40 miles depending on weather and mood.

Thanks for all the good responses! I have my wife on board (that is to say she wants to be on board but is afraid of the time). I hope to be able to start commuting twice a week and after we see how it affects the schedule move up from there.

It will add an extra 20 minutes to my commute both ways. That is not a significant amount of time but it is during "Prime" hours. I would leave sooner so I can't help with breakfast as much and I'll get home later so my help with dinner is stifled. I usually get everybody up and feed them before I head out, and it takes two of us to watch kids and make dinner. We usually eat fairly early because bed time comes early.

I'm not trying to be all whiny pants about it, but we have had a pretty solid schedule for a few years, I was able to fit my biking in before but now it's a little tougher. Here's to twice a week!

I have two kids under 10 and my wife works a demanding job too. Getting the kids to their activities can be a challenge, and this is where the car/bike option shines. Drive a few miles, park and ride, and find a place to park that fits into your usual after school errands. Even with this, 2 per week is a good week, 9 miles each way after a 4 mile drive to my parking spot.