[Closed] calling all those who commute by bike

one idea is to actually force the commute.

stick the bike in the back of the car together with bike stuff and work clothes for the following day. Ride home, leave the car at work and ride to work the following day. you have no choice so much easier to find the motivation.

i am very lucky, working at the same place as Mrs SC she I get to ride home in the sunshine and she drives so i never have to commute in to work which is really nice.

I commute every day to the office, plus go to meetings, site etc by bike and once a week try and get up early to do a long ride (did about 32 miles on the way in this morning).

For me it's routine and it's routine simply because it's WAY better than the other options - driving (slower) or public transport (slower, more expensive, too crowded).

Just stop being a big gayer and get on with it. 12 miles ain't that much - it'll take you WAY less than an hour. The distance is pretty irrelevant really.

drive to work and cycle back home. Then you'll be forced to cycle in the next morning

Go to bed earlier? Don't think there's an easy answer otherwise...

Self discipline to begin with until getting up and riding becomes routine. By not riding today you have missed out on a glorious morning.

I go almost every day but tend to bail once a week. My wife drives and I get dropped off with just a 1.5 mile walk. Luckily the walk is enough of a pain that 4 days out of 5, the cycle ride is actually more appealing.

You got to get into a routine though, when I started it was fun for one day and then I hated it...

I also prefer taking a backroad/offroad route and taking the MTB...

Don't have a car? The only way I can get to work is by bike. I had a car on loan for a few weeks and found I kept driving it to work even tho I got all wound up about being stuck in traffic and it took longer.

no-one can make you ride in. either you want to or you don't

I find if I am tempted to get the train to work then just by thinking of the ten quid it will cost soon gets me on the bike. That is a tenner towards nice bike bits.

Get out of bed straight up, no 5 more minutes or **** under the duvet or anything..

I commute by bike but always have the option of the car. I take the car if I don't fancy the weather, which usually means if there is a gale, although I sometimes take the car if I'm tired. The trouble is, once you've taken the car a few times it becomes easy and you struggle to motivate yourself. Sometimes I have to just force myself to do it, thinking of the money saved or of the environmental brownie points I've earned.

I can find getting up, having breakfast and getting straight out everyday very tiring. My commute is only 9 (hilly) miles and I can find this more tiring than riding a long ride everyday. This adds to the feeling of "cannot be bothered" that I can suffer in the morning. However, when driving home, I usually hate myself for taking the car, so I try and keep this thought in my head for the morning.

I've found getting up earlier actually makes it easier, even though I end up being more tired late at night (the other half is a bit of a night owl as well). Also, extending my commute is making it easier, and more fun, and exploring new routes etc. adds to the interest.

I wish petrol would cost more, as this is a huge motivator and I'd see a lot more people on bikes when it was over 1pound a litre..

For me it's routine - it's what I'm used to, and I'll do it regardless of weather or how knackered I feel from other biking, e.g. Mondays are usually a struggle after a weekend of MTBing, as are Wednesdays after a regular MTB ride on Tues night. I'm used to it now, but at first there were times I'd take the car because I felt knackered.

Figuring out a new route which is mostly offroad and on quiet backroads was also a massive motivating factor. A change from a road bike to a CX bike allowed this though, might be something to consider?

For me, there's also cost: 9 miles a day in the car is 45 miles a week, which is around £7 in fuel alone).

And - despite my short distance and limited benefit - I enjoy it for a bit of general fitness. Every little helps.

Also, although I don't "force" myself to commute by bike, having my car tucked away in the garage with our van (which is too big for my work carpark space) blocking the drive/garage certainly helps. Too much hassle to shift the van, bring the car out, move the van back and drive off in the car, so I just jump on the bike!

I've only got a 4.5mile each-way commute though, but I'm confident if it was longer I'd still get in the same routine.

It becomes routine really, it's generally how I get to work. Although I don't do it every day, well I did last week, as I work from home a coule of days a week and sometimes I need to go in the car with my wife as we're doing something after work. It would be easy for me to go in the car though, my wife and I work fairly close to each other but she's a teacher so finishes earlier than me. I could take the other car but the thought of using 2 cars to drive a 40 mile round trip puts me right off.

I love my commute though and at 20 miles it suits me fine, I would hate a short commute funnily enough.

It's not the easy option and when it's cold, wet and windy it can be a difficult choice to make. I do love my commute though and hate driving to work.

If you don't want to ride then their isn't a lot people on a forum can say that will make you do it. 12 miles really isn't a big deal, that would take you maybe 45 minutes max.

Sell your car leaves you with no choice 😯

you'll save a fortune which you can then spend on your bikes 8)

Sell your car leaves you with no choice

That's exactly what I did. We went from a 2 car family down to 1 - with kids my wife HAS to have the car during the day so if I don't fancy cycling then I've got a 2 mile walk to the station.

On the bike I'm doing between 15 and 55 miles a day depending on how energetic I feel. Best thing I ever did - it's been a pig of a winter weather wise and I can't say I've enjoyed leaving the house every morning at 4:30am but on balance I'd do it again.

Agree woffle this winter was a tough one, makes you appreciate daylight and a bit of sunshine all the more though.

I do 10 miles each way every day and often wish it was longer. Moved house to a new area last year and have never found out what time i'd need to get a bus or a train to get to work on time, so as far as I'm concerned I have no alternative. Fortunately I've a shower at work and a decent bag, so bad weather's not a problem.

Why don't you fit a computer to the bike and try and give yourself an incentive time to beat? The more you ride, the faster you'll get and the better you'll feel about it.

Agree woffle this winter was a tough one, makes you appreciate daylight and a bit of sunshine all the more though.

Too right - been doing a few extra miles going home in the evenings - keep meaning to stop at take pics of the bluebells etc but enjoying being on the bike too much. I just wish that my blo0dy new Oakleys would hurry up and get delivered (shop issues apparently).

Easy for me - I hate driving in rush hour traffic with a passion beyond belief!! I need no more motivation than that.

I'm stuffed by South West Trains - it's a 17 mile each way for me, and given that I run and swim as well, I don't want to ride every day (I need some rest occasionally), but South West Trains decide to charge me £47 for a weekly ticket, or £44.40 for 3 daily tickets.

So, I have to ride in 3 days a week to make it financially worthwhile, so I generally don't bother if the weather looks even slightly iffy. trains are shit, but commuting in the rain is shitter.

I just don't have a car. Forces me to ride 16 miles to work and 16 miles home if I want to be there. I guess I could get the train or bus, which are slightly slower and cost money, but I can't usually be bothered.

Although I have to admit, some days, if I don't have to meet up with anyone and I'm just writing or programming or whatever, I will just work at home. 32 miles a day every day can get a bit tiring.

If you're having trouble getting up to commute though, the solution is simple, just go to bed earlier.

Joe

The hardest bit is making it routine. Once you get it in your head that cycling is just 'the way you get to work' it becomes something you do without thinking.

You obviously enjoy cycling or you wouldn't be on this forum, so I wonder if what you need is advice on how to be more of a morning person. Maybe, as stated above, if you give yourself no choice (by leaving the car at work or whatever) you'll get into a better routine and then it will be easy.

You just need to break your current routine.

Honest-to-Darwin truth, the reason I started cycle commuting was because I abandoned the car in town one night after an unplanned weeknight's drinking session and the next morning found myself with no option but to ride into the office on a 6" travel bike with winter tyres, fully unprepared, hungover, knackered and in miserable wind, rain and cold, wearing unsuitable clothing.

I got to work covered in road filth, sweaty and panting for breath, but my hangover had gone, I was totally invigorated and I had a huge grin across my face. And I knew it would never be as bad as that again.

Shortly afterwards I sorted a commute bike and suitable clothes and started cycling in 5 days a week. And now I resent pretty much any day that I am required to drive into work for whatever reason.

Occassionally I will consider driving (like when it's particularly miserable out there or I'm just feeling a bit crap) the way I motivate myself to keep riding is to do the following:

1. Regularly take note of the surplus inches around my waistline.

2. Regularly look at the bored faces of the half-asleep drivers sat in their cars as you pass them in traffic.

3. Regularly look at the bored faces of my half-asleep colleagues who've rolled out of bed and into another yawny day of drudgery induced numbness without feeling in the slightest bit alive.

Have you tried varying the route you take to work?

Even if it adds a few miles, it can be rewarding to find some back road de-tour. Maybe some cheeky off road paths 😉

Part of my ride in, was a 4-6 mile stretch of dual carriageway, which I had used for nearly 4 years, before I realized there was a well worn canal path and swoopy trail that covered the same route, added an extra mile or so to my ride in, but hell more fun to use.

I've just started (second day now), about 17 or 18 miles each way.

Loving it so far really, much more peaceful than being on a packed commuter train, followed by an even more packed central line tube.

I ride in almost every day but I don't really get the need to force yourself to do it. If you want to do it, you'll do it and if you don't want to do it, don't.
I hate gymnastics so I don't do it. I like kayaking and cycling so I do those. I don't like BMX (or should say I'm rubbish at it) so I don't do that. No need to beat yourself up about it. If you wake up one day and you want to ride in, do it and if you don't, don't. Easy innit? 🙂

Do you really need that car? Sounds like it's holding you back. 12 miles isn't all that far if you have somewhere to get yourself sorted out at the other end.

I sold my car, thats sorts it. I do all my site visits on the bike and do about 30/35 miles a day now without even noticing it. But it is very hard those first few weeks (I started in Jan which was very hard)
Recently has been just heaven, rolling home in the sun without a care in the world, knowing all my workmates are still trying to get out the car park.
But as others have said, you just have to make yourself. I get up at 6 now, used to get up at 7.30.

Has it got something to do with my sleep patterns (e.g. if i'm in a deep sleep when the alarm goes off i'm a lot less likely to feel like riding) or do i just need to force myself into not going back to bed? or something else?

I think it's what's known as being human. 12 miles, same route, every morning? and you wonder why sometimes you take the car instead!

The thought of being sat at work later in the day, wishing I'd have bought the bike instead of driving is usually enough to motivate me.

Unless it's chucking it down when I'll take the easy option of driving.

I'm in the same boat as you swoosh - I have the bike set up, the kit in a bag ready to go but generally what happens is one of the following:

1) Stir - turn off alarm clock, go back to sleep with no memory of having done it. But it does take 3 alarm clocks to wake me up.
2) Wake (after the 3 alarms) peer out of window - horizontal rain and 3 degrees - cant be bothered, bed too comfy.
3) Wake - missed alarms and now running late, no time to get bike clothes on and organised and will now be an hour behind in work.
4) Wake - realise it's friday, weather is poor, bike is cold option, traffic light and I'll get there faster and happier in the car.

My main downfalls...Laziness, odd sleep paterns and a love of my car.

I'm trying to commute as much as poss (18 miles each way). I find that once I have gone to work and back on the bike and had tea etc. the next morning my body feels like lead and I am so tired I can't get up and out. The morning after though, I am fine.

I want to try and break this habit. Any ideas?

Second the traffic free route suggestion. If there's a quieter way in than your current commute which doesn't add too much journey time then take it. And have a bit more confidence in yourself. You're going to find it hard at first, everyone does, but it's better than driving to work then rotting away behind a desk.

Same here. The only way I can manage it is an early night.

I am up Wednesdays to commute to work. Up at 6am. Thursday is a club swim session (up at 5.45am). Friday morning I run with a friend, again up at 6am. The wife is good though and lets me lay in on Saturdays!

If I dont get to bed ideally before 10.30pm it's a real PITA getting up the next day. I end up arguing with myself in bed.

With the exception of ice - weather isn't really an excuse. There's plenty of decent clothing out there to keep you warm and dry, plus muguards and the like on the bike. Proper frosty cold mornings on the bike can be fantatstic, and it doens't actually rain near as often as you think.

I work some pretty erratic hours, so I'm pretty good at getting up when the alarm goes off - tomorrow morning it'll be 0430, on the bike for 0515 to be on site for 6. Try getting an obnoxiously loud alarm and sticking it the far side of the room. Once you've actually got out of bed, then it's a lot easier to just carry on.

10:30?!?! If only I could, I physically cant sleep until 1am - up at 6:30 is too unpleasant at that point.

With the exception of ice - weather isn't really an excuse. There's plenty of decent clothing out there to keep you warm and dry, plus muguards and the like on the bike. Proper frosty cold mornings on the bike can be fantatstic, and it doens't actually rain near as often as you think.

Is really - the cost of the clothing required to keep warm and dry on a wet Glasgow morning is about 2 tanks worth of fuel. 2 tanks worth of fuel, or 4 months worth of daily commutes!

AdamW it took me about a year to be able to comfortably ride 20 miles each way 5 days a week. How long have you been doing it for. As I said before I don't generally do 5 days a week, but I did last week. And yes my body does feel tired but once I was on the bike I was fine. Really bad headwind in the mornings lasy week didn't help and by Friday night my legs were pretty tired. The more you do it the easier it gets.

Is really - the cost of the clothing required to keep warm and dry on a wet Glasgow morning is about 2 tanks worth of fuel. 2 tanks worth of fuel, or 4 months worth of daily commutes!

The most I've ever worn on a commute is a lightweight fleece £10 from millets (or get a posh one from TK maxx), waterproof trousers £10, altura cycling waterproof £25, oh and buff £5. Is £50 really 2 tanks of fuel? The super expensive breathable jackets etc. are pointless for cycling unless you go really slow, and are overkill for commuting.

Joe

There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

10:30?!?! If only I could, I physically cant sleep until 1am - up at 6:30 is too unpleasant at that point.

Maybe it's something to do with caffeine, coffeeking?

There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

Seconded.

The money I saved in the first 2 months on petrol and parking went on some decent shorts and a softshell. At the worst this winter it was below -8 and snowing heavily. Decent boots and gloves, warm 3/4 tights, overshorts, merino baselayer and waterproof jacket - warm and toasty within 5 minutes cycling...

Adam,
your body just wants a breather. deny it. do the second day, rest the third. first few times it'll feel hard for the first few minutes, but by the time you've warmed up you'll be fine, and building on the first day to become fitter. err, i think. 🙂

How can people save money while commuting by bike?
WhenI started commuting in southampton the increase off food was exaclty the cost of the petrol to go working.

I try not to increase the food but start to loose weight (get under 60 kg) to the point where people ask me if I was ok as I look like a walking skeleton.

[i]super expensive breathable jackets etc. are pointless for cycling unless you go really slow, and are overkill for commuting.[/i]

Not really true. The gore fusion jacket and gore waterproof shorts I bought last year were 2 of the best bits of kit I bought. There's no way I'm riding 20 miles in pishing rain and gale force winds without some decent waterproofs.

swoosh, chose a bike that is the complete opposite of your weekend 'fun' machine. For almost two years Ive ridden a Fuji track bike with upgraded wheels. Its strip-down basic and yet, its interesting and very economical interms of effort to pedal/ride. A very nice contrast IMO.

as you are struggling to motivate yourself (I was)- dont ride your MTB on any sort of tyres in. Its tedious, dull and such a slow drag.

[i]the increase off food was exaclty the cost of the petrol to go working[/i]

You've trotted this fact-ette out before and I can only assume that

a) You were given your car
b) You're not paying tax, insurance or MOT, and
c) You only eat foie gras and truffles.

Agree woffle this winter was a tough one, makes you appreciate daylight and a bit of sunshine all the more though.

I found this winter to be really enjoyable commuting. Plenty of hard frosts ensuring I arrived at work dry and clean rather than wet and muddy.

My only real regret from the winter commute was I missed the the chance to do it in the snowstorm that "prevented" others from making it in.

This time of year I find i don't have the energy to commute and ride after work and commute the next day so i mix and match a bit. At the moment with dry dusty trails and lack of plant growth commuting isn't getting much of a look in.

I agree with what previous posters have said though in that the only way to commute in is by actually wanting to commute by bike.

I do query why people commute when its minus on the roads. Its not safe IMO- a combination of lower visibility, tired winter drivers and ice. **** I nutted the tarmac hard sideways when I rode over some sheet ice on the road this winter.

As a rule, when it dipped below zero after a damp night or fog- the steel thick box comes out rather than the skinny-tyred bike.

juan - Member
How can people save money while commuting by bike?

Commuting to work I save:
Sitting in traffic for up to an hour a day for 5 miles, then walking for 20 minutes to work once there.
Sitting on the bus for 40 minutes each way.
Catching a bus (10 minutes) then getting the tube, 30 minutes minimum.
Having to buy diesel more often than once a month.

My only real regret from the winter commute was I missed the the chance to do it in the snowstorm that "prevented" others from making it in.

I went to work when I could have had a snow day just because I wanted a ride in the snow! Took me an hour to do the 6 miles.

My old commute required no motivation, no parking in the city centre, I never had any change for the bus and cycling was quicker.

It's not quite so easy now, but if I don't ride in I normally end up having to drive the other half to work as well and it ends up taking longer than the bike ride. This time of year, with a route home almost entirely off road it's not too hard to find the motivation.

How can people save money while commuting by bike?
WhenI started commuting in southampton the increase off food was exaclty the cost of the petrol to go working.

That sounds like a lot? I find it costs me a couple of extra slices of bread and cheese for my sandwiches, and an extra apple, plus I probably eat slightly more at dinner time.

Plus by not having a car, I save a lot more than petrol costs.

Joe

as you are struggling to motivate yourself (I was)- dont ride your MTB on any sort of tyres in. Its tedious, dull and such a slow drag.

I've just found that (almost) - after giving up commuting after being overtaken by grannies on their shoppers I was re-motivated by the onset of sunshine.

Stripping down an ancient GT to the bare minimum and putting on road tyres I can't believe how quickly I've been getting between home and work - the only problem is that I'm now being tempted by the idea that a road bike would be even quicker..

You've trotted this fact-ette out before and I can only assume that

a) You were given your car
b) You're not paying tax, insurance or MOT, and
c) You only eat foie gras and truffles.

cuckoo I didn't say I didn't enjoy it, I just said it was tough. Tough can be fun too. Worse than last year because of snow, consecutive days of sub -5 temperatures and high winds. It was pretty dry though.

Maybe it's something to do with caffeine, coffeeking?

I thought that but despite the name I rarely ever drink coffee (or tea, or coke, or anything much come to think of it!) anymore. In fact I really should start drinking more water - normal intake at work is 1 coffee and maybe a cup of water!

To back up someone above who mentioned food costs - I think I've said this before too. Bearing in mind some people dont have a car only to commute, the tax/insurance/repairs for them are not a major part of the equation - especially on a cheap car - so fuel becomes the main point. And on a car that gets 55 mpg at current fuel prices I'd only have to spend 2.50 a day to match the cost fuel for my old 34 mile round trip, since thats ~2000 cals a day extra its not THAT easy to find a tastey healthy 2000 cals. That said, at the time I was spending £6-7 a day on coffees so theres an easy trade off!

Some days a ride in looks nice, some days it doesnt.

Major limiting factor for me (17 miles each way, couple of reasonable hills) is that if I cycle every day I wouldn't see my kids in the week for more than about 10 minutes in the evening. Plus I'd be too cream-crackered to enjoy anything at the weekend.

My motivation technique for the commute has been to calculate what the petrol would cost for the commute and then pay myself that amount into a separate bike slush fund.

It also means that I have a ready response if wifey comments on the new bike stuff arriving 😉

I drop off the kids with a trailer first, then stash the trailer at the back of the nursery & head off myself. Total is only about 5 miles, but I reckon 6 with the effort of towing the kids for the first 2.5 miles.
Its an easy 5 miles also, virtually no roads, all cycle paths & through the park. Probably forced into the car 1-in-10 times due to kids being ill, appointments etc.
I find getting up & straight into biking gear (after shower) helps, otherwise I'll wimp out of weather is poo.

I could get on board with this bike slush fund idea for sure! 😀

Lootenant: contrary to what you think, consider your local roads, a proper road bike isn't always the best way in. By the time I'm backpacked up, the road bike is tricker to ride effectively and the Bristol Roads are atrocious. For me, using the road bike is a necessary evil for days when I'm a) running late or b) my usual offroad route is wet/muddy.

Shame, I love riding it but the roads around here just leave me feeling battered all the time. Maybe a CX or a tourer might be better but I'm at my bike count quota set down by Mrs Lake (3).

Hi Gary!

I've retired my audax bike from commuting duties for the reason you describe - it was getting trashed on the poor roads & cycle paths in Bristol. I now use a 1993 vintage Marin MTB, equipped with slicks, guards & rack. It's still a lot quicker than my normal MTB, yet can take plenty of abuse such as potholes & kerbs. It's also more stable with loaded panniers than my Audax bike was. This does however mean that I'm exceeding my bike quota set down by Mrs R(4). I placated her by fixing her commuting bike.

Hello Steve,

Come riding tonight you big fairy! 😉

For me it's either an hour a bus / tube or 10 miles on my bike.

I know what I prefer.

Well things have changed now
Being at work at 8h30 involves
by car:
Leave at 7h35
Spend 4.20€ in toll
Get stuck in traffic jams after exit 49 of the A8
Burn around 3 litres of petrol.
by train and bike:
leave at 7h00
Catch 7h25 (when not late/canceled) fast train to Nice in Cannes
arrive in Nice at 7h50.
Pit stop at the bakers get at uni at 8h00/8h10/
Get shower and tea
Or
Spend 4.20€ in toll
Get stuck in traffic jams after exit 49 of the A8
Burn around 3 litres of petrol.
by train and bike:
leave at 7h15
Catch 7h29 (when not late/canceled) cross country train to Nice in Cannes la bocca
arrive in Nice at 8h12 (ok this one is always late so more 8h20)
Pit stop at the bakers get at uni at 8h20/8h30
Get shower and tea

Train cost me 57€ a month plus at the moment 1.4€ a day at bakers but I am trying to cut that down.