Everyday commuting? How?

[jabberwocky]

34 miles a day is a lot of riding, especially if you aren’t used to it. That would be over 600 miles a month just from commuting if you rode very day! Basically, listen to your body. If you’re tired and worn out on the bike, take a rest day. Rest days are when you get stronger. Eventually you’ll be able to ride more days in a row before feeling tired and worn out.

[AFHokie]

I ride twenty miles round trip and the first month or so kicked my butt. The two-a-day workout is what really got me in the beginning. Additionally, I had to rethink that the ride is not just a workout, but also transportation…if I rode as hard as possible every time, I’d wear myself out before the end of the week.

Try riding every other day, or Tuesday/Thursday with a weekend ride. If you find you feel fine, add another day; say M/W/F, but give your body those rest days.

I’ve also found not enough sleep will really affect how worn out I feel as well.

Keep at it, but listen to what your body tells you.

[Tania]

@AFHokie 119889 wrote:

I ride twenty miles round trip and the first month or so kicked my butt. The two-a-day workout is what really got me in the beginning. Additionally, I had to rethink that the ride is not just a workout, but also transportation…if I rode as hard as possible every time, I’d wear myself out before the end of the week.

Try riding every other day, or Tuesday/Thursday with a weekend ride. If you find you feel fine, add another day; say M/W/F, but give your body those rest days.

I’ve also found not enough sleep will really affect how worn out I feel as well.

Keep at it, but listen to what your body tells you.

This.

My commute is 14 miles each way and I have the option of only riding one way per day which makes it less taxing. You’ll eventually find your optimal pace for efficiency – my ride home is almost entirely uphill (Custis and then the false flat of the Westbound W&OD) but I’ve figured out how to ride it without coming home and just collapsing on the couch with aching legs – which is absolutely how I felt the first month or so. I don’t even feel like I’ve ridden now (even though my mph pace has really improved).

Also, be sure you’re eating enough!

[americancyclo]

Water, sleep and alternate days. My RT commute is 25 miles and I take at least one rest day per week. The only exception is Bike to Work Week. If Mondays feel good to you, then skip Tuesday and ride again on Wednesday. Skip Thursday and evaluate for Friday.

Don’t make yourself miserable trying to ride every day. unless that’s your thing of course.

[Crickey7]

@americancyclo 119895 wrote:

Don’t make yourself miserable trying to ride every day.

This seems intuitive, but I also get feeling that you’re cheating by not riding. So if you need permission not to feel guilty, we collectively absolve you. The part about riding less hard is great, but I also get that that may not be your style. I can’t seem to do it, either. So I think the general conclusion is that part of the issue is not so much physical limitations as mental barriers keeping you from enjoying the riding that you can do.

[Mikey]

My commute is 26 miles each way (Fairfax to Washington Navy Yard). Most days I ride to the bus stop (1 mi), put my bike on the bus, and ride to the Pentagon, then ride from the pentagon to my office on bike (5.5 Miles). On days I want more exercise I ride in all the way. Most days, even on my ride-in days I take the bus home. I consider myself a daily bike commuter because I’m on the bike at least 30-60 minutes per day. Multimodality brings flexibility. some days I have to leave work early, or get in late. I can still ride on those days by driving to a point closer in and parking and riding from there. The more options you have the less excuses you can find not to ride. You can always add more distance later.

Look at bus routes, parking options, metro/ Capital Bike Share, etc. Get out every day, just don’t kill yourself doing it.

[jabberwocky]

Its easy to get a… skewed… view of normal reading this forum. Because we have people who ride 20 miles each way, every day, and to the store, and do long rides on the weekends, and haven’t driven in years… It takes a lot of riding to get to the point of being able to do that though. And not everyone would enjoy it anyway.

[kwarkentien]

What everyone else said. My commute is 8-9 miles each way (depending on what little add-ons I include) and I find it doable most of the time. I’m sometimes slower going home but commuting is one time where I try to ride just for the sake of riding and enjoy it, not viewing it as a challenge or training thing. And if there’s a day I’m not feeling it, like this past Monday where you could scoop out the humidity like whipped cream, I went back to my bus/Metro/CaBi stalwart that kept me going weekdays throughout Freezing Saddles. Leave yourself some options and keep it fun.

[GovernorSilver]

I only commute 1-2 times a week, depending on the weather. I tend to wuss out at the slightest chance of rainfall. I’m following another exercise program 3x a week.

My hat’s off to those who commute 5x a week.

[Mikey]

A throwback thread

you are not alone

[dplasters]

@jabberwocky 119899 wrote:

Its easy to get a… skewed… view of normal reading this forum.

This is a key takeaway. Remember that just being on this forum collects a lot of outliers. People who are passionate about cycling, cycling advocacy, riding in amazing weather, riding in completely horrendous weather, n+1,000, etc.

To the OP – I hope you don’t have my issue with not being able to dial it back. I tell myself twice a week to take it easy and not spin hard. I fail every week. But my commute is only like 13 miles round trip. I wake up a little sore and just do it again. Its too much fun to go fast and I’m on the street 100% of the way.

[Drewdane]

I only commute M/W/F, a little under 20 miles round trip. I start to hate riding bikes otherwise.

[Rootchopper]

I commute from near MV hospital to Rosslyn, about 14 – 15 miles each way depending on my route. I recommend (1) getting lots of sleep, (2) eating a decent sized lunch, (3) doing a car or bus portage from time to time. When I was time pressed by day care, I would drive to the Tulane Drive exit on the GW Parkway and park on the side street. There are several others who do this so you will not be alone. This took 3 miles off my commute.

Also, how fast are you riding? If you’re trying to do a time trial every day you might want to back off a bit. I used to try to ride 16 miles per hour. Now I am happy with 12. Most days I don’t even go that fast. At least try dialing it back for one of your two daily legs.

[Colin B]

a comfier ride helped me a lot. My skinny tired hipster fixie got unpleasant fast as a daily commuter.

A rack to take weight off my back and some wider tires made a huge difference for me.

[Powerful Pete]

What everyone else has said: listen to your body and don’t let it become a chore. I commute between ~20 and ~30 miles per day – but chose shorter routes if I am tired or not feeling it. This goes for the pace also – some days I hammer as hard as I can (not very) other days I spin at 10 mph.

I also support the suggestion to ride on alternate days until you feel otherwise. I will freely admit that as I have upped my commuting to occasional ~150 mile weeks I have usually skipped riding on weekends. I was simply too tired and not motivated to even look at my bikes on the weekend.

As my fitness has improved, I have started riding weekends, although I usually take one day fully off from riding…

And don’t compare yourself to some of the super commuters on this forum… I know that I have and it leaves me feeling very, very inadequate.

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