How many miles are each of you commuting to and from work and how long does it take?

[Amalitza]

Zero miles, zero days a week. You are doing much much better than I am.

(unless you expand “commuting” to mean “going places you need to go” rather than just “going to work”, in which case up to 10 miles round trip once or twice a week with the occasional longer “commute” thrown in).

[Bilsko]

Sadly, my door-to-door commute is only 2.7 miles in the morning and 3 miles in the evening (have to loop around a couple blocks to head back towards home). I’ve been doing it daily for around 6 or 7 years now (its been a bit further at times -4 or 5 miles- and a bit shorter -2 miles – depending on where I was working at the time). For a long time, I just did the straight route; during the summers I’d add 3 or 4 miles in the evenings. About 2 years ago I made that PM addition permanent (year-round).

Starting last summer, I’ve found ways to add a few extra miles to both the morning and PM commute. In the mornings, I’m getting into the office late-ish (830/9) so I can’t do much more than 10 miles, and usually just opt for the direct 2.7. On many evenings (2/3 times per week) I can stretch the miles out and do either a 10, 15, or 25 mile ride home.

And, since the Freezing Saddles competition began (read: since Shawn D. started laying the miles hammer down on the rest of us) I’ve done my best to average 20m a-day on the weekdays and 50 over the weekends for about 125m per week (I’m only in the office 4 days a week, one day at home with the little one; so 4*20+50)

I’ve never had to spend much time driving in DC – mostly when me and the family are getting out of town! – but I did spend a few years in Sao Paulo, Brazil, home to arguably some of the worst traffic in the world. I’ll trade 4 hours commuting by bike for some of the 4 hour commutes I had while there in a heartbeat.

Best part of the commute these past 6 or 7 months has been running into the great forum and Twitter people (Will, Rootchopper, Pete, Justin, Ed & Mary, the FridayCoffeeClub regulars) while out riding.

[JimF22003]

I don’t really call what I occasionally do a “commute.” I just ride to work once or twice a week (at most.) It’s a 15 mile round trip from Annandale to Tysons. I can take the long way and make it about a 25-mile round trip, but I don’t do that too often. I’d do it more often but if I’m going to ride after work I’d rather make it at least 30 miles, and I hate doing the last five of it in the dark on the surface streets to my house. So my weekday rides involve me PARKING with my CAR at Gallows or Vienna or somewhere and riding entirely on the trail. Yeah, I suck.

Also no go in rain, wind, snow, or if somebody looks at me funny. I’m a piker compared to some of the heroes who do this every day. Hats off!

[americancyclo]

I’m luck to live really close to the W&OD in West Falls Church, so I take some variant of the W&OD to Custis (or MVT) depending on how I wan to get to Capitol Hill. There are plenty of options for varying the route and all of them are pretty safe. The shortest RT is about 25 miles and takes 45 min downhill in the morning and 50 min uphill in the evening on the good days. The longest I’ve stretched out the commutes so far is 35 miles in the morning and 26 on the way home (not in the same day, though). I’m pretty time constrained with daycare pickup duties, so the commute is usually pretty straightforward, but I still enjoy it. I try to ride three to four times per week, depending on how my legs are feeling and the weather. I won’t ride to work if it’s actively precipitating but I will ride less than a mile to metro on those days. Yesterday on the ride home I was feeling pretty spent, so I just rode to the metro today. Maybe tomorrow too, if the rain shows up.

Create and celebrate biking milestones for yourself, and remember that you’re only doing it for yourself, not to win or impress anyone else.

[GuyContinental]

@thucydides 43299 wrote:

My vague memory on the research is that most bike commuters are 5 miles one way or less. That’s surely affected by available infrastructure.

As a “reverse commute rider” (east in the pm) I can attest that the outbound afternoon bike traffic increases gradually towards each town center (Reston, Vienna, FC) and exponentially inside the beltway and then hits critical mass at the Custis. Out in Loudoun I’ll pass maybe 5 oncoming riders even on a nice day (usually the same 5…).

[rcannon100]

Again, consistent with that Portland study: Cyclists, not only are they happy with their commute – they are the only commuters who dont care how long their commute is.

Mine is a boring story. 6.7 miles from N Arl to SW, 4x a week. Lee > Custis > MVT > 14th > Orange Cones at Jefferson

Loved last summer. Like so many, I would bike the long way, around the WOD. Stop at Best Buns and telecommute for a few hours while enjoying morning coffee.

According to my GPS this morning, when I arrived to work, I had ridden 7.5 miles. I wonder where I rode? I looked down at my GPS coming out of my neighborhood this morning, biking up a steep hill, and I was going 22 mph. At that speed, I must have been several blocks away at that point – I suspect making a sort of zig zagged GPS bounce course, going straight through buildings. Well, if my GPS says that I biked it – it must be true (even if it defies a few laws of physics)

[Tim Kelley]

@rcannon100 43366 wrote:

According to my GPS this morning, when I arrived to work, I had ridden 7.5 miles. I wonder where I rode? I looked down at my GPS coming out of my neighborhood this morning, biking up a steep hill, and I was going 22 mph. At that speed, I must have been several blocks away at that point – I suspect making a sort of zig zagged GPS bounce course, going straight through buildings. Well, if my GPS says that I biked it – it must be true (even if it defies a few laws of physics)

What did your strava track look like?

This is one of my favorite segments: http://app.strava.com/segments/691741 (266 feet of climbing in .4 miles in one second at 1,416.2 mph)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2402[/ATTACH]

[americancyclo]

@Tim Kelley 43368 wrote:

This is one of my favorite segments: http://app.strava.com/segments/691741 (266 feet of climbing in .4 miles in one second at 1,416.2 mph)

I always assumed that was an elevator ride or a stair climb. How are there four people on that segment?!?! They must all live/work in that building.

[Tim Kelley]

Ridden 389 times at that! I suspect most of those are Joe Praino, who is a regular in the racing scene around here.

[rcannon100]

My morning, physics defying, commute! If the GPS says I rode it, must be true.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2403[/ATTACH]

[ebubar]

I’m pretty new to the whole bike commuting thing. Wife got me a Garmin Edge 200 which has spurred my interest.
I have quite the competition with the little digital cyclist that lives in that thing. We’re always competing with each other!

I have a couple approaches. I don’t bike in rain/snow yet. When i’m really tired, I’ll bike the 2 miles to the Takoma metro
and metro the rest of the way. Thats a short little 10 minute warmup at this point!

My whole commute is around 28 miles round trip. It takes me about 1 hour 20 minutes to go the whole way, typically only an hour of that is moving time (stupid
stoplights and stop signs!).

I have two routes: 1) Kansas to 13th to R to M to Key through Rosslyn on the Custis and then up Old Dominion and 2) Georgetown Branch to CCT to 41st street to N.Glebe Road.
I consider both routes to be pretty hilly in the beginning and hilly in the end. Especially that 41st street. Still have to walk my bike up that. I got those routes
from the excellent recommendations of the fine folks here actually!

I have lots of space at work, so I do the alternate days approach. Bike in Monday morning, Metro home and back, then bike home Tuesday night. My half
commutes help me sleep like a baby! Planning to do this for the month of February and try out the round trip a few times a week come March.

[acorn]

For me, 8 miles each way. It takes me about 50 minutes in the morning (downhill), 1 hour in the evening (uphill). I’m slow, I know! I mostly ride on streets and I’m conservative about stopping at signs and lights.

On nice days I often take a 10-mile route home.

I agree with what many others have said- bike commuters are usually the only people who don’t mind when their commutes lengthen!

[americancyclo]

@Tim Kelley 43370 wrote:

Ridden 389 times at that! I suspect most of those are Joe Praino, who is a regular in the racing scene around here.

Must live in the Archstone then.

[Rootchopper]

My round trip commute is about 29 miles give or take a mile. I vary the route near my home just to add variety. On Friday’s whenever I can I add a mile or so to get to Friday Coffee Club at Swings at 17th and G.

It takes me 1:20 each way because I am old (57) and slow. I ride an 20-year-old Specialized touring bike (The Mule), a 10-year old Tour Easy recumbent (Big Nellie), or a 5-year old Bike Friday New World Tourist (Little Nellie). Like most others I started with a day here and there. I’ve found that it is actually easier if you ride daily. (No frustrated looking for stuff in the morning.) This year I’ve ridden to work 23 out of 27 days. I don’t ride on snow or ice. And I don’t ride if family, work, or other obligations prevail. Most weeks my commuting adds up to 145 to 150 miles. The irony is that I often don’t ride much on the weekends. I’m pooped!

I’ve been at this off and on since the late 1970s. It’s taken me forever to acquire proper bike commuting gear. I recommend in no order of importance: kevlar belted tires, wool clothing, neck gaiters and watch caps, lobster gloves, over boots for cold days, wicking base layers, the Marmot Precip waterproof shell, Light and Motion headlights, Ortlieb roll top panniers, Brooks saddles, any reflective stuff you can get your hands on, and plenty of attitude.

If you want more info on DC commuting, check out #bikedc on Twitter or the many commuter blogs. (Mine is http://rootchopper.wordpress.com )

[KelOnWheels]

@rcannon100 43377 wrote:

My morning, physics defying, commute! If the GPS says I rode it, must be true.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2403[/ATTACH]

Looks legit.

[Author]

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