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

[FFX_Hinterlands]

Like GuyContinental I’m a reverse commuter, but it’s from Oak Hill (South of Toll Rd, South of Herndon) to Route 28/W&OD area. 15 miles round trip. On my big-ol’ three speed it takes me 35 to 45 min (home is uphill). I’m usually not in much of a hurry… my pace is usually 11mph over the trip, including traffic lights, etc.. I’ve been doing this 2 times a week or more for the last few years. I still carry more stuff than I should, but now I really don’t flinch at riding in the rain or bad weather.

BTW.. I only saw 2 bike commuters today.. a low point of the winter. I saw more when it was 12 degrees.

[JustinW]

Simple route for me – 4 miles at the shortest (AM from ~Shirlington to ~Ballston). The return / PM route is invariably longer as (a) I get bored with the same simple route home, and (b) it is fun to check out new routes / neighborhoods, and (c) it is always useful to add some extra miles when time permits.

[culimerc]

Shout out to the West Bound!! (50 yr old white guy throwin’ gang signs; not pretty) HUP! HUP!

[krazygl00]

For me, 15 miles each way so a 30 mile round-trip. I am probably one of the few cycle commuters who actually wishes his commute were shorter. For me, it is a matter of hours in the day; when you have a three-year-old and a one-year-old (his birthday is TODAY by the way ), you need all you can get. But try as I might after traffic, preparation, changing at work, and unpacking/changing when I get home, I cannot get the total time of this commute under 3.5 hours round trip. Even if I were able to ride a full 5mph faster than I do that would still only save me about 30 minutes total.

If I drive, this total commute is more like 1-1.5 hours. The sweet-spot would be for me about a 7-10 mile commute. This would be doable in about 30-40 minutes of riding time each way, so maybe 2-2.5 hours total round trip after riding and prep, which is much better for my schedule.

[consularrider]

@krazygl00 43429 wrote:

… For me, it is a matter of hours in the day; when you have a three-year-old and a one-year-old (his birthday is TODAY by the way ), you need all you can get …

Actually for me it’s to get away from our teenager who turned 18 today (happy birthday to your one year old!).

[krazygl00]

@consularrider 43430 wrote:

Actually for me it’s to get away from our teenager who turned 18 today (happy birthday to your one year old!).

High fives for the Feb 7 babies!

[Dkeg]

14.8 on the commute in and 15.3 on the commute back (usual route).

I park near the C & O Canal take that into Georgetown. I cross Key bridge then take the MVT to Four Mile Run into Shirlington. In the afternoon I mix it up. I find that is important to keep the commute fun and interesting.

I cannot commute from home because the commute would be 68 miles round trip. Plus I have to be at work by 6am. I have to wake up at 3:35am just to do commute halfway as is.

[JimK]

My minimum commute is 14 each way, but there are lots of options. I usually take an 18-mile route in and a 14-mile route home. Either way, 95 percent of the ride is on trails rather than roads.

[Arlingtonrider]

I have an easy peasy commute compared to most people here. Just over eight mostly flat miles each way. I’m slower than most too. (Is it my bike, all the stuff I often carry, or just me?) I allow for about 40 minutes heading into town and about 44 coming back, but to be honest, I rarely even think about speed while I ride. I just enjoy rolling along at whatever pace I feel like, and I get there when I get there. I’m definitely no super athlete, but I do like to add on to my rides when I can.

I’m in awe that you are doing the commute you do, Liz! You have great spirit to take that on – in winter, no less. I’m full of admiration! I liked Eminva’s comments. Keep it fun and it will get easier and grow on you.

[jopamora]

Long way is about 33 miles round trip and mostly trail. Short way is about 24 miles round trip and mostly road. Both take an hour +/- 10 minutes.

I really feel it if I do the long way more than 3x a week. I am usually in a rush in the evenings to get home and see the kids before bed time. In the end a combination of the two is my usual commute.

[GuyContinental]

@krazygl00 43429 wrote:

For me, 15 miles each way so a 30 mile round-trip. I am probably one of the few cycle commuters who actually wishes his commute were shorter. For me, it is a matter of hours in the day; when you have a three-year-old and a one-year-old, you need all you can get.

I’m 100% with you (also have a 1 & 3 yr old) and really wish that my commute was 15 miles/each way vs 25- I have an awesome and understanding working spouse and set my own work hours but leaving home at 5-5:45 am, leaving work at 4:30 and getting home at 6:00 pm 3-4 times a week really pushes my luck professionally and maritally.
BUT
1. I have to leave for work before 7am regardless (so extra time in the am doesn’t impact)
2. My drive home stinks (easily 1:15- 1:45 on a bad day) so the ride home is a wash
3. I’m sort of an endorphin junkie so if I wasn’t riding I’d need to be taking up time to work out (probably swim) elsewhere (and it’s not an option during the day)
4. I rarely ride on weekends except for the occasional MTB or CX race- so family gets me 100%

Still… I’d love to spend more quality time with my kids and cutting an hour off the RT would really help. No answer for that except change jobs or move (neither is likely) so it is what it is.

[scorchedearth]

My commute is 20 miles one way so I usually go multimodal. I take the bike on the bus in the morning and get dropped off right around the corner from my office. I take the quick spin to work, store my bike indoors safely and then look forward to the ride home. The ride home usually takes me about 70-90 minutes depending on lights and how fast I feel like going. Last year, I began bike commuting by going once or twice a week. This year, I intend to consistently ride twice a week and perhaps even half time.

[vvill]

@GuyContinental 43595 wrote:

I’m 100% with you (also have a 1 & 3 yr old) and really wish that my commute was 15 miles/each way vs 25- I have an awesome and understanding working spouse and set my own work hours but leaving home at 5-5:45 am, leaving work at 4:30 and getting home at 6:00 pm 3-4 times a week really pushes my luck

Yeah, I could see that. I’m very fortunate that my direct commute is between 8 and 12 miles (8.3m if I take main roads, 12ish this time of year because I stick to trails more) and I’m always in awe of those with commutes >15 miles and commute every day, especially those with kids! (I have a 2 & 4 yr old.) By Thursday or Friday I’m often glad that I can make it to work/home in only 35-55 mins.

[CPTJohnC]

From home to work and back is between 18 and 20 miles each way, which I do when I can (which is all summer, and school holidays) — it takes about 1:20 in the morning (via W&OD, Custis, Mount Vernon, up the mall to Union Station) and about 1:35 going home.

During the school year, I multi-mode, so I drive my son to school, park there, and ride the 4.5 miles each way, which takes about 22 minutes point to point, and right around 20 minutes of riding time.

And as with so many others, Freezing Saddles is doing a number on me — I rode today despite the forecast for rain all morning because I need to put in more miles!

[dasgeh]

My commute is 10 miles roundtrip (which sounds so much tougher than 5 miles each way!), and I budget 30 minutes each way. I don’t really take that long, but (1) I never get out of the house on time in the morning and (2) it allows me to stop at a store if need be on the way home if I push it up the hills. I confess that I’ve been known to commute on an electric bike. I don’t know how much it takes off my time, because I haven’t done this commute on my road bike (we moved to this house while I was pregnant, and road bike + pregnant belly don’t mix).

Of course, I haven’t done the commute in three months because today is my first day back from maternity leave (where’s the weeping icon) and I had a BOATLOAD of stuff to bring in (clothes, food, drink, pump…). Wednesday will probably be my first day back on the bike because of childcare juggling tomorrow.

It looks like I’m a year or two behind the crowd here — we have a 2 year old and an (almost) 3 month old. We’re definitely due for a kid friendly happy hour. Our oldest has gotten to be quite the Strider-bike rider.

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