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18 Miles one way
| carlos | 12 Aug 12:00 |
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Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Bike: | Hi, Im new to cycling but am planning to start to commute to work every day by bike. Well half way. My commute would be from Harpenden to Edgeware, were i would then get the tube. But is 18 miles to much for one way. So it would be 38 in total per day. Is this possible and is it healthy?? thank you |
captgeoff 
| 12 Aug 12:47 |
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Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 36 Bike: My Profile | Once you get used to it, it will be easier and you will be much healthier. |
| My Latest Route: Feb 2009 Brabourne to Kingsnorth Circular | |
| carlos | 13 Aug 05:22 |
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Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Bike: | Thanks, going to try and go for it starting Monday,just need to get some waterproofs. Will this take a couple of hours do you think? Thanks |
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A Nutter
| 13 Aug 06:54 |
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Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 19 Bike: My Profile | It all depends on your stamina, however, you will notice that you get to your destination quicker everyday! What I do, is every morning I write in my diary my total distance, average mph and cycling time down! |
| carlos | 13 Aug 07:30 |
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Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Bike: | Thanks for the reply. well i done 7 miles the other day and wasn't to bad except for the uphill bits. Ill give myself 2 hours just incase. I'm planning on doing this 3 to 4 times a week and then a rest day on the friday . but this will save me tons of money and get me fit, just not looking forward to the winter. thanks for the replys |
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A Nutter
| 13 Aug 07:34 |
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Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 19 Bike: My Profile | Winter can be though, just make sure you wear a scarf and glasses to protect your face from the cold snow!! It can hurt! |
| carlos | 13 Aug 08:06 |
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Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Bike: | Ok will do. i will put a post up on my first day and tell you how it goes. cheers |
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gozler
| 30 Sep 05:29 |
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Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile | once you get into it youll find it enjoyable and probably quite easy. its amazing how quick your fitness levels move on with cycling |
| My Latest Route: Jan 2009 Wear Tyne Washington Loop | |
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dudley
| 26 Jan 07:31 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | just started 13 each way painful now - hoping to reap benefits soon! |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
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Josh
| 28 Jan 16:09 |
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Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 12 Bike: My Profile | I know how you feel! I starting riding to and from work on Fridays, just last December, and although only 8miles one way, found it a little tough, especially the hilly bits. It's amazing how a road you've walked up and down regularly, seemingly flat, becomes a liltte hill on your bike and takes that little bit more effort to overcome. The journey now takes me about 35minutes, which is nearly as fast as the car in the mornings, but is faster than the car coming back. Now that we're coming out of winter and lighter evenings, I intend to cycle to work most days, if not everyday, in addition to cycling 30-50 miles at the weekends. |
| My Latest Route: Apr 2009 West Bromwich Circular via Great Barr and Kings Heath | |
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ronmac
| 06 Feb 18:46 |
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Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile | Carlos, We're all different with different fitness levels and differing psychological approaches. So my opinion may not be exactly suitable to you but hopefully combined with the other entries it will contribute to your understanding / expectations. I personally feel 18 miles each way 4 days a week is a lot for a beginner. I feel if you do too much you will discourage yourself quickly and may pack it in before too long. I'm fairly new to cycling and absolutely love it but believe you should break yourself in more gently. Perhaps 2 or 3 days a week one way for a few weeks and then build up or perhaps 2 days both ways. This way you'll eventually find your optimum level. As time goes by the distance and effort required should seem less, and hopefully you'll enjoy doing it. Your fitness levels will definitely improve greatly and you'll feel great so go for it, stick with it, and all the best. Ron. |
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Legweak
| 10 Sep 17:10 |
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Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1 Bike: My Profile | Hi I do Harpenden to Regent Street twice a week. Are you still riding in? |
| My Latest Route: Sep 2009 Harpenden Loop via Little Gaddesden | |
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jimwoo25
| 21 Sep 02:01 |
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Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 50 Bike: My Profile | Hi Carlos, Make sure you persevere withthe cycling. I hadn't ridden a bike for about ten years until last year when i started commuting to work which was 8 miles either way. Found it really difficult going to start with. I have since changed jobs and my commute is now about 16 miles each way (32 in total). Still not as far as yours but i find it really easy now, average around 45 mins one way. Takes time and i get quicker the more i do it, you know what they say about practice! I like to try and do every day and most weeks i do which is about 160 miles give or take and still have enough in the tank to get an occasional 35 miler in over the weekend, so it really does get easier the more you do it! Cheers Jim |
| MICKTHELOON | 01 Oct 15:20 |
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Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Posts: 5 Bike: | Hi Carlos.I cycle to Chelsea which is a round trip of 28 miles.I leave about 4.30(I'm a postie) and the roads are lovely and quiet-it usually takes 45-50 mins with coming home a bit longer due to the extra traffic.Stick with it,try different routes and you will enjoy it.Good luck! |
| mcnorty | 03 Dec 09:07 |
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Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 1 Bike: | I have taken great strength from this thread! Many thanks to all who contributed. Is anyone doing there 18mile (ish) commute on a mountain bike? |
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Neobright
| 16 May 15:53 |
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Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 5 Bike: My Profile | Hi Carlos, So how are you getting on, are you doing the journey now? My journey is 16 miles, each way. I've started so far by doing a shorter distance of 6 miles each way, that is catching a train for part of the journey, getting off then cyclying the remaining 6 miles. The first week I found hard. my fitness levels aren't great but I play squash quite regularly and jog, but getting on a bike for the first time in a few years was hard. Tomorrow I am planning on taking the train in part way in the morning, then cycling the entire distance (16 miles as I've found a better although slightly longer route) home. I agree with the other posters on here, I think you need to build up to it. I know you just want to get on with it, but your legs are going to ache if you don't cycle regularly and then start doing 18 miles plus even 3 or 4 days a week. Build up to it, be patient, then enjoy... J |
| My Latest Route: Jun 2010 Stockport to Doncaster - Part 2 - Woodhead Station to Doncaster | |
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Magnitude
| 16 May 18:39 |
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 Joined: 06 May 2010 Posts: 22 Bike: My Profile | The best approach to things like this is to plan it out in advance, use the weekend to work out the cycling time to and from the Tube and whether there's any alternate routes to help cut the time or difficulty. It may also be worth checking out the Cycle To Work Scheme and try getting your work involved with it. |
| My Latest Route: May 2010 West Bromwich to Walsall and Wolverhampton Canal Loop | |
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