bbeck

how many commute to work? how far is your commute? how big a boy/girl are ya?

6' 340#

i am trying to start commuting to work some. it is nine miles one way and around 250 ft of elevation to over come 2 times on the trip. middle tennessee is not know for being flat and im not known for being skinny and athletic.

i just wanted to see what all the normal people do.

caelric

5'11", 210 lbs, 16 mile one way, hilly. 4 days per week

On the other hand, I also do triathlons, and the commute is part of my training.

Mr Danw

I did not vote. I plan to begin commuting, or at least try it for a while, this spring.

late

Mine is 4.1 miles but I do it twice when I get back into riding, so the total is around 17 miles. Do a few warmup rides. Put a car at work with a bike rack on it, and then ride to work on a Sat to see
how it goes. Then next Sat try riding to work and back. When you can do both ways nonstop, you should be OK riding in.

andymac

I am 6'7" 235lbs and commute 17 miles one way, 3-4 days a week, year round in Vancouver, Canada. I spend a lot of time being wet....

gotls1

~12.5 flatish miles each way and I'm 5'5" and weigh somewhere in the low 150s.

You can do it, just take it slow. Do a test ride on a weekend to see how long it takes you. Then start commuting just 1 or 2 times a week for a couple weeks. If that feels okay, move it up to 3 times a week, then 4, and after a couple months, I bet it won't be a big thing for you to commute everyday.

Commuting by bike is great. I haven't been much lately because of rain (I know...I'm a wuss) and I really really miss it. Next week is looking good though, so hopefully I'll be back in the saddle.

bbeck

i plan on doing this in the next week or two. im going on trying a 32 mile ride saturday. this will be the first pretty saturday this year.

evblazer

*cough*Normal?*cough*
I ride a minimum of 23 miles each was but it tends to be a little longer when there is traffic as I take a few alternate routes. Last week was the first time probably ever since 10/07 when we moved into the new digs that I did it 5 days a week. Usually I can only handle just 3. 5/07 - 10/07 it was only 10 miles or so each way so that was an everyday event. Hm those dates don't seem to make sense.. oh well.

When I started in May 07 I was over 300. February 08 when I got my first new recumbent I was 280, over the weight limit) I've been holding around 248 +/- 3lbs so far in 09.

I first rode both commutes on either weekends or on weekday holidays.

CliftonGK1

6'6", 250 pounds
11 to 15 miles each way, depending on the route I take.
1300' to 1700' elevation gain on the way home, route dependant.
I average 4 days/week commuting.

chewybrian 

6'5", 215(down from 330) 15 miles each way, 4 days a week. Normal?

Go for it. If it takes you 90 minutes at first, who cares? Keep trying and you'll rip it out in 30 before you know it.

10 Wheels

I cheat.
Commute 15 miles round trip to along distance bike ride 5 to 6 days a week..
Most of my rides are 85 miles

223 lbs to start, Now 188 lbs.

So what makes the commute different from the bike ride.
(1) meet group at a given time.
(2) traffic, school zones, fast riding on a no shoulder roads. freeway over pass.
Rush hour traffic going and coming.
(3) I get horned and yells everyday

My wife of 48 yrs says, I am Nuts. That the other riders are nuttier then me.

dcrowell

My one-way distance is 16.5 miles. I was commuting about three days a week, but I'm down to about one. I'm trying to get back to three.

I started in April 08 at 5'11" and about 260 lbs. I'm currently about 203 lbs. Before I began the weight loss attempt in general I was 296 lbs.

Riding a bike was only half of the equation for weight loss for me. I also track everything I eat, and have changed my habits.

EasyEd

6', 270#. 8.5 miles in, 10 miles back. (different route because of traffic) Pretty flat, which I like.

neilfein

So if you don't commute on your bike, but, say, get groceries on a trailer, how would you answer this poll? </high horse>

I commute once a week or so, more often when my carpool isn't running.

Tex_Arcana

5' 10" 230 last time I weighed in. Currently I live a little over 3 miles from where I work so getting to work I'm usually waiting around to the the last minute so I push myself really hard down that 3 miles but coming home I take a longer route.

I used to do a lot of 10 and 20 mile commutes before my wife got organized and started looking for places that were closer to where I work. My worst year was when I actually lived where I worked.

kgriffioen

Male, 6'0", 205lbs

My commute is 12 miles one way and I take the same way back. My goal is to do it everyday, but I won't do snow, rain on the inbound trip, or morning temps below 5F. So far this year I've done 40% on the bike which isn't bad considering the crap that we have had for weather around here!

Spring is right around the corner. I can feel it. Its almost here.

heckler

6' 230 9 miles each way

I used my road bike for 2 weeks to try it out. Since I liked it I bought a 2nd hand hybrid and set it up for commuting (rack, panniers, etc). The second bike makes it much more enjoyable. I quit between Nov and today (I will go for the first time this year tomorrow...I hope)

Also I don't ride in when it is raining because the shoes/jersey/shorts stink really bad when you put them on to go home (my coworkers actually had comments on the stink my first and only time). But I do enjoy riding home in the rain (when warm)

Doohickie

I'm barely a Clyde at just over 200 lb. and 6'-2". 7+ miles each way, typically 3-5 days a week.

To get started I suggest making the trip on your day off, and plan to spend some time (maybe a couple hours) near your workplace before returning. If you do all 18 miles in a row, you won't want to try it again. As it is, you will feel exhausted after your trial run, but after a couple weeks of riding you'll be amazed at how much stronger your stroke is.

I started out 1 or 2 days a week then increased to basically all the time except for when I don't (for whatever reason). The longer I do it, the less inclined I am to drive.

Alox

+1 6'4", 230lbs (seasonal)

I ride 10 miles each way, 3-5 times a week, rain or shine. Uphill both ways.

I started when I moved to my present location on a short term contract. I picked up a used beater bike for transport, and just kept riding. Dropped 20 lbs, and kept it off - got legs of steel too.

cyclefreaksix

12 mi ride one way, some elevation changes. I'm 6'2" and 220ish. I don't think I will ever qualify as a sub-clyde, it just ain't in my genes. I work 3-4 12 hour shifts a week and ride all of 'em.

I'm going to try this on a fixed gear bike in the next few weeks, should be grueling.

Tom Stormcrowe

8 miles, each way, once I can get back on the bike, that is.....

6'2', AND 199

beingtxstate

6' 2" 215#, and a 4-10 mile one way depending on the route...

Wogster

I didn't vote, my commute takes me through one of the most notorious parts of town (Jane-Finch if you know Toronto), at midnight, so I take the TTC (transit). However I often do some shopping and other stuff by bicycle, so it's not just recreational either..... One of those strange middle ground things.....

As for height 1.7m and weight ~100kg

CACycling

6' 1" 218 lbs. 5 miles each way. I ride about 80% of the time year round. Easy way to get an extra 40 miles in a week and a great stress releaver.

BikEthan

6' 2" 210lbs

My commute is SUPER short (for now) @2 miles. But I'm moving outside the city for a few reasons and my commute will balloon to 32 miles with about 1500' of climbing. I likely won't be doing this in both directions but I'll keep you posted.