Another newbie

[potsy]

Hi all,I'm a complete newcomer to all this but am just about to dive in to commuting an 18 mile round trip once I get my bike next week. As a mid 30's slightly unfit beginner would you reccomend this or go for a more slowly slowly approach?
P.S am looking at either a Spesh Vienna Globe 2 or a Trek 7.1 FX, not the most expensive of bikes I know but should do the job.

 

[Pottsy]

Oi B)

 

[Goffins]

Ride the route at the weekend or on a day when you have no time constraints so you can get a feel for it.

 

[ianrauk]

Talking to yourself already.. you'll fit in here nicely.

That's a fair old distance for a first time commute imho. It depends an alot of things, how fit you are, how confident you are on a bike, traffic conditions, the route, hilly etc.

Best thing to do before you jump straight in is when you get your bke, have a pootle locally, see how you feel. It takes time & effort to build up to that distance. I should think it would take you an hour at least, but hey everyone is different. You may take to it like a duck to water.

When I took up cycling again after an 18 year gap. My first commute was only a mile and a half and near killed me. But I stuck at it and am now doing a round commute of between 26-32 miles 5 days a week and 50-80 miles on a saturday.

Oh...

 

[potsy]

Oi

sorry Pottsy knew there'd be another one out there somewhere

 

[ianrauk]

lol just noticed Pottsy and Potsy..
*off to opticians*

 

[potsy]

Talking to yourself already.. you'll fit in here nicely.

That's a fair old distance for a first time commute imho. It depends an alot of things, how fit you are, how confident you are on a bike, traffic conditions, the route, hilly etc.

Best thing to do before you jump straight in is when you get your bke, have a pootle locally, see how you feel. It takes time & effort to build up to that distance. I should think it would take you an hour at least, but hey everyone is different. You may take to it like a duck to water.

When I took up cycling again after an 18 year gap. My first commute was only a mile and a half and near killed me. But I stuck at it and am now doing a round commute of between 26-32 miles 5 days a week and 50-80 miles on a saturday.

Oh...

Thanks Ian will take your advice and build up slowly I think.route is mainly flat with 1 big hill about 2 miles from end which I'm already planning on walking up.

 

[just4fun]

welcome to the forums and nice one on making the decision to commute to work.
i just wanted to 2nd everything that ianrauk has said.

 

[Pottsy]

sorry Pottsy knew there'd be another one out there somewhere

Don't worry, hopefully you'll be funnier and more interesting than me and I might accidentally get some of the credit.

 

[Randochap]

One step, or turn of the pedals, at a time.

 

[Banjo]

I have been riding for about 2 weeks after hardly doing anything physical for years. No way could I do an 18 mile commute everyday yet .I only commute about 2.5 miles which has some steep hills then I have done a couple of 10 mile round trips in my free time.After the first week my legs were complaining badly Now feel a lot better .You may be fitter than me so I guess everyone has to find out what suits them.

I have found it a lot easier since taking advice from people on here about seat height.

Have a look in the thread I started titled"New to cycling legs are complaining" Theres some helpfull replies on seat adjustment and on how to build up fitness etc.Someone made a comment on it helps if you are relaxed.At first I was really tense and gripping the handgrips so hard my fingers were going numb,since I have concentrated on realaxing as I ride it really does take less effort.

Good Luck.

 

[ianrauk]

Potsy,
it's been a while since your first post in March.
So how about an update on how you are now doing? Are you now up to the full 18 mile round trip? Just being nosey like...

 

[Randochap]

+1 Inquiring minds and all.

 

[potsy]

Potsy,
it's been a while since your first post in March.
So how about an update on how you are now doing? Are you now up to the full 18 mile round trip? Just being nosey like...

You be as nosey as you like pal,have posted quite a lot about my progress in various threads.
The 18 miles has got a lot easier,been doing it 4-5 times a week,will reach my 2500 mile target for the year very soon,even been on a cc ride with fossy,sharkybloke,tharg,and others 60 miles great ride though was shattered by the end of it
Got my Secteur road bike a few weeks ago,so am commuting on that most of the time now,only using the Trek for bad weather/load carrying and shopping trips.
+ weight is coming down nicely,2 stone loss for the year.

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks for the udate. Well done mate, you've done very well and congrats on the weight loss. I can imagine that health wise you feel much better