Is a 16 mile commute doable for a new rider?

[DCLane]

Yes - 2-3 days a week at first though.

My commute was 16 miles home tonight and I do 5 days a week and have been doing that for 4-5 years. Oh, and my 12 year-old does 12-15 miles a day on his school commute.

Practically hybrids are slower, so think about a cross bike. Also consider rain / bad weather gear, particularly so as you're heading into winter. Mudguards, etc. are pretty much essential. A 16-speed cross bike means cheaper parts, which is why I go 16 speed for winter and usually for commuting.

Also get into a maintenance routine - cleaning and lubricating once a week, drying and lubricating if it's wet, checking tyres every few days for flints/glass, etc. and having spares available (a spare tyre at home, a couple of inner tubes and a pump with you, emergency tiny lights on the bike in case the main ones go flat). The commuter section's a good start.

Also think about your route; are there quiet roads rather than paths - which can be isolated at night. Google maps is great for route-finding.

 

[Tin Pot]

After a bout of unemployment I've been offered a job 16-ish miles away in Bolton town center; I'll be commuting from the Shevington area of Wigan.

Because my commute falls squarely in Northern Rail's 'peak' times, I'd be paying more than double the price of a normal ticket for the pleasure of being stuffed in to a Soviet era train carriage, so I've decided to get a bike, but haven't actually ridden regularly since I was a teenager. For reference I'm 26 now and can manage a mile or two running.

Looking at routes, I could do the first 1/3 along the canal tow path, weather permitting, and the rest down the A58/A676. Or I could go through Aspull then Horwich. From the research I've done, I think a hybrid would probably best.

Is this doable? Google maps says an hour and a half but I think I would probably budget two hours each way. I'm not overly worried about riding on roads, but I'm not sure about my ability to do the round trip every day. The journey there is a steady climb, with a couple of steeper areas, and mostly downhill on the way back, it would seem. I'm guessing I might have to aim for doing it a couple of times a week at first, and work my way up to full time.

I'm looking to save as much money as possible, as the job doesn't pay particularly well but it's the only thing to come along in a while so I can't be choosy. Would a budget hybrid be able to manage this every day without falling apart?

Check out the elevation change and the route before you cycle it.

Start with once a week and build up, as your body allows.

 

[rivers]

I do 16 miles each way to work, but not every day. I was riding in everyday for a few weeks but that was because someone nicked my scooter and I had no other choice. That was pretty tough, and my legs did not thank me for it. I normally do 3 days a week, plus a longer weekend ride. It is do-able, but it took me a few weeks to build up to the mileage. At the start, it was taking me about an hour and 26 minutes, but I'm now at about an hour and 4 minutes on the way into work and less than an hour on the way home.

 

[johnnyb47]

The biggest factor is that it's now coming into the winter months. Just choose your route wisely and make sure you've got some decent lights. I can usually cover 16 miles in around an hour and feel not to bad at the end of it.I don't think I would enjoy doing it day in day out though in all weathers..If you already have a bike try the route out first before you commit your self to commuting it. One thing for certain though is that you get fit from it

 

[broady]

I used to commute on this:

It has 32mm tyres on it so am happy riding it on rougher stuff, but struggle with the hand position being fixed (weak wrists). With 25mm tyres on it really fly on the roads but then lose any off road ability really.

I used to have a Specialized Sirrus that I would also recommend if you went the flat bar route.

 

[broady]

But for the 32 mile daily commute I would get a road bike. And it would have to be something I enjoyed riding too.

 

[mjr]

Once you've saved a bit of money, ideally, you want a second bike you could commute on It's rather useful to get the bike out and react to finding a puncture (or worse!) that you hadn't noticed by putting it back and getting the spare out

Then you've started on the road to N+1 and all is lost...

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

The worst moment will be when its before 0500hrs, it's pitch black and hammering it down and you've got to get up. If you can manage to get up then the next worst moment is getting on the bike 10 mins later. Repeat until spring.

 

[steveindenmark]

It depends what time your shift starts.

I have a 12 mile commute and start at 7am. I am up at 4.45am to have breakfast and get ready. I get to work about 6.30am and have a shower and Im ready for work. I dont race to work but I am on a road bike and dont dawdle. I ride it most days and am pretty fit.

The hardest part is between bed and shed. But its not often as bad as you think it is outside. 10 minutes after setting off I am usually warm.

It 5 degrees and windy at the moment and I am dragging the post on a bit so I dont have to go out in it. Have you thought a moped could be a better option? :0)

I will not be doing it every day through winter though. Some days it can be so bad it would take forever to get to work, if getting there at all would be possible.

 

[biggs682]

The worst moment will be when its before 0500hrs, it's pitch black and hammering it down and you've got to get up. If you can manage to get up then the next worst moment is getting on the bike 10 mins later. Repeat until spring.

i quite often get up and go for a ride at this time its great empty roads etc etc yes you have to be on the look out for ice etc etc but its enjoyable for sure

Once you've saved a bit of money, ideally, you want a second bike you could commute on It's rather useful to get the bike out and react to finding a puncture (or worse!) that you hadn't noticed by putting it back and getting the spare out

Then you've started on the road to N+1 and all is lost...

very true

 

[dim]

start off by driving halfway, park your car somewhere safe and cycle the remaining distance. As you get fitter, cycle further. There's no point in getting to work and you are knackered for the rest of the day

also remember that it's getting dark now, so you may be riding in the dark. Your cycling average speed will be considerably less

 

[vickster]

start off by driving halfway, park your car somewhere safe and cycle the remaining distance. As you get fitter, cycle further. There's no point in getting to work and you are knackered for the rest of the day

also remember that it's getting dark now, so you may be riding in the dark. Your cycling average speed will be considerably less

He doesn't mention a car in the OP, only the train so perhaps driving isn't an option?

Perhaps start riding one way and train back. All assuming you can take your bike on the train at peak times. Or as above, ride 2 or 3 days a week, and train other days

Make sure you get a bike that is up to the job, rigid forks, bar ends, mudguards and pannier rack. As well as your clothing

Depends also if your life will support 3-4 hours of commuting every day (presumably the train is quicker all being well)

 

[jay clock]

Great to hear of someone getting a new job and motivated to commute all that way. +1 for try and build up slowly to 5x a week. It all depends how attractive the ride is and shower facilities etc if needed.

 

[si_c]

It is very definitely doable, especially if you already have enough fitness to be able to run for a couple of miles.

A few things to bear in mind, it almost doesn't matter what bike you get, provided it fits. A hybrid with wider tyres will be more comfortable on a canal path, but whichever bike you get, the first thing to do is to replace the tires. They are very likely to be inexpensive and consequently prone to punctures. Also if getting a hybrid, avoid one with suspension, it just adds weight to the bike, and makes it harder to ride for the most part, it's great on a mountain bike, horrible on the road or a canal path. Mudguards are essential.

You will also need to ensure you have waterproofs if you are riding everyday, as well as tools and a pump in case you have a puncture on the way in, at the very least you need 2x inner tubes, mini pump, tyre levers, and preferably a multi tool as well. Don't just buy the cheapest pump though, you can get away with the rest being low cost, but you probably need to spend around £20. You also need a good set of lights (not just to be seen, but to see by, especially if you are riding on canal paths, a front light in the ~400 - 500 lumen range should be sufficient, you won't need to run it full brightness on main roads, but having it available on unlit paths is invaluable, £30 should get you a good one)

I'd also recommend a track pump (also around £20) and a puncture repair kit for home, that way you can fix inner tubes (cost saving over buying new ones) and keep the tires pumped up.

Lastly you want to consider how you are going to move stuff around, if you are riding it would be worth getting a bike with a pannier rack and getting a bag for the rack to keep a change of clothes etc in, rather than using a rucksack as this makes it a more comfortable ride.

Having these things sorted before your start will make your life far more enjoyable when commuting, I'd allow about 2 hours to get in to work for the first week, you should be able to bring this down to around an hour and a half though as you get faster (which you will) over the next month or so. I commute by bike daily, around 11 miles each way on average, and it takes be between 45 minutes and an hour, depending largely on traffic and weather as when it's raining you'll be quite a bit slower.

 

[SweatyBits]

Thanks for all the advice. I did the commute on the train today and it was pretty much empty this morning, but absolutely packed this evening. I doubt I'd get a bike on the train on the way back.

I think a good idea would probably be to bike part-way in the morning (almost all downhill), then jump on the train for the remainder of the journey. I'll attempt to ride home. I waited 45 minutes for a train after work today, then 20 minutes to Wigan and another 20 minutes or so on the bus. I could be home in that time on a bike. Riding home I'd only have the girlfriend to answer to if it's slow going and I'm late, rather than my manager.