New commuter

[Simontm]

Hi all, I guess this is meant to be here rather than the commute.

Just started my commute of 13 odd miles every morning (and around 15m back as I looked for a nice route), mixture of path and road. Taking me between 1 hour and 1hr 15.

Absolutely loving it on my 8-speed hybrid but with an immediate hill climb from the off and 232ft ascent overall (anyone ridden from nonsuch park to Croydon will know the hills) could do with some advice. Some days am down to third gear and cruising, other time down in granny gear :/ what do others do that helps?

Ta!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Every ride will be different, due to weather and how your feeling on a given day, make sure your tyres and inflated properly, tyres that are too soft increasing the rolling resistance making it more difficult, a track pump is the best to inflate your tyres at home.
Make sur the saddle height is correct, a rough guide is that by placing your heel on the pedal your leg should be straight when the pedal is at the bottom of the rotation.
Try and spin in a low gear (one that is comfortable), dont be afraid of using lower gears than you might expect ( I hate the term granny gear, I could gear a bike where the lowest gear on a triple is higher than most bikes low gear, but thats a different issue) gears are there to be used, you should be in a gear where there is little resistance but spinning quite quickly, it does take some practise.

 

[Saluki]

to CC.
@Nigelnaturist is talking perfect sense, as usual. Enjoy your commute.

 

[raleighnut]

that's a good ol distance to do as a commute.

 

[Peter Cairns]

More than my 8 mile each way, takes me around 40 - 60 mins depending on the Orkney wind. Enjoy the experiences.

 

[paul04]

Well done on getting out there and cycling to work

 

[Simontm]

Every ride will be different, due to weather and how your feeling on a given day, make sure your tyres and inflated properly, tyres that are too soft increasing the rolling resistance making it more difficult, a track pump is the best to inflate your tyres at home.
Make sur the saddle height is correct, a rough guide is that by placing your heel on the pedal your leg should be straight when the pedal is at the bottom of the rotation.
Try and spin in a low gear (one that is comfortable), dont be afraid of using lower gears than you might expect ( I hate the term granny gear, I could gear a bike where the lowest gear on a triple is higher than most bikes low gear, but thats a different issue) gears are there to be used, you should be in a gear where there is little resistance but spinning quite quickly, it does take some practise.

Thanks - picked up 'granny gear' trawling the boards!

 

[Simontm]

that's a good ol distance to do as a commute.

'Lo. I was doing between 10 and 25 miles a day after work and as my oyster travel card was running out and yet more delay on the trains I though why not?

Quite easy...in this weather. I'll let you know in November if I still feel the same

 

[Nigelnaturist]

'Lo. I was doing between 10 and 25 miles a day after work and as my oyster travel card was running out and yet more delay on the trains I though why not?

Quite easy...in this weather. I'll let you know in November if I still feel the same

The right clothes its not to bad.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Check the windspeed and direction each day, almost certainly the
cause of your same rides appearing to be different on different rides.

If you know what to expect you can change your riding style.

rgds, sreten.

 

[vickster]

Doesn't sound a bad time from TD to Croydon, heavily trafficked route, although way better in the school holidays. Many of us average less than 13-15mph

When you say 8 speed, 8 speeds only? or 3 x 8?

I wouldn't class the A232/Cheam road rises as hills per se, but inclines (assuming that's the route you take)

Keep at it and enjoy the better weather, although tomorrow looks grim for the afternoon!

 

[Simontm]

Doesn't sound a bad time from TD to Croydon, heavily trafficked route, although way better in the school holidays. Many of us average less than 13-15mph

When you say 8 speed, 8 speeds only? or 3 x 8?

I wouldn't class the A232/Cheam road rises as hills per se, but inclines (assuming that's the route you take)

Keep at it and enjoy the better weather, although tomorrow looks grim for the afternoon!

Hey Vickster

It's 8 speed only and they certainly feel like hills at 7.45 in the morning

 

[vickster]

Porridge for breakfast