Starting out - too much?

[Chr15]

With ever increasing rail and tube fares in London coupled with unreliable service, and feeling the need to get more exercise, I took the decision to commute to work by bicycle. Actually, I had been considering doing this for some time, but always put it off, mainly out of laziness!

I've not cycled any great distance in years and yesterday I started cycling to work. The journey is 14 miles, and took me 1 hour 40 mins yesterday morning (which I was okay with - I figure it can only get easier). Getting home yesterday evening took 10 mins longer, and my journey in this morning took about 1 hour 50 minutes.

I am finding the journey very difficult, and really had to psyche myself up this morning for the ride. I'm already dreading the return trip this evening! Being just on the wrong side of 40, I'm really feeling the strain in my knees and am experiencing a lot of muscular pain (thigh) during the ride, which caused me to stop and rest a few times. I've made adjustments to the bike guided by the wealth of information available on the internet, so on my journey home tonight the seat will be a couple of inches higher.

I'm beginning to wonder whether a 28 mile round trip to and from work is too ambitious for someone who has not ridden - and has not done any meaningful exercise - in years. I'm not terribly out of shape, but could stand to lose a few pounds. Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Why don't you try getting a train halfway or to the point where it's financially viable to do so and then cycle the rest of the way?

 

[BSRU]

Some suggestions:-
If you can break up the journey, assuming you have a folder, train part of it and cycle the rest,
or drive part and cycle the rest,
or cycle Monday/Wednesday/Friday train the other two days,
or a combination of these.
This gives you a chance to build up the fitness until you can manage the whole commute on two wheels.

 

[Chr15]

Thanks for your replies, both. I had considered taking the train part of the way, but there are restrictions on cycles on the trains (although, from what I have observed, some train drivers are not bothered while I have seen others refuse to proceed until the cyclist removes himself!). My bike is not a folder, unfortunately.

I think alternate days, to build up fitness, is the way to go, although there will be little cost benefit (the price of a daily travelcard 2 days a week is not that different from the cost of a weekly travelcard!!) but my first priority is getting some exercise in any event - the savings will come when I am able to cycle the entire journey both ways comfortably.

I guess another point of my initial question was to find out whether a 14 mile commute was considered a long commute by the standards of the more experienced on this forum.

Cheers

 

[Globalti]

It's definitely quite a big chunk you've bitten off there but at least you're aware of the importance of good bike setup. The worst thing that could happen now would be an injury. Take heart from the certainty that it will become easier with each day that passes, remember that the rest and recovery and diet are as important as the exercise, look forward to longer days and warmer weather and the day you fly up a hill and think: "Wow! That was easy!"

What kind of bike are you using and what tyres? Knobbly tyres on tarmac will be absorbing a massive amount of your energy so if it's a mountain bike, treat yourself to some slicks and pump them up hard; you'll be amazed at the difference.

 

[BSRU]

28 miles a day is a fair commute but perfectly doable.
It would be important to have an appropriate bicycle for the journey, that is for example, if it's all road/tarmac there is no point using a mountain bike with full suspension and big fat knobbly tyres.

 

[Monkspeed]

With ever increasing rail and tube fares in London coupled with unreliable service, and feeling the need to get more exercise, I took the decision to commute to work by bicycle. Actually, I had been considering doing this for some time, but always put it off, mainly out of laziness!

I've not cycled any great distance in years and yesterday I started cycling to work. The journey is 14 miles, and took me 1 hour 40 mins yesterday morning (which I was okay with - I figure it can only get easier). Getting home yesterday evening took 10 mins longer, and my journey in this morning took about 1 hour 50 minutes.

I am finding the journey very difficult, and really had to psyche myself up this morning for the ride. I'm already dreading the return trip this evening! Being just on the wrong side of 40, I'm really feeling the strain in my knees and am experiencing a lot of muscular pain (thigh) during the ride, which caused me to stop and rest a few times. I've made adjustments to the bike guided by the wealth of information available on the internet, so on my journey home tonight the seat will be a couple of inches higher.

I'm beginning to wonder whether a 28 mile round trip to and from work is too ambitious for someone who has not ridden - and has not done any meaningful exercise - in years. I'm not terribly out of shape, but could stand to lose a few pounds. Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

Firstly, I was just about to suggest that the seat is too low but you've changed that now. I'm pretty sure you will feel much better tonight on the way home, pedalling will feel much more effortless.

I think you have bitten off a bit more than you can chew at the moment but that's fine, I like your enthusiasm and confidence. Just take the journey nice and slow until you build up your heart and lungs and your muscles.

Nothing wrong with stopping now and then for a breather, its always a good idea to have a handful or two of some nuts and a few mouthfuls of whatever drink you carry with you (you do have a drink bottle right?). Cereal bars are also a nice snack to have when you stop.

And use the appropriate gears, if your tackling a bit of an incline then drop down to a nice and easy gear and take your time.

Also, I don't know what you ride but if your bike is a mountain bike with knobbly tires then change them to a much slimmer profile and slicker surface, this will really make a difference as it lowers rolling resistance.

I would have said to start with do your journey every other day so you give your body time to recover, at least for the first two weeks or so.

And remember, the body is like an engine, no fuel, no power. Make sure you are eating lots of carbs i.e. pasta/potatoes and make sure you are eating sufficient protein to rebuild your muscles.

I hope this helps.



EDIT: Beaten to it ^ Fastest finger first

 

[Chr15]

Thanks, Globalti and BSRU. My wife bought me a Saracen Mantra VX a couple of years ago (hard tail, front suspension) after my road bike was stolen, but it just sat in the garage for the most part and that is what I am using. The ride to work is 7 miles of cycle lanes (which actually means really badly kept paths covered in leaves and who knows what beneath - I had to avoid a huge patch of broken glass on the way home yesterday) and 7 miles of London streets. The bike has the knobbly tires it came with. Should I be looking at changing these?

 

[Chr15]

Thanks, Monkspeed. That is certainly very helpful. Looks like the knobbly tires have to go and I need to look at eating more sensibly!! I drank 2 75cl bottles of water on the way in this morning!!

 

[Monkspeed]

Thanks, Monkspeed. That is certainly very helpful. Looks like the knobbly tires have to go and I need to look at eating more sensibly!! I drank 2 75cl bottles of water on the way in this morning!!

Does your bike look like this?

 

[BSRU]

Can you lock the front suspension on the Saracen Mantra VX?

Getting rid of the knobbly tires will make riding the bike alot easier. If you have to ride on cycle lanes for 7 miles then some good puncture resistant tyres should help, I do not know if they sell Marathon Plus tyres for mountain bike wheels.

 

[Chr15]

Monkspeed - yes, my bike is the one in the picture.

BSRU - I'm not sure whether the front suspension can be locked. I will look into it.

Thanks for your advice, both!

 

[Monkspeed]

I found these on wiggle, not sure if its around what you was thinking of paying though.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-ultra-gatorskin-city-mtb-tyre/

I would ask around here what sort of tyres would fit your bike. There should be some numbers on your current tyre, if you write them down here that would help.

 

[cyberknight]

I found these on wiggle, not sure if its around what you was thinking of paying though.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-ultra-gatorskin-city-mtb-tyre/

I would ask around here what sort of tyres would fit your bike. There should be some numbers on your current tyre, if you write them down here that would help.

might be a bit too narrow, i think 1.5s are a good compromise.
scwable city jets are a good budget tyre ...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24629

I currently have these on my winter hack...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18822

As others have said try every other day to start with and look into locking your suspension out if you can.After a google it sounds like it is not but it depends on the model you have.

 

[Chr15]

It does not appear that the suspension can be locked, unfortunately. I've just had a look at the tyres and the size is 26 x 2.35. Any suggestions on tyres would be helpful - I'm not too worried about cost as they will be a good investment and as the cost of using the train is £55 per week anyway they'll soon pay for themselves!