Starting out - too much?

[byegad]

14 miles each way is a big commute. I did 12x2 then 16x2 and if I hadn't been cycling for a good while before I started I'd have probably given up. Try riding every other day, which will give you time to recover, then mive to 2 days on 1 off the bike, when you are managing the rides without issues.

 

[doog]

1.75s will be fine, and on offer..
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TYSCMARPPW/schwalbe_marathon_plus_performance_wired_tyre

make sure you get a good pump as well to get the pressure right it can double as a track pump and you can stick it on the bike/ rucksack, i like the road version of this ..

http://www.topeak.com/products/Pumps/MountainMorph

the mountain morph is a brilliant pump, I have used it several times on tour and it will fit in your ruck sack. If you are happy to spend £40 on the marathon plus's then carry on they are bomb proof and I doubt you will need the pump , however if you are still at the "trialling this commuting lark" you may want to go with the city jets at half the price here and invest in some mudguards instead (if you dont have any).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Schwa...Road-Cycle-Tyres-/290625073554#ht_2499wt_1396

It's not beyond reason (and if you really get into it) that within a few months you may well end up looking at your bike and deciding you want something that rolls better / faster - just warning you!

 

[paddy01]

Just to add +1 on the recovery front, don't over do it.

As a morale booster I can tell you that I've been riding for several years, have a shiny summer carbon road bike, winter road bike etc. etc.

Although I'm not exactly svelte, I'm quite capable of 75 mile rides however haven't ridden since about September for one reason and another (arrival of first sprog etc.) and just this week I've got back on a bike and started commuting for the first time. I've always avoided commuting by bike because cycling has always been first and foremost a leisure activity for me, to de-stress away from work etc. However the new family means I won't be able to vanish for hours at a time on the bike for a while so commuting it is.

It's 11 miles each way with a few short/sharp hills (this being Devon). Takes me about 45 mins in the morning and around 55 mins home (slightly longer route) and I've done it twice this week however tomorrow will be in the car to let my body recover and I'll either commute again Friday or if time permits a longer ride at the weekend.

In summary, as a new rider, doing a 28 mile round trip commute, on an MTB with knobbly tires, sir, I salute you!

Good luck,

Paddy

 

[cyberknight]

It's not beyond reason (and if you really get into it) that within a few months you may well end up looking at your bike and deciding you want something that rolls better / faster - just warning you!

N=N+1 ... the number of bikes you need is the number you have + 1 , no matter how many you have .

For a 14 mile each way ride i would be looking at a road bike or a CX bike, i only do 10 miles each way and when i have to use the MTB its harder work even with slicks .
Dependant on your budget these bikes tend to get good reviews...

Triban 3, pretty much the best budget bike you can get i think
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html
Carrera TDF , a bit more expensive and similar spec with a point for a rack
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_786811_langId_-1_categoryId_165710
I ride an older model carrera virtuoso for commuting, great bike for what i paid for it but i am not sure if the newer model has rack mouting points so you might need to lok at p-clips or a seatpost rack if you want to move the weight of your back..
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810601_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

Those are a selection of budget brands, over these prices you tend to get a similar spec up to £5-600 from the named brands like trek etc unless you get a 2011 model on sale.

 

[ColinJ]

The new tyres will make a massive difference. I once rode my knobbly-tyred MTB 16 miles to a bike shop to order a racing bike and then rode 16 miles back and it felt as hard as doing about 60-70 miles on the new racing bike when I got it! Most of that difference was due to the tyres.

 

[lukesdad]

....and get a set of rigid forks.

 

[gaz]

Break your cycling up.
Cycle in Monday.
Take public transport home
Public transport in Tuesday
Cycle Home
Cycle in Wednesday
Public Transport Home
etc....

Give your self enough time to recover and let your body build up muscle. It doesn't get much easier, you only go faster.

 

[mr messy]

City jets are excellent and cheap. Not as bombproof as marathons but still good puncture protection. Took 5 minutes off my 30 minute commute with them. The road bike knocked another 4 minutes off.....horses for courses!

 

[Chr15]

Thanks so much to everyone for the excellent advice.

On the way home yesterday I cycled 8 miles from work to the rail station and got the train the rest of the way. It was much more managable and by the time I got to the rail station I was beginning to enjoy it so much I considered continuing on! Heeding the advice to build up gradually, however, common sense prevailed.

This morning I again took the rail part way and cycled 8 miles to work. Again, the journey felt much more managable and I enjoyed the ride. I also arrived to work an hour early so had lots of time to shower and relax.

I will definitely continue commuting by bike and plan to use the rail/cycle routene for a couple of months at least before I attempt riding the full distance again.

Thanks, again, to all!

Chris

 

[Monkspeed]

Thanks so much to everyone for the excellent advice.

On the way home yesterday I cycled 8 miles from work to the rail station and got the train the rest of the way. It was much more managable and by the time I got to the rail station I was beginning to enjoy it so much I considered continuing on! Heeding the advice to build up gradually, however, common sense prevailed.

This morning I again took the rail part way and cycled 8 miles to work. Again, the journey felt much more managable and I enjoyed the ride. I also arrived to work an hour early so had lots of time to shower and relax.

I will definitely continue commuting by bike and plan to use the rail/cycle routene for a couple of months at least before I attempt riding the full distance again.

Thanks, again, to all!

Chris

How do you feel since you raised the saddle up?

 

[Chr15]

How do you feel since you raised the saddle up?

MUCH more comfortable, thankfully. My knees are still achy from the past couple of days of riding with the lower seat, but I've now raised it to the point where, when the pedals are at the 12 and 6 position, the leg on the lower pedal is extended almost fully but not locked. I've found that to be the most comfortable for me.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Just move closer to work

 

[Chr15]

Thought I'd return to thank everyone again for the very helpful advice and with an update.

It's my third week of commuting by bicycle. Rather than doing the 14 mile journey each way, I've stuck to using the train part way then cycling 7.4 miles to work. It has become fairly easy now, and yesterday I set a personal best of 37 mins on the way back home.

The riding has gone without incident, except for Friday evening when I decided to cycle the entire way and came off. Now I know why commuting cyclists avoid cycle paths. A puddle if water hid a raised paving stone which caused me to tramline. I must have been doing about 15mph at the time. On the plus side, I no longer suffer with any leg or knee pain, thankfully.

On the way home yesterday I got stuck behind another cyclist and had to move out into traffic to get passed - as I went by I noticed he was talking on his mobile 'phone - not even a hands free kit!! I had to laugh....

 

[SquareDaff]

Glad you're still enjoying it. You'll still have off days when it feels like you've regressed several weeks in the fitness stakes - but I wouldn't go back to the tin box for love or money now!!

 

[mattobrien]

Good work. Starting to wish that I didn't work at home, that way I would have an excuse to get out on the bike everyday.