16 mile each way commute - bike recommendations

[Biddlybee]

Me, waffer-thin?

 

[Strumpet]

And you'll be able to eat whatever the hell you want without fearing that you'll put on weight.

A wonderful bonus

 

[gentlegreen]

I was faced for a while with the horror of my commute being halved to 2 miles

On a good day, 4 miles is too short - especially after 22 years of seeing exactly the same landmarks ... I could probably get used to a longer ride.

(I'm 17 1/2 stone these days)

 

[Herbsman.]

A wonderful bonus

for me it's a slight antibonus! i dont like being this thin. people point and laugh and call me 'stickboy' and 'skeletonman' and 'female catwalk model figure-shaped boy'

 

[Biddlybee]

I was faced for a while with the horror of my commute being halved to 2 miles

On a good day, 4 miles is too short - especially after 22 years of seeing exactly the same landmarks ... I could probably get used to a longer ride.

Just plotted it on google and I do about 7 miles each way the route I take, so 10 - 10.5 isn't that much more

for me it's a slight antibonus! i dont like being this thin. people point and laugh and call me 'stickboy' and 'skeletonman' and 'female catwalk model figure-shaped boy'

someone called you that?

 

[Strumpet]

Aawwww ((Herbs)).

Bonus for me cos I love scoffing I do and would (and have done!) be piling on some poundage without this every day

I think once I get really into it I would love a longer ride (fnarr) cos it is only about half hour every morning.

 

[Cid]

My current commute is only 3.4 miles each way...

I was doing 9, but changed main employment. Hopefully going to move further away soon as am fat.

 

[Bob_the_lost]

fucks sake, do not wear that synthetic shite, bacteria loves it, and you cant wash it hot enough to kill the bacteria. not even regular washings in antiseptic disinfectant is effective as the smell just comes back the next time your wear it. get a merino wool jersey/base layer. i bet you will be able to wear it 3-5 days in a row without washing it, and it still won't pong as bad as a synthetic jersey will after just one or two days.

all hail the mighty merino sheep

Never had any problems with it myself with lycra and I sweat a hell of a lot. Perhaps you should try washing powder.

 

[gentlegreen]

I was watching a programme on TV the other day following this chap cycling around the world and it struck me that in retirement (hopefully within the next 10 years), I will be needing a replacement for my 8 miles a day.
I doubt I would leave France though and certainly wouldn't be doing 100 miles a day at 60 years old.
Cheap way of exploring the country too for someone living on the minimum wage ...

/derail

 

[Spark]

hmm... you're making me rethink whether I could do 10 miles each way for a commute. I've got til Friday to apply for a job, but it'll be an hour each way..

I'm sure you could. Would there be an alternative public transport route so you've got other options for days when you feel like a break for cycling?

 

[Spark]

fucks sake, do not wear that synthetic shite, bacteria loves it, and you cant wash it hot enough to kill the bacteria. not even regular washings in antiseptic disinfectant is effective as the smell just comes back the next time your wear it. get a merino wool jersey/base layer. i bet you will be able to wear it 3-5 days in a row without washing it, and it still won't pong as bad as a synthetic jersey will after just one or two days.

all hail the mighty merino sheep

I want merino, but nice women's tops tend to be a bit pricey

 

[Final]

I hate those ./ I prefer a sweaty back to one of them !

I feel like I'm preaching but I can't help it (apologies): All the weight on your back will be transferred straight to your arse/saddle. Pannier will negate this somewhat, plus give you a lower centre of gravity.

 

[Biddlybee]

I'm sure you could. Would there be an alternative public transport route so you've got other options for days when you feel like a break for cycling?

There would, but I'd probably cycle to the train station on those days anyway, then just cycle the whole way!

I've only got til Friday to get the application in, probably won't be short listed

 

[Lemon Eddy]

Never had any problems with it myself with lycra and I sweat a hell of a lot. Perhaps you should try washing powder.

Level of smell varies from person to person. The stink is caused by bacteria eating proteins and oils in your sweat, resulting in whiffy excretions. For most people, that means prolonged sweating will lead to smelliness. Some people are lucky enough to have higher levels of an antibacterial protein called Dermcidin that kill off the bacteria involved.

What does not vary from person to person is that man made fibres such as lycra or nylon will smell worse than natural antimicrobials such as merino. Merino really is a fucking brilliant fabric for commuters. As well as not wiffing as much as other materials, it insulates well even when wet, but is breathable enough that you won't overheat. I usually just wear a long sleeved merino t-shirt for commuting all year round, chucking on a gilet or jacket if it's getting colder. Funnily enough, good ventilation around your pits is about the best way to stop smelling too much when you arrive.

Oh, and personally I'd second the idea of luggage in panniers as well.

 

[Herbsman.]

Perhaps you should try washing powder.

Joker.

I want merino, but nice women's tops tend to be a bit pricey

Endura baa baa, womens long sleeve = £32, probably the cheapest youre going to get unfortunately

 

[gentlegreen]

I feel like I'm preaching but I can't help it (apologies): All the weight on your back will be transferred straight to your arse/saddle. Pannier will negate this somewhat, plus give you a lower centre of gravity.

I can't begin to understand how aesthetics can win over practicality - certainly not when one's cycling two thousand miles a year.

I have a basket on the back of mine - not fantastic in terms of COG, but not really even noticeable with a full load of shopping. Standard day pack goes straight in the back - permananent bungee.

I carry a red hot loaf of bread in it twice a week - I certainly wouldn't want that on my back.

 

[sim667]

I recently bought a marin belvedere and really like it as a bike....... I dont get to cycle very far, (1 of my jobs is 1.5 miles away from home and the other one is 30 miles)...... but i do use it to get to my nearby job, and to get around to see friends etc...... Its obviously not as quick as a full on racing bike, but it does take a dump on all the mountain bike riders that go round my town......

 

[Lemon Eddy]

Joker.


Endura baa baa, womens long sleeve = £32, probably the cheapest youre going to get unfortunately

Not much in it , but Finisterre's long sleeved baselayer is £2 cheaper.

Also, Aldi sometimes have merino baselayers in at £14, worth keeping an eye out for:

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2827_8400.htm

 

[Herbsman.]

Also, Aldi sometimes have merino baselayers in at £14, worth keeping an eye out for:

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2827_8400.htm

No way! I've never seen anything but vomit-ugly synthetic jerseys that cost about £4. Will keep an eye out, ta.

edit: I notice one of the properties that they've listed, amongst 'breathable' and 'hydrophilic', is 'fire-resistant'.

We're cyclists, not firefighters







(however, i've seen how fast synthetic fibres burn. was trying to remove and seal a loose thread on a campag jersey that i wanted to send back and ended up burning a small hole in the jersey still got a refund though)

 

[Strumpet]

I feel like I'm preaching but I can't help it (apologies): All the weight on your back will be transferred straight to your arse/saddle. Pannier will negate this somewhat, plus give you a lower centre of gravity.

Interesting...
When I get minime off this Tag On thingy behind me I shall get me some kinda rack n pannier I think.

 

[Herbsman.]

I used to use a messenger bag for everything, because err I'm a messenger. But now when I go shopping for groceries I use panniers 'cause I don't wanna be like them old men who walks with his back horizontal

 

[thursdog]

I have a 17 mile commute (34 both ways) but i sometimes cycle one way and take the train part of the way back (or there) shortening one leg of the journey by ten miles ...sometimes i have a 6 am start and its quite difficult getting up early enough to eat (and digest) enough porridge to fuel 17 miles of riding

I have three bikes, one for off road , an expensive hybrid that i have loved, ridden and replaced and upgraded everything except the frame and forks over the last 15 years and a fixed gear bike that i built out of bits just after christmas.

funny thing is i havent ridden the hybrid since i built the fixie, the first two or three rides were a bit weird but now i'm totally hooked, theres plenty of people enthusing about these minimal machines on the net and i was so sceptical i made mine from bits off ebay and old road stuff...... but i'm saving up for nice wheels now

ps i'm no spring chicken either in case you think i'm some super fit maniac with bulging thighs of steel, i was 50 last month and in ok-ish shape.
for what its worth i really think you should consider a fixed gear bike for your commute

dog

 

[gaijingirl]

hmm... you're making me rethink whether I could do 10 miles each way for a commute. I've got til Friday to apply for a job, but it'll be an hour each way..

Bee - I did a 10 mile each way commute for three years and I really miss it tbh... you could easily do it. My current commute is too short. I'd apply, if you get it - there's your answer!

 

[Biddlybee]

Thinking about it it would be fine... don't know if I've got time to apply now though - it's one of those mammoth third sector forms

 

[mauvais]

I am about to increase my commute from 6 miles each way to 16 miles each way and thought a decent new bike would probably be a good idea although I don't want to spend too much money since the idea of cycling is to save on train/bus fare . I'm currently riding a specialised Hardrock sport

although I have road tyres on my bike

and I was thinking of changing to a road specific bike ( not a hybrid ) . I'm also toying with the idea of single speed and was wondering on the merits of that , especially since I would potentially be going on a fairly hilly route !

If I were you I'd spend the money on a set of lightweight wheels & slick tyres so you can swap them over, and a better fork you can properly lock out.

 

[Termite Man]

If I were you I'd spend the money on a set of lightweight wheels & slick tyres so you can swap them over, and a better fork you can properly lock out.

If I were you I'd read the text under the picture which refers to the type of tyre I have on my bike

 

[Greebo]

Get a rack fitted if poss - it'll make carrying things (including lock and wipes) a lot easier

 

[Herbsman.]

steel is tyhe way forward. my steel bike is lighter than my aluminium bike and its much more comfortable to ride due to its springiness. you barely notice pot-holes.

fuck aluminium

 

[Final]

steel is tyhe way forward. my steel bike is lighter than my aluminium bike and its much more comfortable to ride due to its springiness. you barely notice pot-holes.

fuck aluminium

my commuter is, at it's core, an old steel framed mtb.

Couldn't believe how smooth the ride was after riding alu for a few years.

 

[tommers]

steel is tyhe way forward. my steel bike is lighter than my aluminium bike and its much more comfortable to ride due to its springiness. you barely notice pot-holes.

fuck aluminium

cheap, comfortable, doesn't break in half... what more do you want exactly?