Biking to work?

Question

I live about 5 miles from my place of work and I'm considering biking to work. Im not a very avid biker at all.

So, I was wondering if this is too long a distance to bike?
Any idea how much time I should alot for this type of trip?

Just curious.......

Thanks.

Ha, I am going to try the route myself. But I was just curious how long it took others to ride similar routes. So I suppose that would have been a better question.

Answer 1

My work is about 5 miles from my work. The first week I was nervous and it took me forty minutes. But now I love it and I make it in about 20 minutes (this includes lots of stop signs and intersections) You can do it!!! It's so great for you and you'll be very awake at work!

Answer 2

First - let me give my creds: I bike to work (and everywhere) over 90% of the year. I live in S. Michigan, so I'm forced to take (1) buses, (2) taxis for about 6% of all travel during really bad snow conditions, etc. (The remaining 4% of yearly travel is by rented car - for distances over 50 miles. no - I'm not exaggerating.)

Oh - I'm 61 years old and have been "all bicycle travel since April, 1994.

My answer:
First it depends on four things: your physical condition, the conditon of the roads (or sidewalks, bike paths, etc), the condition of your bicycle and finally - the weather conditions throughout the year.

I live only 2-1/2 miles from work and it's a straight shot with a bike lane available for 3/4ths that distance. I make that trip in about 13 minutes average, 5-8 minutes longer if there's snow, slush, etc.
My minumum is only 8 minutes, 38 seconds - but that was using a fast touring bike in ideal *summer* conditions. I normally use a Diamondback (modified) mountain bike - with lights & fenders.

Without knowing more about your route, your condition and your bike - I'd have to guess that 30 minutes average wouldn't be excessive. Ideally - I'm sure 5 miles can be covered in much less time by a well-conditioned rider on a fast bike. Just remember - you're talking about a 5 day a week, 2x / day event. You have to account for rain storms and oblivious drivers too. (I've been hit twice by cars - both times it was dark and raining.)

Now for the good part: Try easing into it not as part of a commute, but with pleasure rides. Start with 10 mile rides - 3x / week if possible. If you're "average" - you won't find this difficult at all. Just remember - by law in most states - you are obligated to observe all the "rules of the road" as a motor vehicle. 30 miles a week is really "nothing" for most people - I was amazed that I could do 22 miles (to a neighboring town) the first time I tried and without any kind of discomfort.

On those pleasure rides - try for steady improvement so that you reach better condition over time. Don't force yourself - just try to enjoy the total experience. You may find your progress encourages you and makes those commutes much easier and something you "think nothing of doing" - like me.

You should look for local bike clubs for further guidance - or to the League of American Bicyclists and even your local library for more information on bike commuting.

I encourage you to try it - sensibly and responsibly. Wear a helmet, get a carrier for your bike (for groceries, etc). After a year - you can sit down and calculate how much you saved by NOT using a car. (Having no car at all is saving me thousands of dollars.)

Answer 3

Well, I just did 480 miles on a beach cruiser, so 5 miles seems like it would not be a problem.
My road racer is not even uncomfortable for 5 miles although it begins to ache at about 40 miles or so.

Of course you'll need a few considerations. . .

1) A bike that fits reasonably well, or have it "fitted". The Wal-Mart selection will make 5 miles seem like a painful all-day workout, with the exception of their $139 Schwinn mountain, and that will work only if their one and only size happens to be your size. A trip to a real bike store for a few test drives might be in order, just to see what is appropriate for you.

2) Some car avoidance blinkie lights, and this time (as an exception to the rule), Wal-Mart hits one out of the park with their inexpensive, painfully bright red triangle from Bell.

3) Training, starting with 1 mile and then doubling until you reach 5.

4) Reasonably flat-free tires, especially those with the aramid flat protection layer. That, and an under-set flat pack, spare tube and a bike-mounted pump. If your bike is old enough to have bolt on wheels, then you'll also need a 15mm metric wrench. The Bell under-seat pack is generally very useful. But, go to the bike store for the frame mounted pump.

5) A means to transport water. For city riding, the bike store will have a handlebar mounted water bottle holder. Those are great.

6) With a mountain bike, tourbike or similar, while a rack and panniers can enhance the functionality of a bike, it is not an essential. These can be used to store dry clothing in the even of a rainstorm, and they can get your groceries just as easily. For the road racing bike that can't fit a rack, there's a clamp on rack that can hold a "trunk bag" and a tublar handlebar bag.

7) You might also like an LED headlight from Serfas or Cateye.

8) Avoid the "slick" tire fad. Those don't stop in the wet. Something like Panaracer T-Serv will work very well in the city. Kenda Kross Plus are very fast, but those can sling mud like crazy. Review what is installed on city bikes at your local bike shop.

9) Full leg extension through a high-enough seat post. Also review saddle type vs intended use. While not useful for the majority of cycling, supersize padded saddles can work well for frequent 5 mile trips, and this does not require padded lycra shorts. One should aim for "just large enough" because too large can reduce circulation.
Also, the lower your handlebars are, the narrower your saddle should be. SO? 5 mile trips are quite pleasurable with higher handlebars. A variety of inexpensive options exist at your bike store. Higher bars aren't areodynamic, but do facilitate the use of larger saddles without the usual problems. The road bike can use the Delta Stem Riser plus a padded mountain bike saddle, and the mountain bike can use big riser bars (looks like BMX) and a smallish cruiser saddle (not the big thing at Wal-Mart). If you're willing to cash in some areo in trade for long distance ease, this system works well for non-athletes to enjoy long bike rides.

10) Sturdy "U" lock from the bike store, not the rattling thing from Wal-Mart. Kryptonite's bike store variety serves well.

11) Last, and probably least, Speedometers are fun. They track your progress and then there's that handy clock. The Schwinn-branded 12 function cycle computer from the discount store, can provide very good service, and it is reasonably waterproof.

There are many discussions on the internet about bike commuting and tourbikes. Both of these apply to your question.

The faster bikes can make that trip in just a few minutes, with the slower bikes not far behind. After all, the bike is a vehicle, and it is only 5 miles. Do plan a bit of extra time in case of rain or headwinds. Have an extra set of clothes at work for whenever the unexpected happens.

Most people in Europe already or have started biking to work. In fact, many cities that were not already impassible to a car have become so.

Have fun! You'll see so very many neat things that you never saw before, and traffic jams apply only to cars. ;)

Answer 4

Not a long distance at all on a bike. A 10 mph cruising speed (easy pace on a road bike) would take you about a half hour and will likely get faster as time goes on. Try a ride to work on the weekend to check your speed first.

Answer 5

It really depends on the kind of terrain. I ride to work twice a week . The ride is 16 miles one way with 600 ft elevation gain. It takes me about 50 minutes each way. So I would estimate about 20 to 30 minutes if you are a beginner rider. You will get faster as you do it more often

Answer 6

The only way to really know how long it will take you and if you really want to do this is just to try the route out on a day off and see.

Answer 7

Get a motorcycle instead and start to live!

Answer 8

Try it!!!!!!! but take it slow!!!!!!!!