Commuting by SS/FG

used to do 6 miles each way on a mb, found I was in the same couple of gears so have taken the plunge and got FG 46-15. No problem. My commute has changed to a 9mile each way now. 1st week so I have been sussing it out on the overground wearing a suit, looking forward to getting back in the saddle and 18miles a day seems a little more worthwhile.

20m a day is only 10m each way which is about 30 minutes.

My best time ever on my way into work was 36 minutes, and I was really trying. Many may laugh at my pathetic speed, but my norm is 40 minutes, for the one way journey into work. Its 10 miles, and all gently uphill, from Lower Sydenham to Farringdon. My 10 miles back always takes longer, as I'm not rushing for anything, and am normally a bit mashed after work. My good quick time is about 38 minutes. One day I did it in 36, I did smile at myself. Not too shabby for a fatty.

I found 48x16 to be pretty good for me, as I can't spin. 48x17 is good also, especially when I face Loampit Vale.

EDIT: I only cycle single-speed and not fixed.

Haha, I might do it on a day off when i don't have to be in on time. I'd be dubius riding on the dual carriageway but there isn't any other way to go without adding 10 miles onto the trip. I think I'm going to invest in some winter tyres soon, there is lots of leaves and debis on the roads making slicks pretty hair raising at times.

I said about 30min. I could've said "if you're quick and obey lights like me ~26min, if you're a red light running hipster ~40min"

I said about 30min. I could've said "if you're quick and obey lights like me ~26min, if you're a red light running hipster ~40min"

I said about 30min. I could've said "if you're quick and obey lights like me ~26min, if you're a red light running hipster ~40min"

Say what?

17 miles each way of dual carriageway sounds like commuting heaven to me, but I've got weird standards :(
(50x16, 24mph sprints up Loampit Vale ;) (in the good old days, anyway))

17 miles each way of dual carriageway sounds like commuting heaven to me, but I've got weird standards :(
(50x16, 24mph sprints up Loampit Vale ;) (in the good old days, anyway))

Do you do it often? How do you find rush hour traffic?

The 9 miles I do tends to take 45minutes... I get stuck @ red lights, in traffic... but the worst thing ? The noddy commuters in my way. The ones you have to over take 10 times because they casually cycle through red lights, over pavements, and then stop right in front of you... think I'll just start going to work at 6am

12 miles a day work commute, not counting extra rides - average about 30 minutes per 6 each way mile trip, best was 23 minutes, tanking it, on 49x16

Say what?

Read it again slowly, perhaps asking a friend to explain any of the words you're unsure of..

Just started on a new route - 4.5 miles each way, flatish, 20-25 minutes. Bearing in mind TFL says the tube would take 27 minutes and the bus 45 minutes that's not bad :)

Sound about right for a good steady ride.

Do not forget that TfL only says how long it take for a train to get from station to station, add in the time it take you to walk to the station, swipe Oyster card, going down the escalator, waiting for the train... etc.

realistically, you're looking at 40 minutes, if not longer on the tube.

Do you do it often? How do you find rush hour traffic?

Never had a bypass, just really like the idea of a fast, head-down, 17 mile commute.

I had a ~14 mile reasonably free flowing A-Road commute for a year or so, and while the distance was tiring at first (and tedious in the cold dark wet months) it was ultimately quite enjoyable (and really good for building fitness through the winter).

The fewer traffic lights, the better over that sort of distance - I had less than half the traffic lights that I had on the 7 mile through-the-city commute that preceded it, and it took only about 10 minutes longer.

Dual carraigeways are good and safe cycling facilities, cause they have rare and well engineered intersections, plenty of space and good sight distances etc and lack on-street parking etc. Also no consideraton of plugging the traffic, cause they always have the other lane available for overtaking.

Your nation has best-in-the-world cyclist training available. If use have any considerations of handling any type of tarffic situation you should attend it.

Slip roads on dual carriageways need caution, this is were most accidents happen. There are various ideas of how to cope with them. I keep an open plan on each one depending on the conditions but if it's busy, bad viability e.t.c I will go up the slipway a little and then cut across back to the carriageway. Fortunately I have not had to deal with this too often.

I do 10 miles each way on 42:16 on country A/B roads with hills. I tend to do it 4 times a week (also weather dependant). Takes me about 35 - 45 depending on energy levels. Lost 3 stone in 6 months doing this :)

I do 40km a day. It's about two hours riding (or a little bit less). I'm a bit slower than a lot of the speedmerchants on here. I ride 66.6" (I'd round it up or down, cept the number pleases me).

If I had a shorter commute (and I used to do about half of the current distance), I'd want to round it up a bit.

I started to commute fixed at the end of the summer this year. I got less than 10 kilometers one way and I like the fact that you can fit more cycling into the same distance with the fixed than the freewheel. I got 64 inch gear, so uphills are a blast and racing the cars on the flats is a spin fest. Have also found out that I can somewhat enjoy park paths and very minor ruralistic roads that on geared I'll find a PITA cause it feels that you're just constantly freewheeling against brakes. With the fixed your feet spin all the time (has anyone else noticed that?) and you get exercise when slowing on downhills. Sometimes I feel it's like the missing link between joggin and cycling.

Slip roads on dual carriageways need caution, this is were most accidents happen. There are various ideas of how to cope with them. I keep an open plan on each one depending on the conditions but if it's busy, bad viability e.t.c I will go up the slipway a little and then cut across back to the carriageway. Fortunately I have not had to deal with this too often.

The most important thing is to realize that you do it EITHER as a pedestrian OR as a vehicle driver. There is no such thing as traffic rules for cyclists. (hope someone got the H. Rap Brown reference.)

I'm about to start commuting fixed, having been using my road bike for the 16 mile (Central London) round trip for the last 18 months or so. The times of day I commute tend to be less busy (6-6:30am, variable but not early in the evening), so I don't have half the issues with traffic / nodders that a lot of people seem to.

Any advice from other forumengers would be appreciated though, particularly on handling traffic, or how others have found it necessary to adjust riding style when moving to fixed.

I've had a summer of longer miles on my road bike - and now my return to fixed gear commuting has given my motivation levels a huge boost, although i can tell that my power output has reduced.
47x16 on a 44km round trip is currently keeping me in "lactic ecstacy".

The most important thing is to realize that you do it EITHER as a pedestrian OR as a vehicle driver. There is no such thing as traffic rules for cyclists. (hope someone got the H. Rap Brown reference.)

Although I agree there are no rules for cyclists this is an areas where I believe you need to be flexible. it's too easy to be in a blind spots or obstructed for too long around slipways.

My big concern is vehicle in lane one approaching slip way, over taking rider, vehicle in lane two over taking lane one vehicle cutting into slipway. This happens regularly and if the view of you is obscured by lane one vehicle it's all over. Of the bike car accidents on d.c. this seems to be a common accident.

I carry as little as possible in my rucksack - I suggest thinking about panniers for books and heavy stuff, or seeing if you can leave books at Uni. And depths of winter, I will soon find out (last winter it was a much shorter commute); my Marathon Winter studded tyres are on standby.

I've been rocking a Carradice saddlebag for the last month or so and it is brilliant. Get al of my tools, change of shirt / jumper. Waterproofs etc in it and there is no weight or sweat-producer on my back. I even managed to fit my work laptop (v. small) into it and it is the smallest bag that Carradice make the Barley.

Would recommend highly.

Any advice from other forumengers would be appreciated though, particularly on handling traffic, or how others have found it necessary to adjust riding style when moving to fixed.

I commute 22 miles a day fixed - and there's really not much difference at all between going fixed and geared.

I'm a bit slower riding fixed than I am on a geared bike, and because the pedals are always rotating you can't squeeze through tight gaps between cars and the curb - but that's a bad habit you're better off without anyway.