45 miles, but there is a sauna...

So, I've just started in a new office that's 22.5 miles from home, direct route.

I figure this will be 50ish round-trip on bike-friendly roads.

I've been doing it on the train, but tomorrow the biking starts. There are no showers at work (I'm in a tiny regional news bureau), so I've registered at a gym.

Up (very) early, 25 miles, sauna, work, sauna, 25 miles, collapse, wait 8 hours, repeat.

That's the plan for the next 18 months. It's not bad at £22.50 per month - loads less than a week on the train.

Any tips for lengthy commutes? I'm a bit worried about carrying stuff that far. I have a Fuji Track that as of tonight has a freewheel, drops and two brakes. No rack, so Crumpler it is.

In a month or so I should have a Thorn tourer for this, but Track it is for now. Tips greatly welcomed.

Blimey, this is a waffly post. Bye.

Make sure you eat properly.

wow. that's a mighty commute and chapeau to you for deciding to do it on a bike. make sure that you also let your muscles rest and recover occasionally and take the train in. maybe mid-week. i know it's probably not the best advice but ~225 miles of commuting a week will start to wreak havoc on your muscles and your man parts.

I did the same distance for about six months.
Leave as much as you can at work or at the gym. If you wear cycling clothes and you have to take them to the office put them in a bag that you can seal. No one will want to smell your sweaty socks.
Factor in the occasional train day, you may not want to cycle some days due to weather, moods etc.
Personally I would do it fixed rather than single speed you will get stronger and your bike skills will improve but it will be harder in the beginning.
Why do need a sauna before your return journey?

£22.50 a month seems an unusually low wage.

Seek out cupboard space for drying, etc. Keep some old newspapers in there and use them to stuff in your shoes to dry them.
Seek out secure parking spaces. I have two locks that live at work. I don't carry them.
Leave shoes, shirts, trousers at work and carry undies and socks in daily. I dry clean shirts near work so I don't take them home.. they stay in the office.

£22.50 a month seems an unusually low wage...

... even for a working class intellectual.

While I understand the sauna on arrival, the sauna before going home could cause dehydration and is probably best avoided.

Make sure you eat properly.

What do you recommend? Should I save some for just before home time? Should I be cramming in carbs right now?

make sure that you also let your muscles rest and recover occasionally and take the train in. maybe mid-week.

Fair point, maybe every day is a bit ambitious.

Leave as much as you can at work or at the gym. If you wear cycling clothes and you have to take them to the office put them in a bag that you can seal. No one will want to smell your sweaty socks.

I will try, but this will be tricky. There is a locker at the gym, so maybe I will leave five shirts there on a Wednesday and make that my rest day. I also work the occasional weekend, just to make life more difficult.

Why do need a sauna before your return journey?

Just because I've paid for a gym membership...

£22.50 a month seems an unusually low wage.

For a journalist that's actually quite extravagant.

Seek out cupboard space for drying, etc. Keep some old newspapers in there and use them to stuff in your shoes to dry them.
Seek out secure parking spaces. I have two locks that live at work. I don't carry them.
Leave shoes, shirts, trousers at work and carry undies and socks in daily. I dry clean shirts near work so I don't take them home.. they stay in the office.

There is certainly space at work to keep it indoors, just not sure what they will say. Might leave the locks and risk it.

... even for a working class intellectual.

Two labels that I aspire to avoid.

While I understand the sauna on arrival, the sauna before going home could cause dehydration and is probably best avoided.

Fair point.

If i was doing that mileage commuting I would spend a chunk of the money saved on transport on several sets of the best bib shorts I could find. I'd recommend Rapha. But they are a bit expensive.

Food wise think you could be burning 2000-2500 calories a day on the bike depending how big you are and how fast you ride. Add what you need just to stay alive (another 2000??) and you'll need to step your food intake up alot.

I'd snack before during and after every ride.

Or you could eat normal and lose some weight.

Are you calling me fat?

and hydrate!

nuun tablets are good for electrolyte replacement, don't contain caffeine and taste alright

Will water not work?

Hold on, he's only cycling to work not running a marathon. Eat a bit more, wear some decent shorts, take a rest if you are tired. You're only doing what couriers do every day albeit in two chunks but without the heavy packages.
You're a soft bunch you lot.

Water is great but if you are cycling those distances each week you will spill electrolytes all over the place in sweat and, if not replaced, you will be cramping up all over the shop. Nuun are magical and help avoid cramps which is nice.

Hold on, he's only cycling to work not running a marathon. Eat a bit more, wear some decent shorts, take a rest if you are tired. You're only doing what couriers do every day albeit in two chunks but without the heavy packages.
You're a soft bunch you lot.

Says lance armstrong over here

QuickVit you are getting rather tiresome.

Obviously you will be riding swathed in Rapha garments. Goes without saying really.

Hold on, he's only cycling to work not running a marathon. Eat a bit more, wear some decent shorts, take a rest if you are tired. You're only doing what couriers do every day albeit in two chunks but without the heavy packages.
You're a soft bunch you lot.

There may not be a Pain Du Jour outlet en route.

QuickVit you are rather tiresome.

Fixed

QuickVit you are getting rather tiresome.

No, let him dig his own grave Neil. If we're lucky we'll be treated to some more of his hilarious gay jokes tonight.