Across London Commuting. How far do you go?
gunforhire
Posts: 457
in General Chat
Just wondering how many of you cycle across London on your commute; how far and how long it takes?
Looking at a new job just now that will take me from Twickenham into Covent Garden each day.
Tubes/trains are out - they're soul destroying at that time of day.
Most cycle-friendly way seems to be via Putney > Mayfair > Thames Embankment.
google maps is telling me it'll be about 22K each way, which given rush-hour London traffic will probably take about 50 mins.
So I'll be clocking up over 200Km on my weekly commute alone. Too much?
Looking at a new job just now that will take me from Twickenham into Covent Garden each day.
Tubes/trains are out - they're soul destroying at that time of day.
Most cycle-friendly way seems to be via Putney > Mayfair > Thames Embankment.
google maps is telling me it'll be about 22K each way, which given rush-hour London traffic will probably take about 50 mins.
So I'll be clocking up over 200Km on my weekly commute alone. Too much?
0
Comments
I probably ride in for half my shifts so that about 10 shifts a month - that's then 400 miles a month just on commuting - I will say though that I drive alot more in the winter..... so that will drop down to about 3 or 4 rides in over the darker months.
I use commuting as a way of training - I don't bimble in. I have very little free time so I have to.
Only you can tell if that distance is good for you - good luck
I'm only 5km from work (Mile End to the City) so try and find longer routes home via North London to increase my mileage. Incidentally, is there a kilometre version of mileage? Is it kilometreage?
Anyway, as Ben says, treat is as part of training. Just make sure you get a hi-vis jacket and some decent lights and keep your wits about you... Went past a road block today for what looked like a fatal collision on Whitechapel road.
Sometimes its just better to arrive at work 10mins later.
It's most of my bike training at the moment - so the same as md6 - hammer it until you get stopped by one of the million traffic lights or have to slow down as there's "danger about"
I have my lights on even during the day - flashing light on my helmet and if its cold a bright yellow jacket.
Was thinking of getting a head torch for the winter to shine in drivers eyes so they really see me!!
Good luck and ride defensive!!
Good luck
Heart rate still manages to reach 180bpm on the Old Kent Road though - generally due to pot holes+buses+motorbikes+taxis all waiting to ambush me.
The usual cycle time is 40-45 mins plus a few minutes for red lights. PB was 35 mins at xmas with very little traffic and red lights. Nicest route is via Richmond Park, down Priory Lane, Putney, Putney Bridge and Kings Road. As soon as you hit the Putney Bridge the traffic is bad .... that's why I cycle early in the morning, sort of 6am and do my running in Hyde Park, Green Park, Regents Park, Embankment. This way I get all my training done before work and then take it easier on the commute back.
When it rains badly, I take the train as the car drivers just don't see you. Otherwise I ride all year round and there are surprisingly few days where the rain is really bad!
Can't see me leaving at 6am though!
It's a lot of riding in 1 week. How much other training do you get in? What distance do you race?
... finish at 1800 hrs ( provided I don't get a late job) then ride home.
After 4 of those days I can't move for 24 hours.
Nights are even worse
BTW I thought his name was will for ages as well!
I work for the infamous London Ambulance Service - you ring 999 and my ugly mug turns up with a few bags of tricks, drugs and experiment on you.
Best job in the world. ( apart from never getting annual leave and the long hours - my days off make up for it though)
For all you high mileage commuters, what kind of distance do you race?
Do you have a killer bike split?
it must be a good workout though - the trusty stead weights a tonne! like the idea about sprints between lights, might give that a go sometime and am very impressed by the high mileage riders I must say!
I am getting so used to doing 10 or 20 mile rides that I seem to have neglected the longer sessions.... I can do a 20 mile ride to work in under an hour but after that I just seem to blow up and die.... so my aim over the winter is to increase mileage in the pool... my weakest of the the 3 disciplines and carry on riding and split that with runs to work.
Mon: 5k run, 2k swim, 20k commute, work, 20k commute home.
Tue: 20k commute, 15k run, work, 20k commute home.
Wed: 1-1.5k swim, 20k commute, work, 20k commute.
Thu: 20k commute, 6-10k run, 20k commute.
Fri: 50-80k commute, work, 20k commute and sometimes 40 mins swim lessons
Sat+Sun family time. Every 4th week I reduce the volume of the longer sessions.
Normal work day is 10-12 hours (I have shower and changing room, lucky me or them!). I am happiest when my kids sleep thru all night ....
I have done sprint and OD so far and would like to do HIM next year, but I am not sure I can find the time for the longer training sessions without having to cut into family time on the weekend, which I do not want to do.
i've reduced the frequency of bike days recently though to bring in some car-run commutes as i realised i wasn't running often enough. i park 4miles from work and run in from there 2 days a week now, and bike 2, maybe 3 if i think i have enough clothes! i figure i can park a little further out soon and increase the distance.
my bike splits are usually my strongest in events, particularly hilly ones. that's why i've started running more!
I commute 16k each way 2-3 times a week - I tried doing it each day but found that my run training quality was suffering. My time is usually about 35mins.