I’ve always wondered how many miles you guys cover getting to work. What better way to cure my curiosity than a poll. Please include only the actual miles you cover on a bike and not miles covered on the train/bus/helicopter/hover craft. Also tell me the distance in one direction.
Also if you get some time let me know in the comments about any difficulties you have faced on your commute and any tips you have for others. I’m hoping to put together a post soon for commuters doing longer distance rides into work every day.
Some more polls:
- London cycle hire scheme poll
- Should cyclists be given harsher fines poll
- Share the road or separate poll
- 8/10 cyclists think poll results
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As seen on The Guardian, BBC and The Independent.
I cycle 18.5 miles each way from Ashtead into Bank Station EC2N and it takes about 50-55 minutes there and a bit longer on the way home. I find it amazing that some days my legs feel like a super hero and on other days they feel like lead weights! Sometimes upon arrival I just want to go further but work kinda dominates our lives doesn’t it? I also ride in the Surrey Hills on the weekends which is awesome and really good for additional fitness as some of the hills are real character builders.
Once you have all of the right gear, you can cycle in any weather. I only missed 2 days last year and that was because of the snow.
Tip for low cost GOOD cycle tops, shorts and jackets has gotta be Sports Direct.
Hi Terry
I live in Leatherhead and will be cycling from Leatherhead to Founders Court EC2R (London) right next to Bank Station, from the end of October. Is there a route you would recommend? (I was thinking about using GPS on my Nokia phone).
Also, are there any places where you can keep your bike safe around the area?
The Corridori shop in Epsom recommended me a Specialized Sirrus 2011 bike (within my budget), which I will be collecting next week. How much do you normally spend in maitainning your bike?
Many thanks
Rui
Hi Rui,
I follow the A24 most of the way….thru Epson, down the Ewell Bypass…turn right at the Organ and Dragon trafic lights towards London…..keep going….thru N, Cheam…..eventually past Morden Station……follow A24……hang a right at Merantuan Way etc,etc……drop me an email if you want I will give you my mobile and I can explain the route in detail…..very straightforward…..quite trafficky coming home but no too bad.
Sirrus is nice and sturdy…perhaps a bit heavy but not a bad thing in the winter…..bike maintenance…on average over the year…perhaps £50 a month (nothing for a few months…then new tyres, chainset etc,etc) much cheaper than the £240pm I was paying!
Really love your blog, and really love biking. Nice informative post. Thanks.
Argghh….this snow is doing my head in…so much for riding in the Surrey Hills this weekend and working on additional fitness!
My Trek 1500 is soon to be retired after some 35,000 miles, the frame is still good and some components but I am tired of throwing new money at an old bike.
Now…decision decisions….I have short listed 3 bikes for my 37 mile round trip commute and would appreciate any comments people might have on my choices.
BMC Streetfire 2010- Looks the nuts in bright red…105 all over expect front and back brake calipers are tektro. Wheels are shimano r500 (not bad at all)
Bianchi Via Nirone 105 2010- Also looks the nuts in white (no blue ones left…argghhh!). 105 all over but the cranks are FSA and not 105…also comes with r500 wheels.
Pinnacle Aeos Carbon- Looks the nuts (ish). 105 all over but tektro front and back brakes. The wheels are shite…Alex 200′s.
I was going to test ride all 3 of these steeds at an Evans store in London yesterday but the damn snow scuppered my plans!
Managed to commute every day this week although coming home last night was tricky to say the least…
I’d probably lean towards the Bianchi – though would strongly recommend a test ride!
FSA cranks are pretty good and the Bianchi has the R500 wheels too. Good choice. Not considering another Trek?
Cheers lads, you confirmed my thoughts as well. The Bianchi looks really nice, shame it is white as it will show up so much dirt!
Regarding a Trek, I do love them but you pay quite a bit to have it laden with 105 all over, I have never ridden less than 105.
Funnily enough, the Bianchi is also the cheapest, I can get it for £849.
If anyone is interested in the following,please let me know..the Evans mechanic is also interested in purchasing some of my bits but I don’t want to put all of my eggs in one basket!
Trek 1500 frame, good nick but a little blistering at the top of the carbon forks…mechanic reckons they are fine but thought I would mention it.
Brand new bottom bracket
105 front and rear brake callipers (good nick but obviously not shiny as they are 3-4 years old
105 shifters that work well although the tops are scratched and one of the 105 plastic bits on the top is gone
alu seat post is fine
seat is fine
rear wheel is fine just needs a spoke replacing
rear tiagra hub is in good shape
front rim needs replacing but the tiagra hub is in good shape
headset needs replacing as it gets stiff but I just wd40 it for the time being
shimano cranks are good, I just purchased a miche 50t 110mm bcd front chainring
34 (small ring) needs replacing
105 front mech should be fine but might need ‘freeing’ up a bit
105 rear deraillieur needs replacing as the spring has gone
You can have the whole lot for £200
Just the frame, forks headset, cranks and bottom bracket for £120
If any of the components like shifters, brake callipers are of interest, please email me
[email protected]
I cycle from Enfield to Holburn about 13 miles one way and takes me about 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 depending.