Things I've learnt from commuting

[Bateleur1]

After not having ridden a bike for over 5 years I have been commuting by bike since February this year, only missed one ride home and subsequent trip back to work the next day. I can't believe I didn't ride for so long, it's done wonders for me! I'm just short of 50 (just) and although I've surfed since I was about 8 years old and am in good physical condition riding makes me feel young like nothing else.

 

I work in the restaurant industry so my commuting is a mix of midday and midnight riding, not your usual sort of times but the best part of riding to work is that I get to ride home again. I've had some epic moonlight rides along the beachfront, almost like I'm in my own little world.

 

I would try and encourage more people to do it but I quite like the fact of having the streets to myself at night. Not only have I learnt about myself but the reality of the world and country we live in by exploring the streets.

 

Out of interest I raced as an licensed amateur in the late 80s and 90s, have a pile of older bikes and parts, now ride a 1 X 9 setup 26 MTB with full slicks and an old school Marzochi shock, building a singlespeed 26 MTB with full slicks and for those that know old mountain bikes have a 91 Bridgestone MB 0 with original mavic parts that is going to be a fixie.

 

Looking forward to Amashova in 3 weeks, 1st race since 94.7 MTB and road race in 2005, i'm a little nervous.

 

At least I've got the endurance to get to the finish thanks to commuting.   

 

Well done and welcome to the club.  You did not mention your commuting distance but I am sure you will find that the commuting improves your endurance radically.  Sounds like you have an awesome route.  Would you mind posting a pic of the route?

 

I will propably also be doing some riding in moonlight soon but not due to late night riding, rather the winter settling in soon and it is already pitch dark here 6:30 in the morning.  Still a month to go before we switch over to daylight saving.

[Mark J]

Well done and welcome to the club.  You did not mention your commuting distance but I am sure you will find that the commuting improves your endurance radically.  Sounds like you have an awesome route.  Would you mind posting a pic of the route?

 

Thanks, my commute is normally 20 Km to work and the loop home anywhere from 30 to 45 Kms. Funny you should ask about photos, I'm not really a photo kinda guy (generally to lazy to get it out my pocket) but I have been using my gopro a bit and am in the process of editing a short clip of my "moonlight rides". As soon as it is done I will post a copy here or provide a link, probably on You tube. 

[Vetplant]

Welcome Mark

 

I got back into the commuting thing this morning, absolutely loved it!

 

Pretoria has a wonderful feel to it between 6 and 6:30 in the morning in Spring. I linked up with a fellow commuter 5 minutes into my ride and saw two other commuters on the rest of my ride.

 

Good to see people are starting to embrace cycling for short commutes in Snor City.

[Bateleur1]

Must say commuting in to Munich in Autumn is also something special.  Starting along the Isar river with fog and as climb up out of the fog you get greeted with the most spectacular sunrises.

[Reinhardt89]

Welcome Mark

 

I got back into the commuting thing this morning, absolutely loved it!

 

Pretoria has a wonderful feel to it between 6 and 6:30 in the morning in Spring. I linked up with a fellow commuter 5 minutes into my ride and saw two other commuters on the rest of my ride.

 

Good to see people are starting to embrace cycling for short commutes in Snor City.

Fantastic.

 

I'll be starting my commute tomorrow. Spring in Cape Town apparently means wind and rain.

 

Interestingly, there was a study done and (do not quote me on the figures) something like 50% of all trips in a car are less than 4km... now imagine all that done by bicycle.

[Bateleur1]

Fantastic.

 

I'll be starting my commute tomorrow. Spring in Cape Town apparently means wind and rain.

 

Interestingly, there was a study done and (do not quote me on the figures) something like 50% of all trips in a car are less than 4km... now imagine all that done by bicycle.

 

And here I am thinking that if you live closer than 10 km from work you need to put in some detours otherwise you won't even warm up properly.

[Vetplant]

And here I am thinking that if you live closer than 10 km from work you need to put in some detours otherwise you won't even warm up properly.

Question is whether you want to use the ride to work as an exercise session or whether you actually just commute. My current commute to work does not qualify for any Vitality Points, so I do need to add some distance to reach the minimum requirement. But if I don't need the points or the exercise I just ride straight to work.

 

Both scenarios are 10 times better than sitting in traffic in a car! 

[Bateleur1]

Question is whether you want to use the ride to work as an exercise session or whether you actually just commute. My current commute to work does not qualify for any Vitality Points, so I do need to add some distance to reach the minimum requirement. But if I don't need the points or the exercise I just ride straight to work.

 

Both scenarios are 10 times better than sitting in traffic in a car! 

 

Now a direct route to work is 36 km.

When living in SA I was just over 8 km from work.  Unless I was late .... very very late for work, I would always put in a detour that would add up to about 25-27 km.  I maxed out my vitality point very quickly wrt to the exercises so that was not a consideration for me.

[Cois]

I need to get my fat ass on the bike.  Wife is moving offices so will start commuting again when she moved, and when she gets her car back after her little altercation with a Star Line bus.  

 

(the bus decided that he would not be able to make his turn.  So just started to reverse and my wife could not get out of the way fast enough)

[Belgarath]

I need to get my fat ass on the bike.  Wife is moving offices so will start commuting again when she moved, and when she gets her car back after her little altercation with a Star Line bus.  

 

(the bus decided that he would not be able to make his turn.  So just started to reverse and my wife could not get out of the way fast enough)

Eish, luckily she didn't get hurt??

 

Don't really know which bus company's drivers I like less - Star Line or Putco.

[Hairy]

Question is whether you want to use the ride to work as an exercise session or whether you actually just commute. My current commute to work does not qualify for any Vitality Points, so I do need to add some distance to reach the minimum requirement. But if I don't need the points or the exercise I just ride straight to work.

 

Both scenarios are 10 times better than sitting in traffic in a car! 

you mean a gazzillion times better

[DJR]

And here I am thinking that if you live closer than 10 km from work you need to put in some detours otherwise you won't even warm up properly.

That's me.

 

If I take the direct route I race the cars from traffic light to traffic light. Call it intervals. Stop, start, sprint, stop start sprint. It gives a hell of a workout that way even over a short distance, and because you are moving the same speed as the traffic, it is less dangerous (fewer cars/ buses/trucks passing you from behind). 

 

Otherwise I do the scenic route, and relax a bit, smell the roses while I sweat up the mountain.

[Reinhardt89]

Question is whether you want to use the ride to work as an exercise session or whether you actually just commute. My current commute to work does not qualify for any Vitality Points, so I do need to add some distance to reach the minimum requirement. But if I don't need the points or the exercise I just ride straight to work.

 

Both scenarios are 10 times better than sitting in traffic in a car! 

 

Exactly this. It depends if you want to commute to train or commute to, well, commute. If i commute I go via Woodstock and it takes 22min. If i train I'll go via the mountain and it takes 50min.

[Hairy]

Had to get to a site at the top of Higgo RD, in line with the cable car and on the reserve edge.

 

Google maps showed a foot path I could take from the lower car park and then down to the site.

 

Took the Mycity bus to the top of Kloof, dropped into the trail, came to a nice gorge ... back track and to site via the road as I would now be a little late.

 

Lesson Learnt .... plan for more time if scouting a new route .... 

[Cois]

Eish, luckily she didn't get hurt??

 

Don't really know which bus company's drivers I like less - Star Line or Putco.

Only her right foot some how got a knock.  Got a quote... R25000 later for the car repairs.

 

On the Putco vs Star Line... That is not easy...  Oh and the driver did not have his license with him while driving the bus

[hayleyearth]

I can eventually comment on this thread now after commuting more times than I have fingers and toes.

 

One big thing I have noticed is that cars are way more forgiving in the morning than in the afternoon.