How fast is your commute?
- Thread starter Binaural
- Start date
RCOH
Eats Squid
Just go via Kirribilli...
hiredassassin
Likes Dirt
or over Anzac bridge, then back around the bay.Just go via Kirribilli...
Plenty of fun to be had around there if you have a mountain bike - I used to love riding along that waterfront when I lived in Leichhardt... could have taken the direct route (8km) but generally went along the water instead (14km) cos it's just a super nice ride.
Just watch out for the dogs and their PITA owners :-/ they generally have no concept of how annoying it is when their cute little angel 'tissue' decides that you should be dinner.
alchemist
Manly Warringah MTB Club
BUSHPIG
Likes Bikes and Dirt
used to do 37.5km hour average consistantly every trip to school and back over 15km problem was there was 3 intersections with lights and a point where i had to turn off a side street onto a main road which took ages to find a gap. Due to textbooks and other year 12 stuff i cant commute to school anymore but I do 60km before hand, best thing i ever did!
Josh Seksy
Likes Bikes and Dirt
I've just started riding to my new job.
I ride fixed 44/17 with a front brake only, in traffic
Takes about 20mins - 10km ride
I ride fixed 44/17 with a front brake only, in traffic
Takes about 20mins - 10km ride
MrSheen
Likes Bikes
My 25km each way sees a consistent average of 30kph to work and 27kph on the way home. My pb inbound is 48 minutes and home is 58 minutes.
Like some others, I keep a log to see my improvements, I have dropped about 30 minutes off my morning commute since I first started commuting via bike. It's good for the old motivation.
Try http://www.mycyclinglog.com/ it has some pretty sweet features for tracking your data.
Like some others, I keep a log to see my improvements, I have dropped about 30 minutes off my morning commute since I first started commuting via bike. It's good for the old motivation.
Try http://www.mycyclinglog.com/ it has some pretty sweet features for tracking your data.
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vandenberg
Likes Dirt
Mine's 32km each way, Baulkham Hills to the city via the M4. My best average speed is 28.6 or something, and usually takes an hour and ten. The only thing that makes a big difference for me is wind direction: had a killer headwind one morning and it added 10 minutes to the trip. Return usually takes a bit longer as the last 6 kms is uphill.
I've only been doing this 2-3 days a week, but I SWEAR I'll get it up to 4-5 days a week, real soon.
The best bit of my commute is the M4, where on a good day I can get to 50km/h on the flat, and hit at least 45 on most days. Feels so good, especially when cars are rolling along at about 15km/h.
I've only been doing this 2-3 days a week, but I SWEAR I'll get it up to 4-5 days a week, real soon.
The best bit of my commute is the M4, where on a good day I can get to 50km/h on the flat, and hit at least 45 on most days. Feels so good, especially when cars are rolling along at about 15km/h.
WolfCreekPsycho
Likes Dirt
Wow I feel painfully slow... I "tested" my commute route on Sat from St Ives to the City... 22kms in an hour... The first half of the ride has some short but seriously steep hills for when the legs are cold... mind you I also have not been on the bike for 6 weeks so hoping this time will drop with frequency. First day of commuting starts tomorrow.
The first half of the ride has some short but seriously steep hills for when the legs are cold... mind you I also have not been on the bike for 6 weeks so hoping this time will drop with frequency. First day of commuting starts tomorrow. 
harmonix1234
Eats Squid
Well, I just moved back to NSW on the weekend.
There's a job I want to go for in Wollongong, but I will be based in Shoalhaven Heads.
That's 66kms each way by google maps.
I don't mind riding 66kms... but twice a day, five/six times a week. Every week.
I really want to go for the job, but how far is too far for a commute?
Maybe I should ride the route a few times and see how it rolls.
Maybe I should just crack a can of 'man up' and hit the tarmac and deal.
How far is too far?
There's a job I want to go for in Wollongong, but I will be based in Shoalhaven Heads.
That's 66kms each way by google maps.
I don't mind riding 66kms... but twice a day, five/six times a week. Every week.
I really want to go for the job, but how far is too far for a commute?
Maybe I should ride the route a few times and see how it rolls.
Maybe I should just crack a can of 'man up' and hit the tarmac and deal.
How far is too far?
vandenberg
Likes Dirt
Doing that twice a day, every day... That would be a serious commitment, but you'd sure as hell get fit. 65km return is enough for me, and I still haven't managed it 5 days in a row yet. The bloody express bus leaves from the end of my street, and a 10 trip ticket is only $35...
Worth thinking about I guess. But it sure sounds like a lot of riding.
scblack
Leucocholic
Are you sure you're on the M4, not M2?
I do the same commute, but only once, sometimes twice per week. By the way, the M2 is off limits to cyclists for the next TWO YEARS due to the lanes widening works.
vandenberg
Likes Dirt
Totally sure. From Baulkho the M4 route is 1 km longer, but 5-10 minutes faster. I dig it.Are you sure you're on the M4, not M2?
harmonix1234
Eats Squid
At this time...
I set out into this...
Riding this...
Takes me about half an hour give or take. Approx 15kms.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89773674 (Todays commute home)
Only been doing it for two days so we'll see how much time I can shave off it.
I wonder how cold it's gonna get with these NSW South Coast winters? Was lovely this morning. Hopefully not as cold as Hobart!
I set out into this...
Riding this...
Takes me about half an hour give or take. Approx 15kms.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89773674 (Todays commute home)
Only been doing it for two days so we'll see how much time I can shave off it.
I wonder how cold it's gonna get with these NSW South Coast winters? Was lovely this morning. Hopefully not as cold as Hobart!
John U
MTB Precision
You should put some lights on. Looks a bit dangerousI set out into this...
Riding this...
Why so early? Early start at work?
I am about to get my fully rigid commuter back on the road. I used to use those Specialised Fast Tracks (1.5 I think). Good fast tyre. Had Rithchey Tom Slick 1.0's too. Got a few flats though. Especially after or during rain.
I've been using Schwalbe Kojak 2.0's for the last 2 years and have not had one flat. Don't think I can go back to anything smaller. The skinny tyres do look good though.
harmonix1234
Eats Squid
Yeah, got some small lights (one 300 lumen on bars, red strobe on back of seat post, white strobe on back of helmet, red strobe on the back of the back pack, reflective ankle straps, and a reflective silver vest for safety) but hungry for a few more lumens. Any recommendations for around $300?You should put some lights on. Looks a bit dangerous
Why so early? Early start at work?
I am about to get my fully rigid commuter back on the road. I used to use those Specialised Fast Tracks (1.5 I think). Good fast tyre. Had Rithchey Tom Slick 1.0's too. Got a few flats though. Especially after or during rain.
I've been using Schwalbe Kojak 2.0's for the last 2 years and have not had one flat. Don't think I can go back to anything smaller. The skinny tyres do look good though.
The first ten Kms has no street lights so it's proper black.
Yeah, early starts and I like to have a long shower at work after the ride so leave a half hour earlier than I need to.
I have actually ditched the specialized 1.25"s in favour of the Vittoria Rubino Slick 1.5".
The bigger bag is so comfy at 65psi and it gives a slightly bigger overall diameter which I find is actually faster than the smaller tyre at 100psi. Heaps faster actually.
It was actually a toss up between the Kojaks and the rubinos but the Rubinos are my one and only tarmac tyre for the commuter now so they'll stay for sure.
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Binaural
Eats Squid
Harmonix - if you're riding through pitch darkness away from urban lighting, you need some punchy lights or you're going to get flipped by a stick or pothole one day. I recommend getting one of the two models I've linked to - an older version of the Joystick is on my bike now, 3.5 years and still going strong although it loses some battery life in cold weather now. Within your price range too, and bar mounted is much cleaner than having cables everywhere. Each has 600 lumens available, roughly twice what you have now, and the lenses come in a few variations to suit MTB or road.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=54845
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=54848
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=54845
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=54848