My cycling commute option involves a cycle uphill to Waverley station to catch the train to Linlithgow and then an 8 mile cycle along the canal path to Callendar Park in Falkirk. It's an hour long commute even by car. Taking the bike adds 30 minutes to this. I used to cycle in every Friday and cycle all the way back to Leith but the A904 between Bo'ness and South Queensferry is a horror show. I've had too many high speed close passes on that poorly maintained road to justify doing it again. It was about 27 miles door to door and took about two hours except for the time I tried to find the coastal path and ended up carrying my bike over rocks somewhere near Blackness.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
What would be your maximum commute?
(40 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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" I tried to find the coastal path and ended up carrying my bike over rocks somewhere near Blackness."
It's been fixed!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Boff, I don't like the A904 at all. I follow the coastal route through Hopetoun House and Wester Shore Wood to Blackness and along the coastal path to BoNess which is fantastic. I wouldn't normally do that on a road bike though, but this morning my pal proved it is possible...
Posted 8 years ago # -
I would consider 20 miles approx each way as a max, but must confess that I'm finding. The commute tougher these days and only managing 3 days a week , was doing 5 days a week with big diversion on the way back to fife in summer ;-) last year but have very little flexibility these days !
Posted 8 years ago # -
More on the "separate study" referenced in the Scotsman piece:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37453581
"The happiness index, created by Bank of Scotland and YouGov, found that the longer a person had to commute to work, the unhappier they felt."
"Among commuters, people who walked to work were happiest, scoring 43.16, while those who took the bus rated their happiness lowest at 34.62."
Posted 8 years ago # -
I live in Airdrie and generally cycle to Bathgate (12 miles) before catching the train. Recently I've upped that to the occasional cycle to Uphall (18 miles) and a few times I've cycled from Airdrie to Edinburgh (32 miles).
As two hours on my road bike from Haymarket to Airdrie that's not a bad ride, but tied in with a 12 hour shift and it becomes an occasional treat, rather than a daily commute.
Having been laid up for months after knee surgery winter is coming at the wrong time..Posted 8 years ago # -
You ride a bike in Airdrie?
And you're not me?
Oooooof.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Generally find that the time and not distance is the main limiter for the commute.
In summer a 50 min-1hr commute with 10 mins each end at work for showering/changing was fine and wasn't noticeably slower than taking the train.
In Winter the extras (putting on overshoes/extra layers/lights and also leaving them to dry while at work) taking more care on the road, especially on descents, means the same route is 1hr - 1 hr 10 and 15 mins each end at work - it takes an extra 30 mins each day, which is noticed when I get home.
Posted 8 years ago # -
wee folding bike
Member
PM this userYou ride a bike in Airdrie?
And you're not me?
Oooooof.
I'm the other one apparently...
Posted 8 years ago # -
I guess maximum commute is really a function of what time you can afford, your level of activity, your fitness and your levels of discipline. Best thing is to find your limits yourself.
At the moment I'm commuting to Livingston from Edinburgh. Not a morning person - I opt for the easy way in and get the train to Livingston North (I must surely cross-paths with Fimm!). Then cycle the full way back (can be anywhere between 16 and 20 miles depending on the route I take). I can usually do this in 50 - 60mins.
At least once during the week I'll be in Ratho climbing so I tend to give cycling a rest on climbing days - I find even walking a challenge after climbing :-D
Recovery from climbing is a limiting factor for me on the distances I can do in cycle-commuting - for me ~60 mins is a good balance - any more and I end up struggling!
Posted 8 years ago #
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