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Road Cycling: 30 mile commute through city

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberGlue
    • CommentTimeJun 21st 2008
     
    Glue

    Is 30 miles each way too much? I just found the ideal summer job for me, 18 year old just out of high school. Except that it is located in Santa Monica, about 20-30 miles away. So I'm trying to find some alternative means of transportation. I live on the otherside of Los Angeles, so the most direct route would take me right through downtown LA. Which I guess is ok except that I would also be biking through some very rough neighborhoods as I exit LA.

    I've never really biked this much before or this often. So out of the question?

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberanjuanja
    • CommentTimeJun 23rd 2008
     
    anjuanja

    I don't think it is out of the question, but it may take a huge chunk of your day to do it.

     Could you do a 1/2 bike 1/2 public trans ride? Bike to a train or bus, get that the rest of the way in?

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberAlbigensia
    • CommentTimeJun 26th 2008
     
    Albigensia

    I've recently started commuting to my job which is 10 miles away and it takes me about an hour. It also goes through some rough neighborhoods, but as long as it's not late afternoon/evening, by the time you're noticed by any shady characters, you're long gone. Of course, I'm a guy.

    I fully recommend taking the bus most of the way through your route. I take the bus to work in the mornings, then ride when I go home (because my bus never makes the return trip on time). It's exhausting so far, but I'm getting better at it.

    • CommentAuthorFree Membermchujm26
    • CommentTimeJun 26th 2008
     
    mchujm26

    I commute 30mi for my work and I tried biking it for the first time last weekend. Luckily much of the route is on back roads w/ little or no traffic, but it still took me 1 1/2 hours each way. That'd be 3-4 hours of my day biking to and from work. Plus in my case I'd need to carry my laptop and a change of clothes with me and try to 'shower' with a wash cloth at work. Not to mention you may find yourself very sore after a couple of days. I know I was sore after just the one day!

    I think the bike + bus is probably the best option.

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberbianchi3x3
    • CommentTimeJun 27th 2008 edited
     
    bianchi3x3
    I commute in an area that has absolutely NO mass transportation options available. My commute would be 28 miles each way - so I drive 10 miles in (to a park and ride) and bike the remaining 18. I take one day each week to drive in with my dress clothes for work. I pick the day according to the weather - might as well drive in on the day of thunderstorms! I've been doing this for 3 months now and my commute time is definitely getting faster as I get stronger - I bet your commute time will improve as you find better routes/improve your pace.
  6.  
    Ascentionist

    I commute about 14 miles each way and it's getting to be fairly casual. But I can't really imagine going much farther than that. It takes me roughly an hour to get to work and 50 minutes to return home. It would be much faster if I didn't have to cross major streets.

     30 miles through a dense urban area is going to take a really long time when you factor in stopping every couple blocks or so for a traffic light or stop sign, unless you have a really good unbroken bike path to ride or can cruise along on a major road with little cross traffic.

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberram63
    • CommentTimeJul 11th 2008
     
    ram63
    I agree with the others, 30 miles through a large heavily populated city is going to take a long time, especially if you're not used to doing it. I commute 10 miles each way through the New Orleans metro area (a much much smaller city!!), and it takes me anywhere from 37 to 50 minutes depending on time of day, traffic, and weather, even cruising along at an 18-20mph clip. Problem is you can't constantly cruise along at that clip - getting across the major highways, plus the frequent stops for stop lights and stop signs, and the 9 railroad tracks I have to get across can really eat up the time. 1/2 bus + 1/2 bike or the Park & Ride + Bike sounds like the way to go if you really want to do this. Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
  8.  
    Ascentionist

    Good luck, and DON'T GIVE UP! Figure out some way to make it work for you. The car has been the easy way for us Americans for close to a century. We need to stop doing it the easy way.

    I have committed to riding two days a week and I can't remember the last time I filled up my car. I only use my car to get to work and back, we drive my wife's car on the weekends because it has the car seats.

    At present she isn't working so we rarely put gas in either car!

    Every little bit helps, and in our case it makes a huge dent in our fuel expenses. My goal for the winter is to work out how I can completely get rid of our second car. My preferred route would be to sell the car, buy either a scooter or a motorcycle and ride my road bike 2-3 days a week and then ride the other "bike" the rest of the time. If the weather were really bad (rarely is in Denver) then I could take hte bus or carpool with a co-worker that lives nearby.

     

    • CommentAuthorFree Membermkass
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2008
     
    mkass

    If you do decide to commute, try to find someone to do it with.  Working together really helps, and it will keep you motivated.

     30 miles is quite a bit, especially with stoplights/hills.  I do about 14 miles each way, fairly flat (about 600 feet of gain on the way to work), and I like it.  I alternate spinning with a hard workout which keeps me fairly fresh, but it also wildly affects my time into work.  Takes me about 40-45 minutes in on a medium intensity ride, and 30-35 home.  I like their bus idea if it's possible.

     Good luck, and like they said, keep trying.  If you do commute, man you will be in great shape.  Don't forget to bring munchies for the ride!

     

    Keep the rubber-side down. 

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