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One year of cycling to work

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Re: One year of cycling to work

#21

Post by mattlondon »

jacknews wrote: post #11

conclusion: what a lovely route, choosing to cycle it isn't even a decision, especially as the other options seems to take longer. The author is super lucky and I'm jealous. I cycle to work too, but in a busy city.

Totally agree - what a nice route to get to work. From what I could see, it looks like a lot of long, straight and - most importantly! - flat routes. Perfect for nice easy cycling.

I sometimes run to work, but never ever run home as in London it is downhill to get to the centre, but uphill to get back out to the suburbs :)

Re: One year of cycling to work

#22

Post by thinkMOAR »

lj3 wrote: post #14
billsmithaustin wrote: post #8

I live about the same distance from work as the writer, and I've been cycling to work since early October. I would have thought that such a short bike ride wouldn't have much of a health benefit, but I feel more energetic and my blood pressure is noticeably lower than it was a year ago.

Short distances on a bicycle are actually healthier than longer distances. Long distance cyclists tend to have issues with losing bone and muscle density.

and don't forget, sitting for long periods are known to lead to prostatitis; specially if you have a poor saddle on your bicycle

Re: One year of cycling to work

#23

Post by dominotw »

lj3 wrote: post #15
zawerf wrote: post #3

Getting hit by a car within a year is an anomaly right? He brushed it off as his "only accident" like it's supposed to be more commonplace.

I cycled every day for 7 years all over the San Francisco Bay Area without ever once being hit by a car or getting a door prize. I didn't run red lights and I maintained situational awareness at all times. And I was one of those guys who rode in the middle of the car lane even when a bicycle lane was available.

> And I was one of those guys who rode in the middle of the car lane even when a bicycle lane was available.

to avoid getting doored?

Wouldn't this slow the traffic.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#24

Post by vivan »

reti wrote: post #17

I cycle around 3 times the distance he does daily to and from work in London. I've been doing this for 5 years. It's probably fair to say I take more days off than he does though (I leave the bike at home if going for a drink). I suppose the same could be said for any form of regular exercise, but it makes such an improvement to how I feel when I get to work, and my general well-being. The pollution in London has alw…

I live in London and I'd love to cycle to work, but the infrastructure (for my route) just isn't there. And for people who aren't experienced cyclists, it is even worse as lack of confidence actually leads to more accidents.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#25

Post by [deleted] »

tonyedgecombe wrote: post #9
symmetricsaurus wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been biking to work for a bit more than two years now. Same distance to work and not even any close calls with cars. I do ride quite carefully though and make very sure that they see me and stop before I ride out in front of one.

I always try and make eye contact with drivers at junctions which has worked well for me until a couple of weeks ago when someone looked straight at me then pulled out right in front of me. We didn't collide but it was very close.

[deleted]

Re: One year of cycling to work

#26

Post by VyseofArcadia »

Getting home at 17:00? I don't even get off work until 17:30, and if I'm lucky I get home before 18:30. Even cycling I'd only shave maybe 15 minutes off my commute, and if I'm really lucky I'd make it home alive.

I wish I lived somewhere with more sustainable work hours and bike-friendly traffic. I'm totally drained when I finally get home.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#27

Post by dspillett »

def- wrote: post #5
zawerf wrote: post #3

Getting hit by a car within a year is an anomaly right? He brushed it off as his "only accident" like it's supposed to be more commonplace.

Yeah, I might have been unclear. I've been cycling for a few years before that and that was the first time I touched a car. The driver DID look straight at me though, seemingly noticing me, so I was really confused when she started speeding up anyway.

In my experience it is not necessarily safe to assume that someone looking straight at you implies that they have noticed you. People can be quite distracted by both the environment or the insides of their own heads.

Worse, some take eye contact as meaning you know they are there and are prepared to get out of the way of what-ever manoeuvre they are about to perform!

Before my latest office move (it is not so close that messing around with the shed and locking up the bike at work and changing clothes if needed in bad weather add up to more than cycling saves over walking at a brisk pace) I rode to work for years, 3.5 miles each way for the most part, and while I've had a few near misses (the worst being a bus that halfway through overtaking me decided to shuffle in nearly sandwiching me between the bus and the road-side railings) I've never actually been touched by another vehicle. I'm on city roads, though small city (York, UK) rather than somewhere even more hectic than London, but here I'd say cycling to work is no less safe than walking.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#28

Post by izym »

VyseofArcadia wrote: post #26

Getting home at 17:00? I don't even get off work until 17:30, and if I'm lucky I get home before 18:30. Even cycling I'd only shave maybe 15 minutes off my commute, and if I'm really lucky I'd make it home alive. I wish I lived somewhere with more sustainable work hours and bike-friendly traffic. I'm totally drained when I finally get home.

When do you get in though?

Re: One year of cycling to work

#30

Post by acomjean »

billsmithaustin wrote: post #8

I live about the same distance from work as the writer, and I've been cycling to work since early October. I would have thought that such a short bike ride wouldn't have much of a health benefit, but I feel more energetic and my blood pressure is noticeably lower than it was a year ago.

When I ride my 3 miles to work, I don't need caffeine. I think any sustained exercise a couple times a day does help the fitness level.

I ride a little slow (not aggressive), because Boston traffic and I figure the quickest way to get to where I'm going doesn't involve a hospital trip.

I really enjoy it and it does improve my mood.

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