Cycling to Work - Pros and Cons

NotAnAudiophile on 28/05/2019 - 07:48
Last edited 28/05/2019 - 08:05

So I've been riding my bicycle to work regularly as I don't live far away (within 4km) and workplace has a sheltered, secure bike parking area as well as change rooms and showers (which I don't need to use).

Pros:

1) Within 20 mins ride door to door

2) No need to wait for trams/trains

3) No need to interact with undesirables on trams/trains

4) Save some money on public transport

5) Some exercise out of it everyday.

Cons:

1) Takes 10 mins to change into cycling gear every ride (hate normal clothes for riding)

2) Can't carry big/heavy stuff other than a backpack

3) Always on the lookout for bad weather

4) Locking/unlocking the bike gets really monotonous.

5) Bad drivers and bad passengers - nearly got doored this morning.

Anyone else want to chime in?

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

      • endolphin on 28/05/2019 - 17:58
        +2

        Why the cycling gear? I ride in the same clothes that I run in. Takes me about 30 seconds to get changed and even less to undress at the other end.

        IMO there is just no excuse to wear lycra for a commute any less than 10kms one way. Just inviting abuse from motorists also.

        • NotAnAudiophile on 29/05/2019 - 10:54

          I did try it at the start. T shirt, shorts from running. Unfortunately I really needed the padding in cycling shorts so I've been changing into them since then.

          • Euphemistic on 29/05/2019 - 16:33
            +1

            @NotAnAudiophile: Just takes a while for your bum to get used to a saddle. I only ever wears padded cycling shorts for long rides, like 3-4hr plus but otherwise it’s regular underwear and ‘sports’ clothing so it dries quickly.

  • 6000SUX on 28/05/2019 - 12:38
    +2

    I used to cycle 15km to work daily. But I moved far far away and now cycling isnt possible :(
    Man do i miss it.

    Do it for your mental/physical health!
    Completely a no brainer, even with cold/rain blah blah blah
    You'll thank us in 1 month time.

  • jjacob on 28/05/2019 - 13:09
    -1

    I'm surprised nobody is considering one of the biggest issues with cycling to work. Although its got great benefits in terms of health there is an equally negative issue you might be dealing with. Unless you're choosing paths/routes that aren't congested, you'd be inhaling a lot of pollutants and vehicle exhaust and given the nature of the exercise it would be a lot more than being idle in a train or a bus. I'm not vouching for being lazy but its just that commute times are generally clogged with vehicles so I'm assuming this would be the case naturally or am I just being hypochondriac?

  • Poolprouk on 28/05/2019 - 13:11
    +2

    Spring and summer i ride 2 days a week and then taper off for winter (melbourne). It's 33K for me but a lot of that is on the ring road trail so it's fairly safe.

    There is a con no-one has mentioned so far.

    Kamikaze Magpies in the spring.

    • Austaurean on 28/05/2019 - 20:03

      So true, magpies can be very dangerous. As much as poor drivers or poor cyclists…

      I used to ride 10k to school n 10k back in summer and winter, try mid 30's plus in summer and upto minus 6 in the winter, thats cold… Belconnen to Lyneham.

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 29/05/2019 - 10:09

      I hate running and cycling in spring. I need a missile defence shield on my head.

      The other day I was standing around Sydney Harbour and was repeatedly swooped a seagull hanging out on a boat. I tell ya, that's the last time I'm eating seagull eggs…

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 30/05/2019 - 02:35

        Back to the pumpkins for you then I guess…

  • kaleidoscope on 28/05/2019 - 13:33

    i cycle to work as well, if it wasn’t for dedicated bicycle trail I would not bother. king street (vic) on busy hours is very dangerous.

    pros:
    faster than train / tram (for me)

    cons:
    - rainy days trail gets flooded so need to find different routes
    - filthy homeless guy living under bridge sometimes leaves his excrements on the road 🤬
    - regular maintenance of bike as otherwise it will surprise breakdowns on the road

  • Crashdown on 28/05/2019 - 13:46
    +2

    Pros
    - Good for the environment!
    - less congestion on the road for those that drive
    - breaks up your work day
    - (personally) catch up on podcasts/news etc

    Cons
    - Can cause strain injuries (e.g. wrist, pelvic floor) if you don't have a good seat or a bad bike

    I love riding to work!

  • Homr on 28/05/2019 - 14:02

    Pros:
    Good Exercise - Great way to tone your thighs and build those leg muscles!

  • matthewperk on 28/05/2019 - 14:11
    +1

    I have been cycling to work for the past 3 years. And before then on/off for the 4 years prior.
    Current route 5.5km each way. (previous jobs have been up to 38km each way). Current workplace has shower and relatively secure bike storage in the carpark.

    Pros:
    - Much faster commute (20min door to door)
    - Healthier - i'm fitter, more easily able to maintain my weight etc.
    - Wakes me up - I ride rain hail or shine and i love the endorphine rush i get to kickstart my day.
    - Keep me in touch with the weather
    - Lower costs - no parking, less k's driven, less servicing etc. Also got my insurance to compensate for my low midweek usage. Plus i really struggle to park my car in the city (2.4m tall 4x4 means no underground or height restricted carparks).

    Cons:
    - Drivers - it can be dangerous out there. But I weigh up the risks and try and ride safely.
    - Food costs - riding more means i eat more. That does have an associated cost.
    - Long distance after work - If i need to go somewhere after work thats 20+km i.e. to a friends place, it can be a bit of a hard choice. Riding home then driving often means i'm doubling back over where i've travelled. But riding there means seaty and a long trip home. Plus it's really not possible to get a train with the bike at peak hour to their area. Saying that training home with the bike isn't so bad.

    In all, i feel relatively depressed when i don't ride to work these days. You really tend to forget about the weather for the most part if you're prepared. And the cost and time benefits are significant.

    • pitiek on 30/05/2019 - 19:43

      I can relate with the eating bit. My new workplace have fresh fruit, cereal, oats and even timtams in the kitchen, topped up weekly so that bit is sorted.. :)
      I do ride to support my eating habits though..

  • crentist on 28/05/2019 - 14:30
    +1

    Everyone should get an electric bike. They are fantastic. I've been living overseas for a little while in a bike friendly city and have been commuting on a 2nd hand ebike. The commute isn't much, about 5km, but it was a good deal, and makes getting around on the hot days more bearable.

    They are amazingly practical, especially for a hilly city like Sydney. You still get a bit of exercise, especially if you turn the power down. But it can cut out the harder parts, like getting up hills, moving from stops etc. Which means that instead of dressing up in some ridiculous clothes and doing some intense workout, you just hop on a bike and get around comfortably, wherever you want to go (within 20km or so).

    Even in roasting hot weather, I can get to work less sweaty than hopping on a train because it's low intensity exercise with lots of wind, don't need to change when I arrive, then adjust the power level for more of a workout on the way home. My leg muscles are pretty chunky now.

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 29/05/2019 - 10:24

      If you use a lot of power/assistance, do you still get sweatier than walking? I see the Uber Eats guys spinning a fair bit but they're saving battery power on long shifts.

      For exercise, I felt the assistance would defeat the strength gains otherwise acquired from muscular forces. For heading to work, I thought the constant spinning would make me overly sweaty in summer and still require a change in clothes.

      • crentist on 29/05/2019 - 14:48

        It made me less sweaty. I used this in a Japanese summer, and found that I could ride 25mins to work and be a pretty sweaty. But if I took a train, which would need about 5 mins walking between stations at each end, I would be even sweatier (really humid weather, you get drenched just standing outside for a minute).

        I thought it would mean no exercise too, but not the case. You still get resistance, but it's adjustable. On high assistance and easy gears, it can be like riding an exercise bike on low, and let you fly up hills with ease. Or turn the power down/off, keep the gears high, and you'll have a harder time than anyone else because it's quite heavy.

        The main difference is felt when there is a lot of resistance, like starting from stop or going up a hill. In those cases, when you would have to push harder, you can simply not and keep it easy. But if I'm already at speed on a flat surface and I turn the power off, it's barely noticeable (but I'll slow down a bit)

        The overall effect being that it feels more or less like a regular city bike, but can also be faster and turn off the hard parts of riding when useful. Especially good for hilly rides, that would otherwise be unbearable, getting to work quickly and without sweating, and busy urban environments, because you can always get back up to speed almost instantly (eg after traffic lights and turns, or to slip through gaps etc).

        So I power up on the way to work, cruise in the mornings, then turn it down for a bit more workout on the way home. A regular bike would obviously be more exercise, but I simply wouldn't want to do it in the mornings.

        • peterpeterpumpkin on 29/05/2019 - 16:35

          Thanks for the detailed response.

          From the sounds of it, it might help reduce lower back pain. I think the fatigue and resultant bad posture (pre-existing in a lot of us) sets in from those starting pedals.

    • minklet on 29/05/2019 - 11:07

      I've been meaning to try those lime bikes, are they any good?

  • tsunamisurfer on 28/05/2019 - 14:38
    +7

    Pros :

    1) Exercise 1 hours a day without having to take extra time to do so.
    2) Save money - Train tickets are $8 / day (2 x $4), in a 200 working day year that's $1,600 saved, let's call it $1,200 per year to cater for some days not riding.
    3) It's relaxing - A ride a long the Swan River is absolutely stunning in the afternoon. Many of the female joggers are equally stunning.
    4) It wakes you up - You feel so much more invigorated in the morning at work.
    5) Work often have fantastic end of trip facilities like :
    - Lockers
    - Fresh Towels.
    - Very hot showers.
    - Ironing Board.
    6) Don't need to put up with people coughing or sneezing on you on the Trains.

    My bike cost $800, so within 8 months it has paid for itself.

    Riding is one of the best investment of time and money.

    • NotAnAudiophile on 29/05/2019 - 08:46
      +1

      "Many of the female joggers are equally stunning."

      LOL

  • bennos on 28/05/2019 - 14:43
    +5

    Melbourne PT fare for zone 1 adult All day ticket = $8.80

    Total work days 244 per year

    8.80 * 244 = $2147.20 per year

    I understand there are costs of onership, but a bike is cheap to run. I'm on a 10 year old old bike that cost me me $1200, I have spent probably $400 on it in 10 years.

    Of course my Melbourne property within 5km of the city that allows me to ride is costing me a fortune.

    • kale chips suck on 30/05/2019 - 12:41

      Just a FYI: Zone one Myki unlimited pass is $1722.50 for 365 days, or $4.72/day. Metro don't seem to promote the existence of the annual passes much though so it seems relatively few people know about them.

      Which isn't in any way to suggest is cheaper than riding, just that it can be cheaper than it appears!

      • BobLim on 30/05/2019 - 23:36

        That's including weekends and holidays though.

        If you had 244 work days and take 20 off as annual leave then you're back up to $7.69 per work day

  • Euphemistic on 28/05/2019 - 15:00
    +3

    I miss cycle commuting. I used to commute around 6km in a direct route, but would regularly mix it up with sorts of detours and use different bikes to suit the weather or mood.
    It used to take me 30-35min door to desk by bike including shower. Door to desk by car was probably 5min quicker if I included the shower time at home.
    I hope that any new job I will be able to cycle commute at least some of the time. The biggest thing that stopped me riding (when I had the job) was looking after kids and not having enough time to get to/from work.

    The weather can be beaten with the right attitude or gear. Ie don’t care if you get wet or buy some wet weather equipment.
    Many dangerous traffic areas can be avoided wth a bit of planning.
    If you don’t commute by bike everyday, take a load of stuff to work and store it for the days you do. Lunch, clothes etc don’t need to be carried in everyday.

  • Stevecro on 28/05/2019 - 16:46
    -1

    A con very few people consider but is extremely important is all the fumes and pollution you inhale if cycling on or near main roads… probably worse for you than smoking in some circumstances.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 28/05/2019 - 17:40
      +1

      And cars are hermetically sealed, so you don't get that

      • kale chips suck on 30/05/2019 - 12:43
        +1

        Cars have cabin air filters

        • Euphemistic on 31/05/2019 - 12:21

          But they don’t filter out much. Plenty of noxious gases still getting through.

          • kale chips suck on 31/05/2019 - 14:38

            @Euphemistic: ?

            "We determined the reduction in passenger exposure to particles while driving in freeway traffic caused by a vehicle ventilation system with a cabin air filter installed. Both particle number and surface area concentration measurements were made inside the cabin and in the surrounding air. At medium fan speed, the number and surface area concentration-based exposure reductions were 65.6 ± 6.0% and 60.6 ± 9.4%, respectively. To distinguish the exposure reduction contribution from the filter alone and the remainder of the ventilation system, we also performed tests with and without the filter in place using the surface area monitors. The ventilation system operating in the recirculation mode with the cabin air filter installed provided the maximum protection, reducing the cabin particle concentration exponentially over time and usually taking only 3 min to reach 10 µm2/cm3 (a typical office air condition) under medium fan speed."

            They filter out a lot, actually. More if you upgrade to a HEPA unit.

            • Euphemistic on 31/05/2019 - 16:17

              @kale chips suck: They filter out particulates reasonably effectively, but funnily enough exhaust emissions are largely gases, which will not be filtered out. I’d also guess that the majority of cabin filters are well past their use by date and probably aren’t as efficient as they should be.

    • serpserpserp on 29/05/2019 - 21:02

      No, not worse than smoking in any circumstance. Maybe if you live in Mumbai or Mexico City or something like that it is.

    • DogGunn on 30/05/2019 - 23:39
      +1

      Unless you're literally sitting next to parked cars for hours, this would hardly be a concern. The health benefits of riding would substantially outweigh sucking up fumes, which you would be doing anyway in the car.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2020 - 02:06

      nope https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/13/cyclists…

  • PAOK11 on 28/05/2019 - 17:08
    +1

    Been thinking about this recently. Im looking at travelling down footscray rd through docklands the city and down the yarra towards glenferrie. Did it on w/e & caught the train back. Couldnt really ask for a nicer or safer ride (all bike paths) but 20 odd ks each way is too much of a strech for me

    • kingsville on 28/05/2019 - 20:57

      I do the first part of that daily - Spotswood to CBD - but the extra bit to glenferrie would make it a less regular if I had to do it. I'm seeing more and more ebikes on the route, but I need the fitness benefits

    • serpserpserp on 29/05/2019 - 21:00
      +1

      You should just start out doing one way each day for a month or two to get your legs under you, then do 2 or 3 days a week both ways, and increase over time until you do each way 5 days. Rome wasn't built in a day!

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 31/05/2019 - 16:31

      That ride is actually OK. Despite the 20ks, it is almost all flat with little elevation. It'll hurt the first week or two but then you'll be fine. (I used to live in Yarravilla and did the ride to the city often).

      • PAOK11 on 01/06/2019 - 18:51

        Flat on the left of the yarra, not the right !! Learnt the hard way that toorak is not a flat suburb. As an ozbargainer I'd never been there before due to the rip off property prices.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2019 - 17:27

    Well the key pro of cycling to work is that they will pay you money that you can then spend on your life.

    The primary con is that your life will rapidly evaporate in front of you.

    So it's a difficult issue that can only be resolved day by day.

    The Phantom
    Resolution Centre

  • OzzyOzbourne on 28/05/2019 - 17:39

    Pros… Health, cheap

    Cons… Slow, potential injury and death

  • trapper on 28/05/2019 - 18:09

    Ride every day. No cons.

  • jimjames on 28/05/2019 - 18:13
    +3

    25kms each way and I'm still faster than the bus.

    Pro: carrying a laptop is resistance training

    Fitness without the need for dedicated exercise sessions (was still true when my commute was 7km)

    Mental health. Best thing after a hard day.

    Con: miss out on 2h+ each day of ozbargaining

  • sigur on 28/05/2019 - 19:38

    About 9Kms for me. In Adelaide so flat all the way, rarely bad weather. Apart from high summer I'll ride in work clothes and change shirts if needed. Have panniers rather than backpack, and I'll often ride past shops/market to pickup dinner supplies.

    Pros:-
    25 minutes regardless of traffic - have found a route that is mostly through back streets, happy to sacrifice a few minutes for a safer journey.
    Car can take 20-40 minutes depending on traffic/parking etc. Bus 25 mins - an hour including walking between home/work and bus stops. Bike means that I can make a 9am meeting after dropping kids to school - can't do that on car/bus. And if I'm picking up kids from school/after hours care then I know I'll make the deadline.

    Exercise and mental health.

    I often have work meetings in different buildings and will bike between them.

    Cons - higher risk from bad drivers, but I think this is overstated.

    And for those worried about exposure to pollution - studies have shown that cyclists in most cases will be exposed to less pollutants than drivers. Certainly would on the route I take.

  • catbug on 28/05/2019 - 22:51
    +1

    I used to live 7km from work and rode everyday when it wasn’t raining. When it was raining I would catch the train or drive.

    I have to say most modes of transport took nearly the same time.
    Cycle = 25 minutes
    Driving = 15-30 minutes depending on traffic + parking time + walking to my workplace so all up I would leave 45mins before starting to get there on time
    Train = 5 minute walk to the station, 8 minute train ride, 10 minute walk to work.

    Cycling was the best economical option and driving a waste of time as well as costly. I enjoyed cycling and riding by the river and parks was a great way to start the day so I was happy to ride most days. My workplace has showers and a bike cage too, I wasn’t riding at a very strenuous pace so I didn’t really have to take a shower at work. I’m currently living 20km from work so have to catch the train or drive everyday and I would much rather move closer to the CBD and cycle to work.

  • IgG on 28/05/2019 - 23:00

    I ride between 4-6 km bit have done up to 25km in the past. Love commuting, saved thousands doing this!

    Pros:
    Way quicker to ride - 15-20 minutes door to door vs 30-45 on PT
    Cheap - $8 worth of brake pads and a new set of tires and chain ($50) every six months vs $40 a week for PT
    Exercise, endorphins and all that stuff
    Just plain enjoyable most days, feel so much better at work when I ride in

    Cons:
    Wet weather is annoying but manageable, kinda fun sometimes when you're dressed appropriately
    Cars are a pain but you learn the signs for shitty drivers cough taxi/uber letting passengers open doors into traffic when stopped at lights. Cycliq cameras are great for piece of mind.

  • sobriety22 on 29/05/2019 - 00:00

    I used to ride to work 3-4 days a week for 9km each way and loved it. Was sometimes the highlight of the day. Now I'm seconded to China and definitely wouldn't risk it on the less than fantastic roads and crazy traffic (third tier city).

    Pros are definitely exercise and just the relaxation from having the release from a majority desk/office job. Even after a tiring day at work, I would often feel more awake and alive on the ride home. My route for half was all back streets and bike paths and the other half quite a busy ring road. It made for a good mix.

    Only con would be poor facilities at my work-place with an old atco as the change-room and no showers but I was always able to make do. Got my office when I was there go from no one else cycling to 3 others starting and being fairly regular during the warmer months.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2019 - 08:22

    You could just bike some days , drive etc other days .
    Eg. If it's freezing cold, raining + hailing….. Then might be good to have a plan B already prepared.
    The weather won't be as much of an issue though, because can have a hot shower when you get to work, if you're wet/cold .

  • RefusdClassification on 29/05/2019 - 09:01

    A good assessment of your situation ( I particularly like "No need to interact with undesirables on trams/trains") and I like the username "NotAnAudiophile", though I would have imagined that audiophiles (which now seems synonymous with vinylophile) would be the ones you normally associated with bicycling.

    CONs: Reduced life expectancy (same for motorcycle riders). Recommendation: Travel everywhere in a Civilian tank aka SUVs.

  • LPV569 on 29/05/2019 - 09:42

    Over the last seven years I estimate my husband has saved around $13,000.00 biking compared to taking the train to work.
    His commute is 7 km each way. If he didn’t bike the only exercise he’d get during the week would be walking to/from the car park. He can be home in 20-25 mins which is quicker than by car during peak time traffic. He showers at work so there’s another saving on hot water!

    • serpserpserp on 29/05/2019 - 20:53

      Wow are your yearly tickets $1,900?

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 29/05/2019 - 10:08

    I work at difference sites - two days a week i am currently working in the next suburb i ride to work however i have a bike track that takes me pretty much directly there - very little on road riding, we have showers and bike storage at work within a secure area at my work place.

    With that said i quite enjoy riding it i stop off at the coffee shop which is a 5min detour have a coffee andread the paper then from the coffee shop to work is about a 15-20min ride…. However yesterday in the morning i was freezing!

    My advice would be trail it for 1-2 weeks if you like it keep doing it if not it is easy to give up.

    It is a good way to get active for people like myself who are very time poor

  • morebunnings on 29/05/2019 - 10:21

    I cycle once or twice a week during summer, takes around 1hr 15min each way (35km). Its great as it takes about the same time as driving to work and going to the gym (30min drive + 45 min gym session), but I work harder on the bike ride (more cardio, about 1200cal each way). Also being forced to ride home means I cant cop out like I would at the gym if I'm feeling lazy, and I would usually only do 1 gym work out a day.

    Way to cold / dark / un-enjoyable to do over winter though, which sucks.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 29/05/2019 - 10:43

    I used to do the 20 km ride each way to work and loved the fresh feeling of showering and getting dressed all within the same air conditioned building. Used to pop in at the beach for a morning swim.

    But I never understood why so many cyclists in the city look soooo miserable. Do they all have stressful office jobs and family troubles? Do I look like that? And what's with the rush to go home? Is it because it's their only exercise so they maximise effort? Sure, most people heading into or leaving the city look miserable on public transport as well, but then they also don't talk about the endorphins they get riding the 393.

    Maybe cycling to work is more fun when it's sporadic, like everything else in life.

    • serpserpserp on 29/05/2019 - 20:57
      +1

      haha I was always in a rush to get home on the bike because I'd get whipped up with other riders around me getting home! "Maybe i'll just pass this guy, hmm, maybe that guy, hmm why don't I just get out in front of the pack? Hmm maybe I should put some distance between us as I don't want to brake suddenly and cause an accident" etc. etc.

  • AlexD on 29/05/2019 - 10:49

    Living in Canberra, I was doing 25km each way. I decided to change my lifestyle one day and went cold turkey on driving - was initially quite difficult, but I ended up getting my average time down to ~40 minutes.

    I always viewed it as saving me time exercising elsewhere. I’d feel very awake when I got to work, and the elevated energy levels often lasted until late in the day. I don’t mind driving, but I see few advantages other than comfort. I rode in all weather except days over 40 and in hail.

    I would either cycle in with all my clothes in a huge backpack on Mondays, or stop by work on a Sunday after my weekly hike, and leave everything in my locker. The showers were inconvenient, but I felt fresh when I arrived. I strongly recommend cycling to work!

  • Rockit22 on 29/05/2019 - 11:12

    In Perth, riding for past 5 years 30km each way almost every day.
    Weather is fine 95% of the time. Except for the strong headwind going home in Summer.
    Keeps me healthy and I can eat whatever I want.
    Biggest pro is the money. $8 per day on public transport, I see it as though I'm being paid to ride.
    Half my ride is on roads, most of which have a lane dedicated to bus, motorcycle, bicycle during peak times.
    Issues with bad drivers are extremely rare in my experience, so long as you stay focused.

    • pitiek on 30/05/2019 - 19:46

      I'm travelling to Perth soon and staying in thr CBD. Can you recommend a quick 30k ish loop and a scenic route for a weekend ride?

  • brizzy on 29/05/2019 - 13:22

    been riding to work last 5 years in cairns.
    Pro: stop to take in the views at trinity inlet
    Con: gettin drenched (rain/sweat) especially during wet season.

  • mwahahaha on 29/05/2019 - 13:47

    Pro - If you are cycling a lot you can treat your body like a trash bag and it won't make a difference. You can regularly pound KFC and all that will happen is that you'll find it hard to buy pants that fit your thighs.

    Con - You can end up justifying buying some outrageously expensive equipment with the argument, "Well I would have spent this much on public transport anyways."

    • NotAnAudiophile on 29/05/2019 - 15:08
      +1

      I agree with this! Spent a fortune on cycling clothing and equipment already.

  • boosta on 29/05/2019 - 14:00

    Adelaide, 7 years riding using commuter bike with pannier ~ 7km each way and cycle 4 days a week, one day for bringing work clothes for the week by car. Lucky to have secure bike storage and shower facility.

    My main reason for riding is my bus to city takes longer while I get to and fro in less / half the time along with your usual not paying parking or bus tickets, health benefits etc.

    For wet season, the rain don't bother me, it is the wind to be mindful and the occasion bus exhaust when I am behind the bus when I am not using the designated frome bikeway.

  • down-under on 29/05/2019 - 14:57

    For 4km, I’ll just walk

  • kiitos on 29/05/2019 - 15:02

    Anyone ride a mountain bike to work?

    And does anyone ride the Pacific Hwy in Sydney? That's mainly what's deterring me from riding to work, unless I was able to ride on footpaths.

    And I noticed some cyclists lane filter up to an intersection, forcing cars behind then (that were previously in front of the cyclist) to overtake then, often doing this multiple times. Is this legal? Seems like a good way to get on the wrong side of drivers.

  • backpaqer on 29/05/2019 - 15:02
    +2

    Been riding for 12 years 16-20km each way, every day, year round. Been doored 3 times, walked away from each of those and wrote one car off because repairing their door was going to cost more than the car was worth. Their prob not mine. They paid for my bike repairs (cosmetic). I lost 20kg within the first few months. Haven't paid for public transport in that whole time. Haven't needed a gym membership… I had a membership when I started and my vo2 score went from really bad to off the charts within 6 months. It's rare I get rained on… Melbourne weather, don't like it? Wait 10 minutes. I've developed a great network of friends via riding groups and done some awesome tours.

    Can't think of any cons. I really struggle to justify any other mode of transport even at my distance. Going direct up Nepean highway only takes me 30 minutes (record is 23 mins) and the only way to beat that is on a motorbike or a helicopter (but you still have to park the helicopter).

    • serpserpserp on 29/05/2019 - 20:49

      (but you still have to park the helicopter).

      What were you doing with your bike? Were you just riding oBikes to the city and tossing them in the Yarra each day? ;)

  • misterpotatomato on 29/05/2019 - 15:55
    +1

    I ride today 20km each way. It's great.

    I wouldn't do it without a Cycliq Fly12CE and Fly6CE (for front and back). I find layering important, just layer up as it gets colder.

    I have a Merida Speeder 500 with a rack on the back, that fits all my stuff. I don't ride with a backpack which is a good plus.

    Bonus points - I'm 120kg and ride to lose weight. This means I had to get my wheels built to be strong enough. Let me know if you need details on that last part - it was hard to find someone to do this for me.

    • serpserpserp on 29/05/2019 - 20:47

      Good on ya! At 120kg that is a serious battle up any hills from the sounds of it! Doing 40kms a day is awesome!

      • NotAnAudiophile on 30/05/2019 - 07:53

        Nice bike the Speeder! Ultegra components too. I've got drop bars, so I've got no doubt the flat bars are a lot more maneuverable in the city.

    • slimpickings on 31/05/2019 - 02:20

      I'd love some details on the wheels, I've been snapping spokes every few months for years even without a rear rack.

      • misterpotatomato on 31/05/2019 - 07:54
        +1

        Thats rubbish if your wheels are snapping spokes that often.

        I rode these wheels for years with no issue: http://kotavelo.com.au/store/kotavelo-d21-wheelset.html. After 2 years the rim started to break/started to snap spokes etc.

        Other than that I went to a bike store in Brendale called "tsquared", who are mainly a BMX bike shop. There's a guy that works there who has been building wheels for ~20 years. He built me a rock solid rear wheel that just puts up with anything I throw at it.

        If you have rim brakes (not disc brakes) I'm fairly sure that Kotavelo do a wheel for a tandem bike. If they fit I would put those on and ride over land mines and you would be sweet (please don't actually do this).

        PS: The cool thing about riding a bike is that, just by riding a bike, you kinda join this community of cyclists. A small percentage are really elitist and not great fun to be around, but I find everyone else to be really helpful and of great assistance. I emailed the guy who owns Kotavelo legitimately years after I had bought rims from him with a question, and he got back to me super quick and was really helpful.

  • serpserpserp on 29/05/2019 - 20:46
    +2

    I use to ride in Sydney to/from work until my bike got stolen. It was about 5km from the western suburbs and mostly on bike paths or roads with good widths for cars & bikes (which is actually amazing to have in Sydney).

    Although I found it hard on the really hot days, after I got my legs under me in about 2 or 3 months I was really enjoying it. I would say that any accidents I nearly had were at the mercy of my aggression on riding bikes on the road when I thought there were no cars around in the quiet suburban roads (but I learnt my lession).

    I use to get up early and get straight on the bike after putting some sport clothes on, then I got to work, showered/shaved/ate breakfast and was doing work by 7:30am latest. I got promoted that year even though I left work almost every day at 5:20pm to cycle home (even though most people wouldn't leave my office til 6pm/6:30pm earliest) so that perception that you are working crazy hours because you get in before everyone else (I would get to the office at 6:30-6:50am before showering etc.) can work in your favour.

    Also the exercise fired up my brain and I was super productive with work stuff before all the stragglers would get in at 9am, and more importantly, before the phone starts ringing off the hook or the inevitable early morning meetings. I would feel pretty cactus at 5pm though, but was always up for a hard ride home (was a slow incline home) to get out the days stresses.

  • positEV on 29/05/2019 - 21:56

    I am a big advocate for active transport (walk/cycle to work, also escooters/ebikes)
    The biggest positives are the Triple Bottom Line: enormous cost savings, health advantages (physical and mental) and environmental benefits.
    I recently undertook a survey to understand travel patterns of staff in our office (approx 400). I was amazed at how many people weren't aware of the EoT facilities (End of Trip) which include lockers, showers, bike parking and irons (free for all staff), and these are facilities that a lot of buildings offer.

    • NotAnAudiophile on 30/05/2019 - 07:50

      If we take MYKI as an example in Melb, a yearly MYKI pass costs $1720. Even if I deducted the bad weather days with which I have no choice but to take PT, I'm probably still saving close to $1.5k a year.

  • Snoovey on 30/05/2019 - 07:28
    +2

    Mental health is my biggest pro. I think it kept me living when I was at a bad place in my life.

  • endolphin on 30/05/2019 - 11:17

    How on earth does it take 10 minutes to put on riding clothes?

    I'm 4.5kms from work. I can wake at 7:40am, be on the bike at 7:45am, get to work at 8am, showered and dressed by 8:15am, coffee in hand and sitting at my desk at 8:25am.

    • NotAnAudiophile on 30/05/2019 - 21:10

      Put on leg warmers. Cycling shorts. Jersey. Thermal cycling jacket. Glasses. Cycling cap. Helmet. Gloves.

      Crap, why do i feel like i'm getting dressed like a pro when I'm just cycling to work?

      • endolphin on 30/05/2019 - 22:19

        Exactly. For me, running shorts, $4 kmart sports tshirt and slip on MTB shoes (MTB style cleats on my road bike). In winter, add a sports jacket.

        • NotAnAudiophile on 30/05/2019 - 22:39
          -1

          I must admit the vanity part comes into play.

          • endolphin on 30/05/2019 - 22:51

            @NotAnAudiophile: I
            Well yeh that's common, but I don't understand it, at all. Are cyclists trying to look good to other cyclists? If yes, why? I'm just trying to get to work, I don't give a stuff what I look like.

            • NotAnAudiophile on 30/05/2019 - 23:23

              @endolphin: I don't quite understand it myself. If i don't have my kit, somehow I don't feel "up" for the ride.

              • Euphemistic on 31/05/2019 - 12:24

                @NotAnAudiophile: Need to start riding without all the gear a bit then so you get used to it. If you are doing such a short distance there is no need for all the gear.

                • NotAnAudiophile on 01/06/2019 - 09:24

                  @Euphemistic: I did start riding without the gear, just a normal t shirt, shorts. Just feels different. Eventually switched back to all the gear.

  • giventofly on 30/05/2019 - 11:19

    I used to commute in every day, about 50 minutes door to door. Around 20km. My work location changed from Docklands in Vic to EM and with that came much more road use. I had too many close calls which took the enjoyment out of it. So that's my big con, it is dangerous.

    Moving back to Docklands soon, so looking forward to getting the morning exercise in. One of the biggest pros is how much energy I had at my desk job.

    • backpaqer on 31/05/2019 - 08:48

      I'm on level 1 in EM. Looking forward to getting out of here too. Though I cycle into 101 Collins street as their facilities are second to none and then walk up the street to EM.

  • blint000 on 30/05/2019 - 11:41

    Xiaomi scooter commute - Speed of a bike but with no changing time.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 30/05/2019 - 23:07

      Need rego and road worthy in vic, so might as well get a car

  • Morven on 30/05/2019 - 15:11
    +3

    For seven years at the same job, I bicycle commuted 14km of hills each way (Meadowbank to St Leonards in Sydney).

    The best thing you can do to help a cycle commute is map out a route that connects up residential streets and cycleways. Most of my 14km was on those, so I rarely had to deal with aggressive drivers and busy roads. I figured it out on Google Maps, did a trial run on a weekend, then did it for real on a Monday and it worked. I kept the same route for all seven years.

    The distance between my home and job is now 34km so I no longer cycle commute, but these are the pros I miss most:

    • Your exercise is DONE. You're fit. You've burned off what you've eaten and benefited your mental health with exercise. You can go to the gym as well if you like, but you don't need to. That time is now yours.
    • Your only fuel costs are food and drink. You get to enjoy them without watching calories.
    • I stopped drinking coffee because I was already alert and buzzing from my morning commute.
    • Fit people look good. I met my wife during that time!
    • Hills never get easy, but cycling is heaps of fun when you're fit.

    Cons that I don't miss:

    • Overdoing it: watch your levels of things like magnesium because you're now kind of an athlete. I got glandular fever because I ran my body down so much, but I was also pushing my life in other areas.
    • Cyclists are not exercising their core, especially those who are cycling to desk jobs. You'll need some kind of other exercise for core strength.
    • Working late in winter and then having to face cycling home in the rain. You have to keep going, and you live for the shower/bath that you'll have afterwards.
  • DiscoJango on 30/05/2019 - 19:52

    sweaty balls

  • backpaqer on 31/05/2019 - 08:50

    One big con is drivers on mobile phones. I just feel one day the stars won't line up and some distracted driver is not going to see me until I've shattered their windscreen.

  • backpaqer on 31/05/2019 - 08:50

    (duplicate)

  • 2ndeffort on 31/05/2019 - 17:50

    Would love to ride to work and back but no end of trip facilities at all, no showers, no bike parking etc. Also, I live in Melbourne's outer suburbs (Berwick). I dont have any problem with the 40 km each way, most weekends ride 60 km+ each morning with friends just for exercise. Problem is the route/roads/cars i would be dicing with would be a nightmare. There are bikepaths but they wind all over the place and you have to cut through suburbs to get from one path to the other etc. I have thought about training part way to the start of a bikepath but pretty sure I wouldn't be able to get my bike on the train at peak hour going either to or from work. I have driven to Hawthorn a couple of times to free parking there and then taken my bike off the roof and driven in from there. If I could find a way i would cycle most days.

    • NotAnAudiophile on 02/06/2019 - 11:07

      I agree, end of trip facilities are really crucial especially beyond 10km rides. I don't need them as my distance is so short, but they are really handy.

  • NotAnAudiophile on 04/06/2019 - 07:42

    So after a day's break due to the rubbish weather in Melb, back to cycling to work this morning, so refreshing! Not to have to wait for trams, or squeeze with people. Granted I do it before 7, but still….

    • geta on 05/06/2019 - 11:45

      Glad you're enjoying it. Hopefully you keep it up. I found the first few months the hardest, and having the strength to not give in to the little voice in my head that says "nah, its too hot to ride home today", or "nah, it's late, just drive".

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