To cycle or not?

ceoltoir

The deadline for participation in the Cycle to Work scheme is next Friday and I can't decide whether or not to go for it.

I'm approaching 50 and haven't been on a bike in almost thirty years. I'm male and need to get fit as I have problems with high blood pressure. I don't really get much exercise apart from walking to work and back every day (about 30 minutes each way) and a short walk at lunchtime.

I'm also a bit worried about cycling in Dublin (Clonskeagh/Dundrum area) as traffic is so mad.

The other problem may be laziness: I've calculated that I need to perform eight actions to take the bike out through the side gate of the house compared to one when I just turn the key to get in or out the back door! On that score, walking seems so much easier.

Do you think I should go for it anyway? What are the benefits?

Acoustic

do it you'll love it

its so addictive

Lumen

Do it.

Traffic is fine. If you're an experienced driver your anticipation skills will be good, so you just need to learn a bit of defensive cycling technique (e.g. taking the lane when appropriate).

Don't understand the eight actions thing. Just take your bike with you when you leave the house.

The decision would seem to hinge on how long you want to live.

SunshineCyclist

If you are anyway inclined I would advise you to go for it. Cycling is an excellent activity/sport for the body's cardiovascular system and as part of a healthy lifestyle should help you reduce your blood pressure. If you are already walking to work each day, this should be an easy transition. Being off the bike for thirty years should not matter, just remeber to start slowly and pedal easy gears.

Regarding your concerns: Traffic is dangerous especially in cities. Is it possible for you to avoid the major rush hours ie get to work earlier and leave later in the evenings? If not be condifent enough to know that you have as much entitlement to be on the road as well as anyone and remember to follow the rules of the road and stay safe.

Also in the morning, I would advise you to have as much ready as possible in the night before to ensure that you can just pick your bike up and go on the mornings. Lazyness is one of my biggest issues as wel, but can be overcome with a bit of motivation, i think in your case the deadline for the cycle to work scheme ending and the need to reduce your blood pressure are two excellent reasons to get motivated enough to get started. Good Luck!

ceoltoir

Lumen wrote: »

Don't understand the eight actions thing. Just take your bike with you when you leave the house.

Eight actions: unlock back door, unlock bike, unlock side gate, take bike out, lock side gate, lock back door, go out front door and lock it, get on bike...
I make it sound like a day's work!

Gavin

ceoltoir wrote: »

I'm also a bit worried about cycling in Dublin (Clonskeagh/Dundrum area) as traffic is so mad.

The other problem may be laziness: I've calculated that I need to perform eight actions to take the bike out through the side gate of the house compared to one when I just turn the key to get in or out the back door! On that score, walking seems so much easier.

Do you think I should go for it anyway? What are the benefits?

I went from Dundrum towards the city center and back for a few years. It's not bad. Cut through estates to get onto the road through clonskeagh and there is cycle lane all the way in. Ranelagh can be awkward with the cars parked in the cycle lane, but because the traffic moves so slowly, it's fine to just pull into the middle of the lane and cycle along until past all the blocking cars.

If you are uncertain about something, then you always have the option of getting off the bike and walking past it until you get used to it. You don't have to always get to the front of the queue, you can just wait in the traffic line for the light to go and head off with the rest of the cars. As Lumen says, if you cycle like you'd drive, you won't have a problem.

Practice your route on a sunday to figure out timing, get used to cycling with one hand so you can indicate and also consistently looking over your shoulder is important.

Obviously enough, you won't get anyone saying not to cycle on this forum!

kincsem

I'm 59 and took early retirement at 56. I now have four bikes and don't cycle regularly. I do a bit during the summer. At 55 I bought my first bike since schooldays, 37 years after I was last on a bike.

Go for it. Cycle when you feel like it.

Chips Lovell

ceoltoir wrote: »

Eight actions: unlock back door, unlock bike, unlock side gate, take bike out, lock side gate, lock back door, go out front door and lock it, get on bike...
I make it sound like a day's work!

Tough love time, but well intentioned. If you need to get fit, you need to lose this mindset. Because getting in shape is a lot more hard work than getting a bike out a gate.

DirkVoodoo

+1 on what Gavin says, I cycle through Ranelagh and Clonskeagh a good bit and the parked cars (especially on weekends) means you have to take the lane. Don't be afraid to. Most drivers understand that the lane is blocked by parked cars and there is a good risk of getting knocked off by a swinging door, I have never been beeped at for doing so. And like he said, traffic moves so slowly that you won't be holding up traffic.

I would start off slow, don't dive into it. Maybe try one or two days a week. Talking to your GP if you have hypertension might also be a good idea, he will know you best and can advise better about the best way to approach cycling.

kincsem

ceoltoir wrote: »

Eight actions: unlock back door, unlock bike, unlock side gate, take bike out, lock side gate, lock back door, go out front door and lock it, get on bike...
I make it sound like a day's work!

Keep you bike in the hall, open front door, lock front door.

ceoltoir

I live in Windy Arbour and work in UCD, so I thought it might just be too short a journey to justify cycling and that walking would be better.

That said, there's a lovely tree-lined road in from Clonskeagh past the UCD creche, without too much traffic. My main worry would be the right turn from Clonskeagh Road. It's a very busy route.

Maybe I'm just looking for excuses!:o

seamus

ceoltoir wrote: »

Eight actions: unlock back door, unlock bike, unlock side gate, take bike out, lock side gate, lock back door, go out front door and lock it, get on bike...
I make it sound like a day's work!

Look at it like this:

Walking:
Time required to leave the house: 20 seconds.
Time required to get to work: 30 minutes
Total time elapsed: 30.3 minutes.

Cycling:
Time required to leave the house: 120 seconds.
Time required to get to work: 10 minutes
Total time elapsed: 12 minutes.

Effort is the work required to get a job done. Cycling requires a lot less effort

It's also nearly 20 minutes extra in bed or watching TV before you have to leave.

Hungrycol

If a walk takes you 30 mins each way and buying a bike may halve this or even reduce this to, say, 10 minutes each way, I think you may be better off walking a brisker walk and working on diet see how it goes. I second what el Tonto says and with increasing probability of colder and wetter weather I think the bike may be a shiny cobweb catcher.

DirkVoodoo

ceoltoir wrote: »

I live in Windy Arbour and work in UCD, so I thought it might just be too short a journey to justify cycling and that walking would be better.

That said, there's a lovely tree-lined road in from Clonskeagh past the UCD creche, without too much traffic. My main worry would be the right turn from Clonskeagh Road. It's a very busy route.

Maybe I'm just looking for excuses!:o

The right turn at the Clonskeagh entrance by the AIB? It's fine, just get into the right turn lane early, like you would when driving. The only incident I had here was when some old dear didn't see the light was red and nearly ploughed into the side of me.

Glitterangel76

ceoltoir wrote: »

I live in Windy Arbour and work in UCD, so I thought it might just be too short a journey to justify cycling and that walking would be better

Just go for it...When I first moved up here i bought a bike to get from Seafield Road East in Clontarf to East Point Business Park (thats used to be about a 20/30min cycle)...now I commute from Clontarf village to Goldenbridge Ind Estate. So no journey is too small...Baby steps and all that

Cycling is definitly contagious...My mom is even talking about getting a bike to potter back and forth to the local shops etc and she's just turned 60 and hasn't been on a bike since I was 11 or 12...she's high blood pressure as well and the doctor thinks its a great idea

tomasrojo

kincsem wrote: »

Keep you bike in the hall, open front door, lock front door.

If you have carpet, put down some old plastic sheeting or bubble wrap in the hall way to keep the carpet clean.

But keep the bike where you'll use it. It's best to make it convenient, not a penance! Cycling is fun!

If you're short on space indoors, a Brompton is a nice option, as it folds away into a very small space. Just got one yesterday and am very pleased with it.

Beasty

ceoltoir wrote: »

Maybe I'm just looking for excuses!:o

You are!

I'm approaching 50 and only really got into cycling over the past couple of years or so. I am now healthier than at any time in my life - commuting around 50km (return journey) most days, and having lost over 30kgs since I started.

You have an ideal incentive - the bike to work scheme - take advantage of it while you can, and improve your health at the same time

flickerx

ceoltoir wrote: »

The deadline for participation in the Cycle to Work scheme is next Friday

Sorry - is this deadline just specific to your work place, or is it for the entire scheme, for everyone?

Rob_l

flickerx wrote: »

Sorry - is this deadline just specific to your work place, or is it for the entire scheme, for everyone?

I think it must be specific to the Op's workplace i know the government will review the scheme next year\ or the year after, but no talk yet of ending it

Beasty

flickerx wrote: »

Sorry - is this deadline just specific to your work place, or is it for the entire scheme, for everyone?

Definitely not for everyone - the original rules remain in place, and I am not aware of any proposals to change them. This must be a specific restriction applied by this employer (although I am not sure if this is allowed under the legislation)

Deisetrek

Beasty wrote: »

You are!

I'm approaching 50 and only really got into cycling over the past couple of years or so. I am now healthier than at any time in my life - commuting around 50km (return journey) most days, and having lost over 30kgs since I started.

You have an ideal incentive - the bike to work scheme - take advantage of it while you can, and improve your health at the same time

I agree with Beasty , you are looking for excuses . Some people have got into the CTW scheme in my place 'cause in a time when the gangsters in the Dail are in the process of emptying our pockets it's one of the few area's where the taxpayer can benifit , they thus bought bikes ,feeling they were getting "one over" and proceeded to let 'em rot in the garage since!
Like Beasty , I'm in my late 40's and since re-taking up cycling in the last few years , I've went from 16 stone to 13 stone ( eating as much as I want) , never been fitter or as healthy . Was on tablets for about 6 years for digestion problems , haven't had to take one for the last 2 years . How much more convincing do you need ?

seamus

Beasty wrote: »

Definitely not for everyone - the original rules remain in place, and I am not aware of any proposals to change them. This must be a specific restriction applied by this employer (although I am not sure if this is allowed under the legislation)

It's perfectly allowed under the legislation. The legislation neither requires that the employer participate at all or for any specific period.

tomasrojo

Deisetrek wrote: »

I agree with Beasty , you are looking for excuses . Some people have got into the CTW scheme in my place 'cause in a time when the gangsters in the Dail are in the process of emptying our pockets it's one of the few area's where the taxpayer can benifit , they thus bought bikes ,feeling they were getting "one over" and proceeded to let 'em rot in the garage since!
Like Beasty , I'm in my late 40's and since re-taking up cycling in the last few years , I've went from 16 stone to 13 stone ( eating as much as I want) , never been fitter or as healthy . Was on tablets for about 6 years for digestion problems , haven't had to take one for the last 2 years . How much more convincing do you need ?

The comparison I've seen lately is that taking up cycling is as beneficial to your health as giving up smoking. People who cycle daily, even modest distances, are noticeably healthier than those who don't.

DePurpereWolf

It's no surprise that on a cycle forum you'll only get encouragements.

If you are scared of traffic, Ireland is not a good place to be for cyclists.

I would suggest getting the bicycle for the weekends first, see if you like it and try to push yourself. There are enough places you can cycle where there isn't too much traffic.
Walking, although healthy, doesn't make you loose weight very fast. If you want to loose weight, try to go for speed. This won't do you any good going to work because you'll be there in 10 minutes, that's not much of an excercise.

You can always choose to either walk or cycle to work.

mmclo

el tonto wrote: »

Tough love time, but well intentioned. If you need to get fit, you need to lose this mindset. Because getting in shape is a lot more hard work than getting a bike out a gate.

Crikey, I could add, unlock shed, move car, move bin etc. etc. to that. I started back regular cycling just over a year ago after a gap of about 15 years

I even remember joking with a work colleague that cycling to work would just be too much despite doing a similar distance to college when I was I younger.

Living in D.15 the plan was to get as far as the park, when I did that I discovered it wasn't that far to NCR. Then the plan was to do one or two days a week. I've cycled in and out to the city centre nearly every work day since. I think the best part of cycling at my level is constantly surprising yourself.

Dr_Colossus

And once you start cycling you won't want to walk anywhere again as it's so slow and boring by comparison. Speaking of lazy, I'd cycle to the shop for a litre of milk even though the shop is only about 5 or 6 hundred meters down the road.

BostonB

Pity you left it till the last minute. I would have suggested hiring a bike in the phoenix park to see if you liked it. Or even one of the DublinBikes in the city.

Rather than a bike for commuting, you could forget the commute and get something more fun for going for spin at the weekend. Or popping to the local shop. More fun less stress, lower blood pressure.

No point doing less exercise on your commute which you would be if you used a bike. Though you could take a longer route just for the fun of using a bike. I take the easiest cycle route to work. Not the shortest, though I could cycle that too.

Doctor Bob

I'll add my voice to the 'go for it' brigade, but it's worth pointing out that you'd burn more calories walking than cycling.

Also, if that junction at AIB scares you (I know that the eminently sensible advice 'just get into the right turn lane early' might still sound too intimidating to a novice's ears), there's a pedestrian crossing at that junction that you can use (on foot, obviously, or carefully on the bike if you're feeling rebellious!:)) to get you to Wynnsward Drive. The route to the creche via Roebuck Crescent is lovely, but the junction with Clonskeagh Road isn't signalised, so it'd be trickier than the other one.

mockler007

you seem hung up on getting a bike out of your garden, should'nt you worry more about dying, you dont have to be lance down the cyclelane, it will take a few weeks for it to get easy, and you will have more money, plus add an extra 10 years onto you life, you in your 50s, that aint old, i cycle everywhere and save alot, feck the bus, had a car and sold that, and got a very good mtb, was a 37" waist, and now im 32" the only downside is having to buy new clothes, if you dont want to buy a bike at first, go to the pheonix park and rent a bike out for the day for 20euro and start from there, rememmmmmmber you dont need to go warp speed, just enjoy the fresh air !

adamshred

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

And once you start cycling you won't want to walk anywhere again as it's so slow and boring by comparison. Speaking of lazy, I'd cycle to the shop for a litre of milk even though the shop is only about 5 or 6 hundred meters down the road.

i'm the same! anyone who cycles regularly will slowly become anti walking! its great though i feel sorry for those walkers pfft