Cycling to work

johnp23

Hi

Im new posting here. I was thinking of getting a bike under the bike to work scheme. My job is 24km each way my commute would be citywest to old airport road.

First does anyone do this commute if so how is it . I havent cycled in about 2 years and my old commute was 14km each way on a moutain bike.

Second if it manageable what bike should i get and what sort of commute time would i be looking at.


Thanks

Beasty

Thread here on long commutes

Yes, it's manageable - start off once or twice a week and build up
Best option is a road bike
Time would probably be just over an hour each way to start, but this should drop as your fitness improves

johnp23

Thanks for the reply ill have a look at that tread

petethedrummer

I was doing 20km each way last year, Malahide Rd to Clondalkin. Loved it. Best part of the day. Go for a road bike. As with any long commute, there will be good bits and bad bits.

electrogrimey

Definitely go for a road bike. A 24km commute on a road bike will feel like your 14km commute your mountain bike, seeing as you'll be carrying much less weight.

kumate_champ07

hope you have shower facilities at work!

Muller_1

I have similar distance commute 22k 4-5 days a week, I used an old hacker road bike for years, but just got a Fous Mares cross bike before Christmas on the bike to work scheme and find it much more comfortable, full mudguards and rack for paniers, and 28c tyres. Take's me about 45-50 minutes for the commute, but this is really about an hour by the time I get the cycling gear on etc..

Jawgap

Very do-able and a good time of the year to be starting.

Have you worked out a route yet?

Pigeon Reaper

I'm doing Raheny to citywest to pretty much the same distance and route out of town to citywest. The cycle is fine apart from the redcow cycle track which is a joke and has no signs directing cyclists onto it. From Newlands cross out to citywest is hard shoulder which is covered in muck and debris but I've had no trouble with it. I then go into kingswood and the backway into citywest. The way back into town is easier as you can go up the kingswood junction and down by the park until you're almost at newlands cross again. Plus there's a slight downhill incline all the way to town. You should be able to do it in 45 mins including traffic lights.

Go for a road bike to do this.

Dr_Colossus

I thought the magic road was in Waterford or is there one in Newlands Cross now also?

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

Plus there's a slight downhill incline all the way to town.
Go for a road bike to do this.

Echo what the above have said, definately doable and best on a road bike but you would need shower facilities in work for that distance and especially during a clammy summer or wet winter. Just think of all the extra food you'll be able to enjoy to replace all those calories burned in the commute.

levitronix

Go for the road bike, i commute on my winter trainer from knocklyon to leixlip 2-3 days a week and love it especially when the weather gets good like today. I work shifts 12 hour day and find its the best way to unwind on the spin home. Get a nice fitting ruck sack and water proof over shoes are a must for the commute

johnp23

Thanks for all the replies . The job is hopefully putting shower facilities in next week or the weeks after then only have to go out and get the bike. I gather i should do some mileage when i first get the bike before jumping into the deep end and cycling all that way. Can anyone suggest a route. ive looked at AA route Planner and it comes up with 21km door to door

cdaly_

Don't worry too hard about the showers. Once you've been coming in regularly on the bike the rest of the staff will club together to buy you your very own shower...

Victor

Note that a new road is being built from Citywest to Belgard along the line of the Luas extension, which may be an alternative route. Shown in the light orange colour here: http://www.rpa.ie/Maps/Luas%20Line%20A1/August%202006%20-%20Luas%20Line%20A1.map.pdf