70 km round commute

businessdit

Hi all, I live about 35km from the city centre and from now until the end of summer am thinking of commuting all the way in and back 5 days a week. (70km round trip).

Ideally I would get a racer for this, but think I want something more solid given that some of the roads are quite bad nearer my house. But it still needs to be fast...

Anyone got any suggestions? (maybe you will tell me a racer is the only way to go...)

Elvis_Presley

you sir, are a machine!

Alanstrainor

I wouldn't do it on anything other than a racing bike tbh.

karltimber

I would go with a racer but with the roads you mentioned, maybe more robust wheels and tyres than the standard ones that come with a racer.

but with 70km - defo a racer.

K

on_the_nickel

It's doable, but build it up slowly (i.e. just twice first week, not straight into 5 days), and have a plan b.

Try to avoid having to take a rucksack every day too, it's amazing how good a spin home without it is every so often.

07Lapierre

Road bike! Deffo!!

kincsem

You probably need mudguards and a rack.
Something like looks this but cheaper http://www.enigmabikes.com/bike/bike-enigma-etape.html

Keep_Her_Lit

Comfort and efficiency are going to be important, so a well fitted road bike or tourer would be the way to go. Personally, I wouldn't consider commuting that distance without a rack and mudguards. If you're really going to stick to your 5 days per week regime, there will be more than likely a fair few wet days thrown in there.

For the rough roads, just get a decent pair of training wheels, instead of something light and exotic, and run 25's or 28's on them. Maybe opt for a cyclocross bike if the going is really rough and mucky where you live!

What's your weekly mileage at the moment? I hope it's not zero! If it is, you'd want to allow a sensible amount of time to ramp up to the full 350km per week.

Also, your round trip time is going to be substantial and will knock a big chunk out of your day, even if you're fit. Then again, if your journey is already slow, maybe the cycle will be comparable.

Good luck with it anyway. It's ambitious but certainly doable. If you can stick to that for the whole summer you'll be in good shape by autumn.

mp31

Definitely not a racer - unless you are planning to race during the commute
IMO I'd say a touring bike which has a relaxed geometry for a more comfortable & stable ride, more upright position, takes decent mudguards, has mountings for racks/panniers and can take larger tyres e.g. 25c/28c/32c.
Alternatively look at cyclo cross bikes which have a lot of these features but may be cheaper than tourers (depending on your budget).

macnab

I do a 90km round trip from Meath to Dublin. I have never done it more than twice in one week. The thoughts of doing it on anything other than road bike would put me off doing it TBH.

billyhead

I would definately go with a racing bike. You will get into work much faster. If your worried about the surface I got a set of Specialised Armadillo tyres for my bike for commuting as I too face crappy roads on my commute and there sturdy and apparently puncture proof. I have never go a puncture with them anyway after nearly 2 years of using them

Mycroft H

I do a 70km round trip 3 times a week on a steel touring bike with panniers.

The bike is fine and has 32mm wheels so there is a bit of comfort there. However its a few kg heavier then the standard road bike but I've kept up with any commuter races I've come across and embarrassed a few lycra clad carbon fibre wonders along the way.

Panniers are a necessity so I can carry a spare change of clothes and a towel to have a shower with.

I would be an absolute pain without it, sitting in smelly clothes all day.

Full lenght mudguards are a big bonus also, the rain would be a pain without them.

Andy-Pandy

I've a 50k round trip and i use a Kona Honky inc and i cant fault it at all. Its never gonna be as fast as a carbon bike, but its tough and its fast enough.Have it down to 55min's each way. It can take pannier's as well (which i cant afford because i spent every penny i have on the bike).

Roadtoad

businessdit wrote: »

(maybe you will tell me a racer is the only way to go...)

a racer is the only way to go. Twice a week is all that interests me over that distance.

Del2005

Would a recumbent not be viable option. Granted you may need some sort of high level visual marker, seeing as most car drivers are already blind, it wouldn't be much more dangerous than a normal bike.

Lumen

I imagine that a recumbent would be uncomfortable over broken road surfaces and dangerous in heavy traffic.

Mycroft H

Lumen wrote: »

I imagine that a recumbent would be uncomfortable over broken road surfaces and dangerous in heavy traffic.

I've heard that they have poor stability at lower speeds, but given that I've never even used one, I can't really comment.

Kintarō Hattori

I cycle the same distance as you OP- though not every day and do it on a Cube Acid 2011. While a road bike might be quicker I find the Acid to be very comfortable to cycle such a distance. When I get to work I hop off and don't feel tired which is great.

Civilian_Target

I agree with andy and BX-19.

I was doing 55km round-trip with a nasty climb for a while, on a 2009 Kona Honky-Tonk. It's a fast touring bicycle (still has drop bars..), but with size 28 tyres, mudguards, a rack for my bag, a better set of wheels (the first set got thrashed really fast by the potholes), and a good set of dynamo lights.

The setup's not cheap, but it's reliable and nippy. I've done about 12,000km on it now and have had very few issues or complaints.
I'm not sure I'd pick exactly the same bike if I could go back in time (I think the Surly Long Haul Trucker is probably a better setup), but I think I got the right general theme

enas

Del2005 wrote: »

Would a recumbent not be viable option. Granted you may need some sort of high level visual marker, seeing as most car drivers are already blind, it wouldn't be much more dangerous than a normal bike.

Is there any place that sells recumbents in Ireland?

Regarding visibility, it's a common preconception many people who haven't cycled recumbents have (very similar in fact to the non-cyclist who tells you that "you must be very brave to cycle, it's so dangerous"). Absolutely all recumbent riders I've heard of stress how much more visible they are and how much more respect they get on a recumbent than on a classic bike.

Lumen wrote: »

I imagine that a recumbent would be uncomfortable over broken road surfaces and dangerous in heavy traffic.

What makes you think that (both points)?

doozerie

Specifically on the question of whether a road bike can handle rough roads, the answer is yes. If in doubt, consider races like the Paris-Roubaix - you'd be hard pressed to find a road in this country that is as hard on a bike as the worst of the French cobbles. The riders may well fit stronger wheels to their bikes for such races (though not always), plus an extra layer of handlebar tape, etc., but they are still riding lightweight road racing bikes. It's a misconception that road racing bikes, or road bikes generally, are very fragile compared to other bikes.

Highway_To_Hell

My commute is 60km round trip ( I have done it 5 days in a row, but found it left me over tired to do any running and according to my wife a bit cranky, so I would usually only do it 3 times a week) for a while I did it on my road bike but as it had a carbon seatpost and no eyelets I could not use a pannier and hated having a bag on my back, I also found the bike was getting destroyed and I wanted to keep it in good nick for weekend spins so I used the BTW scheme and got a steel framed fixed gear bike and it works a treat and is easy to maintain. There are no major hills on my route and the only time I miss gears is when there is a strong headwind.

As others have said I would start out 1 or 2 days a week and build up to a number of times that you are comfortable with also make sure you get puncture resistant tyres fitted as cycling 350km a week will increase your chances of puncturing. Use the days you don't cycle to bring stuff you need in/out of the office, the less you have to bring with you each day the better. I leave a pair of shoes in the office along with a wash kit, I bring in a towel for the week, I use to also bring in a supply of shirts, but have now found that folded correctly and placed in the pannier they survive the trip.

Enjoy, HTH

Ramlaton

Hi all
I wonder if there is a good bus system or train from Adamstown to Marrion square and Adamstown to Ballsbridge
Or from clondalkin to marrion square or
Clonsalkin to Ballsbridge
If yes let me know which is the quickest and what 's the time travel journey.
Regards

kuro_man

I vote for a relaxed geomtry road bike + carradice sadde bag. Rear mudguard would probably be a good idea.

clod71

kuro_man wrote: »

I vote for a relaxed geomtry road bike + carradice sadde bag. Rear mudguard would probably be a good idea.

I do a 45k round trip commute and that is my setup on a road bike... Got a Nelson saddlebag with a SQR system. I can fit a full change of clothes, lunchbox + spare tube, tools, etc..
Very happy about it!

quenching

clod71 wrote: »

I do a 45k round trip commute and that is my setup on a road bike... Got a Nelson saddlebag with a SQR system. I can fit a full change of clothes, lunchbox + spare tube, tools, etc..
Very happy about it!

Just looking at these saddlebags as I'll need something similar, they look like a great solution but do you know if they can be used with a carbon seatpost?

clod71

@quenching I don't know how safe that is tbh, but why don't you change the seatpost?

quenching

clod71 wrote: »

@quenching I don't know how safe that is tbh, but why don't you change the seatpost?

Good point

Peetrik

Nice light racer would be the only way to go. The toughness of a heavy tourer might be necessary to avoid getting stuck in the middle of a foreign country but sod dragging that weight into work and back every day.

You can get clip on mudguards and a seat post bag for a racer easy enough, and if you feel you need it you could stick a tourer saddle on it for comfort.

bedirect

I would only recommend a racer, when you get fit you will prob do this trip in 1 hour 15 min each way, Make sure you get a road bike, all the others are too heavy and you wont enjoy it. Use a back pack and get clip in pedals, also use mud guards (crud are a good make).

Roadtoad

Unabashed bump.

OP: How did last summer's gig work out (frequency and machinary) and are you giving it a last again this year?

rollingscone

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/frames-frames-road-ribble-winter-audax-525-frame/ribbfraw240

Steel framed Audax bike. Has the Braze-ons for racks, can take mudguards but will still do the job neatly and at a good price.

IM0

businessdit wrote: »

Hi all, I live about 35km from the city centre and from now until the end of summer am thinking of commuting all the way in and back 5 days a week. (70km round trip).

Ideally I would get a racer for this, but think I want something more solid given that some of the roads are quite bad nearer my house. But it still needs to be fast...

Anyone got any suggestions? (maybe you will tell me a racer is the only way to go...)

have you not seen the paris roubaix

Plutonium Kun

A lot depends on whether your route is hilly and/or with lots of starts and stops. if its fairly flat with long stretches without stops, then the weight of the bike is largely irrelevant. A good comfortable light tourer would be very good - ideally with a hub gear, or a fixie/singlespeed. its only if its hilly that a race bike would be a real advantage. You'd also be a lot more comfortable if you could carry your kit on a rack or a seatpost rack.

lennymc

What i wouldn't give for a 70k round commute.

I do a regular 105 k round commute on a full carbon race bike and and don't have any issues with comfort (but I'm well used to the position). Some of the roads can be poor but again no real issues. I also use a backpack and clip on mudguards during the winter.