How was your cycle commute?

[han]

Er, yes, it's much faster. No traffic, few other cyclists, no traffic lights. My journey times to work were slashed when I started doing this a couple of years ago, despite it being about half a mile longer each way.

 

[Orang Utan]

Not sure I'd agree with that. I tried a quiet-street route and found it much slower; certainly didn't get anywhere near the average speed I get normally.

Fair point in that you can avoid lights etc, but on a narrower street, the vehicle coming toward you takes up most of the road so you have to cede, and I felt far less safe riding at 25mph on a residential road where car doors open and ppl walk out, than I do on the A23/A3 where I'm in a lane of traffic moving same direction as me and same speed

Innit. And there's often a 20mph limit anyway. I wouldn't want to go faster than 12mph on a narrow sidestreet with parked cars on both sides.
I got fitter last year by basically riding 8 1/2 miles down the A206 from Deptford to Plumstead, with a trundle through some side streets from Plumstead to Thamesmead, and then back again at the end of the day.

 

[Orang Utan]

Er, yes, it's much faster. No traffic, few other cyclists, no traffic lights. My journey times to work were slashed when I started doing this a couple of years ago, despite it being about half a mile longer each way.

Not sure how that's possible. Big roads are faster and more direct. I guess it depends on where you going to and from. But 20mph+ wide roads vs 20mph- narrow roads - the former wins.

 

[han]

Horses for courses eh. I just wanted to completely avoid nasty junctions, it's where all the accidents happen. I get off and walk across with my bike at traffic lights instead of attempting to turn right on a busy road. It's still loads faster than those superhighways clogged with slow, inexperienced cyclists.

 

[Orang Utan]

I avoided the superhighways on my 'fitness' route. I rode through all the junctions and roundabouts. Quite enjoyed navigating them - rather thrilling in fact.
I miss that route. Mine now is just a whizz from Deptford to Peckham on New Cross Road/Queen's Road. I've tried going home via some 'big' hills - Telegraph, Dog Kennel, Forest etc, but the traffic is so heavy at that time that it's no fun.

 

[han]

There are plenty of quiet streets on those big hills you know! Canonbie Road, for example. Just look on the Bike Hub app and pick 'quietest' - all will be revealed. I challenge anyone to go up Canonbie Road faster than 5mph, such is the gradient. It's a lovely quiet, wide road.

 

[tommers]

Cycling at 25 mph down a side street would make you a

Cyclist nutter.

 

[Orang Utan]

There are plenty of quiet streets on those big hills you know! Canonbie Road, for example. Just look on the Bike Hub app and pick 'quietest' - all will be revealed. I challenge anyone to go up Canonbie Road faster than 5mph, such is the gradient. It's a lovely quiet, wide road.

I have a problem with 'fiddly' routes though. Too many turns and I get lost or forget the route. I think I'll just pick a longer route this evening - going to Dulwich and then to Catford on the A205. Or maybe I should just do my old route AFTER work. I'd get proper fit then.

 

[plurker]

It's still loads faster than those superhighways clogged with slow, inexperienced cyclists.

Eh?
You know you can move to the right and overtake slower-moving things, right?
The route I ride has the bus-lane, with the CS7 blue paint, then about 1m of bus lane remaining, then a whole other lane; I use any and all of it to pass vehicles.

 

[Orang Utan]

The superhighways I've used aren't wide enough to overtake safely.

 

[han]

Cycling at 25 mph down a side street would make you a

My definition of fast is about 15! [emoji3]

 

[Orang Utan]

My definition of fast is about 15! [emoji3]

I wouldn't get out of breath at that unless I was on a gradient

 

[BigTom]

Innit. And there's often a 20mph limit anyway. I wouldn't want to go faster than 12mph on a narrow sidestreet with parked cars on both sides.
I got fitter last year by basically riding 8 1/2 miles down the A206 from Deptford to Plumstead, with a trundle through some side streets from Plumstead to Thamesmead, and then back again at the end of the day.

Speed limits don't apply to bikes. [/pedant]

 

[han]

Did I say I get out of breath?

 

[Orang Utan]

Did I say I get out of breath?

You need to get out of breath to get fit

 

[han]

Tbf, I usually have a trumpet, a violin and two panniers on my commute so my load is pretty hefty. Which is why I don't get much faster than that.

 

[Virtual Blue]

Is there a combined cycling and public transport option that works out for you?

My commute is about 14km each way, but occasionally if I'm on the heavy bike taking some equipment in (or just tired) I can do half of it on a train - I'll go into the city centre downhill then take a train out of the other side of the city to a couple of miles from work, since it's heading away from town it's never crowded. Takes about the same amount of time, sometimes longer, but if I take it easy I can get away with not needing a shower at the other end.

That's a good idea!

 

[han]

You need to get out of breath to get fit

I disagree. Really fit people don't get out of breath easily. Unfit people do.

There's loads of cardiovascular exercise that people do that makes them fit without them having to get out of breath.

 

[han]

For example, most runners go at a pace where they can still hold a conversation at the same time.

 

[plurker]

I disagree. Really fit people don't get out of breath easily.

I don't get out of breath at any point whilst riding*, nor running.


*unless I'm caning it for a KOM

 

[Orang Utan]

OK, just going on what I was taught at school - anaerobic exercise n that. Get the heart pumping.

 

[Orang Utan]

For example, most runners go at a pace where they can still hold a conversation at the same time.

Really? Christ, I can't run, or even jog, for more than a couple of hundred yards without getting embarrassingly wheezy.

 

[Winot]

OK, just going on what I was taught at school - anaerobic exercise n that. Get the heart pumping.

I think you need to go back to school!

 

[Orang Utan]

I think you need to go back to school!

I think fitness advice may have changed as much as nutrition advice has over the past 30 years.

 

[han]

Really? Christ, I can't run, or even jog, for more than a couple of hundred yards without getting embarrassingly wheezy.

Don't you smoke? That's probably the reason. You've probably got an OK base level of fitness with the cycling.

 

[Orang Utan]

Don't you smoke? That's probably the reason. You've probably got an OK base level of fitness with the cycling.

Not really. A couple of scrounged ones on a big night out.
Running is just well knackering and lungburning. Which is why I stick to two wheels.

 

[plurker]

Running is just well knackering and lungburning.

Initially, yep, but so can cycling be if you push it!

 

[Orang Utan]

Initially, yep, but so can cycling be if you push it!

Yeah, but the difference is it's fun and less jarring to one's skeleton (or that's how it feels anyway)

 

[Rebelda]

First leg was wicked. Got lucky with traffic lights and made it in a good five minutes under my average 30.

 

[sleaterkinney]

For example, most runners go at a pace where they can still hold a conversation at the same time.

That's not running!