Comments on: Using Your Commute as Part of Training http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 18 May 2013 21:46:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: welshcyclist http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-104316 welshcyclist Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:38:39 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-104316 That settles it Adam, I'm joining the gym, I don't get to see any nice ladies on my commute, if I did I'd probably go alot faster. That settles it Adam, I’m joining the gym, I don’t get to see any nice ladies on my commute, if I did I’d probably go alot faster.

]]> By: Adam http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-104312 Adam Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:21:14 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-104312 Since quitting the Gym (due to the cost) I now use the commute as a cardio workout. 1 hr per day for 5 days. Some days I will do a spinning commute (rpm > 100) and others just hill climbing, just by varing the route. I find that by using your commute to work out you have so much more time left in the day. Weight sessions are now shorter due to no need to do cardio and also it just great to be out on the bike in the fresh air and working out. However.........there is a downside. I really do miss all the nice ladies in gym kit ;) Since quitting the Gym (due to the cost) I now use the commute as a cardio workout. 1 hr per day for 5 days. Some days I will do a spinning commute (rpm > 100) and others just hill climbing, just by varing the route.

I find that by using your commute to work out you have so much more time left in the day. Weight sessions are now shorter due to no need to do cardio and also it just great to be out on the bike in the fresh air and working out.

However………there is a downside. I really do miss all the nice ladies in gym kit ;)

]]> By: Dan http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103942 Dan Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:49:50 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103942 I use my commute as hours, but more in a 'recovery' mode than anything else. When the daylight gets longer I might extend into some actual training/interval workouts on the way home, though. I use my commute as hours, but more in a ‘recovery’ mode than anything else. When the daylight gets longer I might extend into some actual training/interval workouts on the way home, though.

]]> By: welshcyclist http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103932 welshcyclist Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:04:11 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103932 I don't race at all, I just commute and take leisure rides, because I love to be out in the fresh air as much as possible. Neither activity is classed, by myself as training, I just do it to help me keep in some kind of shape, as it helps me in all aspects of my life. I don’t race at all, I just commute and take leisure rides, because I love to be out in the fresh air as much as possible. Neither activity is classed, by myself as training, I just do it to help me keep in some kind of shape, as it helps me in all aspects of my life.

]]> By: Kwvin Love http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103908 Kwvin Love Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:58:44 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103908 The answers to your questions are: No. 1.2 km. The answers to your questions are:

No.

1.2 km.

]]> By: Dingbat http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103905 Dingbat Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:28:40 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103905 BiggerDummy reminds me to mention my bike (ok, I'll admit it, brag on my bike!). I've got it set up now as a fixed gear with a low (42:21) gear ratio, fine for hauling the trailer. For some morning rides I leave the trailer at home and keep the gear ratio to work on my spin: 2 hours at a cadence of 106 or higher is my goal. Why 106? it's the beats per minute of "Staying Alive" so I can check my speed by singing to myself. Other times (this morning, for instance) I'll want to work on power or handling (I'm a cyclocrosser, really, not a roadie), and I'll go play around in the dirt and on what passes for hills in Chicago! Or just haul the trailer into the wind for a while (I mistyped "trialer" there, and man, it's the truth sometimes!). BiggerDummy reminds me to mention my bike (ok, I’ll admit it, brag on my bike!). I’ve got it set up now as a fixed gear with a low (42:21) gear ratio, fine for hauling the trailer. For some morning rides I leave the trailer at home and keep the gear ratio to work on my spin: 2 hours at a cadence of 106 or higher is my goal. Why 106? it’s the beats per minute of “Staying Alive” so I can check my speed by singing to myself.

Other times (this morning, for instance) I’ll want to work on power or handling (I’m a cyclocrosser, really, not a roadie), and I’ll go play around in the dirt and on what passes for hills in Chicago!

Or just haul the trailer into the wind for a while (I mistyped “trialer” there, and man, it’s the truth sometimes!).

]]> By: BiggerDummy http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103900 BiggerDummy Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:17:45 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103900 I do 15 Miles each way on my Big Dummy with studded tires. It's slow and heavy - like a virtual 15 mile climb. Dropped down to 3 days a week over the winter, ramping back up to 5 over the next few weeks. As training? Well... we do a few 24 hour mountain races over the summer. The mileage is great for base miles but does nothing for core strength or explosive power and I found my offroad handling skills suffered for it. I may mix it up with a fixie or my road bike this season to keep me fitter and make sure I get more trail time in. I do 15 Miles each way on my Big Dummy with studded tires. It’s slow and heavy – like a virtual 15 mile climb.

Dropped down to 3 days a week over the winter, ramping back up to 5 over the next few weeks.

As training? Well… we do a few 24 hour mountain races over the summer. The mileage is great for base miles but does nothing for core strength or explosive power and I found my offroad handling skills suffered for it. I may mix it up with a fixie or my road bike this season to keep me fitter and make sure I get more trail time in.

]]> By: Dingbat http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103899 Dingbat Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:11:48 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103899 I'm in the same basket as Tim Dreyer (@2, above), with a sub-2-mile commute. Two or three days a week I spice it up by dropping my daughter off at daycare, then riding 45-60 minutes before going to work (my work has a shower). Two of the remaining days I will ride early (5:00-7:00) then head home to do my bit of the morning family routine, drop my daughter off, and then ride to work and shower there. Having the work shower means that I can do the short rides, yes, but it also opens up the other mornings since my family's time schedule can't always bend to accommodate my training. I’m in the same basket as Tim Dreyer (@2, above), with a sub-2-mile commute. Two or three days a week I spice it up by dropping my daughter off at daycare, then riding 45-60 minutes before going to work (my work has a shower).

Two of the remaining days I will ride early (5:00-7:00) then head home to do my bit of the morning family routine, drop my daughter off, and then ride to work and shower there. Having the work shower means that I can do the short rides, yes, but it also opens up the other mornings since my family’s time schedule can’t always bend to accommodate my training.

]]> By: Jim Mitchem http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103898 Jim Mitchem Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:28:21 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103898 I haven't resumed commuting by bike yet since I get to work at 7:00 and my route is busy with commercial traffic- stopped riding in early December when I was almost hit by a tractor trailer - I had a bright headlamp and flashing led taillight. I am an hour north of Charlotte and this warmer weather has me eager to resume my commute, but I will wait a little longer. as far as training goes, I carry a weeks worth of clothes with me on Mondays in a bike garment bag. I can then strip down my bike and do my training on the rides home in the afternoon until friday when I carry my stuff home again. I haven’t resumed commuting by bike yet since I get to work at 7:00 and my route is busy with commercial traffic- stopped riding in early December when I was almost hit by a tractor trailer – I had a bright headlamp and flashing led taillight.

I am an hour north of Charlotte and this warmer weather has me eager to resume my commute, but I will wait a little longer.

as far as training goes, I carry a weeks worth of clothes with me on Mondays in a bike garment bag. I can then strip down my bike and do my training on the rides home in the afternoon until friday when I carry my stuff home again.

]]> By: Quinn http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/02/09/using-your-commute-as-part-of-training/comment-page-1/#comment-103892 Quinn Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:51:05 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=3087#comment-103892 I don't race, however, especially having Spina bifida, I look at commuting as my own way to stay fit, and I too commute to train for life, I Definate notice the difference between summer, when I commute and recreationally ride and winter when I just commute. My advice- do all you can by bike, and spend less time "training". I don’t race, however, especially having Spina bifida, I look at commuting as my own way to stay fit, and I too commute to train for life, I Definate notice the difference between summer, when I commute and recreationally ride and winter when I just commute.
My advice- do all you can by bike, and spend less time “training”.

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