ditching the car now the weathers nice

want2bmortgage3

i work about 12 miles away it takes 20 mins in the car and i'm mostly driving about 50/60 along an A road. its costing me about £4/5 on fuel each day and thats obviously a small part of the overall car running costs... one day i will have to renew the tyres and other moving parts!!

i might try cycling there one day now its light both on the way there and back. do you think the money - saving motivation will keep me pedalling or will i think 'i'm not doing this again'?

Cornishpixie_2

Hi, You may think never again, but you may feel more invigorated when you arrive at work, and have a good nights sleep. I always say after exercise its the right kind of knackered:rotfl:

want2bmortgage3

i'm a postie which is fairly demanding physically itself so i'm not sure whether the 24 mile cycle on top will kill me or not ?! i agree with you that its nice at the end of the day to feel physically drained and be able to sleep easily

butterfly72

I'm a community nurse and the NHS just aren't paying enough milage allowance to cover my petrol costs. I'm walking to some of my patients at the mo but will be dusting my bike down soon! I;ve started a 4 week cycling course at the local adult ed college. Its £15 and for all abilities with the aim of developing the confidence and know how to safely cycle on the roads. I went to the first one last week and really enjoyed it! Maybe you could find something similar in your area? I'd say go for it!! I'm sure the ££ you save will be motivation enough.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

If you're not a regular cyclist then you'll never do 12 miles, let alone 24 miles.

I cycle all the time, 30 miles a day is quite easy for me but it takes time to get up to that level of fitness. What I suggest is that you ride the bike for a mile or two each night, for a couple of weeks. Then put the bike in the car, drive 8-10 miles to work, and cycle the difference.

Eventually you'll be able to do the entire 12 miles, but it will be at least a month.

Symbeaux1

When you witness the evolving of those lovely thighs and back end, you'll never look back....although I do agree with the above post, I find bike riding very easy and it now takes nothing out of me.... but my DS constantly complains how his legs ache...

scbk

My brother has just started cycling a simmillar distance to work, though not everyday (sometimes need to take gear/go further away). As above you want to start off doing a few miles in the evenings/weekends to get used to. My other brother has been cycling for quite a few years and rode home (edinburgh-inverness) on a single speed the other week :think:

anewman

Would the cycle fit in the car and could there be somewhere you can park up legally then cycle? If you can find a variety of places to park up you can increase the distance you cycle each time.

want2bmortgage3

I think I am going to look into transferring offices again as I can do the same job anywhere, running a car and commuting is going to cost in the long term. Luckily I've had no repairs so far. At least if I'm 3 miles from work instead of 12 i'll have no reason not to cycle.

manic_saver

12 miles is alot...if you were fairly fit it would take you about an hour. If i were you i would drive half way get the bike out of the car and cycle the 6 miles or so there and back. Do this three times per week untill your used to it.

I got rid of my car last year as i was not using it. I cycle 6 miles each way, got fitter and gained pounds (not weight though :rotfl:).

Tucker

I started cycling to work last year and now do 3 days a week spring till winter. My journey is 8 miles each way, downhill going, uphill home!

Personally, I think it will depend on the type of bike you use. I started off using my old mountain bike and found a route that used quiet roads, cycle paths and canal tow path's. After 3 weeks I bought a decent hybrid bike and the difference was huge and I cut 10 minutes off the travel time and found it much, much easier too.

The benefits are well worth it. Less stressed, slimmer waste, fitter and stronger and you feel good about yourself, so at least give it ago.

The first day I did it, I made sure my wife could pick me up if I wasn't upto getting home! After a 4 or 5 weeks, it becomes easier and you start to push yourself harder.