[Cycling] Commuting - Ausbb

Kyle Aaron · 14-11-2009, 12:05 PM

I'll be doing a 23km each way commute on my bike soon.

I have to go from the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne to the CBD four days a week, get there about 0845. The car would be a mad drive and stupidly expensive parking. The train will be absolutely packed, is often late or cancelled, especially once the temperature gets over 35 degrees.

So I'll be going by bike. There's a bike path most of the way, along the Monash Freeway & Citylink. But it's not a distance I've cycled before, my trips so far have just been short ones - 6-8km.

I just have a cruddy old k-mart mountain bike, and with my course, wedding and honeymoon, can't afford a new one just yet. I'm going to get hybrids or slicks, which should make things easier.

Any other advice for these long commutes?

Admin · 14-11-2009, 02:43 PM

have never used a hybrid so not sure on how they perform , but i have put slicks on my old trek 3700 to be there was no real noticable difference between slicks and knobbies.

the thing to make sure is that your bike is in good condition , that the gears change correctly and the right psi in the tyres , and the chain is lubed up

14-11-2009, 04:23 PM

From a physics point of view you would want a tyre/rim that is as light as possible if riding on the road. Mountain bike rims are heavy and strong to take the off road punishment and require more force to accelerate them.

14-11-2009, 04:45 PM

Slicks will definitely help to a point and also help make the trip a little more enjoyable ride without it being constantly bumpy because of the knobs.

Rotational weight will be your biggest enemy though but if you get a tyre too light you will risk alot more puntures. so just try to get a tyre that a bit lighter and a little slimmer each time you get new ones untill you start having issues.

A new bike would be ideal for the future as even a stiffer frame has major benefits ensuring that the power you put down goes to the ground and not going through the bike flexing and not to mention better bearings with less friction so your enegy isnt wasted.

Also depending on what your seats like some padded bike knicks(shorts) might be an idea.

18-11-2009, 12:34 PM

Slicks make a massive difference IHOMO.Nobbies are heavier and slow down a lot quicker.Getting up to speed is much easier with slicks and then cruising is easier as well.With nobbies you have to constantly push to keep up to speed.

Kyle Aaron · 18-11-2009, 12:53 PM

These are the tyres I got. I'm just fitting them on now.

A mate of mine who cycles lots reckons I'll get 10% more speed with the same effort. 6.5km was taking me 25-30 minutes, so the 23km to the city should take me 90 minutes - but I haven't tried the route yet, it could be quicker or slower, the route to Holmesglen had a lot of crossing roads and traffic, this is more bike trails. I'll do a trial run tomorrow.

My mate reckons three spare inner tubes are necessary, but he cycles 64km in one go so I'm not surprised. I'll only be doing 23km and most of that within 1km of a railway line, if I get more than one flat I'm giving up and taking the train!

Admin · 18-11-2009, 01:01 PM

when ever i go riding i always take 2 spare tubes with me , some tweezers and air canisters. The air canisters are great pump the tyre up in 30seconds

upg · 18-11-2009, 02:02 PM

aerodynamics helps alot too
grab a cycling jersey and bike shorts

hydration pack is also very handy

check out Torpedo7 Online Cycling bikes, Mountain Bikes, Road Bike and Bike Parts if you havent already

brendon · 18-11-2009, 02:09 PM

and shave your legs while your at it.......pfffffftttttttt

as if lycra or shaving your legs will make any difference. if it does it will be very little. i know a couple who wear lycra under there pants and they only wear it for comfort reasons.

Kyle Aaron · 18-11-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upg

aerodynamics helps alot too
grab a cycling jersey and bike shorts

NEVER!

I will never ever be lycra-clad. You don't get into a flamesuit when you drive a car, do you? Cycling is for transport!

I'll take water, I don't know if there are drinking fountains along the way.

14-11-2009, 12:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kyle Aaron Active Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Melbourne Gender: Posts: 3,682	Commuting I'll be doing a 23km each way commute on my bike soon. I have to go from the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne to the CBD four days a week, get there about 0845. The car would be a mad drive and stupidly expensive parking. The train will be absolutely packed, is often late or cancelled, especially once the temperature gets over 35 degrees. So I'll be going by bike. There's a bike path most of the way, along the Monash Freeway & Citylink. But it's not a distance I've cycled before, my trips so far have just been short ones - 6-8km. I just have a cruddy old k-mart mountain bike, and with my course, wedding and honeymoon, can't afford a new one just yet. I'm going to get hybrids or slicks, which should make things easier. Any other advice for these long commutes? __________________ Recent clients' best results: BW +10kg/-27kg ... BF-11% ... ♀/♂1RM/kg SQ65/145 OHP30/65 DL75/170 "fitness and lifting is just an interest I have. Plain and simple. Some people like music, others like shopping, I like deadlifts." - a client[/SIZE]

14-11-2009, 02:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Admin Administrator. Graeme Join Date: Nov 2006 Gender: Posts: 2,805	have never used a hybrid so not sure on how they perform , but i have put slicks on my old trek 3700 to be there was no real noticable difference between slicks and knobbies. the thing to make sure is that your bike is in good condition , that the gears change correctly and the right psi in the tyres , and the chain is lubed up __________________ Ausbb- Australian Body Building serving all of your fitness,Body Building needs, conditioning, fat loss, training, supplements and so much more New to this forum? Follow these steps: 1) Register free as a member 2) Introduce Yourself 3) Ask questions, post some answers, learn more 4) Get back to the gym and build more muscle! 5) Create your own Training Diary One team: Ausbb Join Ausbb on facebook Make a Donation. Ausbb Sponsors Ausbb Member of the month - Vote now! Do you own or use a small Gym? Message to all New comers and lurkers: Don't be Afraid to post even if some of the topics might be out of your league don't hide in the shadows jump into General Topic and get to know some of the girls and guys on the forum TAKE PART IN THE 2012 BODYTRANSFORMATION COMP Ausbb is all you need VicFishing - Victorian Fishing forum ps it's Graeme - not Graham

14-11-2009, 04:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
TS153 Guest Posts: n/a	Slicks will definitely help to a point and also help make the trip a little more enjoyable ride without it being constantly bumpy because of the knobs. Rotational weight will be your biggest enemy though but if you get a tyre too light you will risk alot more puntures. so just try to get a tyre that a bit lighter and a little slimmer each time you get new ones untill you start having issues. A new bike would be ideal for the future as even a stiffer frame has major benefits ensuring that the power you put down goes to the ground and not going through the bike flexing and not to mention better bearings with less friction so your enegy isnt wasted. Also depending on what your seats like some padded bike knicks(shorts) might be an idea. Last edited by TS153; 14-11-2009 at 04:49 PM.

18-11-2009, 12:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kyle Aaron Active Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Melbourne Gender: Posts: 3,682	These are the tyres I got. I'm just fitting them on now. A mate of mine who cycles lots reckons I'll get 10% more speed with the same effort. 6.5km was taking me 25-30 minutes, so the 23km to the city should take me 90 minutes - but I haven't tried the route yet, it could be quicker or slower, the route to Holmesglen had a lot of crossing roads and traffic, this is more bike trails. I'll do a trial run tomorrow. My mate reckons three spare inner tubes are necessary, but he cycles 64km in one go so I'm not surprised. I'll only be doing 23km and most of that within 1km of a railway line, if I get more than one flat I'm giving up and taking the train! __________________ Recent clients' best results: BW +10kg/-27kg ... BF-11% ... ♀/♂1RM/kg SQ65/145 OHP30/65 DL75/170 "fitness and lifting is just an interest I have. Plain and simple. Some people like music, others like shopping, I like deadlifts." - a client[/SIZE]

18-11-2009, 01:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Admin Administrator. Graeme Join Date: Nov 2006 Gender: Posts: 2,805	when ever i go riding i always take 2 spare tubes with me , some tweezers and air canisters. The air canisters are great pump the tyre up in 30seconds __________________ Ausbb- Australian Body Building serving all of your fitness,Body Building needs, conditioning, fat loss, training, supplements and so much more New to this forum? Follow these steps: 1) Register free as a member 2) Introduce Yourself 3) Ask questions, post some answers, learn more 4) Get back to the gym and build more muscle! 5) Create your own Training Diary One team: Ausbb Join Ausbb on facebook Make a Donation. Ausbb Sponsors Ausbb Member of the month - Vote now! Do you own or use a small Gym? Message to all New comers and lurkers: Don't be Afraid to post even if some of the topics might be out of your league don't hide in the shadows jump into General Topic and get to know some of the girls and guys on the forum TAKE PART IN THE 2012 BODYTRANSFORMATION COMP Ausbb is all you need VicFishing - Victorian Fishing forum ps it's Graeme - not Graham

14-11-2009, 04:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
-LJ- Guest Posts: n/a	From a physics point of view you would want a tyre/rim that is as light as possible if riding on the road. Mountain bike rims are heavy and strong to take the off road punishment and require more force to accelerate them.

18-11-2009, 12:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Zarkov Guest Posts: n/a	Slicks make a massive difference IHOMO.Nobbies are heavier and slow down a lot quicker.Getting up to speed is much easier with slicks and then cruising is easier as well.With nobbies you have to constantly push to keep up to speed.

18-11-2009, 02:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
upg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Perth, WA Gender: Posts: 206	aerodynamics helps alot too grab a cycling jersey and bike shorts hydration pack is also very handy check out Torpedo7 Online Cycling bikes, Mountain Bikes, Road Bike and Bike Parts if you havent already

18-11-2009, 02:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
brendon Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ACT Gender: Posts: 978	and shave your legs while your at it.......pfffffftttttttt as if lycra or shaving your legs will make any difference. if it does it will be very little. i know a couple who wear lycra under there pants and they only wear it for comfort reasons. __________________ Current BW 98kg ,height 5ft 11 : Bench: 130kg x1, Squat: 200kg x1 Deadlift: 240kg x1 Clean: 125kg Overhead: 110kg All lifts 100% raw Last edited by brendon; 18-11-2009 at 02:14 PM.