Those who do this every day, I salute you...

I make no secret of this, I'm a fair weather biker. Regardless of my original motives when I first bought my bike, it has turned into exactly the sort of machine I always swore it would never do namely, one that spends more time being polished than ridden. I don't have any objection to getting cold and wet per se, it's just the three hours that I spend cleaning the bike when I get it home that I object to. I no longer ride horses for much the same reason, the only good thing is the bike doesn't try to bite you when applying WD40 to its nether regions.

Many years ago, probably around the mid eighties I worked for a company that was based in Leatherhead. Getting there from Kent was no problem, if I could be at the Wrotham Junction of the M25 (reference point: Oakdene Cafe) by 08:30, I could pretty much guarentee being at the office by 09:00. I no longer work there but today on the few ocassions I've made the journey at that time of morning, it's taken the best part of an hour and that on a good day! My definition of Hell on Earth is travelling from Kent to Surrey or points west on the M25 in the rush hour in fact I'd rather chew off my own testicles with a pair of George Washington's wooden dentures than do that journey...

So, imagine my joy at being told I'd been booked on a course in Weybridge for a couple of days this week. Now with most companies that's not a problem, they just book you into a hotel and you can go up the evening before. My lot have a slightly different attitude:

"What's this? You need to go on a course to support the new computer system? The mission critical system that has cost us several million pounds and upon the sucess of which rides not only our corporate reputation but the personal fortunes of the directors and senior managers? Yes, fine shouldn't be a problem... what's that? You need to stay overnight.... Oh well... I suppose we could just keep our fingers crossed and hope the system doesn't break down..."

So I figured it was about time the bike started to earn her keep and off I went on day one. I'd intended to be out by 07:00 and since we weren't going to start till 09:30 I thought I would have plenty of time. As it was by the time I'd managed to pull on all the extra layers, avoid rupturing myself trying to zip up my waterproofs and get the bike warmed up it was more like 07:50. Then I had to stop at the petrol station so by the time I was actually on my way it was after 08:00. Not a promising start.

As things turned out, probably due to half term, the traffic wasn't too bad. I went through the Sevenoaks snarl up in about five minutes, the Clackett Lane snarl up was conspicuous by it's abscence as were the Godstone, M23, Reigate Hill and Leatherhead snarl ups. I only really stopped at Junction 10 where I was leaving anyway and a little light filtering got me through there in double quick time. Even allowing for taking a wrong turning and having the grand tour of the Brooklands retail park I still signed in at 09:10. OK, it took me another 10 minutes to get changed again but all in all not a bad time.

The next day I took my car! (And for the record, the journey time was about the same but the tyre on tarmac segment for the car was rather longer. I gained time by not having to get changed at each end However, had the traffic been as bad as I feared, I'm pretty sure I would have saved even more time by bike.)

I've done the odd run to work before (unfortunately I need my car), all nine miles of it, usually in the summer and not had to worry about hypothermia. So, to you guys and girls who regularly do a 40 or 50 mile commute each way; Respect!

Originally Posted by Nick762

to you guys and girls who regularly do a 40 or 50 mile commute each way; Respect!

does 2o miles each way count?

Originally Posted by Itching 2 go

does 2o miles each way count?

How about 35?

50 minutes to get your gear on and out the house?? Flipping eck!! I take 5 minutes.

Originally Posted by mysteryjimbo

How about 35?

50 minutes to get your gear on and out the house?? Flipping eck!! I take 5 minutes.

Anything more than my paltrey 9 and a bit...

Originally Posted by Nick762

I So, to you guys and girls who regularly commute each way; Respect!

Wot He said!

The time lost due to "leathering" up or down at either end is a considerable factor (if you wear a waterproof oversuit, ear plugs, etc.). I find anything under 5 miles is generally quicker in the car than the bike for that reason.

Although I don't condone it, I can understand why a lot of scooter commuters just wear a helmet.

[Balky001]

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

The time lost due to "leathering" up or down at either end is a considerable factor (if you wear a waterproof oversuit, ear plugs, etc.). I find anything under 5 miles is generally quicker in the car than the bike for that reason.

Although I don't condone it, I can understand why a lot of scooter commuters just wear a helmet.

When I commuted to the city on the bike I found changing in to leathers, lid, gloves, boots, putting work suit in racksack etc and getting to the underground car park actually added about 15 minutes in the summer and 20 in the winter, I could have walked to Fenchurch street by then and guaranteed to be home in 45 minutes, but a good ride on A13 was always worth the extra time even though door to door it should have been faster. I've now got winter gear which is quicker to put on, but no-where to park the bike so I'm on the train. I do miss the 80 mile round trip but not in this weather, it was miserable sometimes. Big respect to all those 365 bikers, hope to be joining you again soon when I switch job (again)!

Do it every (working) day - no problem.

Once you get the routine established, the "dressing up" and "dressing down" is a 5 minute job.

Working in The City, not only would it take at least twice as long, it would cost me a small fortune in Congestion Charge and parking fees if I took the car.

Thank God for motorcycles!

Free parking, no congestion charge and all the smog you can eat.

I live 1.6 miles from work. I used to take the bike, and it was the best 4 minutes 30 seconds of the whole day.



Wasn't good for the bike though, and plain stupid not to walk it, which is why I don't ride in anymore That and the bikes stuck in the garage uninsured, double

i only do ten miles and my boss lives 5 mins from me we both go same way home one night took him fifty mins in the car time he had got home i,d been in had cup of tea something to eat and was watching telly i love filtering