question for daily commuters bike/car

I did nearly a month commuting 106 miles each way for training. Entirely motorway/dual carriageway but it was still hell. Yes, that's nearly half again as far as you've got but even 60 miles is too far to want to do every damned working day of your life if you can help it.

was worried about this to be honest and trying to give myself reasons to want to do it. i have done 60 miles round trip for work every day which wasnt too bad. But at the same time its not easy to find a job, and money is hard to come by and maximising savings is my prime goal. meh just gona have to see what comes up i guess

[yorkie_chris]

Buy an XJ900.
60mpg, 10,000 miles out of tyres, no chain and sprockets, 250 miles to a tank

[Dave20046]

I agree with DavingRavis, advised my housemate more or less the same a couple of months ago which he ignored...he now does a 70 miles round trip every day for a bit over minimum wage. Just mad.

[fizzwheel]

I'd move closer to work or find a job closer to your parents house if I were you.

Liz works 3 days a week, her commute is 60 miles each way, we put more than £250 a month into the car on fuel to get her to work and back.

The commute wore out our Ford Focus and it really did end up with alot of wear and tear on it, it also racked up the milleage on her SV and it used to go through consumables i.e. tyres very quickly.

Its hard in the winter to keep on top of bike maintenance and you wont feel like spending your weekend / evenings doing it and then then bike will get away from you and you'll end up with a big bill.

That sort of milleage IMHO its cheaper in a car.

I had to go to Bristol each day a while ago for a training course, I was driving up and down the M5 each morning and evening and by the end of the week I was ready to kill somebody. I'd not do that again by choice. I like my 2 mile journey to work each day.

[Nobbylad]

I commute 80 miles a day on the bike mostly and have done for getting on 4yrs now.

It's a PITA in winter/cold/wet and if you're even thinking about it, then you HAVE to buy some decent Goretex gear, so factor in another £5-750 from the off.

I've been through about 4 different sets of textiles and the Goretex stuff is the only stuff to keep me thoroughly dry, regardless of conditions.

In the summer, I absolutely love getting on the bike and blasting to work. Even though I've been doing the same commute for the last 10years, it never gets boring on the bike when the weather is good and there's daylight.

If I'm using the bike solidly throughout the week, I end up spending around £50-55 p/w in juice.

All depends on what other options you have. Sometimes you just have to take the crappier less convenient jobs first and then take things from there. It can be tough getting a first job and I wouldn't worry too much about the costs and time involved if it gets you on a career path of some sort.

I do concur with the the comments from a few on here that 3 hours commuting, which is what I do, will suck the life and soul from you if you don't enjoy your job. Don't be too fussy just get on with it and start getting experience, while keeping an eye out for something better.

[L3nny]

When I lived at home I had a 50 mile round trip to work each day. I did it in a Golf GTi which I loved driving and it was on some nice roads. It took me about 40 mins each way but after a stressful day it was a good way to unwind.

The only downside was the cost of the petrol but I was still living at home and it was still cheaper than getting my own place.

Commuting through the winter on a bike would be a bit of a chore so you would probably want to do it in a car but if it's one you can enjoy driving then it's not too bad.

If you get the job and you think you'll like it take it. If the commuting becomes a pain then think about moving or look for another job.

My opinion , fwiw, is would this job lead on to better things, if so a little bit of sacrafice may be worth it in the long run, if yes go for it, if not then get a job closer to home.

I use to have a 15 mile round trip to work which was done on works time and on days left me finished round the corner from my house. Now it's 80 mile round trip plus extra driving on times (up to 250 mile days) and i don't drive for a job. Driving is crap. I don't pick up any fuel bills, maintenance etc . . because it's a works vehicle but i would swap my left leg to go back to a closer depot. Hereford is gods s*ithole. Either drug dealers or stuck up farmers and now i live in Newport but it's more real world and is closer to Cardiff and Bristol. I work for a good company though is the only reason i stick it and will end up back down in Wales eventually.