The lonelyness of the long distance commuter

[fizzwheel]

My normal journey to work is 2 miles, either cycle or drive. I hadnt realised just how lucky I am.

I've been away in Bristol on a training course all week. For various reasons I decided as Bristol is close to home I would drive up and back to the training course. The course was being held in a training centre just off Junction 16. So easy access from the M5.

First couple of days was OK, today and yesterday I'm bl**dy knackered, stressed and generaly wanting to punch things / break stuff / hurt people. My back aches, I have a stinking headache.

Motorway is full of tw*ts, the A roads are full of tw*ts, its a dog eat dog world. All its done is confirm that I cant deal with a long distance commute, I cant even beging to contemplate what that would be like after a hard day in the office. I think I'd be a hospital case after 6 months of that.

Those of you who commute a long way to work everyday, my respects.

The only positive from it is that hire car I had ( Focus 1.6 TDCi ) I managed to get 65mpg average out of it.

[Bluepete]

I know how you feel.

I'm lucky that work is four miles and i rarely drive my own car in rush hour traffic. Job car is a different matter - people tend to behave!

When I do have to use my car though, I hate it!

My attitude tends to be slow down, relax and enjoy the scenery.

Pete

Originally Posted by Bluepete

I know how you feel.

I'm lucky that work is four miles and i rarely drive my own car in rush hour traffic. Job car is a different matter - people tend to behave!

When I do have to use my car though, I hate it!

My attitude tends to be slow down, relax and enjoy the scenery.

Pete

same here pete-i love getting in the landy and pottering home after work, the thing never sees over 60, and by the time i get in i'm relaxed and chilled out.

[timwilky]

I spent 18 months commuting from Preston to Rugby, It did put me in hospital. The daughter now commutes Preston to Leeds. she has seen sense, goes on the train.

This is pretty much the reason why I use the train to get back and forth to work - it's only 12 miles, and it takes me 45 minutes in the car and an hour on the train, but I'm a lot more sane arriving home.

[dizzyblonde]

Pete used to go to work 14 miles away in Bradford. I only have to say the town and you can conjure up the idea of hell it was to get to and from.
In the car it would take anywhere between 45 mins to a couple of hrs(0r more). On the bike it would still take 45 minutes, because you'd be insane to even think you could filter, or try make the journey quicker down to the amount of nutters trying to kill you!

Now he works in Huddersfield. Nine miles may not sound much different, but on a bike hes home in 20 mins, in the car its a max of 30.
Hes a much happier bunny, and its not costing over 200 quid a month in petrol either.

I only have a 4 mile each way commute, across town, and I get easily hacked off. Although I use the sv from january onwards, so most traffic is easily dealt with, not far enough to have fun either though.

When I use my car for the colder months i have to tell myself to chill out, even though its only a 12 minute journey

I commuted before I went self employed, 50 mile round trip for 9 years, very stressful.
My wife couldn't speak to me for an hour after I got home some nights as I was so wound up.

I had a golf gti for about 3 years of that, problem is it frustrates you when you're in a quickish car because you wanna go faster, I got a passatt after that to try and relax a bit more.

In my last job I was doing regular drives of 3 hours before I'd start a full 8 or 9 hour day, and then drive 3 hours home again once I was done. My Fiesta van was given to me with 6 miles on the clock, I gave it back 7 months later with just over 28,000 on the clock, and it had been off the road for three weeks over winter due to xmas and snow.


Nowadays my ride to work takes 10 minutes. I don't have to wake at 4 to 4-30, I now wake at 7 and drift around before getting on the bike at 8-40 for the short ride to start work at 9, and then at 6 o'clock I hop on the bike for the 10 minute ride home. It's bliss and I am so much more relaxed and happy.

[kaivalagi]

I have a 4 mile commute at the moment but will have a 175 mile there and 175 mile back weekly commute soon enough....I am looking forward to it for now.

As it is I go the long way home clocking 20 miles most evening on the way back when it should just be 4 miles...

But saying all that I would imagine a daily commute of serious distance would be a bit much after a while.