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How Far Is Too Far To Bike To Work?
In a world where we’re being encouraged to “go green,” it can seem like you are constantly searching for ways to reduce your carbon footprint. A quick Google search will tell you to eat less meat, unplug your devices, eat locally, and drive less. Spending less time behind the steering wheel is one of the more popular ways that people aim to reduce their carbon footprint. Not only do you help our planet, you also get in that much needed daily exercise and get to start the day off with fresh air.
So, if you’re wanting to switch up life behind the car wheel for something new, then a bike may be the best new route to go. Several of my friends even bike to work instead of driving – weather permitting.
While metro cities are more popular for biking to work, that doesn’t mean we should count you out if you live in a more suburban area. Even if you don’t live in a metro city, you can still bike to work. There are just some factors that you should take into consideration like distance, for instance. How far is too far to bike to work? Let’s find out.
Quick Answer
For the question “how far is too far to bike to work?”, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. A quick answer would be that anywhere from one to ten miles is fine for biking to work. Depending on the route, this should take you anywhere from five minutes to an hour. My recommendation is for you to do a test commute before getting right to it. Possibly even test it a few times before determining what your best option is. There are bike apps that you can download that will track your time, which will make it easier for you to determine if the commute is workable. Below are a few other factors you should take into consideration as well.
Distance Matters
| Miles (One Way): | Difficulty Level: |
|---|---|
| 0-5 | Pretty Easy |
| 6-10 | Moderate |
| 11-15 | Tough |
| 16-20 | Long and Tiring |
Distance is another variable that should be considered when determining whether commuting to work via bike is an excellent choice for you. There’s a vast difference between biking 1 mile and biking 10 miles. Especially when you are in a race against the clock to get to work on time! Chances are if you have to bike 20+ miles to get to your office, then that might be a bit too far. You don’t want to be gassed first thing in the morning at work because of your long commute. So, keep in mind the distance of your commute from home to work in making your decision on how far is too far to bike to work.
Your Fitness Level
Your fitness level matters – and it’s important that we be honest about what our actual level of fitness is! If you’re just getting started doing cardio activities or have minimal experience riding a bike, then biking to work may be a bit more difficult than it is for a seasoned biker. If you bike frequently, then a 5 mile biking commute will probably be a breeze. Determining your fitness level is another key factor in determining whether to bike to work.
How Long Will The Ride Take?
Clearly you won’t want to bike to work if it’s going to make you late to work. Nobody wants to explain being tardy because of their bike ride in to the big boss! So, the time it will take you to get there should definitely be on your list of things to think about. It’s important to think about factors like traffic lights or congestion which could cause a delay in your travels.
How Tough Is Your Bike Route?
Next up, let’s determine your bike route and its difficulty. Is your bike route to work a steady incline? Or is the road pretty flat? Is there a bike path that will lead you there or is it mostly back roads? If your route to work is a tough ride or on very busy roads, then biking may not be the best option.
Will You Have To Clean Up?
If your ride to work is short and sweet, then you might not have to clean up once you get there. However, if you’re biking anything over 2 or 3 miles, then you should probably expect to be cleaning yourself up afterwards. So, consider if you will have to clean up and if you’ll have time to clean up.
What Kind of Bike Should You Ride?
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Just like there’s no one specific answer for the question of how far is too far to bike to work, there’s also not just one bike that you can ride. You can ride to work on a road bike, a fixed gear bike or a folding bike. You don’t need the latest and greatest bike to hit the market in order to change up your commute. But you want to be sure that the bike is comfortable and fits all of your specific needs.
While you can ride an uncomfortable bike, chances are you will not want to do it each day. You’ll also want to avoid purchasing a cheap, heavy bike from your local big box store. I’m not saying that the bike you purchase has to break the bank – you can usually find a good one for around $250 that is used. Just be sure that it’s the right fit for you and is comfortable to ride each day to work!
How Much Can You Carry?
How many items do you take to work with you each day? Will you be taking your backpack with your laptop and other items in it? Will you also be taking lunch to work? The more items you take with you, the heavier the bike ride will be. The heavier the bike ride is, the more difficult it will be. So, be mindful of how much you can carry with you on your commute.
What Will You Do With Your Bike At Work?
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Unfortunately, bike theft happens! You definitely don’t want to walk outside once you’re finally off work and realize you’ll be walking home. So you’ll need to know what you can do with your bike while you’re at work. Some companies allow their employees to bring their bikes inside or give them the ability to leave them in their office. If you can’t take your bike inside, then be sure that you have locks to keep it safe. Your best bet will be to lock it to a bike rack. Be sure to lock both of the tires and the bike frame for extra security.
Conclusion
When trying to decide how far is too far to bike to work, there are multiple factors to consider. The quick and dirty answer is anything beyond 10 miles is too far. But, for some people even 10 miles might be too far.
Some factors to consider when deciding how far is too far to bike to work are the distance, your current fitness level, how long the ride will take, and how tough your bike route is. Other factors to think about are will you need to clean up after the ride, how much you can carry and what you will do with your bike once at work.
