Cycling to work
May. 18th, 2018 12:36 pmI cycled to work again, hoping for once per week. It was just under an hour for about 8 miles, mostly fairly easy flat cycling although there's a few roads or bridges. That's not a great speed, but it feels like I'm doing well enough it's worth keeping it up. I think it was about 40 minutes coming home last time when the wind was less inimical.
I took the Oakington-Dry Drayton route. I think it's about the same distance but avoids the slightly intimidating Longstanton-Bar Hill road that had fairly fast traffic the last time I tried it, and avoids negotiating the roundabouts and A14 bridge at the entrance to Bar Hill. And Dry Drayton and the little cycle path are just nice. The cycle path is a bit too narrow to go full speed, but I often appreciate going a little gentler in the last ten minutes.
This time I came up the busway to the east end of Oakington. That felt easier than coming round via not-quite-girton on the on-pavement cycle paths -- I always hesitate going full speed when you might encounter a pedestrian or car stepping out of a driveway, and cycling in the road risks 60mph cars who think you should be on the pavement. And the busway through the fields is quite pretty. But it is slightly longer, so maybe I should get used to the other way.
I felt pretty good for it, we'll see if I improve if I keep up once a week. The slightly shorter distance to Bar Hill not Over, and having a bike in slightly better repair, and doing even some on busway is a lot nicer, so I found it a lot easier than the last time I was commuting out this way.
Unfortunately, I think I need to keep up gym as well, and I don't really want to do gym AND cycle 8 miles home, so I can't easily build up to every day. But I could hope for twice a week (especially if I have enough clothes to cycle somewhere in town after, not only home). And even only occasionally, it feels really nice, both for the scenery and the exercise.
I don't know if I'll be able to cope in winter or not. I'm mostly fine the the cold, I will probably skip it in the rain (even if I can cope with the unpleasantness, glasses make it impossible to see), but I'm still uncertain cycling in the actual complete dark. If I'm still cycling when sunset gets earlier, I'll see how I feel.
I took the Oakington-Dry Drayton route. I think it's about the same distance but avoids the slightly intimidating Longstanton-Bar Hill road that had fairly fast traffic the last time I tried it, and avoids negotiating the roundabouts and A14 bridge at the entrance to Bar Hill. And Dry Drayton and the little cycle path are just nice. The cycle path is a bit too narrow to go full speed, but I often appreciate going a little gentler in the last ten minutes.
This time I came up the busway to the east end of Oakington. That felt easier than coming round via not-quite-girton on the on-pavement cycle paths -- I always hesitate going full speed when you might encounter a pedestrian or car stepping out of a driveway, and cycling in the road risks 60mph cars who think you should be on the pavement. And the busway through the fields is quite pretty. But it is slightly longer, so maybe I should get used to the other way.
I felt pretty good for it, we'll see if I improve if I keep up once a week. The slightly shorter distance to Bar Hill not Over, and having a bike in slightly better repair, and doing even some on busway is a lot nicer, so I found it a lot easier than the last time I was commuting out this way.
Unfortunately, I think I need to keep up gym as well, and I don't really want to do gym AND cycle 8 miles home, so I can't easily build up to every day. But I could hope for twice a week (especially if I have enough clothes to cycle somewhere in town after, not only home). And even only occasionally, it feels really nice, both for the scenery and the exercise.
I don't know if I'll be able to cope in winter or not. I'm mostly fine the the cold, I will probably skip it in the rain (even if I can cope with the unpleasantness, glasses make it impossible to see), but I'm still uncertain cycling in the actual complete dark. If I'm still cycling when sunset gets earlier, I'll see how I feel.