Commuting as Training?

[johnnymossville]

Something I've been thinking about lately. Can commuting to work be beneficial as part of your training routine? I have heard a few people call bicycle commuting "junk" miles and I tend to disagree.

Any thoughts?

[maunahaole]

I would say that the miles will benefit you in some way, either as base training, calorie burning, whatever...cant really call it junk as it is saddle time moving your feet.

[Kevan]

And it damn well better! I get up at frikin' 5a.m. to get myself out the door before 6a.m. so I can be at my desk just before 8a.m. Then at the whistle blow getting home just before 7:30p.m....45 miles total!

Oh, it counts alright.

[Chris]

Ask Kent Bostick

[coylifut]

Ask Kent Bostick

he's not answering his phone. tell us more. love Kent Bostick.

[Chris]

Bostick (as I recall) worked as a hydrologist in Albuquerque on a near full-time basis. He did most of his weekly training during his 25 mile commute each way to work. He would take the longer route home on the way back. The guy knew how to do it well. Wasn't he 40 when he made the Olympic team last?

Edit: 42. Here is a good article I just googled. http://www.shaklee.com/products_kbostick.shtml

[maunahaole]

Probably didnt hurt matters too much considering that Albuquerque is near 6000' elevation either.

[itsflantastic]

When I lived in brooklyn, my commute to work was 10 miles on a fixed gear. . .
10 miles? that's not training!

Well, it is if you are sprinting the whole way because your gear ratio is relatively low and you've got to keep pace the the cab you are sharing a lane with.
When I raced my road bike on the weekends, I did much better in the sprints.

Dan

[saab2000]

ya gotta do what ya gotta do. There are no junk miles. Just make 'em count. Commuting by bike kills lots of birds with one stone.

1. General fitness
2. Getting to work
3. Feeling smug about yourself
4. Training if you do it right

[znfdl]

Johnny:

I commute to work.

Tuesdays and Thursdays intervals into work

Wednesday easy spin.

Smells like training to me.

[SoCalSteve]

I think Swoop said it best...

1.) Either do base miles by riding slowly..or

2.) Do intervals

Either way you are getting a great workout.

Also, he said one other thing that stuck with me:

On every ride that he goes on, he learns, trains, practices, whatever.

There is no such thing as junk miles. Make each one count.

Good luck!

Steve

PS: I am commuting to my new show now on a daily basis and am loving every minute of it!

[johnnymossville]

depending on traffic and the lights. I'm doing intervals one day, calorie burning the next. It's got to be good as far as I can tell.

and yeah, the smugness factor is cool too. :p

I enjoyed your comments everyone, thanks.

John

[caleb]

It's worth it. Do it.

[DarrenCT]

ya gotta do what ya gotta do. There are no junk miles. Just make 'em count. Commuting by bike kills lots of birds with one stone.

1. General fitness
2. Getting to work
3. Feeling smug about yourself
4. Training if you do it right

bingo

[palincss]

Something I've been thinking about lately. Can commuting to work be beneficial as part of your training routine? I have heard a few people call bicycle commuting "junk" miles and I tend to disagree.

Any thoughts?

How could transportation miles that get you to work ever be considered "junk"? What a short-sighted view.

[majorpat]

How could transportation miles that get you to work ever be considered "junk"? What a short-sighted view.

Hey, I wish I could ride so much that I had the luxury of labeling some miles as "junk". Don't believe the hype! All miles be good miles, brother.
Pat

[stevep]

riding is riding.

all the same

[e-RICHIE]

riding is riding.

all the same
Puccipedia 98.6 atmo -

[Ti Designs]

Are drunk miles junk miles? There's a bicycle pub crawl every year that's a total of maybe 20 miles if you could ride in a straight line...

[e-RICHIE]

Are drunk miles junk miles? There's a bicycle pub crawl every year that's a total of maybe 20 miles if you could ride in a straight line...
Edpedia 1.0 atmo -

[johnnymossville]

riding is riding. I've been doing this commuting thing since December now and it's great! 15 extra miles a day. I'll take'm.

My next step is to build up a nice commuter bike to replace my road bike for commuting duties. Wooohooooooo!!!