(06-20-2022, 11:35 AM)marie Wrote: My commute to work is 15 miles
How much time do you have to commute to work?
What type of bicycle should I be looking for ?
Hey Marie,
My commute is just under 40 miles and takes (at present health condition) about 2.75 hours averaging 15 mph including stops. I am biking about 7 miles on urban streets and the rest is, for the most part, well maintained rural roads and highway.
Since I am going a fair distance on the road it makes no real sense for me to use anything but a road bike or a near variant (e.g. hybrid). I have other bikes for other terrains and purposes; some of them are used for multiple applications in a manner well beyond the expected use of the bike's design and initial intended use. The road bike I use is something I have geared for fairly flat roads since my commuting and local topography don't require touring/hill climbing gears (I have separate bikes for those needs). I use either a small back pack or a rear rack with panniers if I really need to carry a lot of stuff, but I normally can commute with just the rear rack and a small bag on top which allows necessities plus a little, but keeps me from taking more than would be required for a simple one day commute or tour (excepting water requirements).
It depends on your terrain (road, off-road, flat, hilly, mixed, etc.), riding style regarding intensity, and how you need to feel and appear once you get to your destination whether it's work or somewhere else. I have shower and locker facilities at my work, and I am changing into OR scrubs so I don't need to have spare clothing, and I can always change into a clean set of scrubs and leave in my work "clothes" if required.
Another consideration is what are you doing with the bike if not using it for commuting. Will it be a commuting bike only, or will it also be used for recreational or other purposes? Do you already have a bike, but feel it is not appropriate for commuting that distance or terrain?
15 miles is a nice commute for keeping in shape; 30 miles a day even at a leisurely pace will definitely improve your conditioning and may make you want to change bike styles and /or bike set-up to something allowing for more speed (lighter weight, different gearing and components, etc.).
Also, take into consideration what you expect you'll need to transport during rides; don't forget about weather (wet, hot, cold) and night riding concerns regarding choosing the bike's design and accessories, and the clothing needed for those conditions.