Confessions of a new commuter



S

Stuart Lamble

Guest
Just moved into my unit in Mitcham, and started commuting on the peddly
treddly to work this morning. Observations, and questions.

1) Took me around an hour, and I was knackered at the end. Average
speed would've been around 20 kph, at a guess. (Really need to get
a cycle computer on my bike...) I didn't start getting my second
wind until about 40 minutes into the ride. Likely to improve with
fitness, I assume? (I damn well hope so... :)
2) Lane splitting. Hit a wall of traffic north of Ferntree Gully Road
heading south on Springvale Road. My hybrid has barely enough room
to pass in the middle of two lanes of traffic (forget about passing
on the left side of the left lane; it Ain't Gonna Happen). I assume
a road bike would improve this (it'd cut the width of the
handlebars considerably, but there's still the panniers to deal
with...)
3) Route this morning: meandering through to Mitcham Road via the back
streets (south of the railway line), west onto Canterbury Road,
south onto Terrara Road, deviating onto Hanover Road, then west
along Burwood Highway, south along Springvale, west along Ferntree
Gully to Monash Uni. Suggestions for a better route? (not that
there's anything particularly wrong with this one) Maybe south
along Hartland and Highmont to Highbury Road?

Lots of stuff to buy along the way: road bike; lights and pannier racks
for said road bike (speaking of which -- I have two takers for the
panniers I mentioned in another posting; if one declines the postage
costs, the other is in Melbourne, so consider them gone); new shoes (the
old ones are not comfortable any more); ... But for now, I'm riding.
Just wish it didn't take so much out of me to the point that I'm puffing
for half an hour after I get in to work. :)

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congrats! I tram to work, would take me longer to get ready then it would to ride.

yeah dont worry about the fitness before you know it, it will be taking, 40 minutes and you will doing 50 km loops just to fill in time!! well exaggerating, but you know what I mean!

Its personal I guess, I always found, Blackburn Road nicer to ride on then Springvale road, its usually not "quite" as heavy with traffic and it found it a better road for riding on as well, nicer asphalt

good luck with the commuting! and the bike upgrading.



Stuart Lamble said:
Just moved into my unit in Mitcham, and started commuting on the peddly
treddly to work this morning. Observations, and questions.

1) Took me around an hour, and I was knackered at the end. Average
speed would've been around 20 kph, at a guess. (Really need to get
a cycle computer on my bike...) I didn't start getting my second
wind until about 40 minutes into the ride. Likely to improve with
fitness, I assume? (I damn well hope so... :)
2) Lane splitting. Hit a wall of traffic north of Ferntree Gully Road
heading south on Springvale Road. My hybrid has barely enough room
to pass in the middle of two lanes of traffic (forget about passing
on the left side of the left lane; it Ain't Gonna Happen). I assume
a road bike would improve this (it'd cut the width of the
handlebars considerably, but there's still the panniers to deal
with...)
3) Route this morning: meandering through to Mitcham Road via the back
streets (south of the railway line), west onto Canterbury Road,
south onto Terrara Road, deviating onto Hanover Road, then west
along Burwood Highway, south along Springvale, west along Ferntree
Gully to Monash Uni. Suggestions for a better route? (not that
there's anything particularly wrong with this one) Maybe south
along Hartland and Highmont to Highbury Road?

Lots of stuff to buy along the way: road bike; lights and pannier racks
for said road bike (speaking of which -- I have two takers for the
panniers I mentioned in another posting; if one declines the postage
costs, the other is in Melbourne, so consider them gone); new shoes (the
old ones are not comfortable any more); ... But for now, I'm riding.
Just wish it didn't take so much out of me to the point that I'm puffing
for half an hour after I get in to work. :)

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Click to expand...
 
"Stuart Lamble" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Just moved into my unit in Mitcham, and started commuting on the peddly
> treddly to work this morning. Observations, and questions.
>
> 1) Took me around an hour, and I was knackered at the end. Average
> speed would've been around 20 kph, at a guess. (Really need to get
> a cycle computer on my bike...) I didn't start getting my second
> wind until about 40 minutes into the ride. Likely to improve with
> fitness, I assume? (I damn well hope so... :)

Keep riding. As you get fitter the time will come down. When I first took up
commuting (July 1976 to studies at Monash) my first ride took me over 45
minutes. Within 2 weeks I had this down to 25 miutes and sometimes 20
minutes. Your time should coome down to about 30 minutes.

> 3) Route this morning: meandering through to Mitcham Road via the back
> streets (south of the railway line), west onto Canterbury Road,
> south onto Terrara Road, deviating onto Hanover Road, then west
> along Burwood Highway, south along Springvale, west along Ferntree
> Gully to Monash Uni. Suggestions for a better route?

Follow the Ringwood to Chadstone bus route (check the Melways)- down
Hartland Rd, Highmont Dv, RT on Highbury Rd, LT into Camelot Dv, RT into
Capital Av, LT at roundabout into Westlands Rd -all this is quite flat or
slight downhill, better than the ups and downs, and traffic of Burwood Hwy &
Springvale Rd.

At High Street Rd go right to Springvale Rd. Take Springvale through Glen
Waverley, then turn left on Waverley to Blackburn Rd then ride this divided
section of Blackburn to Monash. This should avoid a lot of the traffic
heading along Springvale to get to the freeway.

> Just wish it didn't take so much out of me to the point that I'm puffing
> for half an hour after I get in to work. :)

That puffing is a symptom of you getting fitter ;-)

Cheers
Peter
 
On 2005-02-28, MikeyOz <[email protected]> wrote:
> Its personal I guess, I always found, Blackburn Road nicer to ride on
> then Springvale road, its usually not "quite" as heavy with traffic and
> it found it a better road for riding on as well, nicer asphalt

Blackburn Road is fine south of Waverley Road, and that's the way I went
whilst living with my parents (they're in a place between Blackburn and
Springvale Roads), but north of WR, I strongly distrust it. Two lanes in
both directions, undivided road ... too much aggravation for the other
vehicles.

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>
> Follow the Ringwood to Chadstone bus route (check the Melways)- down
> Hartland Rd, Highmont Dv, RT on Highbury Rd, LT into Camelot Dv, RT into
> Capital Av, LT at roundabout into Westlands Rd -all this is quite flat or
> slight downhill, better than the ups and downs, and traffic of Burwood Hwy
> &
> Springvale Rd.
>
> At High Street Rd go right to Springvale Rd. Take Springvale through Glen
> Waverley, then turn left on Waverley to Blackburn Rd then ride this
> divided
> section of Blackburn to Monash. This should avoid a lot of the traffic
> heading along Springvale to get to the freeway.
>

Good route! (I wish I had more of those)

Alternative is to use Blackburn road to Highbury (while it is still wide)
and then turn right. Turn left after the quarry/housing slums and then back
track a little to Lawrence Rd. Follow this over High St Rd, turn onto Regent
St until Waverley. Both of these are quite wide. Then take Forster Rd
through to Monash. The hills are quite mild, particularly going South.
 
On 2005-02-28, Peter Signorini <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Stuart Lamble" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> 3) Route this morning: meandering through to Mitcham Road via the back
>> streets (south of the railway line), west onto Canterbury Road,
>> south onto Terrara Road, deviating onto Hanover Road, then west
>> along Burwood Highway, south along Springvale, west along Ferntree
>> Gully to Monash Uni. Suggestions for a better route?
>
> Follow the Ringwood to Chadstone bus route (check the Melways)- down
> Hartland Rd, Highmont Dv, RT on Highbury Rd, LT into Camelot Dv, RT into
> Capital Av, LT at roundabout into Westlands Rd -all this is quite flat or
> slight downhill, better than the ups and downs, and traffic of Burwood Hwy &
> Springvale Rd.

Reads somewhat complicated, but on the map, it's pretty straightforward.
I'll give it a go on the trip home, see what it's like. Might well end
up being a lot easier; Burwood Highway was definitely the worst part of
this morning's commute. Thanks.

>> Just wish it didn't take so much out of me to the point that I'm puffing
>> for half an hour after I get in to work. :)
>
> That puffing is a symptom of you getting fitter ;-)

I know; I just like a bit of a whinge. :)

Much appreciated.

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>>>>> "Stuart" == Stuart Lamble <[email protected]> writes:

Stuart> Blackburn Road is fine south of Waverley Road, and that's
Stuart> the way I went whilst living with my parents (they're in a
Stuart> place between Blackburn and Springvale Roads), but north of
Stuart> WR, I strongly distrust it. Two lanes in both directions,
Stuart> undivided road ... too much aggravation for the other
Stuart> vehicles.

Yeah, I've ridden Blackburn Road between Burwood Highway and Wellington
Road, it's not much fun. Warrigal Road is about the best link I've
managed to find between Burwood Highway and Wellington so far, and that
ain't great.
--
Cheers
Euan
 
"Stuart Lamble" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Reads somewhat complicated, but on the map, it's pretty straightforward.

Yes it s easy to do and quite direct. I sometimes use this as part of a
training loop from my place to Jells Park then back along the Dandenong Ck
Trail.

> I'll give it a go on the trip home, see what it's like. Might well end
> up being a lot easier; Burwood Highway was definitely the worst part of
> this morning's commute. Thanks.

No worries. Another option, depending upon wich part of Mitcham you're
coming from could be to ride down Boronia Rd to the Dandenong Ck Trail, then
take it down to High Street Rd, or maybe even Waverley Rd. It'd be a very
peaceful route, if a bit longer.(Don't go as far as Ferntree Gully Rd uness
you want some serious hill training. The FTG Rd hill is notoriously steep
and probably carries lots of traffic in the morning) Then you could cut
across to Springvale Rd or Blackburn Rd to get down to Monash.

Cheers
Peter
 
"Stuart Lamble" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Just moved into my unit in Mitcham, and started commuting on the peddly
> treddly to work this morning. Observations, and questions.
>
> 1) Took me around an hour, and I was knackered at the end. Average
> speed would've been around 20 kph, at a guess. (Really need to get
> a cycle computer on my bike...) I didn't start getting my second
> wind until about 40 minutes into the ride. Likely to improve with
> fitness, I assume? (I damn well hope so... :)
> 2) Lane splitting. Hit a wall of traffic north of Ferntree Gully Road
> heading south on Springvale Road. My hybrid has barely enough room
> to pass in the middle of two lanes of traffic (forget about passing
> on the left side of the left lane; it Ain't Gonna Happen). I assume
> a road bike would improve this (it'd cut the width of the
> handlebars considerably, but there's still the panniers to deal
> with...)
> 3) Route this morning: meandering through to Mitcham Road via the back
> streets (south of the railway line), west onto Canterbury Road,
> south onto Terrara Road, deviating onto Hanover Road, then west
> along Burwood Highway, south along Springvale, west along Ferntree
> Gully to Monash Uni. Suggestions for a better route? (not that
> there's anything particularly wrong with this one) Maybe south
> along Hartland and Highmont to Highbury Road?
>
> Lots of stuff to buy along the way: road bike; lights and pannier racks
> for said road bike (speaking of which -- I have two takers for the
> panniers I mentioned in another posting; if one declines the postage
> costs, the other is in Melbourne, so consider them gone); new shoes (the
> old ones are not comfortable any more); ... But for now, I'm riding.
> Just wish it didn't take so much out of me to the point that I'm puffing
> for half an hour after I get in to work. :)
>
> --
> My Usenet From: address now expires after two weeks. If you email me, and
> the mail bounces, try changing the bit before the "@" to "usenet".

Heh, you're obviously a good bit fitter than I was when I started riding :)
Good effort. You'll still breathe heavily at the end of the commute, but
after a while, it's not uncontrolled gasping anymore and You feel good
immediately afterwards rather than just wanting to collapse somewhere cool
and quiet.
 
>>>>> "Stuart" == Stuart Lamble <[email protected]> writes:

Stuart> (Really need to get a cycle computer on my bike...)

Yes, you do! I'm a commuter, it's pretty much all I use my bike for.
I'm kicking myself that I didn't get one 19 months ago when I started
this commuting by bike m'larky. Don't repeat my pain, get a 'puter :)

Stuart> I didn't start getting my second wind until about 40
Stuart> minutes into the ride.

You might be starting off too hard, I take it real easy for the first
10-15 minutes of the ride, depending how cold it is, before upping the
effort and I've noticed a marked difference.

Stuart> Likely to improve with fitness, I assume? (I damn well hope
Stuart> so... :)

Yes, you'll get fitter and it'll get easier. Have you ever had any
cycling coaching? I.E. has anyone actually taught you how to use the
pedals properly sit on the bike and that sort of thing?

If the answer is no, again don't repeat my pain :) About two months
ago I figured that if cycling was going to be my main modus transportus
then it'd make sense to get some coaching. Yet again I'm kicking myself
that I haven't done so earlier. Two months down the track and I knocked
4 minutes pedaling time off of my commute (about six minutes total when
lights etc are taken in to account) and that's not through a huge leap
in fitness but technique. It doesn't cost the earth and will make your
cycling a lot more enjoyable.

Stuart> 2) Lane splitting. Hit a wall of traffic north of Ferntree
Stuart> Gully Road heading south on Springvale Road. My hybrid has
Stuart> barely enough room to pass in the middle of two lanes of
Stuart> traffic (forget about passing on the left side of the left
Stuart> lane; it Ain't Gonna Happen). I assume a road bike would
Stuart> improve this (it'd cut the width of the handlebars
Stuart> considerably, but there's still the panniers to deal
Stuart> with...)

My approach to lane splitting runs like this: Are the motorists I'm
about to overtake going to have to overtake me when the lights go green
and is that going to cause more congestion? If the answer is yes, I
claim the lane and wait in traffic like everyone else. It's a lot less
stressful and you don't lose that much time.

I've only ever used a road bike for my commute, so far it's served me
well although tram tracks need a lot of respect in the wet. I've
Ortleib panniers about which I've no complaints. They do what they say
on the tin, keep things dry.
--
Cheers
Euan
 
"Peter Signorini" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
> No worries. Another option, depending upon wich part of Mitcham you're
> coming from could be to ride down Boronia Rd to the Dandenong Ck Trail, then
> take it down to High Street Rd, or maybe even Waverley Rd. It'd be a very
> peaceful route, if a bit longer.(Don't go as far as Ferntree Gully Rd uness
> you want some serious hill training. The FTG Rd hill is notoriously steep
> and probably carries lots of traffic in the morning) Then you could cut
> across to Springvale Rd or Blackburn Rd to get down to Monash.

Or take the route along Westlands, then Kerrie Rd, up to Danien,
The Outlook (now you are on my route), cross over Waverley Rd
to Joyce, then dogleg onto Watsons Rd which gives a nice run
through to Ferntree Gully Rd. I'm heading for near Monash Uni,
so I travel along Springvale Rd a short distance then Dunlop and
Duerdin Rds to Blackburn Rd. This is a bit lower than Normanby Rd,
but may be worthwhile. Sometimes you want contours on the
Melway maps.

What is also important is to learn where to take particular care.
There are always intersections where cars do crazy things,
and you need to learn when to take the whole lane,
and when to give way.
 
On 2005-02-28, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>> "Stuart" == Stuart Lamble <[email protected]> writes:
>
> Stuart> (Really need to get a cycle computer on my bike...)
>
> Yes, you do! I'm a commuter, it's pretty much all I use my bike for.
> I'm kicking myself that I didn't get one 19 months ago when I started
> this commuting by bike m'larky. Don't repeat my pain, get a 'puter :)

*grins* It's on the list of things to buy. Honest! Trust me! Would I lie
to you? ;)

> Stuart> Likely to improve with fitness, I assume? (I damn well hope
> Stuart> so... :)
>
> Yes, you'll get fitter and it'll get easier. Have you ever had any
> cycling coaching? I.E. has anyone actually taught you how to use the
> pedals properly sit on the bike and that sort of thing?

Erm... uh... *looks around for an escape* ... um ... no.

> If the answer is no, again don't repeat my pain :) About two months
> ago I figured that if cycling was going to be my main modus transportus
> then it'd make sense to get some coaching. Yet again I'm kicking myself
> that I haven't done so earlier. Two months down the track and I knocked
> 4 minutes pedaling time off of my commute (about six minutes total when
> lights etc are taken in to account) and that's not through a huge leap
> in fitness but technique. It doesn't cost the earth and will make your
> cycling a lot more enjoyable.

*ponders*

Would it be worthwhile before I switch to a road bike? If yes, whom
would people recommend? If no, again, whom would people recommend, with
the understanding that it's likely to be anywhere from 6 months to a
year before I get myself a road bike.

> My approach to lane splitting runs like this: Are the motorists I'm
> about to overtake going to have to overtake me when the lights go green
> and is that going to cause more congestion? If the answer is yes, I
> claim the lane and wait in traffic like everyone else. It's a lot less
> stressful and you don't lose that much time.

I'll definitely concur on this one; I'd only do it when there's a clear
advantage for me, and no disadvantage for the cars. In the case I cited,
I was turning right at FT Gully Rd anyway, which meant that by lane
splitting, I beat the traffic by that much, and the traffic I overtook
didn't have the frustration of overtaking *me* further down the road.

> I've only ever used a road bike for my commute, so far it's served me
> well although tram tracks need a lot of respect in the wet.

I know that much -- I've had problems with my car on wet tram tracks,
and can only imagine what it'd be like on a bike (especially considering
how easily a bike could get stuck in the tracks, too.)

> I've
> Ortleib panniers about which I've no complaints. They do what they say
> on the tin, keep things dry.

<AOL/> -- spent a fair bit on them, but that's why you spend the big
bickies.

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Congrats on deciding to commute to work!! Two weeks ago I also commuted
to work for the first time (but in Sydney).

It was about 28km to work in the morning from Cronulla to Mascot (via
backroads and bicycle paths whith a few busy sections) and the first
half I went hard but the second half was pooped and nearly needed a lie
down when I got to work! hehe

Also cycled home in the afternoon and was exhausted. Am cycling for the
second time again tomorrow morning. Thought I should work up to it.

On a few of the roads where the traffic was heavy I actually jumped up
onto the footpath and crossed at the lights as I was a bit nervous in
traffic for the first time.

I make sure now that when I approach a roundabout I actually move into
the lane as once an old guy nearly wiped me out into the kerb when I
stayed close to the edge.

I am riding a mountain bike with slick tyres at the moment. So once I
know that I will actually keep riding to work I might progress to
buying a hybrid or something similar.

Nell
 
On 2005-02-28, Nell <[email protected]> wrote:
> On a few of the roads where the traffic was heavy I actually jumped up
> onto the footpath and crossed at the lights as I was a bit nervous in
> traffic for the first time.

What did it for me was heading north on Springvale Road near the Glen.
Too much traffic, giving me too little room. Fortunately, there are easy
alternatives that will have much less traffic (even if it means
travelling through temptation, aka the Kingsway shops), thanks to the
earlier post about following the bus route south to High Street Road.

So all in all, I think I have an acceptable route through suburbia that
doesn't involve too many main roads, or too many hills (I was surprised
just how flat that route was in comparison to Springvale Road) -- I'm
set.

Would've cycled in again this morning, but I found -- just before I was
going to head off -- that I'd forgotten to soak one of my two contacts.
Erm. Oops. Glasses go on, and they're no good for cycling, so it's the
car for me. Taking into consideration the time needed to walk from the
free carpark to the office, it worked out to 55 minutes, cf 60 on the
bike (even in my rather unfit state).

I have showers at both ends. I think I know how I'm going to save
~$40/week in petrol...

The ride home was a killer, though. Damnit, I *know* I have bidons;
where the hell did I put them... *kicks self*

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On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 at 00:44 GMT, Stuart Lamble (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> The ride home was a killer, though. Damnit, I *know* I have bidons;
> where the hell did I put them... *kicks self*

I was proud of myself this morning. I didn't take the train, and it
was over 25 degrees. In fact, it was in the vicinity of 30
degrees. Geeh, it sure was warm. Hopefully autumn will now proceed to
kick in.

--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
Recursive: Adj. See Recursive.
 
On 2005-03-01, TimC <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 at 00:44 GMT, Stuart Lamble (aka Bruce)
> was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
>> The ride home was a killer, though. Damnit, I *know* I have bidons;
>> where the hell did I put them... *kicks self*
>
> I was proud of myself this morning. I didn't take the train, and it
> was over 25 degrees. In fact, it was in the vicinity of 30
> degrees.

In the shade. That's probably around 40 degrees on the black asphalt,
I'm guessing. Either way, "It's hot. Damn hot."

> Geeh, it sure was warm. Hopefully autumn will now proceed to
> kick in.

Tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday should be much nicer; the bureau is
forecasting around 22 or so for all three days.

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Stuart Lamble wrote:
> In the shade. That's probably around 40 degrees on the black asphalt,
> I'm guessing. Either way, "It's hot. Damn hot."

Oooh goody.. so I'm stepping out of a nice air'conned' office into fiery
death for some lung searing 'drome efforts :)

hippy
"blah blah blah" (no, not you blah!)
 
hippy said:
Stuart Lamble wrote:
> In the shade. That's probably around 40 degrees on the black asphalt,
> I'm guessing. Either way, "It's hot. Damn hot."

Oooh goody.. so I'm stepping out of a nice air'conned' office into fiery
death for some lung searing 'drome efforts :)

hippy
"blah blah blah" (no, not you blah!)
Click to expand...

what time you there?
might see if I can roll down there, all things going smoothly later (yeah, right!)
 
flyingdutch wrote:
> what time you there?
> might see if I can roll down there, all things going smoothly later
> (yeah, right!)

Start btw 5.15pm and 5.30pm i guess.. 3 x 10min E3, 5min WR.
Then I'll either cut laps for another hour or ride home.

hippy
 
hippy said:
flyingdutch wrote:
> what time you there?
> might see if I can roll down there, all things going smoothly later
> (yeah, right!)

Start btw 5.15pm and 5.30pm i guess.. 3 x 10min E3, 5min WR.
Then I'll either cut laps for another hour or ride home.

hippy
Click to expand...

nah. gotta via east Melb so shall go to my 'Base' work instead

shout at a few tri-ers for me :D
 
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