Bike commute and time value

[dandarc]

If exercise doesn't lift your mood, try working out harder.  I personally have to be totally drenched in sweat to get a noticeable runner's high

Sounds like exactly what I want on my way to work.

This one reason I don't bike to work - it is 90+ here a lot of the year.  But the OP had mentioned in the immediately prior post running and "going to the gym" not lifting his mood either.

[Tyson]

If exercise doesn't lift your mood, try working out harder.  I personally have to be totally drenched in sweat to get a noticeable runner's high

Sounds like exactly what I want on my way to work.

One reason that eBikes are very useful - if you need to show up non-sweaty to work they can get you there with a minimum of sweat.  They can also get you there FAST if you need to get there quick.  On the other hand, if you are coming home and are OK with going a bit slower and getting more exercise, you can disengage the motor and just pedal it like a normal bike.

[Just_Me]

A lot of people talk about biking improving their mood. My wife has been trying to push me to run or go to the gym so I'll feel better. But it doesn't really have that effect on me, and when I feel crappy I don't want to work out.. And I don't think I sweaty bikeride in 90 degree weather dodging idiots walking on the phone will do much better. Probably no worse than driving, but I don't believe I will improve my mood either.

Regular exercise should improve your mental and physical well being enough to where your wife shouldn't have to encourage you to get out of the house because you're moody.

If you don't exercise regularly and are already writing off the health benefits that regular biking can provide, that's almost like saying "I'm on a diet, but it's not helping me lose weight [because I only follow it once a week]."

[Tyson]

Chris22 mentioned that he doesn't need to bike to stay in shape.  I am wondering what he does to stay fit, and when he does it.  If family time is important enough to make you not want to bike to and from work, then it should also be important enough that he should not waste time doing any other exercise during family time, either. 

[RidinTheAsama]

If exercise doesn't lift your mood, try working out harder.  I personally have to be totally drenched in sweat to get a noticeable runner's high

Sounds like exactly what I want on my way to work.

This is why I like to gently cruise to work in the morning and haul ass on my way home in the evening.  The ride in is a pleasant bit of fresh air and a way to get my blood flowing a little.  The ride home is the workout.  I'm fortunate to live at a higher elevation than I work which lends itself nicely to this arrangement. 

I used to work at an office that had a shower, back then I could haul ass both directions.

[Chris22]

Chris22 mentioned that he doesn't need to bike to stay in shape.  I am wondering what he does to stay fit, and when he does it.  If family time is important enough to make you not want to bike to and from work, then it should also be important enough that he should not waste time doing any other exercise during family time, either.

I lift weights and walk or run late in the evenings, usually from about 830-930pm. My daughter goes to bed at 830. That's one things some of you guys don't get, time is not fungible. An extra hour during the day, when I'm already trying to squeeze dropoff/pickup of daycare onto both ends of an 8-9 HR work day is not the same as an hour late at night or early in the morning. "Spend extra time here so you don't have to spend it there" doesn't always work.

[big_slacker]

If exercise doesn't lift your mood, try working out harder.  I personally have to be totally drenched in sweat to get a noticeable runner's high

Sounds like exactly what I want on my way to work.

I used to work at an office that had a shower, back then I could haul ass both directions.

This for me. I put in some effort, work a little to wake me up and take a shower at work. 800 calories=4 beers. And that's why I'm not fat. :D

[Scandium]

Chris22 mentioned that he doesn't need to bike to stay in shape.  I am wondering what he does to stay fit, and when he does it.  If family time is important enough to make you not want to bike to and from work, then it should also be important enough that he should not waste time doing any other exercise during family time, either.

I lift weights and walk or run late in the evenings, usually from about 830-930pm. My daughter goes to bed at 830. That's one things some of you guys don't get, time is not fungible. An extra hour during the day, when I'm already trying to squeeze dropoff/pickup of daycare onto both ends of an 8-9 HR work day is not the same as an hour late at night or early in the morning. "Spend extra time here so you don't have to spend it there" doesn't always work.

Same for me. My son goes to bed at 7 pm, so the faster I get home the more time I get. Any time after 7 I could work out as much as I wanted, and I do. That time is much less valuable.

I  also mainly do strength exercise, and naturally have ok cardio capability, so see little value in biking for the health effects.

[Scandium]

If exercise doesn't lift your mood, try working out harder.  I personally have to be totally drenched in sweat to get a noticeable runner's high

Sounds like exactly what I want on my way to work.

This is why I like to gently cruise to work in the morning and haul ass on my way home in the evening.  The ride in is a pleasant bit of fresh air and a way to get my blood flowing a little.  The ride home is the workout.  I'm fortunate to live at a higher elevation than I work which lends itself nicely to this arrangement. 

I used to work at an office that had a shower, back then I could haul ass both directions.

I'm barely 160 lb so don't understand why, but I sweat like a fat kid chasing the ice cream truck. So any small amount of physical work will make me too disgusting to go to an office job. Especially when it's 85, both degrees and % humidity.. A shower would be required.

[Just_Me]

I  also mainly do strength exercise, and naturally have ok cardio capability, so see little value in biking for the health effects.

I'm barely 160 lb so don't understand why, but I sweat like a fat kid chasing the ice cream truck. So any small amount of physical work will make me too disgusting to go to an office job. Especially when it's 85, both degrees and % humidity.. A shower would be required.

Did you know that increasing your cardio capability helps to keep you from sweating like a fat kid when chasing the ice cream truck?

[mm1970]

Chris22 mentioned that he doesn't need to bike to stay in shape.  I am wondering what he does to stay fit, and when he does it.  If family time is important enough to make you not want to bike to and from work, then it should also be important enough that he should not waste time doing any other exercise during family time, either.

I'm not Chris22, but...

When I biked to work, I would leave at 6:45 am to get to work at 7:30 am. So, let's say I did it 2x a week, so that's 1.5 hours less time with my family, when they were awake.  Whomever biked home would bike home from work, and would get home at 6:45 pm instead of 6.  So it's 3 hours less time with the kids, for 2x a week of biking. (total since we each only biked one way, so 1.5 hrs per parent)

Now, instead, I swim 2x a week (at 5:30 am), so when I get home (at 6:30 am), the kids are either not awake, or barely awake.

On the other days, I work out at home at 5:45 or 6 am in the living room, so the kids are there (but again, usually asleep).

[Scandium]

I  also mainly do strength exercise, and naturally have ok cardio capability, so see little value in biking for the health effects.

I'm barely 160 lb so don't understand why, but I sweat like a fat kid chasing the ice cream truck. So any small amount of physical work will make me too disgusting to go to an office job. Especially when it's 85, both degrees and % humidity.. A shower would be required.

Did you know that increasing your cardio capability helps to keep you from sweating like a fat kid when chasing the ice cream truck?

Does it? Citation please.
In the military I ran the 3k in 12 min, but still sweated more than much slower people. I outrun, and outsweat many people at crossfit..

I like to think I just have high metabolism and good heat regulation.

More muscle mass will produce more heat, not less

[GuitarStv]

I  also mainly do strength exercise, and naturally have ok cardio capability, so see little value in biking for the health effects.

I'm barely 160 lb so don't understand why, but I sweat like a fat kid chasing the ice cream truck. So any small amount of physical work will make me too disgusting to go to an office job. Especially when it's 85, both degrees and % humidity.. A shower would be required.

Did you know that increasing your cardio capability helps to keep you from sweating like a fat kid when chasing the ice cream truck?

Does it? Citation please.
In the military I ran the 3k in 12 min

I'm not going to say that being in good cadiovascular shape will reduce your sweating (I sweat like a motherfucker and did a 120 km bike ride in 3.5 hrs last weekend), but running 3k in 12 minutes is really just a display of power rather than cardiovascular endurance.

[Just_Me]

I have no citation to provide you. My opinion: if you break out in sweat (the body's response to cool yourself) after a short jog to catch up with the ice cream truck, you should reconsider claims that your cardio health is ok. I'm not saying you're not a pro power lifter or something like that, or that people in good cardiovascular health don't sweat, but if your body triggers cooling mechanisms after two blocks, I'm questioning your claim that you're in OK cardiovascular health.

Another scenario, on the opposite side. You may have no problem lifting boxes at work, but your coworker breaks out into sweat after lifting a few 20 lb boxes after claiming they lift weights regularly. Does this set off alarm bells in your head?

[Scandium]

I have no citation to provide you. My opinion: if you break out in sweat (the body's response to cool yourself) after a short jog to catch up with the ice cream truck, you should reconsider claims that your cardio health is ok. I'm not saying you're not a pro power lifter or something like that, or that people in good cardiovascular health don't sweat, but if your body triggers cooling mechanisms after two blocks, I'm questioning your claim that you're in OK cardiovascular health.

Another scenario, on the opposite side. You may have no problem lifting boxes at work, but your coworker breaks out into sweat after lifting a few 20 lb boxes after claiming they lift weights regularly. Does this set off alarm bells in your head?

I'm just questioning the claim that there is a link between sweating and cardio health. Moving the same mass the same distance will require the same energy, thus produce an equal amount of heat. Being in better shape wouldn't (at least not to my limited understanding) change the amount of heat produced. If anything more muscle/less fat will produce more heat. Though fat insulate so require more sweating..? Hm..

Not being able to run, or lift boxes, I agree. Then you're clearly not in shape. Getting winded also seems to be a reliable sign. But I've seen crazy fit spinning dudes sweat in puddles. I think some people just sweat more.

[Scandium]

I  also mainly do strength exercise, and naturally have ok cardio capability, so see little value in biking for the health effects.

I'm barely 160 lb so don't understand why, but I sweat like a fat kid chasing the ice cream truck. So any small amount of physical work will make me too disgusting to go to an office job. Especially when it's 85, both degrees and % humidity.. A shower would be required.

Did you know that increasing your cardio capability helps to keep you from sweating like a fat kid when chasing the ice cream truck?

Does it? Citation please.
In the military I ran the 3k in 12 min

I'm not going to say that being in good cadiovascular shape will reduce your sweating (I sweat like a motherfucker and did a 120 km bike ride in 3.5 hrs last weekend), but running 3k in 12 minutes is really just a display of power rather than cardiovascular endurance.

That was just the only number I could think of to put to my "fitness". Like I said I don't compete, so don't care much. Oh, did a 5k two years ago. Think I was 22 min or so. dunno if that's good or bad though..

[sol]

Oh, did a 5k two years ago. Think I was 22 min or so. dunno if that's good or bad though..

Generally speaking, anyone who can run a 22 minute 5k knows that it's a good time because nobody runs that fast without considerable training.  That's not a "oh I'm not a runner but I think I'll just try this" kind of time.  That pace would put you in the top 15% of 17-21 year old men (off the chart for women) on the army's qual test, for example, and that's only 2 miles instead of 3.1.

The median 5k time for men is almost 29 minutes.

[Scandium]

Oh, did a 5k two years ago. Think I was 22 min or so. dunno if that's good or bad though..

Generally speaking, anyone who can run a 22 minute 5k knows that it's a good time because nobody runs that fast without considerable training.  That's not a "oh I'm not a runner but I think I'll just try this" kind of time.  That pace would put you in the top 15% of 17-21 year old men (off the chart for women) on the army's qual test, for example, and that's only 2 miles instead of 3.1.

The median 5k time for men is almost 29 minutes.

Ok, see you got me (*Paul Ryan emoticon). I got curious now and checked the race website. I was 22:54. So not as good as you said. Lol, definitely no "considerable training". I was indeed a just try it thing, never raced before or after. I'll quit while on top.. Anywho; I guess we can conclude I sweat a lot. I may or may not be in ok cardiovascular shape. We don't know if these are related. Biking to work in hot, humid Maryland I would smell nasty..

[Metric Mouse]

Oh, did a 5k two years ago. Think I was 22 min or so. dunno if that's good or bad though..

Generally speaking, anyone who can run a 22 minute 5k knows that it's a good time because nobody runs that fast without considerable training.  That's not a "oh I'm not a runner but I think I'll just try this" kind of time.  That pace would put you in the top 15% of 17-21 year old men (off the chart for women) on the army's qual test, for example, and that's only 2 miles instead of 3.1.

The median 5k time for men is almost 29 minutes.

Ok, see you got me (*Paul Ryan emoticon). I got curious now and checked the race website. I was 22:54. So not as good as you said. Lol, definitely no "considerable training". I was indeed a just try it thing, never raced before or after. I'll quit while on top.. Anywho; I guess we can conclude I sweat a lot. I may or may not be in ok cardiovascular shape. We don't know if these are related. Biking to work in hot, humid Maryland I would smell nasty..

Clearly not worth it for you, then... But at the pace, you could probably run to work as fast as many newbie bikers could pedal.

[HBFIRE]

Oh, did a 5k two years ago. Think I was 22 min or so. dunno if that's good or bad though..

Generally speaking, anyone who can run a 22 minute 5k knows that it's a good time because nobody runs that fast without considerable training.  That's not a "oh I'm not a runner but I think I'll just try this" kind of time.  That pace would put you in the top 15% of 17-21 year old men (off the chart for women) on the army's qual test, for example, and that's only 2 miles instead of 3.1.

The median 5k time for men is almost 29 minutes.

22 minutes isn't all that fast.  That's over 7 min/mile which is horrible if running is a serious hobby.  I ran a 5 K for fun and did a similar time as I was in very good general shape, but didn't know it was a "good time".   A semi-serious runner isn't going to be happy with that time.  Many people who are in good shape could hit this time without being serious runners.  I believe it's in the top 20% for Americans, as most Americans are fat asses.

[gggggg]

I used to commute 7 miles too. Mine was all on road, in city traffic. For me, while it was fun bike commuting to work, it just didn't work. I'm in public service, so I'd have to leave my heavy gear at work, and haul a backpack with my uniform and some light gear. I'd arrive to work sweaty, and have to change into uniform and gear. I already work over 12 hrs a day, so the commute was in the dark half the time. It was a nice experiment, but in the end, it was too much to juggle for me personally.

[DagobertDuck]

22 minutes isn't all that fast.  That's over 7 min/mile which is horrible if running is a serious hobby.  I ran a 5 K for fun and did a similar time as I was in very good general shape, but didn't know it was a "good time".   A semi-serious runner isn't going to be happy with that time.  Many people who are in good shape could hit this time without being serious runners.  I believe it's in the top 20% for Americans, as most Americans are fat asses.

I have no hard numbers whatsoever, but over the entire population, I'd rather guess it's top 5 to 10% than top 20%.

Anyhow, Scandium is definitely fit enough to ride 7 miles to work twice a day without any problems.

[Chris22]

I'm a sweater too. I mentioned in another thread, I used to run cross country in high school. I sweat like a hog doing it. I was running 75+ miles a week and could run a 5k in about 18 min, 6 min mile pace.  I was in fantastic shape, and sweat like a mule. I'm not in that shape any more, but still sweat like a mule. In my experience, my physical condition has zero bearing on amount of sweat produced.