Effort vs speed in your commute?

[Xplora]

Thursday and Friday last week.

Thursday, coming back from Rhodes to Seven Hills, I was racing the ferry from Meadowbank to Silverwater bridge, then I saw a bloke 200-300m away and according the Code of Commuter Cup Racing, you MUST pass him. So anyway, he was going pretty quick so I was absolutely punishing myself through the South St hills to catch him. Took him on Thomas St and made it stick. He went behind Parra Stadium and I went past the courts on George St, he was just behind me heading up Queen St so it was ON again LOL. Anyways, he finally caught up at OBriens Rd end of the Tway, and we have a leisurely chat through to Toongabbie and I cruise home. An Hour Flat. Noice.

Friday, I'm on my third commute in a row and I am nursing a sore knee, so I small ring it home and try to take it easy. I think the overall trip might have been 65 minutes. HUH!?!? There are very few lights that slow me down on the ride home, does anyone else have such a mismatched effort vs results trip?

Methinks I need the computer just to stay disciplined through the whole trip. I'm clearly not coping with the 20 clicks each way

[gabrielle260]

I commute 17km each way and the difference between a hard effort and a cruisy ride is exactly 4 mins 40 secs. I've now proved this many times over but it never ceases to amaze me!

[Marx]

After 15 years of roughly the same route, things like speed & effort, seem to plateau out to an extent…

[sogood]

Effort increases exponentially with higher speed. In other words, speed gain with marked effort increase can be minimal.

[ejayt]

When I cycled to uni earlier this year the 10km route would take me about 28 minutes if I pushed it, then only wet days I would take it easy and cruise along and found out that it took only 30-31 minutes..... It's not much of a difference in time considering when you push yourself you're probably exhausted and/or sweaty at the same time which is crucial to not be on a small commute

[KonaCommuter]

I’m only saving a few minutes in travel time but those minutes saved are lost (and then some) by the cool down when I arrive.

[Xplora]

I commute 17km each way and the difference between a hard effort and a cruisy ride is exactly 4 mins 40 secs. I've now proved this many times over but it never ceases to amaze me!

LOL That's awesome

The cooldown IS a big deal. I never really appreciated windchill until I started riding hard to work, and when I stopped riding suddenly I'm dripping in sweat and my helmet feels like an oven

[lethoso]

on my short commute route to work (13km) the difference between smashing it and cruising is about 7 minutes - 31/38 minutes - when I'm really smashing it there's a set of about 8 traffic lights (I go pretty much right through the middle of town) that line up pretty well. Go a little bit slower and you get stuck at a few of them so it really blows out the time.

[Blackrock]

I find I have tonnes of effort on Monday, but know that after the 150km's banked before Friday that I am spent on the last ride home. Cummulative effort drains the twigs!!! Ready again on Monday to do it all again.

As far as sweating at work, I have commonderred (?) a fan and this now sits next to the locker and dries me plenty after the ride/shower to be able to put a shirt on and not look like I've been swimming.....