What Will Happen If You Cycle To Work Every Day For A Month?

Cycling to work can be a great way to get fit, improve your mental wellbeing and look after the environment. We’ve enlisted our staff here at GCN, including fan-favourite Harriet, for a challenge: what will happen if they ride to work every day for a month? Let’s meet the participants and find out what this commuter challenge is all about!
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Do you use your bike for commuting? Let us know in the comments below! 💬
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[@gcn]

Do you use your bike for commuting? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

[@kalejaiyeidris9380]

I use my bike to communicate

[@martins3993]

I just started. I only have 9 km but i try to take a detour home some days to get some more cycling in my legs.

[@jakubjeske2071]

I commute to work by bike everyday. I have a 4 mile commute which isn’t much and it takes me about 10-15 minutes on average. I am from NYC and commuting by bike is better than taking the subway.

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

I'm a retired Boilermaker local28, I ride for pleasure and fun not to work.

[@Squilk]

At the start of summer I was loaned an eBike through work for a few weeks. Since I returned it I’ve continued commuting on an old hybrid my wife had rusting in the cellar. I now commute 130 miles a week and loving it. I never thought I could cycle this much, and if it wasn’t for the confidence boost of the eBike, I would never have known. Soon I shall upgrade and return the bike to my wife!

[@RicardoF88]

I commute at least 4 to 5 days a week! Which is around 250 miles a month! It has saved me a lot of money on petrol and I definitely see a significant improvement on me fitness level! Whoever is considering commuting, just go for it 💪🏼💪🏼 but don’t forget about your safety and be mindful of the traffic!

[@timchikun]

same i commute 4 days a week by bike, but i have only 5 km in one direction

[@leechapa7279]

Super. It's always good to save money.

[@RicardoF88]

@@AnimalScienceTV I guess one would have to buy food anyway, plus there are cheap options for snacks during the day!

[@Sagarpawar-ix7ky]

Me too

[@zacc1602]

Same i commute 7kms one direction too, but i never get wet with road bike

[@88davidw]

Great to see Harriet back on the channel. Love how she’s embracing cycling 😊

[@pukas8885]

Harriot is the sora of gcn, and therefore my favorite

[@DerFz]

#TeamHarriet 🚴🚴

[@Twin-cr7mo]

I definitely see a "Pinarelli" in her future

[@chrisdanish84]

I pass the GCN offices each day on my commute and I really have them to thank for getting me on a bike. I had been considering ditching the car but hadn't cycled for 20 years. I found their videos and they gave me the information on how to do it along with the belief that I could. I still take the train occasionally if the weather is really tough however my 45-minute morning canal commute has done wonders for my fitness and my mental health, it's hands down the best part of my work days. I hope others find this video and it helps them as much as it has helped me. Cheers GCN!

[@gcn]

That's awesome. Thanks for the great comment!

[@alexanderh2715]

@@gcn This channel is very motivating. Rediscovered my love for cycling and after not being able to go for a few days I did my longest trip in a while today. Before I got hyped up by the German Channel :) ( i like both channels a lot)

[@andreagasparoni8515]

I live in Rome. I commute by bike since 2007. As long as 2014 my daily distance was 10 km roundtrip. Then I changed my job, and now I ride for 20 km roundtrip. Summer, winter, sun, rain... it doesn't matter: every morning I jump on my bike and ride through the center of Rome. It makes me (a bit) healthier and (a lot) happier. 😄

[@fabioqueiros9322]

To be fair, you have an unfair advantage: who would not love to cycle everyday through the center of Rome?? 😆

[@andreagasparoni8515]

You're partly right: believe me that in the crazy traffic of Rome, you often forget the beauty you're riding in. 😅

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@fabioqueiros9322 obviously you never experienced Italian driving style ☠️

[@philipcooper8297]

When I cycle to work I can take 98% of the route (32km total per day) on virtually empty cycle paths, passing through nature by the local river, far far away from busy streets and traffic. So, for me the main benefit of cycling to work isn't in the fitness, nor cost, it's the way I can clear my head and relieve any stress on my commute. I also leave my road bike in the office, so I don't even have to worry about it getting stolen/vandalised on the street.

[@FlatSpinMan]

Living the dream! I enjoy my commute and it’s through a city. Luckily only a couple of km are on busy roads. Yours sounds idyllic.

[@LukaszMielczarek]

Lucky you!

[@ColinBroderickMaths]

God how I wish I had that route. There are no good routes for me so it's 35 miles a day on a busy A road :(

[@Y3riel]

Hey GCN - loving this series. Trying to get day to day ppl to cycle more and how to make them more comfortable to cycle.

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bikepackingadventure7913]

I cycle 5 days a week to work on a fixed gear, doing 300 miles a month. In winter when it’s icy or snowing I use a gravel bike with ice spike tubeless tyres. Never missed a day cycling to work, all weathers. My NHS colleagues think I’m nuts 😏😆😆 I also do long rides at the weekend 😊

[@tomislavgidzhukov9017]

Yea, you are nuts 😹😂😂

[@bikepackingadventure7913]

@@tomislavgidzhukov9017 I work at two different hospitals. Sometimes I work at one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. So in the morning I cycle to one and at lunchtime I cycle another 8 miles to the other and then cycle home at the end of the day. Love it. Who gets to cycle from one place of work to another? 👍🙂🙂

[@oayysz8909]

@@bikepackingadventure7913 mate you are a legend !

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Your NHS colleagues need to get with the programme and start riding for health physical and mental! Great example of really "Walking the walk, not the talk!" (Or should that be riding the ride?) Well done you!

[@4nz-nl]

❤

[@karlInSanDiego]

I appreciate how apprehensive Harriet is to ride in mixed traffic. You are not alone. Our greatest barrier from broad adoption of cycling and micromobility as transportation is that we don't have dedicated bike infrastructure that is separated from motor traffic. It's very common for all of us lifetime 'vehicular cyclists' to misunderstand this critical issue. We learned not to fear mixed traffic, but that doesn't make us safer than having world class cycling infrastructure and street calming. It just means our sense of self preservation has been dulled by years of convincing ourselves that thus is as good as we get, and there is no gain from fearing the ride. Studies show clearly that not feeling safe is the number one obstacle keeping people from riding and it's also a contributor to having a poor diversity in riding among women and men, and all ages.

[@fagyu7502]

And when it is separated it's used by oblivious pedestrians, or at least in my city I have to take the bicycle road to uni and it goes along the shore and it's literally just half the sidelane having a bike sign in most places

[@lmaoroflcopter]

@@fagyu7502 those would be the same arguments you just made against pedestrians, you'll find drivers making against cyclists. We need to be better than that. We do not need segregated infrastructure. We need better road users. Though I am excited at the roll out of 20mph nationwide limits in urban areas to bring speeds down to those which can easily be attained by cyclists as we can finally take primary position with confidence.

[@markrushton1516]

Well, more confidence but that 20mph and us taking primary is like a red RAG to some motorists who regard any traffic in front of them as being a hindrance

[@megamert2848]

@@lmaoroflcopter I mean the people are not that different in the UK than the Netherlands but it is 100% safer in the Netherlands to the point where I don't even consider safety when considering if I would bike somewhere. Hell even the simplest thing is that in the Netherlands the only people who wear a helmet are kids who have just learned how to bike (4-9 years old depending on when you learnt it) or peope who are gonna do some serious mountain biking or "road racing".

[@Happy_Biker]

​@@megamert2848 What sort of distances do people in the Netherlands commute by bike?

[@jasoncooley3159]

Got my first bike as an adult last November and have commuted just about everyday since then by bike. I only live 0.6 miles from work, but I have loops that range from 4.2 miles to 22 miles one way that I choose from depending on how much time I have and my energy level. Best lifestyle change I’ve ever made.

[@jonathontucker5743]

LOVE how supportive Manon is. Tough starting out sometimes!

[@garethmate]

I cycle 32 miles a day for five days a week. I love it! I do live in the Netherlands, and it is perfect for cycling.

[@daLoerdchen]

I envy you. Only living a few kilometres further east of the Netherlands in Germany and the cycling infrastructure of German cities is just horrendous...

[@garethmate]

@@daLoerdchen I think the Netherlands is unique. It is safe and so well organised. I feel it is similar to Düsseldorf; when I got back to England, I tended to stick to the country roads as my local city is as bad as it was ten years ago. So much for improvements.

[@petrichor649]

That's a lot, you strong human.

[@pimmelfresse9033]

Really cool to see other people commuting! Here in the North of Germany, in the countryside, it can feel lonesome and you sometimes feel like you are the only one doing it. I only commute about 30 km every day, but it is very fun and keeps you fit. On windy days and when it is raining a lot and it's cold, it can be hard, but it is fun anyway. Loved the comment section!

[@OmmerSyssel]

Familiar with Brynje synthetic and Aclima wool, net underwear? Highly recommendable for sweaty and damp or colder conditions. 🇩🇪👋🏻🇩🇰

[@BozoTheBear]

LOVE THIS! I started cycling 1.5 years ago, during a covid lockdown in Sydney. When we went back to the office, I'd fallen in love with bikes and when I realised I could ride to work, I gave it a try. Have been doing it ever since - I'm lucky to have an easy 8km ride (100m climbs), but I often take detours for coffee, or to look for more hills. I spent 2.5 months in the UK for work earlier in the year, so bought a bike (and sold it at the end) - had a 25-30km daily commute for half of my time (Dundee to St Andrews), and it was such a dream cycling in the UK, after watching GCN videos. Couldn't recommend cycling to work highly enough, and I love to see more people giving it a go.

[@0AJN0]

Cycle commuting has changed my life. I'm so grateful to be living in an extremely bike friendly city, compared to the car-dependent, suburbia nightmare before. I do 150km a week, and everything about my health has improved significantly. I feel better physically and mentally than I thought was possible.

[@MrBartmatzel]

Commuting 5 days a week since about 4 years now. 30km per day. It helped me a lot in terms of health and dealing with stress. Nice to see Harriet back in action.

[@FlatSpinMan]

It’s unreal how good commuting is for stress. When I can’t ride in, I feel dopier, and if it persists, so much worse.

[@mastacrx]

It's funny how you get back in your car and it feels almost unbearable how slow and annoying driving becomes!

[@nuttycommuter3718]

@@FlatSpinMan I loved it when I used to ride every day. That hour each way just got rid of all stress! It was the best part of my day, even when it was cold and raining

[@FlatSpinMan]

@@mastacrx For me it tends to be two stupidly short train rides where I don’t really have time to read or anything, sandwiched by short but quite intense walks (the road up to work is 17%) so I end up all sweaty anyway. Occasionally I’ll drive in but then my HR never rises after waking, it feels. I just sort of womble my way through the day.

[@spdowding]

I started commuting by bike 18 months ago and have done every day since through sun, rain, ice and snow. I find it gives me some time to myself to think about things and makes me fitter and feel healthier. Plus the money saved on fuel is huge!

[@davebolger3929]

Money saved on fuel is huge. Money spent on coffee and munchies is....equal!

[@theresajv5055]

So I guess everyone liked Harriet as much as I did

[@nurd6]

More Harriet!

[@robertrhodes8702]

I've been commuting in/out of work by bike for about 5 or 6 years now. It's about 15.5km there and back in total, so not too far, but the mileage does add up over the years! There are so many positives for doing this consistently! All the best for the challenge 😀👍

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

I'm a daily commuter. 5 days a week, year round, 4 seasons (I live in Canada). Including weekend riding, I average 250 - 300km per week. Loving this series! Especially looking forward to seeing Harriet's progress.

[@geoffmerritt]

I had been a fairweather commuter in Adelaide Australia for a couple years before I visited Canada in December 2016... To my amazement ppl were still riding bikes in below freezing conditions. My first thoughts were, F*** stop being a wimp... sold my car (2nd car) and have been riding everyday since no matter what the weather. For reference, I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I have to worry about being rained on in a year in Adelaide, I would almost say it has the most ideal climate for cycling... except when it gets over 40C.

[@GHinWI]

An obnoxious blinking red taillight is clutch for commuting in traffic. Also a headlight, even in daylight. The brighter-the-better, drivers cannot be counted on to notice you passively-you have to grab their attention. I like Light & Motion Vayas-they’re light, bright, and you just pop them into a usb once a week for charge.

[@nicolasmancuso6564]

Love the initative! I commute 17km everyday and it´s (mostly) the happiest part of my day.

[@FlatSpinMan]

Ooh, I love this. I’ve been commuting about 20km round trip for ten years now. It started as once or twice a week but after a month or so I noticed how much better I felt doing it, so it became a five to six day a week thing. I’m lucky with the distance. 8-10km usually, uphill on the way in, so it doesn’t take too much effort, even if I’m busy or feeling really tired.When I commute by car, bus, or train, it’s nice in a luxurious sort of way, but not having my HR kick up in the morning makes me feel almost sedated. And there’s nothing better after a day of annoying teenage girls (I’m a teacher) than a brisk largely downhill commute. Another thing is, when it’s the holidays or I can’t ride regularly, holy shit does the weight jump on.

[@marinex84]

I started this chalenge two weeks ago. Sometimes I feel a bit unsure, just like Harriet, but also like her, I am facing the chalenge. My commute takes about 30 min in somewhat heavy traffic. It saves me a lot of time. Hugs from Brazil!

[@davidsegalle563]

If you are in the south and olanning in travelling i have to recommend curitiba. Its probably the city with the best bike infrastructure in the country. Yesterday there was a bike march woth over 1000 bikes on the road and it was super fun. Also you get to experience something quite odd in brasil, a city center which feels more akin to a neibhorgood considering population density and building size. Also the bus network is great so you dont even need a car

[@gcn]

Great to hear, keep us updated with how you get on!

[@marinex84]

@@davidsegalle563 For sure. Curitiba has one of the best infrastructures in Brasil. I live in Recife. Not so good infrastructure, but better than a few years ago. Um grande abraço! =)

[@Kitsonsonvacation]

I am from Canada and I start commuting by bike 3-5 days a week on a single speed bike for about 6 months now, about 11.5km each way. I love the joy of riding to and off work as it makes the day more challenging and calm myself other than paying for public transport and slower commute time. It also helps me to save a lot of money too. I love the simplicity of a single-speed /Fixed gear as all I need to take care of the bike is mainly the drivetrain and maintain a good amount of tire pressure, it's the workhorse for me!

[@questgivercyradis8462]

I've been bike commuting since 2020 now. At first a lockdown hobby, and now that's my dedicated mode of transit. Rain doesn't stop me.... unless it is unsafe for the cars around me. The cars here are whack. Or if I need to like, take my sewing machine to the repair shop, and I can't strap it to the rack. But my "outer range" is smaller than if I had a car. Worth it most of the time!

[@lbx5359]

Always great to see people getting into a cycling commute! I can go without my long weekend rides, but I can't go without my cycle commute - it's an integral part of both my mental and physical well-being. A few tips for those who are afraid of mixed traffic: 1. Do not be afraid to take the lane. Especially, if you see any blockage on your path, move over well ahead of time so cars don't squeeze past you. 2. Overtake on the correct side! (That's left where I live, I assume it's right in UK). Drivers usually don't check the outer mirror nearly enough. 3. Do not overtake if you do not feel confident. Especially with buses or lorries: for those, make extra sure that you will not end up stopped in their blind spot (pass them clearly, or stay behind and ideally within their mirror) 4. Stop at red lights! If you want cyclists to be taken seriously, then act accordingly.

[@DerFz]

#TeamHarriet Please more contest with her. Like the spirit and the cheeky mouth of this woman

[@philipdrewry6706]

I can extend one of my morning commutes to 29 miles and love it. Yes, it makes for an early start and you have to factor time in for punctures, but I find it sets me up for the day. One down side though, after the ride, I’m just left wishing I was still out on my bike and not at work.

[@sandles003]

I live in Australia and Started commuting to work from 2012. 3-4 days a week. 120km. I ride on busy roads but have learnt where best to position myself on the road. I always run lights at all times and use a reflective high-vis backpack cover to increase my visibility. 20 yrs of commuting has seen my loose a lot of weight and keep it Off. I've Gained alot of fitness & happiness. Cycling had changed my life completely. I haven't had a sick day in over 5 yrs. I think my fitness and mental health has alot to do with this. Cycling is my life. I'll never STOP.

[@pas7680]

I had to commute by bike during covid as there was no public transport for four months. The first few weeks were hard, but once you get used to it there a great benefit. My general fitness over 4 months improved greatly and i carried this through at the weekends and even did the c2c.

[@justwannaridemabike]

I commute 95 - 97% of the year. I only take the car / bus on very icy days or when I need to take my small office plants home before a holiday or back after a holiday to stop them passing away. It’s the best way to get to work hands down. My average miles per week for the direct route is 40miles and the indirect averages 100mph up to 140miles in summer months.

[@gregridesbikes1905]

Big fan of this. It's funny and ironic how often those of us who are 'serious' cyclists forget just how useful bikes can be.

[@Glopieo]

It’s such a joy watching Harriet’s progress, I love it! Go queen 👑

[@throx]

GCN needs to buy her a Pinarelli.

[@SoferAmator]

Yes, Gogo girl! You're going to smash it by the end of the month. Dry asphalt and wind from the back!

[@gcn]

@@throx 🤣

[@glkguy1226]

I’ve been commuting to work for years now, it’s a short ride but it allows us to only need one car which in turn saves us lots of money.

[@BigBrownMonke]

Harriet is such an innocent sweetheart! I can’t 🥺🥺

[@davidmurphy291]

This is a GREAT idea for a series. And I’m thrilled to watch Harriett’s journey here. As for myself, I have a 5-mile one-way commute that I have been doing daily since May 2022. I am fortunate that my commute is nearly 100% protected infrastructure. Carefree.

[@Patrik6606]

Commute 100km every week and have done so for almost 3 years. Also doing cycling training zwift or outdoors on weekends, been doing that for 2 years. I really got the cycling bug. Love it. Great to see Harriet again 👍

[@deanedwards9575]

Hooray! more Harriet. She is so enjoyable. Love to see her developing in the world of cycling. More Harriet please...

[@JamesSmith-zs8fl]

I worked from home for 3 years.....then, I retired. But a 9 mile morning ride to work would have been quite thrilling on a Highway with no Shoulders for most of the trip.

[@adamhill8290]

I love this challenge. I can't wait to see transformations with the individuals in their fitness but also with their psychological transformations as well. This is inspiring. Who else is going for this!?

[@RuiBiker1]

I am already riding every day about 2 months. 23kms every day and when arrive home I do the training plan on ZWIFT. 😀👍

[@bubblesezblonde]

Love Harriets new bike! However, in trraffic I think having a flashing red tailighta and flashing headlights are the way to be safer. I make the headlights continuous as night falls

[@matthewnormand2041]

Flashing lights all the time with the possible exception of a group ride, IMHO. Wonder how many close calls I avoided because I had flashing lights to make my more visible in any condition.

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Absolutely on the flashing lights!!! I bought a Bontrager Flare R that isdesi designed to be seen by day. Motorists avoid me because they notice me and hate it! Win win for safety!

[@bubblesezblonde]

@@geoffreyhoney122 yeppers I look for the most obnoxious, bright flashes I can find. Then I run 2 differing headlights so the flashes are not in sync. I agree, MAKE them see you!

[@rickgantz6745]

Been doing this since November of last year. I’m totally car free. Much happier. Savings has been great and well….. I’m on my bike!!! My happy place for sure. Good luck to you guys. Stoked to see Harriet is back🙌🏻

[@davidwright4739]

Cycling to work for a month is no challenge ! I'm coming up to 66years old next month and I've been cycling continuously to work for the last 24years in all weathers. Over my whole working life were possible I've cycled to work.

[@francoispayen]

Great initiative, I'd like to see more commuting-related content on the channel: We need more people to ditch their cars and get on bikes! I'm on my 3rd year of bike commuting 3 to 5 days a week, 8 months a year (winters are harsh here and at the moment there is no infrastructure that would allow me to bike safely to work). At first my legs would be shot after the 3rd day, now I can easily commute 5 days a week AND go for rides on weekends. My fitness has improved greatly just by going to work. Do it!

[@Rose_Butterfly98]

I've practically rode to school this whole year other than those few weeks I hurt my back. Yes, I ride through thunderstorms. I just hate waiting for buses and trains. Plus after that, I can just drop off my stuff at home and go for a ride, just leave my bike on the first floor. Gotta go 20km every day. I actually didn't realize how much money I was saving because I've barely taken public transport all my life. So those few weeks my back was injured, I found out that even though I have to change the last gear on my MTB every 3 months, it was still way cheaper than the bus. And now I got a road bike for longer rides, my MTB last gear has lasted more than half a year.

[@FlorianFreimoser]

I committed to this challenge almost 3 years ago. I can absolutely recommend it!

[@gcn]

Do you still commute to work every day by bike?

[@FlorianFreimoser]

@@gcn Only on every day that I go to my "normal" place of work. Sometimes I have meetings elsewhere or work at home. I would say on average it is 3-4 times per week (about 28 km one way). I started to commute exclusively by bike when I did not renew my yearly train ticket; I sort of tricked myself. Before, I looked very carefully at the weather forecast 🙂and tried to avoid rainy days.

[@ColinBroderickMaths]

@@FlorianFreimoser I do a similar distance. It's definitely on the upper end of what could be considered reasonable, and I am absolutely shattered by the end of the week. But I still find myself itching to get out on the weekends!

[@FlorianFreimoser]

@@ColinBroderickMaths It is the same for me 🙂. I do not know since how long you have been commuting in this way, but for me the fatigue has become a lot better over the years. It is quite amazing how even an oldish body can adapt to more exercise.

[@user-zt2ob3dn3h]

My story is quite similar to Steve's. 1h 45min (26kms) each way to work on a road bike, gradually steepening in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon. Through medium busy roads. Great challenge. Huge money saver. Entertaining also, gives you the chance to observe your city in a slow paced way. Only downside is the need to rest in the weekend which prevents frequent long weekend rides. But, you cannot have it all in this life, can you? Overall, a hugely positive act. Greetings from (the bike unfriendly) Athens Greece. Lazaros

[@florenceetalexismartel8365]

I've been a regular commuter for 8 years now in the Paris region. Around 6.000 km of commute/year. The few key things that are working for me are : 1) organization to have a shower and clothes at the office in order to commute light ! - 2) Good cylcing equipment for the rain/winter/night - 3) A robust road bike, rimbrake alu bike and wheels, 1X set-up, MTB clipless pedals, lights and reflective stuff on bike : the result is a 8kg efficient bike ... And also I lost around 25kg in the process !

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Absolutely love this content!!! Love how Manon is supporting Harriet! Sometimes that's all the push we need. Commute with a buddy! Great job gcn!! Keep it coming!

[@gcn]

Thanks Geoffrey, glad you enjoyed it!

[@kevinh2761]

Got a road bike for my 15th birthday and started commuting - 44 years later and still going strong!

[@Molnar147]

For the past 6 years I have commuted to and from work about 20 minutes either way on my bike, come rain or shine… even snow. I get really stressed out when I can’t ride, and have to take public transport. Copenhagen cycle paths are brilliant

[@funkydisciple]

I sold my car a couple years ago and get about on my bike everywhere. Commuting to work has done wonders For my fitness. I add extra miles on and avg 130 miles a week. Cycling is the best part of my day. Thankfully the drivers in Lancashire are all awesome.

[@avloc1]

5 days a week 15 mile round trip for about 4 years. Only bad snow has stopped me, so a handful of days off in all that time. Love it

[@lawrence4899]

Have been bike commuting for a couple of months. 6x/week. It saves you time than waiting for a bus ride, you get more sleep, saves money, accessible mode of transportation and you are fit/healthy. Eco friendly. Disadvantage : When it rains, it floods. Heat and dust. expect a very challenging heavy traffic (reckless drivers, pedestrians, road construction). You also need extra money whenever the bike needs maintenance esp. wearing parts like drivetrain which is normal. If your workplace isnt bikefriendly, doesnt have bike racks for you to park (safely). You need to be alert, quick, defensive rider. Overall, it is good and convenient.

[@KilliKonKarnage]

Commuting by bike is great, make sure you do some push ups/pull ups so you don't get twigs for arms like the typical lot.

[@evosportychop8332]

I look forward to following this series. I enjoy the epic rides and the super bikes, but this is more my type of riding.

[@gcn]

We try to have something for everyone on the channel!

[@venkateshgiduguusa562]

Hi all ! I am Gidugu an Indian,60 years old. Today I went to my office on my bicycle. The distance is 4 miles and it took 45 minutes to peddle the distance. It is altogether a different experience. Very much relaxing!

[@cliffordhallam3270]

When in slow traffic get in the bottom gears. It means you can pull away without a wobble and then click up every three revs of the crank. Get some really bright lights. When your workmates complain they’re too bright you’ve found the right ones! My 30 mile a day commute helped keep my blood pressure under control, staved off type 2 diabetes for a few years, and helped to lessen the severity of two PEs and two heart attacks. Best of luck to you all!! 👍👍

[@KelvinSuddith]

Great video idea! I’ve been commuting by bike since I was given a bike back in July. It’s made recovering a little harder each day, but it brings such a joy to my every day life. Cheers all, hope everyone is doing all right out there!

[@gcn]

Great to hear how much you're enjoying your commute!

[@spencerdavies4666]

I went from not riding a bike for 21 years to commuting 5 days a week (22 Km each way, though flat) over the period of a year and my weight went from just over 95 Kg to 64 Kg and I felt so much better for doing it. Saying that the most dangerous part of my commute are the roads local to where I live. The further into London I get the safer the roads seem to be... But Covid/home working have certainly hit my fitness for six.

[@duncanhamilton5841]

Yeah. I went from 15km daily commute five times a week to working from home, and my fitness dived as my weight went up. So sold one of the bikes and bought a rowing machine.

[@OmmerSyssel]

Well done 🍻

[@jarjaledi]

i commute to school everyday (weekends included) with my MTB which i converted it to a commuter city bike. the distance between my home and school is 4 kilometers and i gain 60 meters of elevation. i also have additional courses 3 days a week so i drive 30 kilometers and gain 150 meters of elevation those days. so in total, i drive (4*8)+(15*6)=122 kilometers and gain (60*4)+(150*3)=690 meters of elevation in one week.

[@PatrickMckinnell]

I set myself that challenge at the start of this year. I have driven under 10 times so far this year due to having to take things into the office bigger than can carry on the bike and I'm in the office every day. The trip is 21 km each way. As of today I'm at 9,000km for the year and only started riding a bike halfway through last year. In terms of how it has affected me, I am happier when get into work, whether it's rained, hailed or is beautiful and sunny. have also required less ADHD medication and can be more productive at work and even my depression symptoms have eased. The slight negative (or positive depending on how you look at it) started off with only 1 bike and any money I have saved from riding has vanished with my earnings and has turned into 5 bikes. #commutewithgcn

[@gcn]

You can never have too many bikes! It's great to hear a cycling commute has benefited you so much!

[@ferrydrums99]

Very nice video and initiative 💪🏻 I've been commuting by e-bike for around 2 years and do almost 40km a day. Even if you have a bad day at the office, cycling back home fixes everything and keeps me fit.

[@gcn]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed!

[@vermilionink]

Love this! It's so great to see how accessible biking can be, without needing to be an athlete. I commute by bike to my office in midtown NYC 3 days a week, 10 miles each way, and it takes me about the same amount of time as commuting by subway but with fresh air and no train delays. An injury recently sent me back to the subway and I wasn't prepared for just how desperately I'd miss my bike (which I'm finally ready to ride again this week, hooray!).

[@billinhouston3291]

Awww, I do find Harriet so charming, and I love the interaction with her and Manon. Good luck to all!!

[@ballroomdru]

I commute by bike 4-6 days per week, 6-10 months out the year in NYC. No rain, snow, or ice riding but I have Barr mitts for the cold. It has kept my weight down over the last 8 years while saving money on commuting.

[@Chris-dx4mf]

I just started to commute (mostly to college and the gym) by bike last week. I live in the California Bay Area. A little more then 3 miles away and the cars have been surprising aware and conscientious. IM LOVING IT!

[@andyfairchild2383]

I’m full time WFH, so no commute for me. Which is ironic as I bought a Brompton during lockdown to use for commuting when I went back to the office. Then my company closed the office and put us all on WFH! But…. I’ve been trying to ride a local 7.5 mile route at lunchtime as often as weather permits, 750 miles this year so far. Not huge by some standards. But for a previously unfit 58 year old with a fondness for beer and good food I’m feeling quite good about that. I’ll carry on with that now in the spirit of the commuting challenge.

[@JLW3113]

I love this kind of content, and I'm thrilled to see Harriet back!

[@tims_builds]

As a regular bike commuter I fully support this! A little over 1 month more will mark 1 year since I last drove my car to work

[@jasongillen2401]

Commuted the past two years, take a break through winter on turbo. Also take it easy on rides in, no shower at work. Also use eletric fan to cool off before i get changed, keeps me fresh and sweet free for the day. Surprisingly works so well.

[@andywillis3723]

Love this...about 3 years ago my neighbor loaned me the book Bikenomics by Elly Blue. I ride 5-6 days a week. 3 miles each way. I take the hilly route home for the challenge. On weekends when i volunteer at the Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society Museum i bike about 22 miles each way...to put it succinctly bicycling is now my preferred. main form of transport. Prior to that i was a weekend hiker, gravel rider. Best wishes to all, its a great way to start and end the day, refreshing and energizing!

[@ragwort3369]

Depending which way I go, my commute is around 40 miles there and back, mostly on hilly roads through the Forest of Dean. This is on top of a physical job (I'm a brewer at a microbrewery) and being a 50 year old with a fondness for beer and junk food and an occasional roll up. I don't have a car (although I do sometimes have access to my wife's car) so the bike commute is something I do all year round. For a winter commute, I'd say dynamo lighting and mudguards are essential, as well as a bike you don't mind getting mucky!

[@TheUntypicals]

I do 24 miles each day of the week on bike commuting, saves money, planet and helps me stay fit. I can forage for apples, plums, pears and berries on the way and throw the seeds and stones into areas for future foraging :)

[@gja2000]

I was commuting almost everyday before the big C. We are now perm WFH. Did invest early on in a smart trainer and now either go for an outdoor ride during lunch or on the trainer.

[@stoffelundsoweiter2560]

I commute every Workday with my beloved 1991 GT Karakoram, wich for me is the best way to get to work. Wich is around 50 km per Week. Gladly the most of my route runs trough a large Parkarea. I love to commute, the only downside is the need to change clothes at work or to accept to run through your trousers in no time. Keep up the good work. Greetings from Leipzig Germany

[@daveward6098]

Commuting by bike for over 10 years in snow/rain/sunny mornings, only traveled to work by car 3 times this year. 12 hr shifts so I'm out the door at 0530 and leave work at 0630 after a night shift for a 10 km commute, this is in the dark for over half the year. Early morning rides you get to see a lot of foxes and badgers etc in town. Longist ride home todate is 64km one night during the summer. It's good to see Harriet back out on a bike.

[@adamgriss2025]

In my twenties, I used to commute to university and work ten months of the year. The Montreal winters made January and February rather difficult for bike commuting. Looking back, I now appreciate how that had a positive impact on my health and time and time management skills.

[@notl33t]

I used to just commute by bike pre-pandemic half the week: now I just do it all the time since pandemic biking was super fun. I try to recapture that joy in the midst of traffic now, and it's still basically a big mental health boost for me. Riding to work every day for a month is just my life now! Happy Belated World Car Free Day!

[@dems_mtb]

I just watched this, April the first I started a personal challenge of Mountain biking 10 klm every day for 30 days..Looking forward to see the health effects over a month, i have found that biking every day has significantly helped my mental health so far..I work from home

[@kelvinnyahe4659]

GNC tuning and I go to say am learning and getting to know much that i did not know. Cycling is not just riding but a passion to me.

[@TheGreenMarksman]

I'v done it for years 2.5 miles to town/work. The thing that surprised me is that most is I actually would be more tired through out the day if I didn't ride in. But I eat 90% keto and intermittent fast as well (besides coffee), no processed sugars and no artificial preservatives or chemicals in my diet. This prevents blood sugar spikes and crashes. I also ride single speed. This means hills must be attacked to stay in power band as a result it forces me to elevate hart rate high enough to trigger endorphins. A healthy gut biome WILL be the difference in your mood/energy post ride.

[@stealfwayne]

30 years ago, when I used to commute, I was the odd one of the office. I used to say stupid stuff in defence of my choice, ' in response to all sorts of (mostly friendly) jibes. Now years later and still riding in most days. I'm no longer on my own being weird, there are loads of us doing it. Its so much more accepted. My job means I'm now in a position to arrange confidence and maintenance lunch hours and place better facilities in my offices. Every pedal helps

[@alch3mi5t.]

commutted on a bike for 7 years. One day of sick and EVERY other day on my wee folding bike. Only a 5 mile commute, but I did the Beast Fron the East when everyone else was homebound.

[@andrewdeanenglish901]

A really good idea for a video, I look forward to seeing how you all get on. I commute between 16-19 miles each way to work, about 1000ft of climbing (as long as the winds are not to strong), but can only manage every other day. Be good to see how to commute in the winter months too, with poor road conditions, especially frosty, slippy roads.

[@krob9145]

I commute by bike all the time. It helps that over half the route is on cycle lanes and quiet park multiuse paths plus quiet roads. It's relaxing and better than how I commuted more than 3 years ago. It also helped recovering from illness. Now going in cars make me carsick so bike is first choice for travelling sun or shine, winter or summer.

[@HalimiSaidi]

I started commuting to work 6 years ago. 2 days a week at the start and graduating to a full week a few months later. Lost weight, gained fitness and saving money on petrol and toll and parking. Today I commute 30km a day, 3 days a week as per my office's hybrid setup.

[@NecksBacksAndRailwayTracks]

I cycle to work/college which racks me up about 100miles per week. I've discovered some amazing Podcasts along the way and learnt about some crazy sh*t I never thought I'd ever be interested in in a million years! Worth it just for the extra useless knowledge alone!

[@JakebMiller]

My longest commute was 10 years ago and it was 23.5 miles, one way. It was fun, hard and rewarding. I've commuted on and off for about 15 years now and have learned a ton in that time. The longest and most that I've ridden to a Jon is my current job at Trek. I've worked there since May 2021 and have have commuted nearly everyday save for a handful of days. Just wish more people could ride to work and companies would build the infrastructure to support them. Current commute 13 miles round trip. One way takes me about 20 mins.

[@angelag5708]

Cycling with new cyclists I find it always super helpful. Even if they know the route I find they like to ride it once with a buddy and then they are good to go the next time

[@redwinedrummer]

Been bike commuting since 2015. No exaggeration, but it's one of the most life-changing decisions I've made. Pre-pandemic, I was saving about $700 a year from commuting. Some life events, a pandemic and a recession later, I'm saving almost $2,000 a year. I've ROI'd my bike (and its n+1!) several times over! Absolutely loving it!

[@stevejorde]

I commute by bicycle every day during the warmer months, I'm more productive and feel so much better after my five-mile morning commute, and sleep much better after the return trip!

[@MasterChicken81]

i can tell you, sun, rain, snow i commute by bike, almost year round, unless the snow is really dangerous...14km one way...60 meter climb last 300m on the way home...maybe it's just me but aside from savings, environmental and health benefits...i really enjoy it...it disconnects me from stress at work

[@pshar8674]

a brilliant topic to cover - thanks.

[@richards.7407]

Since June 2022 I commute 5 days a week with my trusty, 12 year old bike. 16 km a day, makes 480 km/month. Half of the way I haul a chariot with my kid to kindergarten. My leg muscles have never been so big before and my posture and endurance have improved dramatically. The residual fat that I had also melted away. Today I forgot my business ID at home and decided to drive back and then to the office, so I already drove 16km when I arrived at work. And I enjoyed every meter of it :-)

[@allannadobson4424]

Harriet 💗 good to see you back 🙌 ride on

[@nicholasgiles500]

Quite literally, I could hardly see because of the rain this morning. Still loved it.

[@ryanw8987]

Love this! I started occasional bike commutes (1-2x per week during summer) almost 10 years ago. When I started I never dreamed I could do it every day, especially during winter. Over time I just kept trying, got a better bike (which helped a lot), slowly accumulated cold and wet weather gear, and in January of 2021 I finally sold my car! Recently picked up a utility style ebike to help with grocery runs and for days I'm running late and don't have time to shower when I get to work (nearly 13 miles one way, and I sweat easily). Saved a lot of money and even got into some racing and triathlons, so maybe didn't really save money in the long run 😂