h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I had planned to write more family history but this darn PhD thing got in the way and I was editing a paper instead.

I have started cycling to work again these last few days. The main thing that motivated me was that I had a cash flow problem and couldn't afford to buy petrol.(Sometimes being a PhD Student really sucks). This is no mean undertaking as it's a 10 mile ride each way. When I was in shape I could do the ride in about 45-50 minutes. On a good day - Sunday morning with no traffic - I can drive it in about 30 minutes, on a average week day it can easily take 40 minutes to drive. The only down side is that I have to shower at work once I have cycled, but I never have to hunt for a parking space. I am very lucky because my commute to work can be done on one of the national cycle routes, which is a well maintained off road cycle route, there's a lot of commuters who use this route and a bunch of them get together and maintain it during the weekends. The other big thing is that cycling 20 miles burns of about 1500 calories.. which makes weight maintenance easier. It also means that I save money on petrol: tragically only £13 a week, which I can spend on fancy accessories for my bike (ooh a new speedometer).

There is a problem at the moment though: I'm not fit. Not by a long way. Today it took me 1 hour 30 minutes each way. 3 hours is a long time to spend on your commute, usually I would spent about 1 hour 30 minutes in total. Though If I was a member of a gym I could easily spent 90 minutes driving to a gym, working out and driving back. I listened to some interesting podcasts and it's a very pleasant ride with hardly any main roads. It was dark at night but I have a good light, and the better I know the cycle path the easier that will get.

The other odd thing is that if I have cycled to work I don't really want to eat a lot once I get there, so that makes weight control easier. The down side is that the last two times I've ridden home I've not really had enough carb in my liver, so I've run out of fuel and hit 'The wall' on my way home. I need to take some fruit to work with me and eat it just before I leave. Tomorrow I'm going to a workshop at a hotel which is at the airport. That's also 10 miles away so I'll cycle there as well. I'm reasonably sure they'll have showering facilities, because they have a gym and swimming pool. This is hard work, and I really have to stick at it.

[Amy P]

That's quite a fitness routine esp if you're not already in shape! Hope it gets easier for you. You're right, I spend 10 minutes in the car, an hour+ at the gym then another 10 minutes in the car. Unfortunately biking here is dangerous. A lot of people do it but I'm afraid to.

You'll get quicker. I read a motivational thing recently which made sense:

"It doesn't get easier - you get better"

Get some of those wee mini boxes of raisins or sultanas and keep them in your pocket/ man bag. Great for fuelling any cardio work.

And well done you!

Phew! That's an excellent time you're doing. I'm rather jealous of your bike path - so far, I've been putting off cycling to work just because there's so much traffic.

I stand in awe.

Deb