What’s the best mode of transport for commuting to work? We already know a bike wins over short distances, and this kind of commuting ‘race’ has been done to death, but how about over a longer journey between two cities? We took to the saddle, the steering wheel and the station ticket machine to find out!
Read the accompanying feature on our mega commuting race challenge: https://road.cc/content/feature/bike-vs-train-vs-car-mega-commuting-race-310523
This video includes product placement on behalf of Magicshine. Check out Magicshine’s ALLTY 1200U and SEEMEE 50 V2.0 combo here: https://magicshineuk.com/product/allty-1200u-seemee-50-v2-0-combo/
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⚫️ In this video
0:00 Introduction
2:48 The race
5:25 Sponsored segment on behalf of Magicshine
6:33 Find out who won the race
6:47 Results and conclusions
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29 Comments
I love my commutes on my RB, doing some efforts or not especially when I have a clothes driver and shower at work.
I didn't on my last job as there was very little bike storage at the office, and hot desks in the office so I had nowhere to store clothes etc, although there was a shower.
I commute 15 'hilly' miles by bike into the very centre of Birmingham, almost entirely by dual carriageway with no cycle lanes and it takes about 45 minutes. By car it's anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes.
Great video. I used to commute to work in VA, and I didn't care if riding took longer. Anything's better than traffic.
What no boat?
My commute on my bike has improved so much in the years I’ve been doing it, thanks to excellent cycle infrastructure improvements meaning the majority of the route is now on protected cycle lanes (on the most direct route too). Driving would be unimaginable and would likely take at least double. With Londons good public transport it would take me about 1/4 of the time more than cycling, if the connections are good. Cycling though, you’re in control and get daily exercise
I was very fortunate to be able to commute by bike for about 25 years of my 46 years working. 10 years were by rail or walking and 10 years were by car. Locations were Orlando & Miami in Florida, Phoenix Arizona, and Melbourne & Sydney in Australia.
I’ve been commuting by bike in Miami for 35 years teaching (now retired). I live south of Miami in Cutler Bay and while I had many different assigned locations over the years, between my bike and the busway and Metrorail I could get anywhere. And then I ride home in the PM.
As a child and eventually a teenager I grew up in Africa. I can remember the morning rush hours (not in Lagos) were loaded with fleets of bicycles. Mostly they were the Raleigh three speeds.
I’ve been commuting by bike in Miami for 35 years teaching (now retired). I live south of Miami in Cutler Bay and while I had many different assigned locations over the years, between my bike and the busway and Metrorail I could get anywhere. And then I ride home in the PM.
As a child and eventually a teenager I grew up in Africa. I can remember the morning rush hours (not in Lagos) were loaded with fleets of bicycles. Mostly they were the Raleigh three speeds. In addition when I was on active duty in the Navy, during in port periods, I would always commute by bike.
I used to commute, then I got knocked off and knocked out. Now I stay at home – permanently. Cyclings plain dangerous. Stay home, stay safe, stay alive.
I would love to commute by bicycle to work but my work place does not have a place to store a bicycle not even a Brompton folding bicycle and my work place has no showers but I have commuted by bicycle in the past and loved it personally if my work place provided a bike storage and some showers I would commute by bicycle again at the moment I commute by public transport not out of choice.
I generally commute by bike because it’s 4 miles, sometimes I just cannot be arsed and drive. At best it’s the about same amount of time, but generally the bike a quicker. The irritating thing about taking the car is the complete randomness of the journey times. It can be 20 minutes door to door, but I can be an hour. The bike is always 17minutes +/- 2.
Currently the commuter is in the bike shop though getting fixed so it’s car, but oh my god it’s driving me nuts not being able to ride.
I cycle to work from Bristol to Bath. I used to do it on Brompton (yes, a folding bike can go a long way!) but now I am doing it on a Canyon Grail. Also, there is a cat 4 climb at the end of the commute when going to work. Numerous times I did the same commute using various methods of transportation including: walk to the station + train + bus, cycle on folding bike to station + train + bus, cycle on folding bike + bus, bus + train + walk, bust + train + uber. None of it beats the fast paced cycling from door to door.
Have lived in Denmark for a number of years, the biggest relevant difference is the attitude of the general public to cycling. This is epitomised by the anti-cycling national press. Unless attitudes change, the infrastructure won't be there, employers won't provide the facilities, and car drivers will continue to begrudge cyclists access to every inch of "their" roads.
Car wins hands down. He was only a bit slower, was totally fresh, had all his stuff with him, etc.
you guys should do the same video with Jeremy Clarkson
Cars slaughter far more folk.
I cycle literally every day and have a simple philosophy about the weather. I've never once gone out in the rain and got to my destination thinking, "That was a mistake" or "I didn't enjoy that". Ultimately I'd prefer to go out in bad weather than not at all.
Just curious how fast Jamie had to ride to beat Andrew in his car. Thanks for the video – very inspiring!
Great video for keen road cyclists considering commuting (and saving lots of time by combining commute with training). But for the vast majority of people this video seems a bit out of touch to me – Jamie rode a relatively long distance, extremely fast on a racing road bike, kitted up in lycra, and presumably arrived sweaty and in need of a shower and change of clothes… the people we really need to convince are the millions who drive less than 5 miles to work and could do so instead on the old bike they have in the garage, in their work clothes, and without too much of a sweat. Might not be as fast as driving but doesn’t need parking, good for your health, and much cheaper!
Currently drive, then train into London then walk. I could cycle the ‘driving’ portion, but then there is a high risk of my bike being stolen unless I take it onto the train. However, trains are packed and rail companies limit the times you can take non folding bikes with you. So it’s a bit of a non starter.
I would love to cycle to work in Tokyo, but cannot. There is no bike parking that allows me to actually lock the bike. The parking here is either just some flat ground where you need your inbuilt stand and inbuilt lock (because what bike doesn't have those?) or its the type that clamps around the wheel (so no aero wheels) and releases when you pay, so zero security, you can pay a few dollars and take anyone's bike. Of course there are those who have disdain for local laws and customs and say you can just lock your bike anywhere and ignore the government warnings that get attached to it, but I am not one of those.
4x as likely to die commuting if you're on a scooter with a gym bag hanging off the side.
I take exception to this contest. Jamie races bicycles, most commuters are not racers, and as one poster mentioned, he would have arrived to the office stinking and sweating profusely, plus he did not have some sort of courier bag or pannier to carry a change of clothes and a lunch with drinks.
And you guys left out two other forms of transportation, one was the bus; but the other that would have hands down beaten all of you…helicopter, going from one legal landing roof to another, and maybe the flyer would have had a short run to the office.
I used to commute 22 miles each way in and out of Oxford. I used to use a car and it took about an hour depending on traffic. I had a race bike with very skinny tires and, when my fitness was up, I could do it in under an hour in jeans and shirt without getting all sweaty.
I work from home 3-4 days a week so commute could be a downhill bike 😬 one day in the office means taking my pc and other stuff with me – biggest hassle is no showers at work so getting there all sweaty plus the cold grey damp mornings and dark evenings of uk riding – after a day working you just want to get home – and that’s working in the cycling industry too which I love – turbo back at home and weekend riding for me 👍
If you look at your average speed on the road bike at about 30 km/h that is pretty fast. Asking car commuters why they don’t commute by bike when it is faster doesn’t take into account fitness here. Car would be faster in this situation if the cycling commuter did the average speed of a realist commuter at about 20-23 km/h. I still prefer commuting by bike though even if it is slower. It is more scenic and better for the environment. You also have better personal health and finance.
Really interesting to see this, thank you. I think there is another reason why people dont bike to even longer journeys like this and its D) feels unsafe on our roads. I believe the Bristol – Bath road is being substantially upgraded to include bike lanes in the next couple if years which should make this easier.
If you do it again, it would be interesting to see the difference an ebike makes!
always on the bicycle. just not today as both my bicycles need to be fixed and we had 20cm of snow. Switzerland, not flat, but a good place for cyclists.