Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial

General => General => Topic started by: stevierst on 10 January 2015, 01:07:56 pm

Title: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 10 January 2015, 01:07:56 pm
I 'Might' be getting a job in a few weeks which is 70 miles away, but hopefully for quite a bit more money, and a much  better job!

I currently do a 40 mile round trip during my shifts, and I see that as reasonable.

How far do you guys commute to work, and how do you get there? (car/bike/bus)
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Frosties on 10 January 2015, 01:12:36 pm
50 mile each way into and across London to Canary Wharf. About 55mins going in and an 1hr 5mins coming home.
 
Should be a fairly easy ride from where you live, especially for a better job with a lot more money. Only downside I can see is filling up each day.
 
Good luck fella.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: adeejaysdelight on 10 January 2015, 01:38:05 pm
7 miles from my home to the Control Room. That's where I start every shift. If I go anywhere else, it's in work time. Oh, 11 minutes there and 7 minutes back. If I'm in rush hour and in the car you can add another 5 minutes. And there is a train station at the end of my street. The next stop is Glasgow Central and it takes just over six minutes.


I've never been one for a big commute. I can't be arsed with it. It's bad enough having to go to work  :rolleyes .
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: J_Dub on 10 January 2015, 01:43:50 pm
I currently commute from Rossendale to near Congleton, just over 50miles each way. Takes me an hour and a quarter in the morning including a stop at a Tesco for a paper, milk etc. The return journey varies, about an hour and 20 mins (non stop) but can take much longer depending on the traffic on the M60 and M66. I travel by car/van as I have equipment to take with me. Worth it to me for the money and I'm used to the travel (but would like something a bit closer to home), I work in construction and have to go where the work is.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Tmation on 10 January 2015, 02:02:10 pm
I live about 700M from my work, no commute   :thumbup
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: mickvp on 10 January 2015, 02:55:43 pm
about 12 miles each way for me. usually 20 mins - half an hour each way on either the car or bike (always nearer the 20 on the bike, because filtering).

I see anything upto 20-30 miles each way reasonable, not sure I would want to go much more than that, especially not if it meant going through a heavily congested area.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Grayo on 10 January 2015, 03:00:18 pm
15 Miles each way for me. About 30 minutes there (I tend to work early mornings if I can) and about 45 minutes back. I use the bike in the Summer then it's only 20 minutes each way.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: BBROWN1664 on 10 January 2015, 06:04:18 pm
Most days I work from home so about 15 seconds to walk from the bedroom to the office.
Other days I go where the company wants me to go. When I was working in Canary Wharf (25 or so miles from Crawley) it would take at least 1 1/2 hours each way. Heathrow in the car was 45 miles away and took  1-1 1/2 hours in the car or an hour on the bike. Vauxhall (25 miles) takes me 1 hour 40 mins by train.

For the last 25 years or so, I have seen a 1 hour commute as normal and acceptable.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: mr self destruct on 10 January 2015, 08:40:34 pm
By car, my commute is 21 miles taking 25 minutes (I live just off the M6 jct2 and work just off jct5), but on my bike it's 25 miles and an hour as I like to take the country lanes. Using public transport it would be 3 hrs in theory, but impossible as I work shifts.

At 70 miles you're probably looking at 1 1/2 hours each way depending on the type of roads etc, which regardless of the job can potentially take a real toll on your home life, so factor this in when making your decision.
My wife used to work in Birmingham city centre, and despite being only 4 miles more than my commute, hers took 1 3/4 hours minimum because of the traffic. A lot of the time it would take her over 2 1/2 too.

Best of luck though, whatever you decide to do.  :)
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Dead Eye on 10 January 2015, 09:05:52 pm
9 miles at the moment. For the most part I've been using the bike, but recently I've been using the new car

Soon to be < 2 miles as of a month so I'll probably start cycling when it's dry :D
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Millietant on 10 January 2015, 09:41:31 pm
I commute to one of three offices - the closest (Bradford) is 119 miles each way and the furthest (Weston Super Mare) is 140 miles away.


I commute by car, but occasionally take a bike in the summer (the Fazer 1000 or FJ 1200).
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 11 January 2015, 02:33:46 pm
70 miles each way? Bugger that! I've always moved close to wherever I work in the past, keeps commuting costs down, which can be very substantial (fuel, tyres, wear and tear etc), and come winter, I wouldn't be interested in biking that distance every day in all weather. Plus, that's up to 3 hours added on to the working day - 3 hours in which you could have your feet up in front of the telly, relaxing, so feeling more refreshed for the next day. In my case, that means feeling fresher at work, so I do my job better, and the working day passes more quickly. I've always strived to give work as little time as I can get away with, try to reduce it's impact on my free time as much as possible, because it's my free time, and what my pay allows me to do with it, that counts in this life. Maybe you're made of tougher stuff than me Stevie, but I wouldn't do it. I think 20 miles or so each way would be my max.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: NorthWestern on 11 January 2015, 03:01:37 pm
45 miles each way. Take the bike pretty much every day unless I need to lug something bigger than my too box.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 11 January 2015, 05:42:38 pm
Yeah, it's looking like if I get the job I'll have to move a bit closer to work. After thinking about it quite a bit, It's a bit too far even for me and my crazy ideas!
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: maddog04 on 11 January 2015, 10:49:16 pm
20 miles each way always on the bike, unless its proper poor weather I ride all year round. takes about 40 minutes E/W

where are you off to Ste and what will you be doing (promotion?)
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Robbie8666 on 12 January 2015, 10:08:40 am
daily commute of 32 miles each way (45-50 mins) from waterlooville to Basingstoke
weekly commute 240 miles to Falmouth fridays & sundays
gotta go where the work / money is!
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: alan sherman on 12 January 2015, 10:13:25 am
I used to do 80 miles up the M3 from Southampton to Heathrow.  I found that my lips would be numb when I arrived at work in the cold weather so I couldn't talk properly.

I hate commuting and changed jobs to get an easier commute.  Currently I either do 7.5 or 5 miles (depending on office).  I usually cycle now so at least I get some fitness out of the commute time (45 minutes plus 15 shower time for the 7.5 miles in to central London).
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Buzz on 12 January 2015, 11:05:17 am
50 mile each way into and across London to Canary Wharf.


Hey Frosties, I'm in the Thomson Reuters building...where do you keep your bike?
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: positron on 12 January 2015, 12:07:15 pm
Most days I work from home so about 15 seconds to walk from the bedroom to the office.


Can you cut your commute in half if you walk faster, or do you have a really big house? Either way, I am jealous!


45 miles each way, cutting across Dublin about and hour door to door. Traffic is foul but weather is usually the biggest challenge. I don't mind rain, but fierce cross-winds on the exposed sections of the motorway which gets under my skin after an hour of being buffeted around the place. I have started working from home 2 days a week, so it's not as bad as it used to be - give me a chance to dry out the damp gear.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Dead Eye on 12 January 2015, 01:31:24 pm
Most days I work from home so about 15 seconds to walk from the bedroom to the office.

I remember being able to do this... sometimes I still do. Tomorrow will likely be one of those days ;)

I need to figure out if the cost of fuel to drive to and from work, is more or less than the cost of having the heating on in the flat all day if I am home :P
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Fazerider on 12 January 2015, 01:51:19 pm

I've a 36 mile journey from Sandhurst to work in West London but do 12 hour days so only travel in 7 times a fortnight, additionally I've the benefit of choosing my start time so I can avoid the rush hour. It's still a pain in the backside though.
The fun of a 70 mile trip 5 days a week would wear off pretty fast I suspect.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Arfa on 12 January 2015, 02:35:51 pm
Only about 12 miles each way, Dagenham, East London to London Bridge. But can take around 40+ mins as it's always snarled up big time.
However I ride year round. In 2.5 years of riding, only on one day have I looked out the window and said 'feck that for a laugh' - there was 4" of snow on my bike...
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: odbguy on 12 January 2015, 02:45:39 pm
420 miles each way by car.. I'm only home for the weekends  :(
My drive home on a Friday tends to take anywhere  between 4 and 8 hours..
Back to work 4-5 hours ..
Looking forward to abit of good weather then the bike will hopefully be quicker and abit more fun :)
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Buzz on 12 January 2015, 03:23:43 pm
420 miles each way by car.. I'm only home for the weekends  :(
My drive home on a Friday tends to take anywhere  between 4 and 8 hours..
Back to work 4-5 hours ..
Looking forward to abit of good weather then the bike will hopefully be quicker and abit more fun :)


Wowsers, where to where and what do you do when you get there?!?!

Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: esetest on 12 January 2015, 03:43:56 pm
At the moment 6 miles each way , so I drive in on night shift as the car park is empty , have been taking the bus to work on day shift but I am going to start cycling on day shift as of Wednesday , If i'm taking on  permanently I will use the Fazer  from the spring onwards when on nights .
Used to travel a lot further when I was younger , and anything over 100 miles each way , I would lodge and come home weekends , can.t be arsed with that anymore  .
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: odbguy on 12 January 2015, 05:03:02 pm


Wowsers, where to where and what do you do when you get there?!?!
[/quote]

Hey Buzz. .. home been Scunthorpe. Work, Tidworth ..
Mileage differs as each week I try to find a quicker route home my current favourite been back roads upto Stow avoiding Swindon, Fosse Way all the way upto A46 and then it's home straight through Gainsborough. The A34 and M1 are so busy on a Friday it's mad took me 10hours one Friday ! Lol
I'm currently in the forces ...
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: imax on 12 January 2015, 07:51:38 pm
then it's home straight through Gainsborough.

Not forgetting to stop off for an ice cream in Blyton, if it's open as you're passing through :)
Reckon you've earnt it after that trek!!
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: odbguy on 12 January 2015, 08:53:41 pm

Not forgetting to stop off for an ice cream in Blyton, if it's open as you're passing through :)
Reckon you've earnt it after that trek!!

Haha definetly.  That's where I'm from. Moved to scunny with my GF :)
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: noggythenog on 13 January 2015, 08:24:54 am





Stevie all i would say is that sometimes you cant put a value on your own time and that when you have stuff going on or the family needs you or you're in a rush then you'll perhaps wish that you work closer.


If the promotion can be any way chosen so that you can do it for a finite time say 1 or 2 years then it could be worth it for future local promotions maybe and i could see that being worth the sacrifice but id rather move closer to work than do the longer distance long term.


Think of one of the reasons that you left your old long term career........was it to be closer to home?


Another consideration is the shifts......if the promition is 9-5 monday to friday then i wouldnt do it but if it is shifts where you can travel during quiet times plus less travelling overall in a working week if on longer shifts then it becomes viable.


Im 15 miles from work, im not allowed any further away, in my contract, i find it the perfect distance especially since my shifts mean i only do it 4 times in my working week.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: BBROWN1664 on 13 January 2015, 08:30:59 am
Quote
Im 15 miles from work, im not allowed any further away, in my contract

What do you do? I'm sure they couldn't do anything if you were further away legally.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: fireblake on 13 January 2015, 08:55:48 am
I travel 17ish miles to work but I'm in for half 5am on days and half 5pm for nights,  it's supposed to be a 12 hour shift but is usually 10. I normally ride my bike but have hurt my shoulder and really struggle to manoeuvre the bike at either end.  I'm using the car at the moment and hate it. I don't mind bad weather but dislike ice or snow. Missing my bike so much. I've done the morning journey in under 15 minutes in the summer. But usually it takes about 20 and home time is 25. I wouldn't want to commute any further though
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 13 January 2015, 10:29:49 am
Odbguy, where are you in Tidworth? I finished my old career there at 1RHA workshops where I too commuted at weekends back to Blackpool. It was 240 miles each way, but always done on the bike :P

And I've had a bit of an update on the job, apparently some of the work can be done at home! Cutting down on commuting considerably.

It's not a promotion within what I'm doing at the mo, for those of you that know what it is I do, but it's doing a civilian role in my old career as an Armourer/sales person running courses and selling the company's wares. Sounds fantastic and right up my street.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: odbguy on 13 January 2015, 11:26:21 am
Odbguy, where are you in Tidworth? I finished my old career there at 1RHA workshops where I too commuted at weekends back to Blackpool. It was 240 miles each way, but always done on the bike :P

And I've had a bit of an update on the job, apparently some of the work can be done at home! Cutting down on commuting considerably.

It's not a promotion within what I'm doing at the mo, for those of you that know what it is I do, but it's doing a civilian role in my old career as an Armourer/sales person running courses and selling the company's wares. Sounds fantastic and right up my street.

How long you been a civi, our paths may have crossed. I'm with CH/Tp ..
How long did the commute take, you have to go via some busy places to Blackpool.

I like the sound off your job! Could do with that right now myself working from home.
Army life impacts alot on home life when you have misis and 2 kids up north .. and I would never ask them to move down here !
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 13 January 2015, 11:36:26 am


How long you been a civi, our paths may have crossed. I'm with CH/Tp ..
How long did the commute take, you have to go via some busy places to Blackpool.

I like the sound off your job! Could do with that right now myself working from home.
Army life impacts alot on home life when you have misis and 2 kids up north .. and I would never ask them to move down here !

Spooky! I was chestnuts gunfitter sgt for 3 years, left about 9 years ago.

The commute took about 3-4 hours depending on weather/traffic. A34, M5, M6, M55 route home. Horrid in winter, but a blessing in the summer.

It's that commuting back home which really ended my 17 year career. I just couldn't see my kids growing up. Now they're all growd up, got a bit more freedom and can stretch my legs again a little.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Buzz on 13 January 2015, 11:43:39 am
8 miles each way on my pushbike  :eek  from Camden to Canary wharf...

Only takes 30 mins, I keep fit and as I'm a contractor I can claim for 20p a mile..£70 a month!  Horrific last night though...and deffo not looking forward to Thursday morning!
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: odbguy on 13 January 2015, 12:27:10 pm

Spooky! I was chestnuts gunfitter sgt for 3 years, left about 9 years ago.

The commute took about 3-4 hours depending on weather/traffic. A34, M5, M6, M55 route home. Horrid in winter, but a blessing in the summer.

It's that commuting back home which really ended my 17 year career. I just couldn't see my kids growing up. Now they're all growd up, got a bit more freedom and can stretch my legs again a little.

Really. Haha small world a !!

I'm going to start the commute by bike in Feb,  hopefully the weather will be abit nicer and get home alot quicker. John McGuinness managed 236 miles in 1 hour, 45 minutes see how I get on .. lol
Dunno how you managed 4 hours riding in winter. ..

Yeah that's what I don't want to miss, got a 5 and 7 year old. Both just get upset every Sunday it's a horrible drive back to camp.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 13 January 2015, 12:33:00 pm
Winter was more like 4 1/2 hours, as I did 2 stops to warm up!

And yeah, Sunday nights were awful saying goodbye to the wife and kids for a week or two at a time. Just one of a few reasons s why I left. Still miss a lot of it though.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: odbguy on 13 January 2015, 12:56:48 pm
The banter, mess does and been paid to do phys ...  couldn't imagine been much else to miss .. lol
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 14 January 2015, 12:45:53 am
When did you join chestnuts?
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: odbguy on 14 January 2015, 08:46:57 am
Almost 4 years ago. So a few years after you left ..  joined abit late, now I'm 28 .. cant get used to the lifestyle and how some of the people treat you and the younger gunners. I get away with abit tho been a Lance Jack but can't see myself lasting out this year! Lol
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Kosmic Kartman on 14 January 2015, 04:11:37 pm
I used to do London to Maidstone daily on my XJR and that's far enough IMO.

Now my commute is about 20 feet, from my kitchen to my office/studio.  :lol

Furthest I go now is to the Art Galleries in Eye and Diss about 3 and 7 miles away, but I'm only there once a month.
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 19 January 2015, 10:36:34 pm
Now just to get the ball rolling just in case I got the job (interview was very posistive!)

Transport of choice for this epic commute?

Fjr1300 or st1050 or gen 1
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Kosmic Kartman on 19 January 2015, 11:59:29 pm
Fjr Mon
ST Tue
Fzs Wed
Frj Thu
ST Fri

Fzs Mon
etc
etc
etc
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Tuckerhauser on 20 January 2015, 10:58:37 pm
Just 20 miles a day for me used to take 15mins each way but its more like 20mins now thanks to traffic lights:-(

A little quicker on the bike but ya takes longer by the time i unchain bike etc

Mor fun on bike though and im more awake when I get there!
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 07 February 2015, 11:29:45 pm
Well just found out that I didn't get the job. Ho-hum. I'll stick to my 40 mile round trip on the Thundercat. (a litre Fazer is a thought)
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: noggythenog on 07 February 2015, 11:58:28 pm
Well just found out that I didn't get the job. Ho-hum. I'll stick to my 40 mile round trip on the Thundercat. (a litre Fazer is a thought)


Job wasnt good enough for ya stevie....fuck it!.....crack on...think of the lie ins youll get :)
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 08 February 2015, 12:21:21 am
Cheers Noggy, they don't know what they're missing!
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 08 February 2015, 10:53:26 am
Cheers Noggy, they don't know what they're missing!

Perhaps they didn't want someone arriving everyday with a manic grin, wild, staring eyes, and acting like you had a 10 gram-a-day coke habit cos you've just caned an R1 70 miles to get there  :lol
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 08 February 2015, 10:59:12 am
Ha, ha you've got a point there Nick. Never thought of that!
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: david095 on 10 February 2015, 04:30:14 pm
in the winter - 40 miles each way and between 45 - 60 mins each way when in the cage.
in the summer - 65 miles each way and about 90 mins when on the bike  :lol
Title: Re: How far to commute?
Post by: stevierst on 10 February 2015, 06:02:22 pm
Epic commuting there Dave, every credit to ya!