How Far Is Too Far to Bike Commute? What I've Learned From 20 Years of Riding

How far is too far to commute by bicycle? Is five miles too far? What about 10 or even 20 miles each way? I don't think there's one answer that works for everyone. I've been using bicycles for transportation for nearly 20 years, and over that time, I've had everything from short, easy commutes to rides that took several hours just to get home. One thing I've learned is that there's a big difference between being able to ride a certain distance and wanting to ride that distance every day. Sure, you might be capable of riding 20 miles to work, but what happens when you have to work an eight-hour shift and then ride another 20 miles home? And what about doing it all over again the next morning? When deciding how far is too far to bike commute, I think it's important to look beyond the number of miles. The type of work you do, the route, hills, traffic, weather, and even the bicycle you're riding can all make a big difference.

My Experience With Short and Long Bicycle Commutes

Over the years, I've had quite a few different commutes. Some were only a few miles, while others involved riding between cities or spending hours on a bicycle just to get where I needed to go. When I worked at a car wash, my commute was around three miles each way and took about 20 minutes. I did that for roughly four years. It wasn't a particularly long ride, and it was a pretty manageable distance to travel regularly. That's one thing I think people sometimes overlook. You don't have to ride 10 or 15 miles to make commuting by bicycle worthwhile. Even a relatively short ride can save you from needing a car for work.

Before that, I spent years gathering signatures for petitions. We had places called turn-ins, where we'd bring our signatures to be checked and get paid. For a long time, one of those locations was in Colton, while I was living in downtown San Bernardino. I'd ride down E Street, get onto the Santa Ana River Trail, and then get off the trail in Colton. Having a bike path for part of the trip made a big difference compared with riding the entire distance on busy streets. Some of my longest transportation rides happened during those petitioning years. At one point, I was turning in signatures in Rancho Cucamonga while staying in what I believe was technically Jurupa Valley. Because I needed same-day pay, I'd sometimes have to wait for my signatures to be validated instead of dropping them off and picking up a check another day. That occasionally meant missing the last bus.

For a period of time, this happened maybe once a week. I'd leave around 10 at night and sometimes wouldn't get back until one or two in the morning. And I was doing those rides on a BMX bike! It wasn't exactly the ideal bicycle for covering long distances, but it was what I had. I remember one night when I was almost completely broke. I had around 75 cents and stopped at a Del Taco shortly before closing, hoping to get a taco before the long ride home. They ended up giving me a bunch of extra food, apparently because they were closing for the night. I was pretty happy about that because I still had a long way to ride. Missing the bus could also mean missing the check-cashing place, which sometimes meant having no money for food until the next day. Those weren't long rides I was doing for exercise or because I wanted a challenge. I was simply trying to get home. I've ridden some pretty long distances over the years, but just because I could do those rides doesn't mean I'd want to repeat them five days a week.

How Far Can You Ride Consistently?

I think this is the most important question to ask when deciding how far is too far to commute by bicycle. Instead of asking yourself how far you can ride, ask how far you can comfortably ride on a regular basis. There's a big difference between going on a 20-mile bicycle ride on your day off and commuting 20 miles each way, five days a week. On a recreational ride, you can usually choose when to leave, how fast to go, and when to stop. If you're tired or the weather looks bad, you can always postpone the ride. Commuting doesn't always give you those options. You have to be at work at a certain time, and you still have to get home afterward. Then you might have to do the same thing again the following day.

Personally, even after all these years of riding, I think somewhere around six to ten miles each way would probably be the most I'd want to commute regularly for a five-day workweek, depending on the route and the job. That doesn't mean someone else couldn't comfortably ride farther. There are people who enjoy commuting much longer distances, and that's great. But for me, there's a point where I'd rather combine riding with public transportation than spend several hours commuting every day. The goal should be finding a distance you can maintain without burning yourself out, not proving how far you can ride.

What Kind of Work Are You Commuting To?

Something I don't see discussed enough is how physically demanding your job is. Riding 10 miles to a desk job where you're sitting most of the day is different from riding 10 miles to a job where you're standing, walking, lifting, or doing physical labor for eight hours. I've worked jobs where I was on my feet most of the day, including the car wash and grocery store. Even if the ride to work isn't particularly difficult, you still have an entire shift ahead of you. By the time you're finished, your legs might already be tired, and you still have to pedal home. That's why I wouldn't judge a commute by mileage alone. Someone working a physically demanding job might find a five-mile commute exhausting, while someone with a less active job might enjoy riding 10 miles each way. You also have to think about how you'll feel after several days of doing it. A commute that feels easy on Monday might not feel quite as easy by Friday, especially if you're not getting enough rest between shifts.

Hills Can Make a Big Difference

Not all miles are equal. A five-mile commute with steep hills can be much more tiring than a ten-mile ride on relatively flat ground. And it isn't just about how much climbing there is. The direction you're traveling can make a difference, too. When I was commuting to Food 4 Less, the ride to work was mostly uphill, while the ride home was mostly downhill. I actually liked it that way. In the morning, I had more energy and didn't mind pedaling uphill to get to work. After a long shift, it was nice being able to coast downhill for much of the ride home. Now imagine the opposite. You spend eight hours working on your feet, and then you have a long uphill ride waiting for you. Even if the distance isn't particularly far, that can get tiring pretty quickly. When you're considering a bicycle commute, I'd recommend looking at the elevation changes along the route, not just the mileage. A slightly longer route with fewer hills might actually be easier and more enjoyable.

The Bicycle You're Riding Matters

Another thing that can make a difference is the bicycle itself. You don't necessarily need an expensive commuter bike, but some bicycles are better suited to covering longer distances than others. I've ridden all kinds of bicycles for transportation over the years, including BMX bikes, mountain bikes, and older full-suspension bikes. You can certainly commute on them, and I've done it plenty of times, but that doesn't mean they're all equally efficient. For example, riding an older 26-inch full-suspension mountain bike can feel more tiring than riding a 29-inch hardtail with smoother, faster-rolling tires. Things like tire choice, gearing, suspension, bike fit, and overall condition can all affect how much effort it takes to cover the same distance. That doesn't mean you should go out and buy another bicycle just to start commuting. I've always been a believer in using what you already have when possible. But if you're planning a longer commute, it's worth considering whether a few changes to your current bicycle could make the ride easier.

If you're thinking about commuting on a mountain bike, I also have an article about using a mountain bike for commuting.

Traffic and Route Safety Matter Just as Much as Distance

Another thing to consider is the route itself. Would you rather ride ten miles on a relatively quiet bike path or five miles alongside heavy traffic with cars constantly passing you? Personally, I'd often rather take a slightly longer route if it means avoiding busy streets or dangerous intersections. Riding close to traffic can be stressful, especially when you're doing it every day. I've spent plenty of time riding on roads throughout Southern California, and some routes are much more comfortable than others. Having access to bicycle paths, quieter side streets, or roads with decent bike lanes can make a big difference in how enjoyable a commute feels. This is also why I wouldn't automatically choose the shortest route on a map. The fastest route for a car isn't necessarily the best route for someone riding a bicycle.

If you're considering a new commute, try riding the route on a day off before committing to it. See how long it actually takes, how much traffic you encounter, and whether there are any sections you'd rather avoid. If possible, try it around the same time you'd normally be commuting, since traffic conditions can change quite a bit throughout the day.

Weather, Fatigue, and the Days You Don't Feel Like Riding

One of the realities of depending on a bicycle for transportation is that you don't always feel like riding. There are days when you're tired, sick, sore, or simply not in the mood to get on your bike. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean you don't have somewhere you need to be. I've had mornings when it was pouring rain and the last thing I wanted to do was ride to work. I remember one time I tried calling off because of the weather, and my boss told me, "Mark, it's not our fault you don't have a car. You still have to come." That wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear, but it illustrates something about relying on a bicycle for transportation. Your employer generally expects you to show up regardless of how you get there.

The weather also makes a difference in how far a commute feels. Riding five miles on a cool morning might be enjoyable, while riding that same distance in extreme summer heat, strong winds, or heavy rain can be a completely different experience. I've also found that the mental side of long rides can be just as challenging as the physical side. When you're pedaling for hours, especially alone, you can really get lost in your own thoughts. Sometimes that's a good thing, and sometimes it isn't. Long rides can give you time to think, but they can also start feeling monotonous when you're tired and just want to get home. These are all things worth considering before committing to a long daily commute.

Combining Your Bicycle With Public Transportation

One option I think more people should consider is combining bicycle commuting with public transportation. You don't necessarily have to ride the entire distance to make using a bicycle worthwhile. I've used buses and bicycles together for years. Sometimes the bus made a longer trip possible, and other times it was simply a way to avoid having to ride the entire distance home. For example, if your workplace is 15 miles away, you might be able to ride a few miles to a bus stop, take the bus for part of the trip, and then ride the remaining distance. Depending on the route and schedule, that could make a commute much more manageable. It can also give you some flexibility. Maybe you enjoy riding the entire distance on certain days but would rather take the bus when you're tired or the weather is bad.

Of course, this depends on whether public transportation is available where you live and whether the schedules work with your job. As I learned during my petitioning days, missing the last bus can turn what should have been a relatively straightforward trip into a very long bicycle ride. If you've never taken your bicycle on public transportation before, I wrote another article about taking your bicycle on the bus.

Start With a Distance You Can Manage

If you're new to bicycle commuting, I wouldn't recommend immediately committing to a long ride every day just because you know you're physically capable of doing it. Start with a distance that feels manageable. If your workplace is only a few miles away, that might be a great place to begin. If it's farther, consider riding the route on a day off to see how it feels before making it part of your regular schedule. You also don't necessarily have to commute by bicycle every day. If you have another transportation option, riding two or three days a week can be a good way to get started. You can always increase the number of days as you become more comfortable.

Think about what you'll need to carry, too. Riding several miles with nothing but a water bottle is different from riding the same distance with a heavy backpack full of work clothes, food, and other supplies. It's also worth having some kind of backup plan in case you get a flat tire, have a mechanical problem, or simply don't feel up to riding home. That might mean knowing the local bus routes, carrying some emergency money, or having someone you can call if necessary. The important thing is finding a routine that works for you rather than trying to match what someone else is doing.

So, How Far Is Too Far to Bike Commute?

After nearly 20 years of using bicycles for transportation, I still don't think there's a specific number of miles that's too far for everyone. I've had short three-mile commutes that worked well for years, and I've had rides that took several hours just to get home. I've ridden BMX bikes across cities late at night, commuted on mountain bikes, and combined bicycles with buses to get where I needed to go. But being capable of riding a long distance doesn't automatically make it a good daily commute.

For me, the biggest question is whether you can comfortably maintain the ride while still having enough energy for work, your responsibilities at home, and everything else you need to do. Consider the hills, traffic, weather, bicycle, type of work, and how often you'll be making the trip. A shorter commute isn't necessarily better if the route is stressful or exhausting, and a longer commute isn't necessarily too far if you enjoy it and can comfortably maintain it. The best commuting distance isn't the farthest you can ride. It's the distance that works for your everyday life without burning you out.