Need some help with Bike Riding

So I am getting into this fitness thing pretty hard and trying to add exercise everywhere I can during the day.

I spend alot of my days driving and have gotten really sick of driving with the gas prices the way they are, and frankly 4-5hrs a day in a car gets old. So I am thinking on the few days a month I do not have to drive to work, I am considering riding my bike.

It is about 11 miles to work from my house, so its a bit of a ride, but I have been using a stationary at pretty high intensity and can do 9-13 miles before I just stop (not that I cant do more, my time limit is up, and for the record I do 9 miles in 30 min on average)

Obviously I plan to do the ride on an off day where if I die, and dont make it, I wont be screwed, but I am curious if I am biting off more then I can chew here. Its a pretty flat ride with few hills, but I am curious just how much harder is real riding then on the stationary.

It is harder, but not so much that you shouldn't consider trying.  The most important consideration should be the route you are taking and how bad the traffic is.  Are there bike paths you can take?  Expect it to take longer than the stationary bike indicates.

I recently started riding to work and I love it.  Granted, my ride is quite a bit shorter (3.25 mi / 16-20 minutes), but it's a great way to start and end the day.  There's a site I like called mapmyride.com that will allow you to play around with routes, and unlike a car-centric mapping sites, this will let you draw lines anywhere (e.g. if there's a park you can cut through or a bike path or something).  A tool like this might help you to follow clharr's very sound advice about traffic patterns.  People drive pretty aggressively in the morning...

I second the recommendation for mapmyride.com--its a great tool!

I've recently started getting back into biking, too, and I'm averaging a 12.5mph pace, which means that I knock out 10 miles in about 45 minutes or so. I'd recommend that you note any traffic lights or nasty traffic snarls that you'd have to go thru while driving, that you'd want to avoid on the bike--you might want to use mapmyride to find alternate routes!

Also, if your bike is a mountain bike or has "wide" tires, it will require more effort to push it around.

Hey, its the weekend--why don't you plan to take a few hours out today or tomorrow, pack a picnic lunch, and take a test ride, to see how well you do??

Sounds like a great plan, good luck!! Let us know how you do!!

You could plan to do it once or twice a week to start, and then if you find you like it, increase it.  I started to cycle to work a few months ago, and it takes me half the time it used to on the bus.  It's also been a great way to get a bit of extra exercise - but my ride is only about 20 minutes each way, so yours is quite a bit more.  I cycle through heavy London traffic, and a helmet is essential - drivers sometimes don't see cyclists or behave erratically.  Give it a go and see how you feel.

I don't know what you have, but it helps to have a relatively light bike at the longer distances. I started off my daily commute with a very heavy bike and, although I got used to it, now vastly prefer a lighter model (yes, you expend less energy, but if you're not used to 11 miles, you'll appreciate it).

I'm now on a fairly short city commute, but when I did over 14 miles a day, I have to say I became a bit careless with the calory counting, as I trusted (largely successfully) in some of the hills to mop up the excess... Also, you'll really notice the difference to stationary cycling when the wind blows!

Don't be discouraged if the muscles/fitness don't materialize immediately - you'll build them up with a regular commute. Good luck!

ya ... don't ride to work ... despite every reason why you wouldn't, consider you getting to work all sweaty and red in the face cuz it'll be a hundred degrees out and you'll be doing excersize in it. 

BUT I ALSO GOT A BIKE TO RIDE ^________^

I want a BIG BASKET on it so I can ride to the grocery store and get some stuff than put it in my basket and ride back, like some people in asia do ... I wish I was them ... I wouldn't have a problem being fat ~.~ I want to get to the point where I would ide anywhere but work, or like, friends houses late at night ...

CONSIDER THIS:

You need to wear a helmet is a big difference? It's illegal here not to ~.~ I hate.

An interesting article about bike riding, for the larger framed people:

http://www.charlottecooper.net/docs/fat/ridea bike.htm

Suggests using an upright bike, what we call a "Comfort" bike in the states. Larger seat, better posture, when compared to the mountain bike or racing bikes. I think it depends on what your looking for, light weight bike that has you hunched over, or a slightly heavier frame, that has you sitting in a more comfortable position.

When you shop for your bike, be sure to get sized properly! Good luck.

I ride my bicycle at night usually, and I may do the occasional commute to work soon if I know I won't need my vehicle for anything. 

And for those who recommended mapmyride.com, thank you!  I was unaware of this site, and I've been having fun reading it.  There's one guy in my town who's entered routes on it and it turns out I ride right by his house every now and then.  Unfortunately, he rides a fancy racing bike and averages 20-22 MPH!  I ride a mountain bike and average 12-15 (riding the same hills and whatnot he does).  His routes include lengths of anywhere from 7 to 43 miles. 

Have you already started riding to work, llogan?

I think riding on the road is actually easier than riding on a trainer. But I really really really hate riding my trainer. If you can stand being in the saddle (on the trainer) for a 12 mile ride, I think you'll be fine riding to work. I think the saddle sores are what bother most folks when they start riding -- more than the exertion of riding. Well, that's what bothers me each spring anyway -- not my muscles.

I think one of the biggest difference from riding a stationary trainer and a real bike, is how much more your core (abs, etc.) has to work on a real bike. Well, every muscle really. Because you actually have to balance (unlike a fixed trainer) and respond to every tiny stimulus/obstacle. If you pay attention to your riding form, it's actually not a bad workout for your core.

There's just no comparison between being outside on your bike and being in the garage on your trainer. Night and day.

i ride 25 miles 3 days a week (not to work for tri training) and i go to spin class much rather ride outside it is so nice i love it!! i run too and prefer to run outside also i hate the treadmill unless i am zone running, anyway i say do it you will never know till you try it i bet you will love it!!! have fun and enjoy the view

Biking to work is an awesome way to bring some excercise to your day. 11 miles is very doable. Like others have suggested try it on the weekend to see how long it takes.  My commute is 30 miles a day round trip and I ride through winter. Yes I also ride in snow. once you get a system down it becomes easier and you will get faster the more you ride. Give it a try you might like it. fwiw on some days my bicycle is faster than if I drove my car.