A real commute (well nearly)

[Andydauddwr]

The powers that be at work have decided that my department isn't important enough to warrant the relocation to our main campus that had previously been promised, so we're now off out into the countryside to take over part of a recently acquired other premises.  It should turn my commute from about 2 miles into 5-6 each way.  This is no hassle for me and the route is fixie-friendly, so I'll carry on doing what I've been doing with an extra 10-15 minutes tacked onto the end.

The others in the office (car drivers all of them) are whinging a bit though.  The question is, do I take this opportunity to offer to help convert some of them into cyclists, advising on kit, shepherding along the roads for a few days etc, or is it more hassle than it's worth?  Has anybody else out there done this successfully?

Thanks,

AC

[Basil]

Well, I'm afraid I stopped trying to recruit my colleages years ago.

1] If they don't take my (quite restrained in monetary terms) advice on what sort of bike to purchase, there's not much point in me trying too hard to explain why.  I worry that I'll get all overbearing and seem elitest or something.

2] You're going to be fixing loads of punctues, lending tools, fixing brakes.

3] <selfish mode>There's not a lot of room in our cycle lock-up. </selfish mode>

[urban_biker]

If there are people interested who just need encouragement then I'd say go for it.

But if they are all totally comitted to their cars then its not worth fighting a losing battle.

Normally if you walk into the office wearing cycling clothes there will be some people who will talk to you about your commute and you can see they may be considering cycling themselves - those are the ones to target.

You are never going to convert those who are comitted non-cyclist. You want to get the leisure cyclists who have been thinking about riding in for years but have never got around to it.

Once you convert a few of these you will start creating a snowball effect (up to a point  anyway) as these people also arrive and start talking about how much they enjoyed their ride to work.

[Jaded]

I'd suggest a "Try it once" approach.

Even if none of them try it again, you've made a difference for one day. Weather like it is now is ideal! 

[juliet]

Say "why don't you give it a go?" at least. 

I've escorted friends in to work for the first trip before now, or helped work out routes - but you can wind up being default puncture/bike-fixer.  Depends how much effort you're prepared to put in, or how good you are at saying "I'll show you this once, but next time you have to do it yourself!".

[pdm]

Agree.
Two pronged approach:
Gentle persuasion and example.

When I started doing the ~30 mile commute to and from work (now ~35miles), I was one of 2 in my peer group at work on a bicycle.

Now, 6 years later, we number upwards of 15. (although some are summer or fair weather only) I think one reason we are not more numerous is the last km at ~10% uphill 

"If he can do 35 miles a day, every day, I am sure I could do X" and save on parking, car costs, jams, etc...