Road Less Traveled
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Berkshires
Posts: 2
Bikes: Univega Steely
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Road Less Traveled
Granted in the purest function of commuting is to get us from point A to point B, but how many people intentionally do not take the most direct route for some extra scenery or time in the saddle? If you do what are your reasons?
#3
Cat 5 field stuffer
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hammond, La
Posts: 1,426
Bikes: Wabi Lightning RE, Wabi Classic
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
3 Posts
I never take the most direct route. My two alternate routes are more fun and have better scenery.
#4
Senior Member
Occasionally. This morning my wife and I took a couple of miles extra on the way home from church just for enjoyment. In Amsterdam I'd often do this partially for the enjoyment of the route but also because my most direct route only had a bike lane for much of the way instead of a faster and smoother cycletrack. I've also been known to lengthen my route based on pub availability.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Posts: 6,681
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
i used to ride through Mather Field airport in Rancho Cordova, Ca. because they had a few old planes on the ramp that i liked to look at. it was only a mile or so out of the way. the traffic was light and was well lighted at night too.
#6
Senior Member
I take the longer route because the shorter route is: A) on a much busier stretch of highway; and B) it has a bit of a hill, which the longer route avoids.
The longer route is much quieter and more serene, in a residential area.
The longer route is much quieter and more serene, in a residential area.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Chico, Cali
Posts: 541
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Never. My most direct route is a MUP with gorgeous views of a wide variety of scenic chain link and wooden fences. The next shortest route would be mostly on high-speed arterials with no bike lanes and would increase the distance by over 33%.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: WKY
Posts: 730
Bikes: 2014 Trek Crossrip LTD, 2013 Raleigh Misceo
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
For the trip home, almost every day. Scenery, wildlife, less traffic.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,201
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1186 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
177 Posts
My trip is fairly long 33km so I don't usually extend it much. I sometimes take a different route by the river that adds a few km and if it's particularly miserable I can shorten it up by a couple of km. My ride includes about 30min on a new highway which has a little more traffic but a wide clean shoulder and no lights which I prefer.
#10
Senior Member
The most direct route to work is 4km each way but I cycle anywhere from 16 to 25km each way (depending on the route) for fitness.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
I have a very nice Greenway, forest shade by the creek, most of the way. I only take the more direct route, with traffic lights hills and traffic, when I want to hit it harder than would be wise on the Greenway.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,595
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
225 Posts
I take the longer route because it is safer, the scenery is nicer, gives me more time to enjoy the ride, gives me more exercise, and the biggest reason is, it is lot more fun.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 2,977
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Taking the most direct route would put me on a 2 lane road with absolutely no shoulder and some of the worst drivers around. I go 3 miles out of my way. Unfortunately there is only one good way into my city from where I live, and not many options to take the scenic route. I have been experimenting with some side streets on the way back home, and all I have found is super rough pavement and steeper hills. I haven't quite given up yet though
#14
commuter and barbarian
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Potomac, MT, USA
Posts: 2,494
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I've always chosen longer if it was safer. Also, there have been times when I went out of my way just to get more miles in.
Now I live 30 miles from work so I do not need to look for longer routes. Now the choice is how far I drive before I park and switch to the bike. Now I tend to drive short and ride long. When the winter comes I will have to reverse that.
Now I live 30 miles from work so I do not need to look for longer routes. Now the choice is how far I drive before I park and switch to the bike. Now I tend to drive short and ride long. When the winter comes I will have to reverse that.
#15
Pedaled too far.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
On my last long commute I took the slightly longer commute going home. Traffic was bad on part of the longer stretch, but then it turned into a wooded park with a nice MUP and view. And I avoided a killer hill going that route. I could only do it in summer, as the park wasn't lit at night.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 83
Bikes: Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I try to vary my route as much as possible just to combat boredom. I also go out of the way to visit different stores than I would if I drove when running errands on the way home.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
I take the safer route that's longer over the less safe route pretty much always, but past that I take the shorter route in the morning, then debate the longer route in the evening when I have more time...
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
When I hit the Thursday night ride, it could be seen as a 45 mile detour.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
I often take a MUP home that meanders through downtown and along a river. The scenery is great and it only adds 6 miles to the ride home. Not bad.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Edgewater, CO
Posts: 3,213
Bikes: Tons
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My most direct route is 5.1 miles. I take that when I'm in a hurry in the morning and I usually take it going home when it's warm in the summer.
I have other routes that are up to 10 miles long that I will take for some extra exercise, or because I just feel like riding down roads less traveled by motor vehicles.
I have other routes that are up to 10 miles long that I will take for some extra exercise, or because I just feel like riding down roads less traveled by motor vehicles.
#21
born again cyclist
i don't take the most direct route because it's a very busy trafficy street full of angry motorists and bus exhaust and people opening car doors into the traffic lane and people jaywalking out between parked cars and a million other things going on to be constantly on guard for, especially at rush hour.
so i go a little bit out of my way and side street it to work. much less cars (by an order of magnitude at least), much less stress, much less exhaust, and only a small time penalty of maybe 2 minutes. plus, the side streets are primarily tree covered, so less sun to overheat me.
totally worth it in my opinion.
so i go a little bit out of my way and side street it to work. much less cars (by an order of magnitude at least), much less stress, much less exhaust, and only a small time penalty of maybe 2 minutes. plus, the side streets are primarily tree covered, so less sun to overheat me.
totally worth it in my opinion.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 08-25-14 at 01:51 PM.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany/Arlington, VA
Posts: 494
Bikes: Surly Pugsley, Jamis Renegade, Kona Rove, Salsa Pistola, Raleigh M60, Raleigh Sport Touring Team USA
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have two direct five mile routes, one that is a MUP except the last three blocks, and the other that is on road with bike lanes about 50% of the way. The MUP has the advantage of no road intersections for the first four miles. The on road direct route has been my winter route after a snowfall when I need something which has been plowed. However, I rarely take either, but instead take a combination of MUPs that follow the stream that runs past my house down to the Potomac River and then follow that up to within three blocks of my office (a 12 mile route). I do this mostly to get more riding time/milage.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA
Posts: 3,804
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I commute in Atlanta Georgia, typically riding 20 miles from Decatur to Sandy Springs. The most direct route is 15 miles and I never do that one. That route has me spending well over half the distance on major four to six lane roads with 45 mph speed limit and lots of agressive traffic and narrow lanes. Not my cup of tea. My route mostly follows neighborhood roads where few if any drivers would drive as thru-traffic. The roads are almost all two lane with 35 mph or 25 mph speed limits.
I have a few favorite routes and then one in particular that I ride 90% of the time or more. Among other benefits I find that routes with a lot of turns make the time go faster. I get a better feeling of progress that way. And the ride goes through more "phases" in terms of the kind of surroundings (industrial, parks, suburbs, etc.). While I love to follow routes like these, I sort of dislike learning them. I don't want the mental focus that takes while I ride. I like to ride without figuring out how to get there. So I've developed most routes for commuting/other by using the TomTom app on my iPhone which finds great bicycle routes. It will do things like route me through a shopping center parking lot as a way of getting between two streets expediously. Or it might send me on walking bridge over the interstate - in short, things a car driver would not or could not do but work great on a bicycle.
I have a few favorite routes and then one in particular that I ride 90% of the time or more. Among other benefits I find that routes with a lot of turns make the time go faster. I get a better feeling of progress that way. And the ride goes through more "phases" in terms of the kind of surroundings (industrial, parks, suburbs, etc.). While I love to follow routes like these, I sort of dislike learning them. I don't want the mental focus that takes while I ride. I like to ride without figuring out how to get there. So I've developed most routes for commuting/other by using the TomTom app on my iPhone which finds great bicycle routes. It will do things like route me through a shopping center parking lot as a way of getting between two streets expediously. Or it might send me on walking bridge over the interstate - in short, things a car driver would not or could not do but work great on a bicycle.
#24
Banned
This Town is 1 big hill, water on 3 sides , a peninsula .. around at the shore line wins over straight over the hill across ..
#25
contiuniously variable
For me, its all about what the trip is for. If it's groceries or heavy load, i go the most direct route avoiding rough pavement areas. If i'm just popping over to the bank or super quicck errand, i might be inclined to go on a farther route just for fun.
- Andy
- Andy