Maybe it is because I'm an engineer and accustomed to thinking (too deeply) into things. But since I started bike commuting & shopping with my bike, I feel just a bit silly going for just a joyride. I feel like I should always be on a mission, because I get such satisfaction now from not driving everywhere.

On longer weekend rides, the mission is training.

I find myself not going for short local rides just for the joy of riding any more. It is a weird feeling for me. I feel like I should be riding more (my commute is short, and the bike is not always practical for shopping) I used to go for rides to the local forest preserve bike path. I tried it last week, and I had this feeling like I was a hamster on a wheel. Going nowhere, just burning energy that I couldn't burn at my desk all day. (and maybe shouldn't have consumed in the first place)

I guess I just need to relax and either chalk them all up to training, or accept that hamsters are onto something.

I'm making this a poll because a) polls are fun, b) for folks for whom this is not worthy of a typed reply, and c) because I'm a nerd and like bar graphs to sum things up.