Yeah, but choice is a good thing, and you get that with a shorter commute.
A shorter commute sure is nice in foul weather, if you're not feeling well, or if you're running late. Lemme tell ya, in the middle of a snowstorm, or when the winds are whipping off the lake in February, four to five miles is about all I want to do. And conveniently, that's the length of my winter and default routes.
Then in the nicer weather, I can make my ride as long as I want. I just start by heading east instead of west...
Yeah, intellectually I know this, and yet my homelife ends up being an impediment to getting out of the house until the last possible moment, so at about 7:13 I'm stumbling down the stairs with my bike on my shoulder getting ready for the AM Time Trial. On the way home I'm relieving our childcare provider so most days I'm heading straight home.
When I lived 15 miles from work, the last possible minute was about 55 minutes prior to the start of my day, and the 2 mile 6-10% climb made a great workout at the end of my commute in. The downside is, I did need to drive on some days in the winter when near freezing temperatures made the steep descent way too dangerous for cycling, not to mention it was less than enthralling to ride to and from work in the cold and dark. But Spring/Summer/Fall, I was in great cycling condition. I hated the job, but I loved the commute.