I have commuted for a lot of different reasons over the years. I started in the 80's on a Schwinn Varsity because I needed to do something different That led to my first real bike, a Cannondale Criterium in 90 I think (It cost $1000, $600 more than the car I was driving).I can still remember the feeling of speed I felt the first time I rode. Wow. I can also remember the look on my friend Steve's face when I clip-clopped into his police station in Brooklyn dressed in lycra tights, a tight colorful bike shirt, bike shoes, and a bike helmet, and bloody from having just been hit by a an old lady in a Buick. All that gear was still pretty exotic back then and we hadn't seen each other in a while so the look on his face was probably the same look anyone would give to a friend they remembered as normal showing up looking crazy, a sort of questioning condescension. Like he's thinking "Jeez, Ken used to be normal, I wonder what happened?" I realized then and there that I wouldn't ever be able to explain to him why I commute, but anyone who rides already knows. I've been able to identify some of my own reasons in every post on this thread. Mostly I ride my bike because it's the place I feel the most normal. Go figure?