Originally Posted by storckm

Every now and then, one of us will post a thread saying that we are not going as fast as we used to in the summer (I've done this one), or last year, or whatever. And we typically think of this as a bad thing.

Of course, part of the reason that we ride bicycles instead of walking is that some distances are simply to far to reasonably cover without walking, and bicycles allow us to cover them faster, which is sometimes convenient in these modern times.

However, I know I'm bicycling more slowly these days. This is partly because it's winter--studded tires--and partly because I find myself riding a cargo bicycle not infrequently--although not in the last few weeks, since the studded tires are on a different bicycle. But I think it's mostly due to my attitude.

While there are times when I'm running late and need to go fast, and occasionally times when I want to go fast, on the whole, I'm feeling like going slowly, and enjoying it. When I moved to my current address about twenty months ago, I timed my new commute, and found that it took about twenty minutes on two different bicycles. Both times were in the morning, and I suspect I am often slower in the afternoon. And while I haven't timed myself recently, I'm pretty sure it takes me longer now, morning and evening, whatever bicycle I'm riding. And I'm thinking of this as a good thing, on the whole.

The fact that I'm thinking about this is partly due to a book I read recently called In Praise of Slowness, although my slowing down began before I read the book, perhaps when I bought the cargo bicycle.

I'm wondering if any of you have had similar experiences, and what your thoughts are.