I ride to keep and increase fitness, so I guess not much of "smelling the flowers". The ride I take home in 30-33 minutes by myself is a 50-55 minute ride with my son. Almost 700 ft of climbing per Strava. I ignore the "you are 4th best on such and such segment", but some of the names are pretty good, like "false flats".

In general, I pass more than pass me. Every once in a while a guy blasts past, only to blow up down the road and appear very frustrated when I pass by later. The moral? Don't be married to that Big ring.

Almost any riding is better than driving though.