the first 7 years of my bike commuting career was a 15 mile one-way commute through city streets and along chicago's lakefront path (i lived downtown and worked up in evanston). i started out as a multi-modal commuter using a folder and the el train, but i soon became a strong rider and just started riding the whole distance and i converted an old MTB from my sister's garage into my commuter. then i got a nice titanium road bike for fair weather commuting because at 15 miles one-way, i got a little obsessed with speed as i got stronger and stronger (30 miles a day, every single workday, builds some stupidly massive leg muscles).

then my old MTB commuter was killed in a bus accident and i got a IGH/disc brake hybrid as its replacement for foul-weather commuting.

then this past summer my wife and moved to the far northside of the city to a much bigger condo in anticipation of the arrival of our first child, and now i'm only about 4.5 miles from work. i picked up a disc brake CX bike to use as a dedicated commuter because my stripped down lean and mean Ti road bike didn't make much sense for such a short commute. the new bike has a rack for panniers (i was previously a backpack commuter because of my speed obsession) and full fenders and it gets me to work and back just fine.

some days i miss the longer rides along the lake front path, and i know i could always just extend the ride home, but with a brand new 4 month old cutie-pie waiting for me at home, i have yet to take the long road home. she fills me with more joy than any bike ride ever could. the switch from 30 miles/day of bike commuting to 9 miles/day has put back well over an hour of free time back in my day, that time is priceless now that i'm a dad.