as i've gotten older, and especially since my commute became radically shorter (from 15 miles one-way down to just 5 miles one-way), my riding attitude has drastically mellowed.

when i was young and single, i was a much more reckless bastard obsessed with making good time because my daily commute was so long, and i rode hard, at times really hard. i took stupid, needless risks at times. but now my commute is so freaking short, and i have a wife and kids who NEED me to stay alive, so now i just casually ride with safety and caution first and foremost in my mind. "making good time" no longer registers with me on my commutes. i do not time my commutes, or ride with a computer, or use strava, or anything else like that. i just ride, stay alert, and enjoy my short little jaunts to work and back without worrying about anything else, stress-free. i like it a lot.