Oh, wow! It is amazing to see how many people with whom I share the same motivations and feelings about bike commuting! Traffic avoidance, general fitness, monetary savings and mental health! For the last few years I have a built-in motivator...sinus congestion and sinus headaches.

If I miss a week of riding, I begin to get sinus headaches. Sometimes it's unavoidable due to weather or family and health issues, but it is a great motivator.

I missed 2010 due to a slipped disc in my neck and the experience of feeling my fitness slip away and depression and agitation build up (plus the sinus issues) has kept me motivated to ride these last six years and push my limits as to low temperature thresh-hold and rain.

And since my return to daily commuting in 2011 I have allowed myself to listen to spoken word podcasts in one ear at a reasonable volume. That also gives me something to look forward to. Sure I can listen to the podcasts in the car, but I can listen longer and with fewer traffic interruptions when I bike my quiet side-street routes to work.