I turned to commuting as a means to get in "soft miles".
Often I find myself and other riders not taking those "easy" or "recover" rides.
I find that my commute provides this for me as I don't try to RACE to work because I don't want to be too trashed to need a full shower and change of clothes.
Sometimes I meet my wife on the commute home and occasioanlly we kick it up, esp when we get to our street... Sprint for the drive way babe!... Zooooommmmm....