I can relate - Kind of.... I'm lucky to be able to commute to the office daily (30 Miles RT) and usually do a couple hours after work as well. I no longer own a car. I'm my own boss, so I can decide to do extra in the AM or leave early to go riding & leave the minions in charge. My paychecks are big enough to afford basically any ride that I want. I have no one to answer to apart from a very understanding GF who would never question my use of time. Ironically, the very first night we met several years ago I warned her that I was amazingly Self-Centered & would forever remain a Manchild. She chose to stick around & God Bless Her for it. I am often referred to as a Spoiled Brat & am likely guilty as charged.

Sounds almost idyllic the way that I describe it. OK - Let's fast forward about 6 Months to the Blizzards of January here in the "Heartland" of the US of A. Suddenly I'm just a Sad-Sack without a car having to beg rides off the GF & trying desperately to find the motivation to get on the trainer. The holidays come & go and I start giving myself the inevitable "I swore I wasn't going to gain weight this Winter" speech. Spring comes & the cycle starts over again.

My dilemma has always been that I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to get the hell out of this frozen wasteland & move somewhere warmer. I definitely feel caged for several months out of the year. The biggest problem is this business that I have created for myself. The same business that feeds my cycling addiction is the same one that keeps me in the cage. My business is very localized, so it would be basically impossible to move somewhere else & maintain my lifestyle.

Oh yeah, I don't think that working in the bike shop is a good idea. My friends that work in bike shops (long-term) seem to have little motivation to ride. That whole "familiarity breeds contempt" thing.