He's saying that at the new job he can work extra hours and get paid more if he chooses. This already applies to lots of self employed people - the more hours they work the more they make - who therefore have to evaluate whether a slower commute time costs them money.

Many still decide the extra time on the bike is a good investment.

And frankly the fixed hours salaried people are also choosing to limit their hours and potential income - after all, they could all go out and get a scond job in the evening and increase their income. So for the OP, your situation is really no different. At the old job, you chose to spend an extra 45 minutes a day biking instead of putting that time towards the additional income of a part time job, and at the new job you will choose again.