Ever change your mind about biking to work?
#1
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From: Mid Atlantic / USA
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite
Ever change your mind about biking to work?
You ever wake up, expecting to bike to work, and just say "Nope. Not feeling it today."
I don't ride everyday anyway. Sometimes I have to do stuff at lunch where I just need a car. But today I fully expected to ride. Had all my stuff packed in the panniers last night.
Woke up this morning extra groggy, looked outside, and just said "Nope."
I don't ride everyday anyway. Sometimes I have to do stuff at lunch where I just need a car. But today I fully expected to ride. Had all my stuff packed in the panniers last night.
Woke up this morning extra groggy, looked outside, and just said "Nope."
#3
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From: northern Deep South
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Usually it's the other direction for me. By the time I get to work (or home if it's raining), I'm thinking, "Boy, I wish I'd ridden the bike." (It's worth getting wet to avoid the backed-up traffic and wrecks on my normal car-driving route.)
#4
I expect to ride to work everyday. I'm very disappointed when I wake up and see six inches of snow or freezing rain, but sometimes I still do it anyway. I know that's not what you're asking, but I think that when you bail out once it makes it easier to bail again, and again, and soon it's just easier to drive all the time.
#5
If it's raining hard enough, I will sometimes decide not to ride into work. Seeing as how we do not have a motor vehicle though, I usually will change my mind back to riding by the time I need to leave. ;-)
#6
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From: North of Boston
Bikes: Kona Dawg, Surly 1x1, Karate Monkey, Rockhopper, Crosscheck , Burley Runabout,
Never. I need my car for work, so it stays in the parking lot when I bike commute. When I pedal home, it's the only way to get back to work in the AM.
#7
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From: Mid Atlantic / USA
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There's a better reason than 'not feeling it' for you!
#8
Keepin it Wheel




Joined: Aug 2011
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From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
rarely. In the beginning, I was ready to be all rain commando, especially since here in San Diego there's very little rain to contend with, and so many others here on BF deal with rain on a regular basis.
But then I decided, who am I trying to impress? So if I am aware of rain coming (not a guarantee) I might make arrangements to drive. If I'm at work and get surprised by a rainy ride home, oh well, that's OK too.
Also In The Beginning, I reinforced my willpower by keeping 'my' car at work. That way I had no choice in the morning but to ride, and I could drive back if something came up (like an unexpected kid pickup).
But now we have 3 drivers in the house, and any one day both cars might be in use, so I can't just grab a car and go if I feel like it. Well I could since I wake up first, but it might cause big disruption to other carefully-balanced family plans!
But then I decided, who am I trying to impress? So if I am aware of rain coming (not a guarantee) I might make arrangements to drive. If I'm at work and get surprised by a rainy ride home, oh well, that's OK too.
Also In The Beginning, I reinforced my willpower by keeping 'my' car at work. That way I had no choice in the morning but to ride, and I could drive back if something came up (like an unexpected kid pickup).
But now we have 3 drivers in the house, and any one day both cars might be in use, so I can't just grab a car and go if I feel like it. Well I could since I wake up first, but it might cause big disruption to other carefully-balanced family plans!
#9
Keepin it Wheel




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From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011...ng-a-used-car/
https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...-smart-people/
#10
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From: Toronto
Bikes: Sekine 1979 ten speed racer
Ride everyday. Don't give yourself that choice and you'll be riding in all sorts of weather and feeling good at the end of your trip.
#11
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From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
On the other hand, during today's 2C/36F, windy and rainy 30 minute commute home, I'm probably going to be eyeing the cars thinking that I should have driven.
#12
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From: Sudbury, ON, CA
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That's your problem. You don't ride everyday so you give yourself a choice. If you had a choice to go to work, would you? Mostly, because you have no choice but need the money.
Ride everyday. Don't give yourself that choice and you'll be riding in all sorts of weather and feeling good at the end of your trip.
Ride everyday. Don't give yourself that choice and you'll be riding in all sorts of weather and feeling good at the end of your trip.
#13
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From: Columbia, SC
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
i haven't commuted by bike in months. Do I miss it? Sometimes. Do I enjoy hitting the snooze button a lot? You bet! Now that I am back to a boring project and care less about getting into work early, I think I'll start commuting again...the room I keep the bike in is currently being utilized a bit more heavily while they redo the kitchen area, which I am pretty sure is on hold/hiatus.
I did bleach the ever living crap out of the shower area the other day (had sewage from nextdoor come through into the kitchen area and pretty sure some backed up into the shower basin as well).
I did bleach the ever living crap out of the shower area the other day (had sewage from nextdoor come through into the kitchen area and pretty sure some backed up into the shower basin as well).
#14
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
I expect to ride to work everyday. I'm very disappointed when I wake up and see six inches of snow or freezing rain, but sometimes I still do it anyway. I know that's not what you're asking, but I think that when you bail out once it makes it easier to bail again, and again, and soon it's just easier to drive all the time.
#16
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I rarely drive to work, and frankly I just hate it when I do. I don’t drive in more than about once every two or three months, and that’s because there’s something I have to deal with that I can’t manage on a bike. But I’d rather ride in a torrential downpour than be stuck in traffic with all the associated irritations.
#18
You ever wake up, expecting to bike to work, and just say "Nope. Not feeling it today."
I don't ride everyday anyway. Sometimes I have to do stuff at lunch where I just need a car. But today I fully expected to ride. Had all my stuff packed in the panniers last night.
Woke up this morning extra groggy, looked outside, and just said "Nope."
I don't ride everyday anyway. Sometimes I have to do stuff at lunch where I just need a car. But today I fully expected to ride. Had all my stuff packed in the panniers last night.
Woke up this morning extra groggy, looked outside, and just said "Nope."
#19
I once had an 8 mile one way commute in an area with really horrible thunderstorms all the time. So I stopped riding on days with thunderstorms. Since this was most days, I got out of the habit of riding - and six months later, it had been six months since I rode to work 
I relocated to a different region without as much severe weather and got rid of the car. Problem solved!

I relocated to a different region without as much severe weather and got rid of the car. Problem solved!
#20
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
#21
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
My excuse Mondays and Thursdays since the time change has been either weather or cold - not for me, I'm a tough guy, but I've got the kid in back, don't you know. T-W, just me, on my MTB, no problem. Maybe I should toughen that kid up :-D
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Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#22
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From: Cascadia
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#24
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You ever wake up, expecting to bike to work, and just say "Nope. Not feeling it today."
I don't ride everyday anyway. Sometimes I have to do stuff at lunch where I just need a car. But today I fully expected to ride. Had all my stuff packed in the panniers last night.
Woke up this morning extra groggy, looked outside, and just said "Nope."
I don't ride everyday anyway. Sometimes I have to do stuff at lunch where I just need a car. But today I fully expected to ride. Had all my stuff packed in the panniers last night.
Woke up this morning extra groggy, looked outside, and just said "Nope."
I commute because I enjoy it, not because I have to.
#25
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From: Mid Atlantic / USA
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite
I have a car. It works fine. I'm not in the city where I have a 45 minute traffic filled obnoxious commute. I have 2 lights. And I love cars and driving too. So driving to work is not a negative for me.
Biking is a fun activity, not a necessity. I really do love it. But I never want it to feel like it's forced or I'm likely to stop enjoying it so much. I don't mean all the time. Like sometimes I'll go on a trail ride on the weekends intending to go 20 miles....and I get there and say "come on, you can do 30...then 40...then 50..." and I push myself to keep going. But that's different. That feels awesome to keep pushing when you're tired because you know you'll feel like a million bucks when you finally get home (and can feel your legs again)
But for commuting...it's just a joy. A way to get in exercise during the busy work week. A short burst of fresh air and enjoyment twice a day. Etc etc...so I don't ever want that to become a chore because if it ever feels like work and not fun, I'm more likely to stop.




