Back to regular commuting after 2+ year hiatus
06-01-22 | 06:16 AM
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,101
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From: Minneapolis
Back to regular commuting after 2+ year hiatus
After a post COVID remodel our office has officially reopened today. Smaller overall space. Closed offices are gone. More meeting rooms. And I'm sure far less people since coming into the office is still completely optional for 90% of the staff.
Most cubes are "hoteling" spots now. To get a permanent cube you had to commit to coming in at least 4 days a week, so that's what I'm doing for now.
Why am I coming back? There's a lot to like about working from home but I missed my commuting routine. But now that I'm into my later 50s my days of commuting when it's -20 °F are probably over. I'll opt to stay at home next Winter on days when it gets that cold I'm sure.
And it may not last. I'm going to give it a year, - maybe less. If very few people are coming in to the office anyway it could very well seem pointless after awhile. But I'd really like to finish my career while still being an active bike commuter. I want to ride home from my last official day of work some 7 years from now.
We'll see.
After scanning through the threads I see some familiar names and lots of new ones. Not sure how regularly I'll post. I was really active on this forum maybe 10 years ago but wasn't posting that much by the end.
Happy June everyone !
Most cubes are "hoteling" spots now. To get a permanent cube you had to commit to coming in at least 4 days a week, so that's what I'm doing for now.
Why am I coming back? There's a lot to like about working from home but I missed my commuting routine. But now that I'm into my later 50s my days of commuting when it's -20 °F are probably over. I'll opt to stay at home next Winter on days when it gets that cold I'm sure.
And it may not last. I'm going to give it a year, - maybe less. If very few people are coming in to the office anyway it could very well seem pointless after awhile. But I'd really like to finish my career while still being an active bike commuter. I want to ride home from my last official day of work some 7 years from now.
We'll see.
After scanning through the threads I see some familiar names and lots of new ones. Not sure how regularly I'll post. I was really active on this forum maybe 10 years ago but wasn't posting that much by the end.
Happy June everyone !
06-01-22 | 07:31 AM
#2
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,643
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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 lost my daily commute 18 months ago and I miss it dearly. I have the freedom to ride when I want, but the need to be somewhere at a specific time was my motivation...and of course then I'd have to get back home at the end of the day.
Congrats! Enjoy while you can!
Congrats! Enjoy while you can!
06-01-22 | 08:05 AM
#3
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,101
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From: Minneapolis
Lots of things to re-remember like how to dress for certain temps and how to pack for the day.
06-01-22 | 08:11 AM
#4
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Minnesota
Bikes: Cannondale '92 T600 '95 H600 '01 RT1000
Yes, I recognize your name. It's been almost two years ago since covid forced me out of commuting after 29 years. My group has since almost unanimously voted to continue working from home permanently, so my commuting days are over. I don't miss getting out in the cold and dark mornings, but there were a lot of good afternoon commutes I miss. I don't miss all the logistics involved with figuring out morning and afternoon weather and clothing, and work clothing, and food, and... Right now I hop on the bike after work for a ride and just have to worry about current conditions, etc. My commute had been a half century, and as I'm too at the end of the 50s, it was more and more of a chore to continue--probably more mentally than physically!
If co-workers were going back on a regular basis, I'd entertain the thought of an occasional commute. But, I've been to an empty office a couple of times and it's not worth it. (Another logistics complication is that they swapped out my PC at work for a laptop with the start of working from home, so I'd have to carry that on the bike as well.)
It's been almost two years ago since covid forced me out of commuting after 29 years. My group has since almost unanimously voted to continue working from home permanently, so my commuting days are over. I don't miss getting out in the cold and dark mornings, but there were a lot of good afternoon commutes I miss. I don't miss all the logistics involved with figuring out morning and afternoon weather and clothing, and work clothing, and food, and... Right now I hop on the bike after work for a ride and just have to worry about current conditions, etc. My commute had been a half century, and as I'm too at the end of the 50s, it was more and more of a chore to continue--probably more mentally than physically!If co-workers were going back on a regular basis, I'd entertain the thought of an occasional commute. But, I've been to an empty office a couple of times and it's not worth it. (Another logistics complication is that they swapped out my PC at work for a laptop with the start of working from home, so I'd have to carry that on the bike as well.)
06-01-22 | 09:59 AM
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,101
Likes: 17
From: Minneapolis
Yes, I recognize your name. It's been almost two years ago since covid forced me out of commuting after 29 years. My group has since almost unanimously voted to continue working from home permanently, so my commuting days are over. I don't miss getting out in the cold and dark mornings, but there were a lot of good afternoon commutes I miss. I don't miss all the logistics involved with figuring out morning and afternoon weather and clothing, and work clothing, and food, and... Right now I hop on the bike after work for a ride and just have to worry about current conditions, etc. My commute had been a half century, and as I'm too at the end of the 50s, it was more and more of a chore to continue--probably more mentally than physically!
If co-workers were going back on a regular basis, I'd entertain the thought of an occasional commute. But, I've been to an empty office a couple of times and it's not worth it. (Another logistics complication is that they swapped out my PC at work for a laptop with the start of working from home, so I'd have to carry that on the bike as well.)
It's been almost two years ago since covid forced me out of commuting after 29 years. My group has since almost unanimously voted to continue working from home permanently, so my commuting days are over. I don't miss getting out in the cold and dark mornings, but there were a lot of good afternoon commutes I miss. I don't miss all the logistics involved with figuring out morning and afternoon weather and clothing, and work clothing, and food, and... Right now I hop on the bike after work for a ride and just have to worry about current conditions, etc. My commute had been a half century, and as I'm too at the end of the 50s, it was more and more of a chore to continue--probably more mentally than physically!If co-workers were going back on a regular basis, I'd entertain the thought of an occasional commute. But, I've been to an empty office a couple of times and it's not worth it. (Another logistics complication is that they swapped out my PC at work for a laptop with the start of working from home, so I'd have to carry that on the bike as well.)
So far not a huge rush back into the office and I don't expect one. But I've already run into a few people that plan to be regulars. Really curious how this will all play out. Time will tell.
06-03-22 | 11:25 AM
#7
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Joined: Aug 2011
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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)
Welcome back, [MENTION=90453]tjspiel[/MENTION]! I'm in a very similar boat. I'll be back to my cube 3-5 days a week... at some point. Delta and Omicron pushed things out.
So I've been doing "commutes" to get bike rides in as much as anything. It's weird to be standing in the cube in bike clothes, with hardly anyone else around, doing what I could have done from home, but I need the exercise.
So I've been doing "commutes" to get bike rides in as much as anything. It's weird to be standing in the cube in bike clothes, with hardly anyone else around, doing what I could have done from home, but I need the exercise.
