BobbyG

Even though my daily commute ended 18 month ago, I still keep my lights, long-fingered gloves of various warmth, and other necessities in my commuting backpack on the shelf in my closet where it's been for the last 20+ years. I have a smaller trunk bag I've been using for many rides, and often I ride with no bag or pack since none is needed.

But last night I had a social meeting, downtown. It would be dark when it ended, plus cooler and with a chance of rain. I also wanted a change of clothes and toiletries in case I got schvitzed-up riding there.

So I grabbed my bag, checked the battery level in the lights, checked the status of the toiletries bag, made sure the rain gear was still in the bag, changed into my bike clothes, packed fresh street clothes and headed out.

The meeting was only 5 miles away and downhill so it was only a 25 minute ride and I didn't really break a big sweat, but it felt good to go through the procedure I went through all those years of bike commuting.

I changed in the handicap stall, and it was dark by the time I got home. My first night-time ride in months.

The weight of the bag on my back-rack was something I hadn't experience in quite a while, and now I'm thinking of grabbing the bag and wearing it while I ride my old-rackless roadbike, just for old-time's sake.

While my current schedule allows me to ride pretty-much whenever I want, commuting was the main motivator that got me out on the bike almost every day...and riding with a purpose has a special feeling all its own.

rumrunn6

ever do your old commute just for kicks, like on a Sunday?

RidingMatthew

I have ridden my old commute on a Sunday and some holidays.

When my road bike was on the trainer I would take the commuting bike out if the weather was nice during the winter.

BobbyG

Yes!
Including this:
Calibrating Nostalgia...

Litho dbh

I know I'm going to miss my daily ride/commute after I retire in 5 years. It's a beautiful ride through old established residential neighborhood.

Bug Shield

I can relate. My old commute was often the highlight of my day and the reason I rode as often as I did. Now I "commute" to the grocery store, post office, etc. There's also something liberating about being prepared for whatever comes.

rumrunn6

used ride to my old office when no one was there. I used to have a bird feeder suction cupped to my window. I forget if I kept an eye on the suction cups or just the marks on the window, over time as everything fell off & faded

BobbyG

About a month after I posted this I started a new job with a 6-mile bike commute! I am now once again using the commute bag on a near daily basis!

Bike Gremlin

I don't like hauling stuff on my back when cycling - so even my "road bike" has a rear rack.
But yes, I too enjoy the bike commute. It's meditative, and better than work from home in many ways.