this thought just crossed my mind, while pedalling to work today.
what do you guys do, to avoid getting bored, going the same route, day in day out.??
I happen to work as a freelance photographer, so for me, every day is a different route.
even so, there are some places like the photo lab that I am frequenting. and going to the lab the same route kind of starting to get boring, too.
so, do you guys take alternate routes, though it might take more miles??
or, at other times, stroll to places, other than to the office, at your day off's??
I enjoyed my commute today, because today's destination is a bit far than my norm. today is 30km one trip. my norm is 15-20km. and to see things on the way, new things, I really enjoy today...

For me every bike ride is unique, might be the same old route, but its different every time. Maybe its because I live in New England, its always changing.

I used to fantasize that my bicycle was actually a horse and I was carrying an important dispatch for the King.
Since I used to bicycle along the Thames towpath to Hampton Court it was easy to believe this amusing fantasy.
Generally I'm too busy watching for traffic to be bored on a bike. I'll be commuting along a pleasant river road this fall and willl enjoy watching the ducks and the foliage instead--lovely!
I'm just so happy to be able to ride a bike instead of drive a car that I am never bored. Now a CAR used to make me tense, stressed out and foul mouthed. I think it does for a lot of people.
the bicycle is good for your mind as well as your body.

Congratulations on being able to take different interesting routes to work!

Cycling get boring. So many directions to choose from. I like to just go out and sort of get lost. Took the same old route to Thuir yesterday. I Go 25 km just for an english newspaper.
So on the way back, turned off onto some side road never took the time to explore. It was great. Tall vineyards. Just kept going until had a hilly overlook looking back at the mountains. Neat towns clustered on the hillside. Was awesome sight. And darn, I forgot my camera.
You get bored it's because your voluntarily do the same old routing, when very easily you could spice it up.

I've got three major routes to choose from, between 7.5 and 10 miles in length. In addition, there are 4 or 5 crossroads that can link me between each of the three major routes.

In other words, I've got about a billion routes to choose from!

Even more if you consider doubling back. Sometimes I'll start home on one route, then cut over to another and ride back to work - then finish by riding the third route all the way home. No repetition, and it makes the ride much longer and more interesting.

FWIW, I had been going the same exact route to and from work each day for a loooong time, and did get a little bored. Then I had the revelation that if I got bored, it was only because I was stupid enough to take the same route instead of exploring alternates.

Mix it up. That's why I prefer streets to MUPs. Streets have options. Of course, cyclezealot has the best arrangement--country roads of France *sigh*

Velogirl. You have the Cheasapeake bike trail , no. I heard that is pretty good. Ride all the way to Charlottesville, there are some decent vineyards? My wife hails from Chatlottesville.

yep, have multiple routes to take and multiple bikes to ride there.

I like to take the same route for safety reasons. I know the traffic patterns, I know when streets are widening or narrowing, etc, so I can adjust accordingly. At this point I even have all the potholes memorized so I can avoid them!

I've discovered what a creature of habit I am. I like riding basically the same route everyday. I might vary it by a block or two depending upon traffic or construction, but I found the route I like best and I stick to it. My purely recreational rides do vary as I enjoy trying new things when I'm on my way to nowhere in particular.

I ride to work on one route and home on another. It's only 1/2 as boring that way.

Actually, I think it's good to repeat the same route. You get a good feel for traffic and know the best way to deal with hazardous areas. When something is out of place, it raises a red flag quickly. You also get to know the roadside trash and roadkill by name. ie Billy Bolt, Squishy the Squirrel etc etc.

[ BTW, I would like to thank the guy that posted about naming the roadside stuff you pass on the daily ride. It has led to a new level personal psychosis. ]

Commuting rides are one thing, but on rec rides the mystery destination and route rule the agenda.

Just like MyPC8mybrain, I usually ride a different route to and from work. you can vary the route in different ways. the other day I just started exploring the neighborhoods in between my two main routes, seeing if there was another way I could take. (there wasn't) but I ended up seeing a cool old neighborhood with big trees, etc. that I didn't know was there. even if you just detour a couple of blocks and then come back to the route it is a nice change of pace. I'm even thinking of going way out of my way to try this path that goes right to my work.

Zealot- you're near Perpignan? I was there last summer and often spend time near Euaze and Mont de Marsan. Great cycling thru the Armagnac region...

On topic- I take the same way both directions every day (2/3 MUP, 1/3 roads). My only other alternative is decent roads most of the way but it dumps onto 123 near Tysons Corner and I'd have to negotiate a ton of on-off ramps for 66 and the Beltway, not exactly my cuppa tea.

So to freshen things up I lengthen my ride home often, hitting the library or just attacking some hills I'd otherwise not come across.

I have lots of variations on my route, I could go a different way everyday, but I do have some favourites. In winter I tend to go the shortest possible every day. The rest of the time it really adds to the commute to be trying new routes. I will spend some quiet time poring over street maps looking for a new route.

Hard to get bored when you are bunnyhopping chickens... and avoiding bulls and cows and horses. Then of course there is the excitement of guessing if the road is washed out ahead of you, and will the bridge still be there.

No hint of boredom yet - besides, so many interesting people to chat with along the way.

Well, even though you're on a bike, it's still a commute, so I don't expect it to be too exciting. For a while, I played games with my cycle computer -- highest speed, highest average, shortest time, etc. -- but that got tiring after a while, and my current computer doesn't have as many nice features. Sometimes I spend the time thinking about issues or problems, in my job, life, or from BikeForums! Lately I've been singing somewhat out loud, both because I feel like it and also to see how good my breath control is and maybe improve it. But I also really want to get a radio to listen to (I'll probably try to moderate the risk by having a plug in only one ear using a stereo to mono converter, or maybe a handlebar speaker), because that's the one thing I really miss from my car commuting days!

ride it fixed... it'll be different. If you get bored, gear down, do it again.

[QUOTE=knucklesandwich]Zealot- you're near Perpignan? I was there last summer and often spend time near Euaze and Mont de Marsan. Great cycling thru the Armagnac region...

The Armagnac region. You must be near Auch. No boring rides there considering how excellant is Armagnac peche. One would just forget to ride home. Our equivilant to Armagnac, go to Thuir. The Cave Byyrh products, Pernod, etc are incredible.

I don't get bored often, being out in the open, but sometimes I really do like to take the long way home. A few times I went to Stone Mountain Park and rode around the mountain before coming home, since I live only 3 miles from the park.

I have quite a few options due to the fact work is 30 miles from home.
I vary my route and try various denver bicycle routes. Unfortunately, I have no good way of going north further than downtown. My options are a nice MUP or a bus.

As the saying goes, you never step in the same river twice. I don't find that I get bored at all with my commute. There is variety as sometimes I check the mail on the way in, or do shopping on the return. But that's not motivated by boredom. And I have flexible hours, so each ride is at a different time of day.

The one time I did get bored commuting was when I had a commute of 17 miles each way. Then I began to feel how much time was spent only on the bike and not doing other things.

Can't you take the Platte River Trail? I was on that a few weeks ago, and it was great. It goes to 104th, and I understand it will soon go to 120th, and on to Brighton.

The only time my commute seems monotonous is when the wind is blowing 30 MPH against me.