If you're dreading it, you probably need a break. Or switch up your route a bit. Leave earlier and coast more. Strangely, I was planning on taking a break today but when I got up I thought about the bus, and all the sniffling people on it, the multiple transfers and the waiting between busses... Then I hopped on my bike anyways.

Play it by ear, listen to your body.

I know what would motivate me!!! A new bike!!!

(oh yeah, I'm still saving up for that. )

Actually, I feel a lot better today. I think I realized (as many people posted) that it's not a pleasure ride, it's a commute (even though it's more pleasurable than driving to work). So, I'm not always going to feel inspired.

I feel a lot better after giving myself permission to not love the ride every day. (I have a bad habit of putting a lot of pressure on myself!)

Thanks everyone!!!

Never.
I love riding to work and back. So much that I miss it when I can't.
While I appreciate the health, environmental, etc. benefits, by far the primary reason is I like it.
Al

I've been doing my long commute for about 4 months now. I definitely have mornings when I'm not that excited about riding in. Those days I ride extra slow. I ALWAYS enjoy my rides home after work. I think that's what keeps my getting up early in the morning.

My problem is often I don't want to stop at the office - just want to keep riding...

If you think how much time the ride will take, it will can get to you - but if you think of it as your free time, it can be pretty nice.

I'm the opposite, I enjoy the morning ride a lot but in the afternoon sometimes I'm a bit tired. I think I'm in need of a rest but I currently have a consecutive days commuting streak I hate to break.

Anybody else not take a break because of that?

It may be the destination that's bugging you. I've often dreaded going to work, but rarely getting there by bicycle. (Except when it's raining). But then, I've been bicycle commuting since 2nd grade.

Keep it up!

I dread getting on the bike every second of every morning until i'm finally standing on it in the chill of the morning...then something clicks and I'm like "Lets do this" and its all worth it from there.

I've yet to have a day of work afterwhich I wasn't dying to bike home.

You sound like burned out. Take a couple of days off.

Ricardo

Paul's got that right. Cycling takes you by all the miserable traffic jams. It takes motivation to want to use the car in some locations.

Hang in there...a short break might help. I've been off the bike for 3 days now due to a nasty cold passed along by one of my co-workers (I really appreciate when folks come to work hacking & sneezing...oh yeah, and not bothering to cover their mouth or nose!) Anyway, now I can't wait to get back in the saddle...

I have been biking 17 mile days for 4 months now and have yet to be able to do 5/5 days/week. I get physically fatigued so on those days I switch up my routine (good for motivation and safety) and take the bus/train in and car pool further with a colleague (because the mass transit system here does not run to my job). I do not drive a car because I do not have access to one so no choice to drive for moi. It causes more planning and dependance on others on my part, but that's part of the fun in learning to develop relationships with people and allowing yourself to depend on others is liberating, ironically.

I think it helps to have a few different bikes. Especially if you like to tinker with them. Lately, my interest has been up during the commute because I'm trying a fixed gear experiment with one of my bikes. Makes it fun.

Another reason to have more than one bike is to have a bike for different moods. I have a high geared single speed road bike for my race to work mood. I also have a low geared upright riding position bike with fat tires for my lazy commuter mood. You can't go fast on that bike. You're upright and taking in the views. Heck, I could probably drink coffee on that bike.

I decided to take a lazy day myself today. My butt is pretty sore from a solid 5 days of riding, and my legs are "whining" at me. I definitely COULD ride today, but I know it would make tomorrow suck. Tomorrow I'll be riding to work, then a "excercise" ride, then a 10 mile ride out to go do a 5 mile hike. Yeah.

You just have to give yourself a break every once in awile. If it gets too much, and I dread getting in the saddle two rides in a row, I give myself a day off. Hell, last week I took three days off and was glad I did - I've felt great (up until last night) since.

i get lazy too. but i dont have a car or a license.