Transitioning to commuting
 

I recently started riding my road bike to work and it seems to take away from weekend rides. I associate the annoyance of going to work with the bike and recreational riding is not as much fun now.
Will getting a separate commuting bike solve this feeling?

*scratches head*

You are going about it wrong.
Commuting on a bike to work makes the commute fun.

It has nothing to do with my recreational rides. Just another way to get miles.

Anyways..... get another bike. I have no idea if it will help you but another bike is a good thing.

Think of Pavlov's dogs...

Your weekend rides = fun and your commute = not so fun(?)

You've come to associate that "not so fun" feeling with riding your road bike correct? If that so, it's not so far fetched. Will buying a completely separate bike for commuting help change this association? Maybe. Datajunkie has a good point, "You're going about it wrong". Rethink your commute, make it fun. It may help with your recreational rides ;)

Yeah, for me the ride in and home makes being there worthwhile.... well... that and the paycheque I need in order to buy more bikes and parts....

Seriously, I actually miss the bike ride in if the weather or traveling takes me away from it for more than a week.

My morning commute to work is very relaxing with little traffic on the road (I leave around 6am). My evening commute is a great way to burn off frustrations. Love commuting and still love my weekend rides. I typically ride my MB to work and the road bike on weekends.

I definitely noticed that I started doing less rec. riding after I began commuting. It's not because I dislike riding though, far form it - it's that I've come to associate riding with going somewhere. I just can't get motivated to ride in a circle anymore.

Thats what I don't want to happen to me :(

Riding to work is the best part of my day. The second best part is riding home. I wholeheartedly agree that getting more bikes will make you happy! :D

If you can, use separate routes. My city has three bottlenecks driving all traffic thru three roads to go north into Salem, Peabody or Swampscott. I use one for work/school, one for rec. rides and the last is the fastest and miserable, its for emergencies. It kind of breaks things up for me. Also my rec. rides take me out into quiet wooded roads up to Gloucester or Newburyport. The work/school route is busy roads and red lights. Honestly, I take my "commuter" out on fun rides as often as my roadie.

Annoyance of going to work? I understand not everyone loves their job, but it shouldn't be like walking into the slaughterhouse! Maybe you just need to find a longer route for your commute?

Since I started commuting, I'm more inclined to take Saturdays off the bike...maybe head to the gym instead, or just hang out. On Sundays I'm ready to ride again.

No guarantee that it will solve that feeling, but...

If you have a commuting bike that's not like your "nice" road bike, e.g. it's got higher-resistance tires, a lesser gruppo, is heavier and just isn't as fun to ride as your nice bike then I think it'll be rewarding when you do ride your nice bike on the weekends. Why? Because your nice bike will be so smooth, responsive and will be a bike that's rewarding to ride. An end in itself rather than just a means..

If you get a mountain bike or a hybrid as a commuter than you'll really start wanting to ride your road bike whenever you can :).

I'm experiencing this as well, though I did go on a recreational ride last week and it was kinda nice because when I got a flat, I didn't give a damn :). Why? Because I had literally all day to repair it. This is in contrast to getting a flat on the way to work- then I react somewhat anxiously and scramble to get back on the road.

or just find a new job.

To parallel eartoandy:
Sounds more like the question should be:
"Do I have the right job if the joy I normally receive riding my bike is diminished by riding the bike to work?"

Gosh, for me, the ride to work and the ride home is the best part of my day. I actually enjoy commuting more than recreational rides, for some reason. Perhaps because there is some destination or goal to be reached.

For what it is worth I am a part time longer distance commuter. My off days give me a chance to keep from getting burnt out. Plus I would say that since I am more of an enthusiast than a true 100% commuter that has to ride. My commutes are recreational rides with a destination.

Commutes tend to be loner type rides while recreational rides can be with other riders. I simply enjoy riding no matter what type it is. Perhaps the feeling will pass.
I know I burn out from time to time.

I used to feel that way so now I make sharper turns and ride in a square. :D

It might if the weekend bike is a lot nicer than the commuter. I have a different bike for weekends - not for that reason - my weekend bike does not have all the lights and racks. It's faster so that makes it more fun.

You can also try making the weekend rides special. Don't do the usual routes. Drive or cycle to a new, exotic location and ride there.

It might if the weekend bike is a lot nicer than the commuter. I have a different bike for weekends - not for that reason - my weekend bike does not have all the lights and racks. It's faster so that makes it more fun.

You can also try making the weekend rides special. Don't do the usual routes. Drive or cycle to a new, exotic location and ride there.

Get a better job.

Ditto.

I love my commute in, so there's no "annoyance" association like the OP is talking about. But when I ride 23 miles a day, I don't feel compelled to ride a circle to "train" on the weekend. If I miss too many commutes, I feel the itch to get out and ride just to ride on the weekend so I don't feel like a fat slug.

And you're right, commuting adds another dimension. When your ride has multiple levels of purpose other than spinning your cranks, a ride from your front door to your front door for no other purpose is a little less exciting.

Who knows, but it's a good excuse to get another bike. :)

+1

_____________________________

The Cake is a Lie

Perhaps you need to set up your commute to be more painless, less stressful. I find the changing clothes, locking up, hauling luggage parts to be tedious at times. I've tried to streamline it with minimal clothing change, keeping spare clothes and shoes at work, taking it easy most mornings to avoid sweating, riding a beater so I don't mind so much if it's exposed to bad weather and risk of theft.

Also, since you're getting a lot of base miles in, maybe it''s ok to ride a bit less on the weekend or change your practise. If you were riding on Saturday and Sunday, cut back to just one day. If you rode once a week, go for long rides every 2nd or 3rd week and just short jaunts the other weeks. Join a club or start to race as a new motivator. Take the bike to some new spot to explore.