So today was my first real chance to ride a bike in three weeks. Schools out, so no commuting and we were in Ireland for two weeks and then the smoke from all the fires.

So anyway, I'm getting ready to go for my first non-commuting ride in many, many months. And where was the first route that came to mind?

My @#$& commute that's it!. After all, it was not too long (25 miles there and back), and perfectly safe. I know exactly how long it should take me almost down to the second.

The thing is that in terms of local recreational rides, the Yolo causeway is the last place anyone want to go. Nobody hardly ever rides it unless they have some actual reason to ride between Davis and Sacramento - usually going to and from work. There are many nicer rides around here than that.

Yet, I had to fight the urge to get on my bike and ride to Sacramento. I finally settled on an 35 mile out and back to Winters.

Does anyone else with a longish commute have to fight the urge to ride it on their recreational rides?

I have way too many much nicer routes I can ride.

Sorry but the mountains beckon me like a tasty glass of beer. So, no.

My commute is about 3 miles and I will ride it in the evenings when I don't want to get far from home or exert myself too much. It is to a college campus and there are usually people milling about so I don't get too bored.

I ride a shorter version that takes me to the bar, so no.

My previous job was 14 mile commute that just happened to overlap with my favorite route for getting out to the Western suburbs. So, I rode 50% - 80% of my commute on most of my weekend rides.

Nothing says that one's commuting route can't be fun, too.

My current job is in the downtown of the city, so I'll use the same route if I'm going in to eat at a fancy restaurant or shop the wholesaler's markets or drop in on Boston Common for Shakespear on the Common.

Ummmm, I think you have that backwards. j/k

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many stop lights and stop signs on my commuter route. Oddly it also seems to have alot more traffic on the weekends with everyone heading out to the mall, ball game or race track.
It appears my commuting route is part of the DFW Airport loop and someday I might come down and ride it with a group.

Instead of heading south on my commute if I go north or west it is miles and miles between stops with some nice scenery and brutal hills (considering the area). I do find myself doing my commute when we go to the community center or a few other places and I really don't like it at all. I don't want to go to work I was already there today!

It's my day off and i am not riding ... am i demented?

nah I'd rather explore other routes to get me to different places. I'm actually going to check out a MUP that goes into Sugarland TX right after work today.

No, but I'm pretty sure my recreational ride is someone else's commute!

I've done it, because my commute is THE MUP. I can go north or south, north goes to work and south ends in 6 mi.

If I don't feel like getting buzzed on country roads or driving to start my ride I'll go north, which eventually goes within 1 mile of the office. I suppose I could go west on an arterial route, but then I end up riding along the interstate, sucking smog and listening to highway noise.

MOST of the time, talking 99 of every 100 rides I just grab some country roads and make loops through Kiowa, Elbert, Castle Rock, Sedalia, etc...stopping at godo eateries and breweries.

if I get an opportunity for free-time riding, I head to the mountains.

for my recreational rides, i need to trace my commute and then keep going. so, i'm pretty much always doing my commute. i have all the potholes and rough patches memorized so it goes pretty easy.

Well, I can understand one's commute coming to mind first. It's the most common ride you do. And I have done my commute 3 times in one day, but only because I was preparing to fly to the coast and had to go back to the office twice to get stuff.

I'm glad you saw the error of your ways though. I hope you enjoyed the ride.

You need to talk to someone. You know, a professional. Altho, a causeway sounds a lot more interesting than some of the places I ride in Central Indiana.

I've got a good bit of overlap on my commute too, where the first 4 miles is the same if I want to go anywhere East of my place. It made it easier to start commuting, and I'm missing those rides in other directions since I've been commuting more.

If you like freeway noise and the flattest, straightest 3 mile bike path ever invented, then you might be right. I often feel like a hot wheel car when I ride it. You can put your head down and contemplate the shape of your front hub it's so flat and straight.