I was just wondering about those of you that commute by bicycle every day (mostly those that don't have another option, but also those that do but choose the bicycle) and how you are in regards to motivation. What I mean to ask is, on those days that you just don't feel like riding (assuming you have those) and of course you ride anyway, does that lower your motivation for communting overall or do you harden up and get past it, to enjoy it more on some later day? In other words, does it affect your decision to commute or not on a global level - from month to month or year to year?

I was going to ride in this morning, but just didn't feel like it - couldn't explain why, but just decided not to (I have five options - bicycle, walk, bus, ride with co-worker, or drive the 4.3 miles). I have times that I ride in daily for months at a time, and then I have times when I might get in one day a week (or one per two weeks).

I have days, more often in the winter, when I don't feel like riding the 4.5 flat miles to work. But lately riding by the gas price sign at the gas station in my neighborhood keeps me motivated to keep my car parked for yet another day. It was $3.94/gal there last time I looked.

I did drive on Monday this week. I wasn't feeling too well and the car hadn't run for a couple of weeks. I also took the opportunity that day to bring to work a whole pile of food for a few days worth of lunches.

i have no car, so if i don't ride my bike, i'm on the train.

a round-trip train ticket to work is $7.80.

that's really all the motivation i need to ride.

While I have many days I don't feel like getting up a half hour early to ride, I've yet to have a day when I get to work and wish I hadn't ridden.

Most of the time I look forward to the ride. Only 8.5 miles and at a moderate pace I can make it in about 30-35 minutes. There are days when I just don't feel like it, but I push myself out the door anyway. Usually on these days I feel better after I start riding, and the motivation level comes back up.

Some days I just give in and start up the truck and drive in. I have to agree with CACyling in that on the days I drive, I usually see some other cyclist and wish that I had ridden also.

Current gas prices play a big part in my decision to ride nowadays.

Usually when I am less that motivated to ride I still get up and go on the bike...usually by the time I get to work I'm happy that I rode in. I am also competitive so if I get on a streak of riding my bike into work I dont want to break it.

The only time I've ever regretted cycling to work, I got a stomach bug in the middle of my shift and basically had to pedal as fast as I could home and hope that the Immodium I'd taken an hour earlier held out.

Some days are harder than others but I ride anyway. It doesn't destroy my long term motivation though. I've had bad cycling days followed by great cycling days. I never really know what kind of day it'll be until I get on the bike.

Over the past couple of years I don't even think about whether I want to or not. It's just matter of fact, get up, get dressed, ride to work.

No car. Don't like asking for rides. Taxis are unreliable. The bus takes longer than walking (3 or 4 bus changes plus a mile walk). Walking takes 1.5 hours each way.

Easy choice to take the bike.

My Motivation... Gas prices, Work parking fees, and traffic jams.
My commute is approx 10km each way.
I save $1200 a year by not driving the car (just in gas costs)
I also save $600 a year in parking fees minus the $100 I pay for my bike box.
Also if I drive to work I have to park 1km away from my office, the whole time I'm walking I think to myself "I wish I had my bike right now"
I found that once I commited to riding everyday I didn't need to motivate myself on a daily basis. If there is no other option it's really easy to ride, I just don't give myself the option to not ride.
The last time I drove the car to work was the begining of October, yes even through the Canadian Winter.
I am trying to ride 100% of the work days in a year. Last year I rode 96% of the days I worked.
Anytime I can Ride instead of Drive, I Ride.

Once in a while I don't feel motivated to ride, but I make myself go anyway, and invariably within 5 minutes of hopping on the bike, I'm glad to be riding.

I just love to ride, I look forward to riding every morning and every evening.

I only ride to work half the time (the other half of the week I telecommute). By the time my "ride to work" block comes around I'm usually excited to get back on the bike.

That and my only real alternative involves having my wife + 3 small children all pile into the minivan to drop me off and pick me up (we've only got the one car). That'd be another 40 miles / 2 gallons of gas plus the logistical hassle of it all. Better to just ride.

So many good responses, but this one is a treasure by CACycling (and seemingly part of many responses so far) - It rang a bell with me as I sit in my office most days and look over at the beautiful bike leaning against the window. The ride home gives me plenty of time to unwind and is an exuse to not get home right away (needed to stop at the library, pub for a pint, or just take a different route)

I haven't started riding yet, got a bike on layaway, but it can apply to walking as well. I play nice, loud, upbeat music on the way to work. (I only keep one bud in so I know if cyclists come up behind me.) I also try to sort of walk meditate, just enjoy the commute itself. If you view it as something you have to do, you won't want to, it's how humans are.

My motivation is similar to CACycling's - the days I don't ride I wish I had, even though it may not have been possible to ride that day. I don't ride when I am too sick, but there are other days when I lack the motivation to ride. On those days I just slow down and enjoy the ride instead of hammering and all is well.

My motivation is the same: I need to get to work. My other choices are the bus or subway or walk. Cycling's the easiest and when I skip it due to weather, I usually wish I'd ridden anyway.

I have many motivations for riding -- exercise, fitness, keeping my weight down, the cost of gas, environmental concerns about pollution from driving, parking costs, and the fact that I just like to ride my bikes. However, there are still days when I don't feel like riding. Most of the time I go ahead and ride and glad that I did, but sometimes I just need a break or the weather is just too nasty. One thing I found out a long time ago is that if you decide whether to ride when you are lying in a nice, warm bed you will often talk yourself out of it. So I try to get up first and check the weather forecast and radar before making the call, and I'm more rational by that time.

I have only been commuting by bike since mid March and most weeks only 3 to 4 days. It takes no motivation at all to hop on the bike. I love riding!! If I take the car I have to go to the gym. If I ride the bike my wake up time is 5:15 am, car and gym wake up time is 4:10am. My bike wins!! The days I am not commuting by bike so far are usually days that are going to rain or I have a commitment after work that is not available to be accomplished on my bike. This week I have ridden in four days so far and tomorrow promises to be beautiful out, so I am thinking it will be a full week of biking to work! YAY.

I am not sure I can ride come the winter time as the weather around these parts has snow and ice. I also ride in early and it is dark and there are some hills that are not well lit.

My motivation is thinking about sitting in traffic for the hour + commute vs pedaling past it all and enjoying myself. I actually didn't ride today, but mostly because my legs are a little fatigued this week and I plan on doing some non-commute riding this weekend and want to rest of a bit for that. Every time I drive it makes me wish I was riding instead.

My commute is only 3 km. It is only 10 mins. With car maybe 2-3 mins shorter. I get up at same time whether I commute with bike or car. So it is almost absurd if I don't commute with my bike. I haven't used my car for so long that its battery is dead now. Today was rainy, I could go with the car but since I can't start it I took the bike. So that's my motivation. Also knowing that in 1-1.5 years I save my bikes worth, helps as a motivation. Apart from all those, I like riding my bike and look forward to ride it in the morning to work.

I wish I could average 17mph at a moderate pace to work! Between the stoplights and hills it usually takes me an hour to do 12 miles.

I try to commute once a week by bike. It's 23 miles one way, and some parts are on quite busy roads. When I hit twice a week (plus club rides), I am quite tired.

My motivation is definitely on the wane, mostly due to issues at work. Security at work has attempted to stop me taking my bike into the building (have had bike played with and damaged / stuff stolen when in bike rack, and now with fenders no longer fits in the rack..). The other issue is the couple of 50mph roads I have to navigate.

I think I have to find another route...