Speed depends on the traffic light synchronicity. My sharktoothed sprockets sharply restrict my acceleration, so you'll only see me speeding if I've had a few green lights in a row.

I live very close to work (less than 2.5 miles) and I've never liked working hard on my commute even when I lived further away. If I want to train (and I do), I ride for that specific purpose.

I know those roads and, alas, it's not so much a climb as it is a draggy false flat with a couple of little kickers. So it's just a slog to the top heading into the metro area, and not as zippy as you might like on the way out.

I'm only commuting on the bike two or three days a week, but it's always a PUSH. I get on in the morning, and keep it slow for the first mile or two, but as I warm up, the speed goes up. The terrain here is very flat, and I ride a recumbent with a fairing attached. That said, I make the 15.5 mile round trip commute in one hour or less every day. Mornings are cooler with less wind, but the muscles are stiff from the night. Afternoons are warmer and windy, but the speed is usually a bit higher. I consistently run from 15.1 to 16.1 average, call it a 15.5 most days.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

My commutes are about enjoying the ride from point A to point B. My goal is to get there, not to get there fast. I think thats why I look forward to my commutes so much; I don't care about Strava PR's, or being racy; I simply enjoy the ride.

When on a single-speed, I tend to just chill and go at an easy pace. But when I'm on a geared bike, no matter what, I always seem to push myself to the limits without intention. But then again, my commute is only 2.5-miles.

In the summer I push. In the winter I just try to get from point A to B with all my extremities intact.

i love speed and lactate burn so i push myself as hard as traffic and weather conditions allow.

Depends how long ago I took my heart pills.

I give myself enough time to ride slow... then push the pace anyways. I like going fast, and I can take the extra time to cool down before starting work.

I do a mix and it depends on if I'm riding several days in a row or just that one. If just that one I turn it into a body killer. If I am going to be going more than one day I take that into consideration. Part of riding, for me, is pushing it. Just meandering about isn't what I like to do.

I generally take it easy, leaving early enough so that I don't have to push it. The days that I leave late and have to push it, I don't seem to enjoy the ride as much.