this forum is too full of waste, so ...

what do you enjoy about commuting by bike?

I enjoy the personal time of a short (20km/12.5mi RT) commute.

Although it can be rushed in the morning

I like riding my bike. Commuting gives me an excuse (if I needed one) to indulge.

Thankfully, my happiness doesn't depend on what goes on in the Commuting forum. I just wander in here when bored.

so, should I be insulted my this comment?

Why not?

My commute is short, 3 miles each way. It has some OK short climbs though. I like the way it clears my head both on the way to work and on the way home. I like that I'm not polluting the environment. And I like my commuting bike, a vintage mtb with drops. The thing is a tank.

For me, it's mostly about the results, which are:

• staying fit, with less impact to my schedule than setting aside separate time for pure exercise
• saving a ton of money on gas and motor vehicle maintenance (I have three cars, but they're virtually garage queens, when the weather is decent, at least)
• partially alleviating my conscience for all the negative impact I have on the environment

Of course I enjoy bike riding for its own sake, and if commuting is curtailed due to weather or vacation (or even unemployment ), I still get in as much riding as I reasonably can.

I like the feeling of freedom and independence that I get from riding my bike.

That wasn't my intent, but I'm not always sure what response you're after when you post.

I think a lot of the garbage in this subforum (and others) is what happens when people get bored and feisty and want to stir something up. I've been guilty of that before.

It's going for a bike ride, with no guilt for slacking off. It's nice outdoors around here, especially in spring/autumn afternoons and summer mornings. I'm fortunate that my route to work goes along Lake Natoma. I see coyotes and foxes, possums and otters, falcons and mergansers.

Just riding my bike is fun.

A picture explains it better than I can:

Instagram

It clears my mind. It makes me feel less puffy after a big breakfast. I can take quick detours because some random store is a few blocks away from where I am at any given moment - doing that by car would be a parking nightmare.

I love taking the folding bike out of the house, and then meeting my wife/daughter downtown - we'll all go back by car (public transportation here is terrible, so a bike is much more pleasant!).

Recently I've been taking detours through country roads, paved or unpaved ones with little to no traffic. They are fantastically beautiful.

I enjoy living out my dream of living on the road riding my bicycle - albeit with the limitation I don't get to roam all day. I have to interrupt my adventure while I earn a living. But why let that spoil the fun?

Taking a ride through the forest, over the mountains, alongside babbling brooks, on my way to.... no wait, that isn't it. I live in NYC. Taking a ride dodging taxis, over the bridge with the subway rattling my teeth next to me, alongside gurgling garbage trucks...

It isn't really all that bad, I DO get to ride through Prospect Park, through quiet neighborhoods, and sometimes along the East River bikeway. In any case 10 miles on the road each way beats not riding at all.

I've been a desk jockey much of my life. Now that I've earned a level of fitness, I get a charge out of using a physical ability for something useful.

Less hassle than driving. The peace of mind of knowing that the weather or an overturned tractor trailer won't leave me stuck in a traffic jam for hours. Never having to circle the block for a half hour waiting for a parking spot.

I like being outside, and apart from the commute I'm in an office building all day. A good chunk of the commute is on a gravel nature trail, and it's a nice quiet break before work starts.

My commute is relatively short -- about three miles -- but there is one very challenging hill. If I go shopping after work, it adds a couple of miles, so I'm on the bike for 10 somewhat hilly miles on a pretty typical day. I feel good that I am getting a little exercise. A lot less than many of you, but enough so I'm not worried about it.

Then there's the pure joy of riding the bike itself, apart from the other attributes. This in itself is a gift and the fact the it's also useful - gets me to work, is good for me, puts me in a quiet environment -- is awesome.

I hate traffic. I'm surrounded by 4 schools (middle + high) on my commute. While the traffic isn't _terrible_, it definitely adds to my stress level.

Even though biking takes a little bit longer, I arrive to work a lot happier.

Beats the alternative, which is not commuting, which means I am unemployed.

Aside from enjoying the act of cycling in and of itself, I'd have to say I like not driving and paying for parking, and not getting crammed like a sardine onto public transit.

In order or importance.

1. Riding bikes is fun.
2. Faster or as fast as driving.
3. Nice time with my son and serves as a life model.
4. Exercise endorphins.
5. Riding bikes is fun.
6. Seeing/observing more than you would in a box
7. More fun than driving.
8. Seeing my co-workers face when they ask where I bike from (it is not even that far).
9. Cheaper than driving.
10. Less frustrating than driving.

Overall I do it since riding bikes is fun and it guarantees a ride twice a day.

When I used to commute on my bike:

1. The early morning crispness in the winter. The morning ride before sunup in the cold was like a slap in the face. It is a fond memory.
2. The afternoon ride home got rid of stress from work, and I always arrived home in a great mood.
3. Fitness and health.

What do I like about it? The women. That's what.

My commute is waaaaay too short (3.7 miles each way), but I do love the exercise, and getting more fit. And I love biking home in the dark of night, with my great headlight. The roads are so vacant, that I feel I breeze home very quickly.

I am not a big fan of riding in, I really like riding home. It's just very relaxing.