I started commuting by bicycle when it was around 7 miles one way. Then they gradually extended the MUP, which made the route less direct for me and that increased my distance to around 10 miles. That was fine, I still commuted by bicycle.

Then I moved when I got a new job and that distance was 6 miles one way and I still commuted by bicycle.

Then I moved when I got the job I have now and this new distance is 30 miles one way. I still commute by bicycle, though now I most often load the bike onto the car and drive part way.

Just because you live too far away to ride your bike every bit of the distance doesn't mean you necessarily have to stop riding to work and back.

When my office moved downtown 3 years ago, I wasn't sure if I could continue bike commuting. My one-way commute increased from about 10 miles to 15 miles, with a lot of hills and traffic lights in the extra 5 miles. I continued riding and it wasn't as grueling as I expected. However, I am much more likely to drive now if the weather is sketchy because I don't want to spend 2+ hours slogging through pouring rain, thick fog, high winds, etc. We've had a lot of cruddy weather this year, so my commuting frequency is down, but I'll still end up with more miles than ever except for last year.

I'm wondering now how I will cope with retirement, which will be in about 4 years if all goes to plan. It seems like it will be harder to motivate myself to ride 30+ miles nearly every day when I don't have to ride to work.

I know some guys pushing 70 that ride all the time. Sometimes I'll get a little jealous because they'll be planning some fabulous ride on a Tuesday morning and I have to work. It's a ways off for me and it'll come down to how much I enjoy riding at that point in my life and whether or not there are health issues getting in the way.

There are lots of things I'd like to do more of that I can't because of work and family obligations. In some ways I feel like once I reach retirement, the sky will be the limit.

I do the same...

I haven't been at long enough to know even what next year will bring for me. I started about six months ago, riding a hand-me-down bike to work as a whim. I might get tired of it by this time next year and be back to driving full time.

Can't think that far down the road. I'm just taking it one commute at a time for now.

Back when I was diligently logging things, my commute speed was 13mph, for 12 miles. 60 mile ride, in a hillier area but with no stops? 17mph. When I look at logs, my commute to work(daytime, people on the MUP, more obedient to stoplights) vs night(empty MUP-technically closed, and running stoplights) is markedly and consistently faster, even though I generally have a headwind heading home and tack on extra distance for fun.

I had to drive to work yesterday because I had to pick my wife up from the airport in the evening. Throughout the day I felt I was at a loss because I wasn’t doing my routine: biking. There was light flurries in the evening and traffic was slow everywhere. And throughout the time I was stuck in traffic I kept thinking to myself that I wish I was on my bike.

I'm about a year away from retirement and have the same concern. I've been commuting year round by bicycle for over 25 years. My current round trip is 33 miles and usually ride Mon - Fri. But I'm not the type to just make a big loop with nowhere to go. I need a destination! A purpose!

Matt

Keep working? Get a different job? Find somewhere to volunteer?