Hypno Toad

In six months, I will be converting to a home office and losing my 17 to 22 miles a day of bike-commuting. It's caused me a lot of thinking, like "when do I ride every day, before or after work... or at lunch?" or "where to ride?" or "do I still need a couple commuter bikes" ....

Anybody else go through bike-commuter withdrawal with a move to a home office set up?

Darth Lefty 

Tricycle in the hallway?

modernjess

I think it would take some will power to get out for a ride everyday knowing you don't have to. Especially if your work hours don't really change.

On the other hand IF your time is flexible with your at home job then you can carve out ride time at any point of the day, that would be a bonus.

scroca

I'd been inclined to go out on the bike at lunch in order to break up the day.

You may find yourself going stir crazy and in need of an outlet.

Maybe you could lay out specific routes for specific days of the week to keep a variety and then treat each ride like it is just what you do at that time of day, rather than thinking whether or not you are going to ride.

mcours2006

corrado33

https://www.amazon.com/DeskCycle-Exer.../dp/B00B1VDNQA

Desk Bike

mcours2006

Do it in the morning. Get 'er done, then you don't have to think about it the rest of the day.

fietsbob

Pedal Powered snow blower should do It.

Dave Cutter

A walking desk... could replace the exercise. But you'll need to replace the social aspects if you're not going to have daily co-workers. I'd join the local bicycle club that does daily morning rides. Start each day with a nice ride and maybe a coffee with a (new) friend. Then maybe the desk... just for exercise!

Hypno Toad

Unicycle! I have access to one, my soon-to-be-former-boss has one he can't use after knee surgery...

Hypno Toad

I'm fairly sure this will be my attitude. That morning ride really gets the day started right. At least I'll have a shower at the office!

I have some desk exercise equipment in the current office, our owner is big on encouraging fitness; but I find I'm bad at working and working out (can't chew gum and walk either). The one thing I have and use is the convertible stand up desk, I really like it and will bring it to the home office.

gregf83 

If I were to switch to working from home, I'd get up and start working until it was light out and the weather was decent, then ride as my schedule allowed. Seems pointless to fool around with lights if you don't need to.

mcours2006

It's a trade-off for me, even on the weekends. I get out early because there are way fewer cars and pedestrians. The downside is that it's darker out, but I ride on mostly well lit roads, and I don't tend to vary my route too much, so those bumps and potholes are quite familiar to me.

This is my attitude when I run. And it's the same when I ride.

mercator

I made this switch about five years ago, and I have to admit the volume of my riding has decreased substantially as a result. One thing I did was to make sure I had a few reasons to get a ride in, so my post office box and bank are about 15km away from home, which works pretty well for me and in the summer I do that ride almost every week day.

The upshot is that I rarely have to ride in the dark or bad weather as I can pick and choose when to ride.

Hypno Toad

Being up in the North (Minneapolis), I think it will be a mix. I will likely ride later in the morning during the snowy winter month, but in spring and fall, I can see getting started before the sun is up. Summer months will be easy, that sun is up much earlier than I am!

Lights don't make it or break it for me, I so well stocked with lights from all the years of commuting. But riding in the day light is always just a little more fun than in the dark.

bmthom.gis

I'm afraid we will have to now banish you to the 41....

Nothing like riding when you want and where you want! Do you live in an area where you could easily bike to a lunch spot, or coffee shop?

Hypno Toad

LOLz!

Good idea! I'm thinking this will become part of the schedule, couple days a week ride to a coffee shop to work on projects. I'm going to get bored with nobody to talk with (I'm one of those social types). Love my dogs, but they never laugh at my jokes.

ThermionicScott 

Nah, off to Utility Cycling with you!

I would definitely join a cycling club if you don't belong to one already -- you should have more freedom to go on group rides with your new arrangement.

auldgeunquers

This is a perfect example of the superiority of cats, who, while they also never laugh at jokes, do, at least, deign to look down their noses in disdain in response. It is, in the least, a response. Same one I get from many of my friends for that matter ...

Booger1

So, what part of this is keeping you from biking to work?...

genec

Mine wasn't due to a home office setup, but due to a short commute. At one time I had a commute of about 5 miles... took no time at all to do this. But I wanted a good ride... So on my way to work, I took a back road route that added some 35 miles to my route. On the way home, I did the 5 mile route... so I got in 40 miles a day.

For you, just go ahead and commute... but consider you don't need the clothes, or computer or anything; as your office will have everything waiting for you... go out for a nice 15-20 mile ride on the best route you can find and end up back at your office... the ride will get your "juices flowing" better than any cup of coffee, and you'll be ready for work right after your shower. Nice that your employer has a shower and bike parking for you, eh? GRIN

dcbrewer

I just went through about 9 months of working at home and encountered just this problem. And, if you are anything like me, you will probably find it to be a problem. I did my best to get out and ride as often as possible, but it simply isn't the same as having a place to go and a reason to go there. When it rained or snowed or got kind of windy and cold, it was just to easy to bag the whole thing. Fortunately for me, my company opened up a local office which I can now ride to 4-5 times a week, so I am back in business. If you are into the work from home thing long term though, I would definitely recommend finding a coffee shop or three that are various distances from your house and try to ride there for a few hours of work nearly every day. At least for me, I need to establish a routine that I can stick to and will help pull me out there to burn some calories and enjoy the ride.

SalsaShark

Make your normal commute halfway, turn around and head for home. Repeat after the workday is done.

Giant Doofus

I work from home four months out of the year. During that time, I greatly increase my just-for-the-heck-of-it riding. I also frequently meet friends or colleagues for lunch and sometimes work at a coffee shop. I think if I worked from home year round, I'd use my lunch break for riding.

Sullalto

Rollers/trainer by the desk?

My dad has a stationary bike by his desk, he gets up and spins for 5 minutes periodically.