On what was my last bike commute to/from work for this year (this past Tuesday), I took a new route home. I had been scoping it out on Google Maps, but hadn't taken it yet. I am an engineer and tend to overly prepare, plan, assure that my route is safe, ridable, etc. As such, I was planning to ride it one weekend just to make sure it was doable. I was fairly certain there were dirt/gravel/paved trail options, I just wanted to check it out first.

Flashback two weeks ago... While riding home one day, I met up with a commuter who, as it turns out, lives in my neighborhood. We started up a conversation and he had just taken the route I had been thinking about.

So on Tuesday, as I'm rolling out of work, I think to hell with it, I'm going to take the new route. If I make a wrong turn, so what, I'll get home eventually.

It was awesome. A nice mix of dirt/gravel and paved MUP. My Roubaix handled it well, although I may lower my tire pressure next time. Best part, I cut my traffic exposure by more than half. I now have 3 miles of surface roads, then 20 miles of very ridable trail/path. If I were in better condition, I would ride every day. (goal for 2015?!?)

So now, with two weeks of well deserved vacation ahead of me, I am actually looking forward to coming back to work. Am I nuts?

No, I do the same thing from time to time, and have found better commuting routes by doing so. I have been toying with the idea of riding home on a new greenway that my city just completed, which would extend my afternoon commute from about 16 miles to more than 30 miles. My usual commute is mostly on neighborhood streets with about one-third of the distance on heavily trafficked roads. The greenway route would be much more pleasant but would take twice as long. The path is also very dark and remote, and it's technically "closed" after dark, but totally car-free. It might be better to wait until the days get longer but it would be a great way to end my commuting year.