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What makes you happy when commuting?

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What makes you happy when commuting?

Old 06-05-19, 01:42 PM
  #126  
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I'm not always sure my heart surgery worked. According to the surgeon I'm supposed to be having a phantom recurrence and I still get symptoms from time to time - far less often and less severe than before. But I can still trigger it, usually. Today I couldn't. I pushed hard and felt great!
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Old 06-08-19, 07:59 PM
  #127  
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The scent of honeysuckles along the MUP that constitutes the majority of my 20 mile commute.

Chuckling at the surprised responses when I reply 20 miles to questions of how long is my commute to work. OK, a bit of smugness is there, too!
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Old 06-10-19, 08:23 PM
  #128  
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Seeing other cyclists commuting. It reminds me that there are a lot of us around here who are doing it! It's a bit of a community feel, I guess!
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Old 06-10-19, 09:17 PM
  #129  
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Originally Posted by surlygurly
Seeing other cyclists commuting. It reminds me that there are a lot of us around here who are doing it! It's a bit of a community feel, I guess!
I never see this where I am.
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Old 06-10-19, 11:38 PM
  #130  
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Originally Posted by surlygurly
Seeing other cyclists commuting. It reminds me that there are a lot of us around here who are doing it! It's a bit of a community feel, I guess!
Nice, I see more cyclists now. Today went to dentist and the way back is my office, but since was a nice day, just drove home and rode to work
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Old 06-11-19, 04:42 AM
  #131  
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Originally Posted by Skipjacks
I never see this where I am.
That sucks! I’m lucky to live in a pretty pro bike small city. We are a gold rated place by League of American Bicyclists. I just moved back last year and I’m pretty surprised at the difference from where I lived before.
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Old 06-11-19, 07:13 AM
  #132  
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Originally Posted by surlygurly
That sucks! I’m lucky to live in a pretty pro bike small city. We are a gold rated place by League of American Bicyclists. I just moved back last year and I’m pretty surprised at the difference from where I lived before.
On the plus side....there is never anyone in my way.

So I've got that going for me.
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Old 06-11-19, 08:03 AM
  #133  
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nothing puts a grin on my face while bike commuting like a ripping tailwind.

it's like riding an e-bike without having to purchase one.

it's too bad those 20+ mph winds exactly at your six o'clock are so rare.
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Old 06-11-19, 08:22 AM
  #134  
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Moving slowly

When I was a kid, I so loved long car rides, because I could be free to observe everything.

As an adult, when 99% of the time I am in a car, I'm driving.... my attention is completely held captive by this weird combination of a) occupation with driving rules and safety and b) the massive over-stimulation of constantly flying around at speeds of 30mph+. I became aware that I had become de-sensitized to the world around me that I used to enjoy as a kid riding shotgun by decades of fast speed travel in the driver's seat.

One of the things I love most about commuting on my bike, and just riding in general, is that I don't feel like the world is whizzing past me anymore. Even when taking a fast bike ride, it sometimes leaves me feeling a little sad that I don't have more time to look around as I go, even to stop and poke around or enjoy a stream in the park.

It's delightful to become re-sensitized by means of slowness. It's like waking up after a frustrating dream, or coming out of a depression you didn't realize you were in.
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Old 06-11-19, 12:27 PM
  #135  
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I was happy to use one of the spare batteries I carry with me on my way in this morning when my helmet light conked out. And I was happy I had a spare charger at work so I could recharge the battery before the trip home.
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Old 06-11-19, 12:33 PM
  #136  
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Originally Posted by College3.0
When I was a kid, I so loved long car rides, because I could be free to observe everything.

As an adult, when 99% of the time I am in a car, I'm driving.... my attention is completely held captive by this weird combination of a) occupation with driving rules and safety and b) the massive over-stimulation of constantly flying around at speeds of 30mph+. I became aware that I had become de-sensitized to the world around me that I used to enjoy as a kid riding shotgun by decades of fast speed travel in the driver's seat.

One of the things I love most about commuting on my bike, and just riding in general, is that I don't feel like the world is whizzing past me anymore. Even when taking a fast bike ride, it sometimes leaves me feeling a little sad that I don't have more time to look around as I go, even to stop and poke around or enjoy a stream in the park.

It's delightful to become re-sensitized by means of slowness. It's like waking up after a frustrating dream, or coming out of a depression you didn't realize you were in.
I have posted about a seemingly contrary perception of cycling vs driving in a car.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
I'm very motivated by novelty, and stymied by boredom on a bike, but I do have the motivation of commuting to work.

I have found that when I drive my frequent, decades-old routes I often notice things I had not seen before. I think it’s because I can look around at more than just the road surface when driving.

So when the commute [route] is getting too familiar, I just raise my head higher and look over a wider field of view….
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
A local BF subscriber @rholland1951 who contributes hundreds of photographs to the local Metro Boston thread from the same 11-mile long MUP he rides, once commented something like that "just the lighting / time of day / day of the year makes the ride “different.”

So too does the direction, one way, or the reverse.
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Old 06-12-19, 07:20 AM
  #137  
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The group of deer that ran out on the bike path near lake Ontario this morning. First time this happened. Just got this feel good vibe the rest of the ride.
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Old 06-12-19, 07:25 AM
  #138  
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Originally Posted by Wrokkar
Yep, 61 to 65. I've learned that below 60 I need to bundle up more. But above 60, I can usually generate enough heat to be happy.
I'm more in the 50-60 degree camp. Cool enough that sweating is minimal, and warm enough that special layers aren't necessary. 50-60 makes me happy.

This morning, it was a bit over 60. But you know what? I was still happy about that.
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Old 06-12-19, 07:27 AM
  #139  
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Originally Posted by no motor?
I was happy to use one of the spare batteries I carry with me on my way in this morning when my helmet light conked out. And I was happy I had a spare charger at work so I could recharge the battery before the trip home.
It's June and you're in Chicago. What times are your commutes? You must work a very long day.

I ride at 5:45 am and 4:30 pm, and don't need lights in June.

It makes me happy to learn about your commute.
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Old 06-12-19, 08:01 AM
  #140  
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Originally Posted by Phil_gretz
It's June and you're in Chicago. What times are your commutes? You must work a very long day.
i was curious about that too.

yesterday in chicago, sunrise was 5:15am and sunset was 8:25pm.
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Old 06-12-19, 10:59 AM
  #141  
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Originally Posted by Phil_gretz
It's June and you're in Chicago. What times are your commutes? You must work a very long day.

I ride at 5:45 am and 4:30 pm, and don't need lights in June.

It makes me happy to learn about your commute.
It was between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. I don't need lights to see then, but I like to be more visible then. And on my trip home too. With rechargeable batteries it's pretty easy to do, and helps me be more visible when I'm in the middle of a busy street waiting to cross to the other side.
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Old 06-12-19, 03:29 PM
  #142  
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Happiness is an empty MUP, a nice view, crisp morning air and the knowledge that I'm not sitting in traffic.
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Old 06-12-19, 07:54 PM
  #143  
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Finding and solving a very noisy frame creak
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Old 06-12-19, 11:36 PM
  #144  
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Ah, today with a bit of tail wind I could hear the wheels rolling - no noise of air hitting around your ear. It was cool!
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Old 06-16-19, 07:05 PM
  #145  
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Hitting it off with another cycling commuter...
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Old 06-16-19, 07:24 PM
  #146  
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It's always nice when I have a friendly conversation with somebody in a vehicle while stopped at a red light. My body art is sometimes a good conversation starter for the guys in a work truck.
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Old 06-17-19, 07:26 AM
  #147  
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Originally Posted by wipekitty
My body art is sometimes a good conversation starter for the guys in a work truck.
Might be good for conversation on BF too; pictures?
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Old 06-17-19, 09:26 AM
  #148  
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Coasting.
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Old 06-18-19, 06:52 AM
  #149  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Might be good for conversation on BF too; pictures?
Smooth.

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Old 06-18-19, 09:14 AM
  #150  
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WNYC, our local public radio station, does pieces on commuting by public transit and everything else. Yesterday's story was about bike commuting. One major point is that in NYC, a bike commute uses a predictable amount of time. All other modes are wildly unpredictable, and it's necessary to allow for the unexpected. Some people add 45 minutes because it's so bad. Bike commuting is the only mode where that is not necessary.

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