My commute time is 0
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 2,324
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
My commute time is 0
I say this because, thinking about it the other day, I enjoy my ride. "Commuting" is seen as something you don't want to, but have to, do. When I leave work and I get on my bike, I am relaxing, it is my "me time" rather than being at work or commuting. So I have just increased my "me time" by 2 hours each day
If I were taking public transport then the commute wouldn't be "me time".
Just another benefit of cycle commuting.
If I were taking public transport then the commute wouldn't be "me time".
Just another benefit of cycle commuting.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,952
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I agree. Granted, I live in Socal, so being outdoors is always a treat, but my commute is often the highlight of my day - and I have a job that I'm very happy with. Riding without hammering, enjoying the scenery, and not worrying about traffic is a dream - especially in LA where traffic snarls happen everywhere.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Eastern Iowa
Posts: 502
Bikes: surly cross check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
my commute time is 45 minutes because I have to ride 7 miles through a foot of fresh snow, then next week I have to ride through 7 miles of sand and salt. I will begin to really enjoy my commute in a couple of months, for now I am just getting there.
#5
Climbing and Biking
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Seattle
Posts: 91
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Unfortunately, my commute time really is 0, I work from home ;-) Of course I could take the stairs, but my wife would complain about tire marks on the walls.
#6
Señior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
I don't agree with your definition. Commuting is just going from one place to another for a purpose. Nobody says you can't enjoy it too.
There have been precious few times when I didn't enjoy my ride. I will grant that I love it on the occasions when it's about 80 degrees, sunny and with a nice tailwind, but I'm having fun even when it's 0*F and I'm riding into a 20 MPH headwind that's driving wet sleet into my face.
There have been precious few times when I didn't enjoy my ride. I will grant that I love it on the occasions when it's about 80 degrees, sunny and with a nice tailwind, but I'm having fun even when it's 0*F and I'm riding into a 20 MPH headwind that's driving wet sleet into my face.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Minneapolis MN USA
Posts: 848
Bikes: Trek 4300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I do like to use that reasoning now and then on anyone who asks (no one does). I get up in the morning and do about 40 minutes of bike riding for exercise, and suddenly I find myself at work. It's a little exercise at other ways of looking at things.
Similarly, it's more time-efficient to ride to work. If I drove, it would take around half an hour (best case) round trip. On a bike it takes around an hour and a half round trip. But, if I drove, then I would, at some point, have to change clothes and make some arrangement to exercise, like go jogging or drive to the gym to ride a stationary bike, for a total time of around an hour. So by driving I get at most an hour of exercise and have to spend half an hour in an unproductive activity. If I ride, I spend the same amount of time, but get an hour and a half of exercise. Why would anyone in his/her right mind NOT ride a bike to work, if possible.
Similarly, it's more time-efficient to ride to work. If I drove, it would take around half an hour (best case) round trip. On a bike it takes around an hour and a half round trip. But, if I drove, then I would, at some point, have to change clothes and make some arrangement to exercise, like go jogging or drive to the gym to ride a stationary bike, for a total time of around an hour. So by driving I get at most an hour of exercise and have to spend half an hour in an unproductive activity. If I ride, I spend the same amount of time, but get an hour and a half of exercise. Why would anyone in his/her right mind NOT ride a bike to work, if possible.
#9
-=Barry=-
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD +/- ~100 miles
Posts: 4,077
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
When I was in Annapolis someone asked me how long it took me to get there and I said "No time at all." What do you mean? "Well I went to the gym before this and when I was done I was here."
You could just see the gears inside their head starting to smoke trying to defend "But cars save so much time."
You could just see the gears inside their head starting to smoke trying to defend "But cars save so much time."
#10
Bike addict, dreamer
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 5,165
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So yeah, an hour on mass transit (or in a car) is time wasted, time not enjoyed, I gain nothing from that. The same time on a bike is not wasted. That's how I look at it.
Adam
#13
The Professor
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Center Sandwich, New Hampshire
Posts: 899
Bikes: Alex Moulton Double Pylon, Surly Big Dummy, Alex Moulton GT, AZUB TiFly
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
3 Posts
Certainly, if you include the time you would have to spend exercising after your car commute (not to mention driving to the gym) to get the same level of exercise you get commuting by bicycle, you can express the commute time in minus numbers. If you look at it financially, the cost is also negative if you consider what driving the car costs you versus the bike. So biking is a negative activity!
Funny thing is I don't commute for the exercise ... I just like to ride and I don't like to drive, but it is nice when I go to my doctor and she says: "You know, you are in better shape than 99% of my patients your age."
Funny thing is I don't commute for the exercise ... I just like to ride and I don't like to drive, but it is nice when I go to my doctor and she says: "You know, you are in better shape than 99% of my patients your age."
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
to quote The Weddings Crashers: "I like where your head is at"
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 2,324
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I don't agree with your definition. Commuting is just going from one place to another for a purpose. Nobody says you can't enjoy it too.
There have been precious few times when I didn't enjoy my ride. I will grant that I love it on the occasions when it's about 80 degrees, sunny and with a nice tailwind, but I'm having fun even when it's 0*F and I'm riding into a 20 MPH headwind that's driving wet sleet into my face.
There have been precious few times when I didn't enjoy my ride. I will grant that I love it on the occasions when it's about 80 degrees, sunny and with a nice tailwind, but I'm having fun even when it's 0*F and I'm riding into a 20 MPH headwind that's driving wet sleet into my face.
#16
blah blah blah
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I agree... driving a car is utilitarian = not fun to me, but riding a bike is a lotta fun! I would much prefer being able to instantly teleport somewhere versus driving, but cycling is just plain fun even on challenging days...
#17
Call me The Breeze
#18
Señior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 13,749
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 446 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
Sounds like you all are allowing others to define things for you. I never thought that the word "commute" automatically meant "useless waste of time".
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
13 Posts
Usually I enjoy my commute, sometimes I just get through it. That applies whether I'm in the car or on the bike. The difference is that even if biking was more work than fun, I feel like I've accomplished something. Driving never feels that way.
I take the train once in a while too, though when I do, I always bike to the station. I don't mind public transport at all. I can check my email, read, or even catch a few z's. The only problem with the train is when it's really crowded or when I arrive at the station just after one train has left and I need to wait for the next one.
I take the train once in a while too, though when I do, I always bike to the station. I don't mind public transport at all. I can check my email, read, or even catch a few z's. The only problem with the train is when it's really crowded or when I arrive at the station just after one train has left and I need to wait for the next one.
Last edited by tjspiel; 02-22-10 at 09:15 PM.