Commuting rituals?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 30
Bikes: 2001 Litespeed Classic, 1997 LeMond Zurich, Ross Mt. Olympus frankenbike
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
7 Posts
Commuting rituals?
Anyone else have any little rituals you do to keep you in the present moment?
This past year I made a decision to appreciate my commute. After you've been doing it for awhile, you tend to gloss over any cool experiences or interactions. So I made a point of stopping at an overlook of the ohio river and taking a picture. Alas, I'm a fair-weather commuter, so no cool pics of snow or rain!
This past year I made a decision to appreciate my commute. After you've been doing it for awhile, you tend to gloss over any cool experiences or interactions. So I made a point of stopping at an overlook of the ohio river and taking a picture. Alas, I'm a fair-weather commuter, so no cool pics of snow or rain!
Likes For scaldin:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
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 3,584 Times
in
2,344 Posts
wow, that's great! & a lot of work! well done!
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
Anyone else have any little rituals you do to keep you in the present moment?
This past year I made a decision to appreciate my commute. After you've been doing it for awhile, you tend to gloss over any cool experiences or interactions. So I made a point of stopping at an overlook of the ohio river and taking a picture. Alas, I'm a fair-weather commuter, so no cool pics of snow or rain!
morning commute timelapse
This past year I made a decision to appreciate my commute. After you've been doing it for awhile, you tend to gloss over any cool experiences or interactions. So I made a point of stopping at an overlook of the ohio river and taking a picture. Alas, I'm a fair-weather commuter, so no cool pics of snow or rain!
morning commute timelapse
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….
So when the commute [route] is getting too familiar, I just raise my head higher and look over a wider field of view….
Our condo here in Boston has an eastward view of an imposing, reflective building called the Prudential Center (Pru), facing the afternoon-early evening sun (see stock photo).
I have considered setting up a camera with a daily timed trigger around 4 PM to photograph that reflective side of it every day of the year through all four seasons, and I thought about a poster display of all the shots.
A slide shot such as yours would be cool. ,
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 10-11-19 at 05:32 PM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
827 Posts
The pleasant incidents may be wildlife sightings, encounters with friends, people enjoying themselves at a park or front lawns, Cool lawns, beautiful landscapes. Nice people with nice dogs on this street, etc.
The less pleasant rememberences can serve to help keep me safe: Cross traffic tends to blow through that stop sign up ahead, There's a pothole around that blind corner, this is where I picked up those flats, there's a group of kids looking for trouble that congregate on that street up ahead. Mean, unleashed dogs on that block...Cars entering and exiting the highway on/off ramps do not stop for anything...etc.
Very cool video, by the way.
#8
Senior Member
Nice video. My entire commute tends to be a ritual. From getting ready, choosing the exact route, following the route with all of its idiosyncrasies, and finishing up. Makes a fairly complicated routine much easier and safer. I can just enjoy the ride and have everything I need and not have to give it much thought. If I don’t follow the rituals, I either forget something or have to deal with an unexpected situations.
Likes For crazyravr:
#10
Full Member
Usually I’ll prep the evening before (because). Then: I check the weather, grab a lunch box ... and start pedaling!
My biggest ritual is to remember to be safe and enjoy my commute.
My biggest ritual is to remember to be safe and enjoy my commute.
#11
Unlisted member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,192
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1376 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times
in
297 Posts
I run through a mental checklist by talking to the cats and listing all the things I want to take with or do before I leave.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 895
Bikes: 2017 Co-op ADV 1.1; ~1991 Novara Arriba; 1990 Fuji Palisade; mid-90's Moots Tandem; 1985 Performance Superbe
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 572 Times
in
332 Posts
I’ve got a Hornit electric horn which I touch when I get home to let my family know I’ve arrived. For those of you who haven’t heard it, the sound is a high-pitched squeal. The other evening, when I sounded it, I got an equal response from my local mockingbird. He’s learned to Hornit.
When I approach one portion of one of my routes in the dark, I start singing. It is a local hangout for skunks, and before I started singing, I startled one and he almost got me.
When I approach one portion of one of my routes in the dark, I start singing. It is a local hangout for skunks, and before I started singing, I startled one and he almost got me.
Likes For flangehead:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 927
Bikes: Death machines all
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times
in
63 Posts
The clothing/packing ritual around here is too complicated to feel like a ritual, it's a triumph if I can roll my pannier top once on any given day. During my ride, my daily practice is try to be kind to pedestrians and other riders, stretch my core at stop lights, and fantasize about creative ways to punish drivers.
__________________
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
#17
Senior Member
I live in Atlanta but I am from Cincinnati. Cincy is a great town and very beautiful. You should definitely appreciate your city. I love Atlanta but Cincy is a gem.
#18
Keepin it Wheel
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,245
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 3,433 Times
in
2,540 Posts
Not mine
My ritual is mostly about making sure I have all the right stuff.
When I get home I park my bike in the rack, hang my helmet off the stem, put my biking keychain (mini garage door opener, front door key, and bike lock key) and work badge/lanyard in the helmet, kick off my 'cycling' shoes (currently NB trail runners), grab my polo, socks, and underwear from the day out of the kittier.
In the morning, I open the top 3 drawers of the dresser and grab whatever socks, underwear, and polo are nearest at hand (yes I get dressed in the dark), open the garage door, put them in the kittier, put the lanyard/badge on top (so it's not buried when I need to get into work) and keychain in my pocket, put on cycling socks, shoes and helmet, my quarterzip pullover if it's chilly, gloves if it's cold, merino midlayer if it's really cold, and roll out.
Jeans/shoes/towel live in the locker room at work where I can shower.
Another small thing, whenever I'm leaving work and I roll over the triangular metal bar the automatic gate rolls on, I feel for whether my tires have gotten too soft, and I should pump the next day. Usually every 3-4 weeks I'll pump my fatties up to 40. Currently I'm procrastinating dealing with an intermittent slow leak, so I'll pump the rear up to 50 every morning. Most days I can still ride home and it's not really even that soft. One day I was dead flat and had to pump before I could ride. It's weird.
My ritual is mostly about making sure I have all the right stuff.
When I get home I park my bike in the rack, hang my helmet off the stem, put my biking keychain (mini garage door opener, front door key, and bike lock key) and work badge/lanyard in the helmet, kick off my 'cycling' shoes (currently NB trail runners), grab my polo, socks, and underwear from the day out of the kittier.
In the morning, I open the top 3 drawers of the dresser and grab whatever socks, underwear, and polo are nearest at hand (yes I get dressed in the dark), open the garage door, put them in the kittier, put the lanyard/badge on top (so it's not buried when I need to get into work) and keychain in my pocket, put on cycling socks, shoes and helmet, my quarterzip pullover if it's chilly, gloves if it's cold, merino midlayer if it's really cold, and roll out.
Jeans/shoes/towel live in the locker room at work where I can shower.
Another small thing, whenever I'm leaving work and I roll over the triangular metal bar the automatic gate rolls on, I feel for whether my tires have gotten too soft, and I should pump the next day. Usually every 3-4 weeks I'll pump my fatties up to 40. Currently I'm procrastinating dealing with an intermittent slow leak, so I'll pump the rear up to 50 every morning. Most days I can still ride home and it's not really even that soft. One day I was dead flat and had to pump before I could ride. It's weird.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Southeast US
Posts: 921
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 318 Post(s)
Liked 149 Times
in
104 Posts
Early this summer I was out around midnight and there was one up in a tree by the road, running through it's repertoire. You know the sound an ambulance makes when you're in the way and it wants to pass you? Kind of an electronic blatt? The mockingbird was doing that. Incredible.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
827 Posts
I would trust dogs to double check my equipment and task lists, but not cats. If you have been confiding in cats, I would check my charge card statments and my Amazon account...just sayin'.
Likes For BobbyG:
#22
Unlisted member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,192
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1376 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times
in
297 Posts
I just tell them the things I should take/do, and they know treats get dispensed after that so they at least act like they're listening. And it makes me look saner to talk to the cats than to talk out loud to myself.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
827 Posts
I'm just sayin' dogs are loyal...cats will throw you under the bus...and I love my cat (I just don't trust her).
#24
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
My commuting ritual involves me talking myself into it. I love my bike, and I love riding it, but early morning + mile wide lazy streak + bus pass = me talking myself into it.
#25
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,504
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7350 Post(s)
Liked 2,475 Times
in
1,438 Posts
Great work on that video! Maybe I'll try that. Please tell us how you placed your camera for the shots.
I don't know about rituals but I notice that I have a little fun by making as much noise as possible by rolling over crunchy things such as fallen leaves and plastic containers.
I don't know about rituals but I notice that I have a little fun by making as much noise as possible by rolling over crunchy things such as fallen leaves and plastic containers.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.