View Poll Results: What is your main reason for commuting by bike?
Cheaper than driving
16
9.64%
Avoid traffic jams
12
7.23%
Easier to find parking
4
2.41%
Protect the environment
5
3.01%
Stay healthy or lose weight
38
22.89%
Improve athletic performance
6
3.61%
Love the outdoors and/or riding
54
32.53%
How it makes you feel about yourself
17
10.24%
Provide an example for others
0
0%
Other reason
14
8.43%
Voters: 166. You may not vote on this poll
What is your main reason for commuting by bike?
11-06-17, 03:06 PM
#26
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I put athletic performance but really there are a ton of other reasons. I love cycling, feel better during the day, set a great example, and lose weight.
When you're training for something its hard to get the miles in at times, but adding in that commute really helps. Good base miles, intervals during the commute, etc. but what really helps is you get home, and just toss the backpack and keep on riding. So much easier to procrastinate when you drive.
When you're training for something its hard to get the miles in at times, but adding in that commute really helps. Good base miles, intervals during the commute, etc. but what really helps is you get home, and just toss the backpack and keep on riding. So much easier to procrastinate when you drive.
11-06-17, 03:09 PM
#27
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I put athletic performance but really there are a ton of other reasons. I love cycling, feel better during the day, set a great example, and lose weight.
When you're training for something its hard to get the miles in at times, but adding in that commute really helps. Good base miles, intervals during the commute, etc. but what really helps is you get home, and just toss the backpack and keep on riding. So much easier to procrastinate when you drive.
When you're training for something its hard to get the miles in at times, but adding in that commute really helps. Good base miles, intervals during the commute, etc. but what really helps is you get home, and just toss the backpack and keep on riding. So much easier to procrastinate when you drive.
The reason I started commuting was that I was training for a triathlon and figured out that if I had my bike with me at the end of the work day it would be a lot harder to blow off the cycling workout I had scheduled. After the race I just kept doing it, for many of the reasons listed above, but mainly because I just like riding my bike.
11-06-17, 03:56 PM
#28
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I put "other reason". For me, it's really a combination of:
Faster than public transit
Helps me stay in shape without costing any additional time (actually saving time)
More enjoyable than public transit unless it is really cold
Faster than public transit
Helps me stay in shape without costing any additional time (actually saving time)
More enjoyable than public transit unless it is really cold
11-06-17, 05:35 PM
#29
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Postponing the eventuality that I have to get a new car.
Postponing the eventuality that I have to get another car.
Presently driving a 1998 VW Bug which is on it's last legs. Probably going to get a replacement car next year but I'm doing what ever it takes not to.
Presently driving a 1998 VW Bug which is on it's last legs. Probably going to get a replacement car next year but I'm doing what ever it takes not to.
11-06-17, 10:25 PM
#30
Senior Member
I like to start the day by being outside. I like being on a bicycle. I've found that I can commute on my ebike and carry everything I need. I can push myself as hard as I want, or I can take it easy and still get to where I'm going quickly without a lot of sweat and/or physical stress. I love my road bike but it's only for fair weather commutes. Somedays it's the SUV (ebike) other days its the Ferarri (road bike - not really a ferarri with me as the rider.)
11-06-17, 11:07 PM
#31
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I could choose more than a couple of those choices.
It's my gym time during what would be my sitting-in-traffic time. I like to eat, so it keeps me from weighing 400lbs. It's also my "me time" -- time for me to clear my head, consider my state of affairs and find my happy place.
-Kedosto
It's my gym time during what would be my sitting-in-traffic time. I like to eat, so it keeps me from weighing 400lbs. It's also my "me time" -- time for me to clear my head, consider my state of affairs and find my happy place.
-Kedosto
11-07-17, 06:07 AM
#32
multimodal commuter
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11-07-17, 07:31 AM
#33
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What about the "I'm just too lazy to drive" option?
11-07-17, 07:41 AM
#34
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I voted "other" and would call my reason logistics. There are five people, three drivers in our household, often going in 3-4 directions every day. We have two cars. I began riding the bike when we only had one car.
11-07-17, 01:05 PM
#35
Senior Member
Basically all of the above reasons listed. Maybe except the parking. There is plenty of it here where live and work. However bike racks for bicycle parking are quite rare.
11-07-17, 02:12 PM
#37
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For me it is multiple reasons. Freedom. It helps with stress. I wanted to commute on my bike for a while. I live about 2 miles from my work. When I told my grandmother (who lives in Minnesota) that I was riding to work I asked her if she drove her car to work when it snowed and she said she rode her bicycle year round. I then had no excuses. I find it relaxing to ride my bike. I kind of feel like a kid again.
11-07-17, 06:29 PM
#38
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You missed my primary reason, bike is faster and far more reliable than any other mode, mostly subway, but car too (not that I would ever commute by car).
11-07-17, 08:16 PM
#39
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When I arrive at work under a pouring rain, someone says "You're a tough guy!"
I reply "I'd be a tough guy if I hated riding in a rainstorm and did it anyway, but I actually enjoy it".
Does this answer your question?
I reply "I'd be a tough guy if I hated riding in a rainstorm and did it anyway, but I actually enjoy it".
Does this answer your question?
11-08-17, 07:51 AM
#40
Senior Member
By biking to work my family is able to get by with only one car. With three kids in activities, it isn't always easy, but we're getting by so far. I put "Love the outdoors and/or riding" because even when we did have two cars I chose to ride most of the time.
Many of the other reasons also apply. I also do quite a bit of running and go to the gym 3 or so times a week, but biking is a part of how I stay in shape. There are enough alternate routes around that if I drove I could generally avoid traffic jams, but on the bike it is fun to hit a line of bumper-to-bumper cars and squeeze past or hop on the sidewalk. When the interstate is really bad a couple of co-workers will be late and I won't even have noticed there was traffic issues.
As for "Providing an example for others," I can't say that's a reason for me, but I have had friends or colleagues be excited to tell me they got a bike or started doing some form of exercise partially because they've seen me biking. That's always cool to hear.
Many of the other reasons also apply. I also do quite a bit of running and go to the gym 3 or so times a week, but biking is a part of how I stay in shape. There are enough alternate routes around that if I drove I could generally avoid traffic jams, but on the bike it is fun to hit a line of bumper-to-bumper cars and squeeze past or hop on the sidewalk. When the interstate is really bad a couple of co-workers will be late and I won't even have noticed there was traffic issues.
As for "Providing an example for others," I can't say that's a reason for me, but I have had friends or colleagues be excited to tell me they got a bike or started doing some form of exercise partially because they've seen me biking. That's always cool to hear.
11-08-17, 12:29 PM
#41
aka Tom Reingold
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Where are you, and how do you feel about cold rain? Last night, it was 40ΊF and quite rainy, and I was glad I wasn't on the bike.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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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.
11-08-17, 12:39 PM
#42
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The weather is quite mild where I live, very rare to drop below 0C/32F. Typical winter days are 5-10C, almost never snow. Strong winds are worse than cold for me.
11-14-17, 05:09 PM
#43
Senior Member
...to stay healthy and lose weight...
11-14-17, 05:19 PM
#44
Full Member
I hate cars.
11-15-17, 01:02 PM
#45
aka Tom Reingold
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__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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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.
11-15-17, 01:49 PM
#46
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"Beer" is the answer to sooo many questions!
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"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
11-15-17, 03:00 PM
#47
Senior Member
Thread Starter
11-15-17, 03:15 PM
#48
Senior Member
Where is the " she loves my awesome legs" button? Or mt biking on singletrack is a great way to get to work button?"
11-15-17, 05:18 PM
#49
Senior Member
Thread Starter
11-15-17, 05:20 PM
#50
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Also the answer to "why do you shave your legs?"