Ogsarg

For the last 22 years I've had a job that involved a pretty crappy commute; 57 miles each way into Silicon Valley. This has meant long days leaving early in the morning and getting home late. To get in some riding during the week, I've been getting up early and getting in short rides before getting ready for work. Started doing this about 7 years ago and have been doing it year round 3-4 days a week. Generally 14-22 miles depending on the season and how early I got up, which could be as early as 4:15. Not really all that enjoyable but helped keep me in reasonable shape for longer weekend rides.

I will be officially retired after today so this morning was my last early AM ride. I'll have a lot more flexibility now as to when/where I ride and hope to enjoy it more. Will not miss all the driving that's for sure.

caloso

Congratulations! Coincidentally, today is my last commute as well after 26.5 years serving the State of California.

spelger

this is/was a long commute. i lived in the bay area and commuted to work as well. don't miss it at all, moved to reno and work is 6 miles away. i often bike it in the warmer months like now. yesterday i was trying a new route home, really great additions to my usual route but had a flat, replaced tube, frame pump broke. got out cell for the call of shame and no cell service, nice! eventually i walked to a place were service was availabb.e.

skidder

Congradulations! I retired three weeks ago. I was just short of 65 yo but was still covered by the company's health plan until December, so off I went. New management that came on board just before the COVID pandemic spent all their time in management seminars and this year started implementing all kinds of new 'improvement teams', 'quality' initiatives, and lots and lots of software to track 'analytics'. Nope, been there before back in the 1980s, its just the same management philisophy rebranded under a new name, and I don't want all that bureaucratic burden it dumps on mid-management like me, so its was a good time to go. The biggest bureaucratic burden I have now is trying to decipher Medicare and all the available plans & plan options.

And it's nice being able to get out and ride at sunrise rather than in the pre-dawn hours like you did.

Bald Paul

Like you, I had a 60 mile commute each way to work. Miles rack up on your car pretty quickly doing that. The only saving grace was that I was driving a company car, and got a new one every 5000 miles.
I don't miss the long commute (especially during the New England winters) but I sorta miss the free car.
And, now that I'm retired, I don't miss the New England winters, either!

debade

Congratulations on your retirement.

I wanted to share one thing I wished I had done during my w*rking life with my 30 mile commute. Since we had a great fitness area with shower, I easily could have parked on my way to work and put in some miles b4 and after. But I only considered riding the entire way which I only did on BTWD. I was running then but the morning and afternoon ride would have been great.

A missed opportunity. No problems like that in retirement.

curbtender

Congratulations you guys. Started commuting when my garbage route went from backyard service to automated. It probably saved my health. I was lucky to get a call from a retired coworker of my wife that had a group of retired guys that did coffee rides a couple of days a week. Still going at it...have fun!

Jumpski

Congratulations on your retirement, and welcome to the club.

Helderberg

Retired back in 2014. Thought I was going to go stir crazy and took a job at a local box store. Since I had owned my own business for over 30 years, seeing the illogical placement of personnel at the store and the "sell them something and move them out" attitude I quit after 4 months. Got back into riding and have not looked back. My wife has enough for me to do along with my other interests so life has been good. Congratulations on your retirement and I hope you have many years of well-earned time to enjoy your life.
Frank.

steelbikeguy

I had the luxury of a decent bike commute for the last 17 years of my working life. It sure beat driving to work and dealing with traffic, and I loved it! A quick 5 miles to work in the morning, and a longer scenic route home.

I've been retired about 6 years, and I do miss some aspects of the job. I knew I'd miss the commute, so I took a picture as I locked up the bike on my last commuting day. I think it rained that evening on the way home.



Steve in Peoria

50PlusCycling

I used to get up early and do 20 mile ride before work each morning. Then I started simply commuting to and from work, which was 22 miles each way. But I began working from home 7 years ago, and my commute is now only a few steps each day.

diphthong

congrats Ogsarg and caloso !! expecting buku mas pics on the empty road ahead thread in the road cycling sub-forum...

Daniel4

Congratulations. Now you can get on the road after 9am and bike the 57 miles to work because you want to, not because you have to.

essiemyra

Congratulations on your retirement! I am going to join that club in 3 weeks(Sept 22nd is my last day). I have been very fortunate though, I have been able to commute the 6 miles to work and 10 to 15 mile ride home for the last 10 years. I will contiune to ride into my retirement as that is my happy place.

gthomson

Congratulations on retiring and won't deny saying I'm not jealous. I have a few years to go before I can comfortably retire but sure see the light at the end of the tunnel. Some days I think screw it, I'll live in a tent for the rest of my life as it would be better than putting up with the BS at the office but my wife doesn't like the idea of that.

Will say that there's one positive thing at least that came out of the pandemic was for organizations to realize and accept that workers can work from home and still be productive. I haven't had to make the lousy commute I used to do every day since and that gives me back several more hours in the day which i use to ride.