no motor?

This morning was one of those mornings when I was just dragging on my way in, so bad that I even stopped to see if one of the brakes was rubbing while I wondered why am I doing this. But along the way I saw someone who was suffering the ill effects of not taking care of himself and that reminded me why I was pedaling instead of driving. I also got to appreciate some nicer scenery along that way due to slowly riding through it instead of being cocooned inside my car as I went through it faster, got to smell some fresh cut grass etc... what do you see (or smell, feel, hear) that motivates you to keep pedaling along your commute?

GUMK

This morning was a perfect example of what motivates me...multiple traffic jams due to collisions on the major routes into the city I work in. Local trains delayed due to signalling issues. Local news full of the disruption...and none of it bothered me.

It was very hot for my part of the world (27°c North East England), I was able to just 'tootle along' at my own pace, passed approx 150 cars stationary in traffic jams, picked several 'side routes' to avoid the worst of the disruption and arrived at work taking an extra 5 minutes, whereas a number of colleagues were over an hour late.

Knowing I can choose my route and my pace has really helped me to de-stress at work, I'm on MY timetable, not worrying about connecting buses and trains, I'm far more 'chill'.

Strava, keeping track of my miles (just hit 2500 for the year), the sense of achievement that brings me.

In short, cycle commuting helps my mental and physical health, THAT is what motivates me, especially when the weather is not so friendly.

Darth Lefty 

Any crest / pass / summit

beachball42

In the mornings, just the peacefulness of it all is what motivates me. Not many cars on the road, birds chirping, the sights around town are just very peaceful. On the ride home, its the last two miles when i'm on my MUP just whizzing by all the cars waiting to get through the intersection and knowing that I'll get through the light before many of them.

Honestly, this being my second year of riding to work what I find is just the peacefulness I get riding, taking my time and getting to notice more of the sights along my route that I would miss if I was in the car. I just find it more enjoyable the more I do it.

BobbyG

Pikes Peak is everywhere...
The scenery, vistas and beauty of Colorado Springs. There's flora, fauna, and the foothills plus Cheyenne Mountain and Pikes Peak. I ride by a small, manmade lake wich has plenty of activity in the summer.

I ride by homeless camps and see a some craziness now and again, but I also ride through residential areas and see families and kids starting their days, and enjoying their afternoons (Except on the dark, cold winter commutes home).

I grew up in Chicago (7000 North) and after 27 years Colorado Springs still amazes me with its beauty. (It could use a lakefront, though, and proper deep-dish pizza.)

Here are some of my commutes...
https://www.youtube.com/user/bgvideo62/playlists

chas58

I took the long way to work this morning...

no motor?

You guys do have nicer scenery than me, but we've got deep dish pizza here.

noglider 

On the Hudson River Greenway, I see a great number of physically fit people. They are the highlights of the scenery for me.

chas58

No-mo: I took the long, scenic way in this morning. Although I have a fast cruise speed, I remind myself to slow down and enjoy pieces of the ride.

But if I'm in a hurry I'll take the direct route and maybe even use a motor on occasion.

Steely Dan

i don't have any spectacular scenery to roll past (chicago doesn't really do scenery), but at least i have a pleasant enough 6 miles along a greenway/linear sculpture park that makes up the middle 75% of my commute.

it's certainly not pikes peak or anything special like that, but for living in a big urban city, it at least gives me a modicum of some much appreciated natural touch - trees, birds, squirrels, bunnies, a (very) occasional fox, etc.

and, remarkably, it's very lightly used for going through such a heavily populated area. when i'm feeling motivated (aka there's a tailwind at my back), i can really open up the throttle and fly on open MUP.

another lifetime ago, i used to roll along chicago's magnificent lakefront trail everyday, which is as inspiring as scenery gets around here, but i do not miss the traffic of it one bit. Open and clear MUP is a beautiful thing.


Northshore Channel Trail & Sculpture Park:


source: https://www.traillink.com/trail/nort...channel-trail/

Jim from Boston

Motivational sights seen along the commuteI have posted:

Dave Mayer

Motivational? A mother grizzly bear and two cubs waiting alongside the road on my evening commute. Getting around them would have involved a 45 minute detour. I swung over to the opposite side of the road facing traffic and gunned it up to about 30mph. Didn't dare look back for a couple of miles.

Sorry: bit too preoccupied saving my skin to take pics. Garden-variety black bears are one thing, but a mother grizzly with cubs is a whole different risk paradigm.

phile

do you work in narnia?

pdlamb

Motivated some awesome speed, I can see that. Motivated you to continue bicycle commuting? Man, you're 6 sigma off normal! (Welcome to the club!)

(I've never seen a grizzly bear in the wild, so I'm a bit jealous.)

chas58

I dunno. I've tried to outrun wildlife. I had a deer once that was just determined to pass me and cross the road in front of me. I tried my damnest, but she won the race. The bear I've encountered tend to keep to themselves and stay away from people - and vice versa! Still, I ain't gonna mess with a mom and her cubs. Certainly you get a gold star for motivation - I'm sure your shot of adrenaline kept you pumping pretty hard!!!

Darth Lefty 

Worse, Fillory

Korina

Ah. the open trail


Winter sunset


Nice view

Lug

Sometimes it is difficult to not turn my commute into an unscheduled road trip

Archwhorides 

This week with the start of school there were a lot of secondary and college kids on the bikeway and the local arteries. It was a nice feeling to see all of these younger riders, even if it slowed me down a little

Digger Goreman

Every ride: passing polluters and not being one of them!

wsgts

Cardiologist office I pass on the way to work.

tweekfreekdX

There’s a creek if I were to turn 180 see everything from turkeys to deer to goats (places by the city).

SactoDoug

I passed 1 mile of bumper to bumper traffic that included a Ferrari. That motivates me to ride more.

joelcool

More preaching to the choir.

Korina

My A1C is quite motivational. Not as motivational as a mother grizzly with cubs, but enough.