i could get the tube or bus
but its expensive, slow, restrictive and id get fat(ter)
Bike Forum
Do you choose to cycle commute even though you dont have to?
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Posted 8 months ago #
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I always choose the bike, it's the best way to start the day and great to wind down if it's been stressful.
People do think you're a bit mental cycling in the snow when it's sub zero but I've never failed to make it to work, often feeling very smug with cars slipping and sliding around.Posted 8 months ago # -
Depends what you mean by "don't have to". I have a car, and I could afford to drive it to work, but I choose to cycle. It keeps me reasonably fit (I never do any actual "training" for events other than commuting and other riding), wakes me up and is enjoyable. I only drive if I have to carry a passenger or big luggage (probably once every other week or so).
My commute is well suited to cycling though - it's about 10 miles each way across Dartmoor, either by road or a variety of tracks depending on mood. When I'm sat in an office all day it's nice to have some riding either side, even in grim weather. Wakes you up in the morning and good for venting some aggression on the climb back home after a bad day
Posted 8 months ago # -
i always choose bike. The car sits in the drive all day. 10 years and counting now for the "voluntary" two wheeled commute.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I do but it's cheating really as it's only a 13 minute walk to work anyway, but I ride in a slightly longer route to get about 20 mins in in the AM but the real reason is to do anything from 30 mins to 2 hours at night.
I also no longer have a car, but even if I did it would be slower than either the walk or the bike due to roads where I live and to work. I bet in term time I'd be hard pushed to do it in less time in a car than on foot.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Choose to as I prefer it, 11 hilly miles each way about 3 times a week, could do more but want to ride off road at the weekends too. I find the commute sets me up for the day and helps me to come home feeling better. I plan to keep going through the winter where possible.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Definitely choose to - as I mentioned in the other commuting thread, my offices moved recently to make my cycle about 5 miles further than it was.
Thing is, it's now just off the motorway, so a much quicker drive.
Not sure what it's going to be like when the weather gets really bad, I think I'm going to struggle to motivate myself to get on the bike.Posted 8 months ago # -
I choose to commute. I fiind driving both boring and frustrating. MY car is left on the drive most days. It takes me about 30mins to do just over 8 miles and when I get to work there is a brand new shower block waiting. Proper waking up tackle! I'm saving more in fuel than my ride2work installments cost me. Which is nice.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I do it every day all year round because I enjoy it, but an added advantage is that this means we can have the campervan instead of a car; we couldn't afford both, and I couldn't really use the van to commute to work every day...
Posted 8 months ago # -
i try and cycle to work when ever i can , the journey time is 15 to 20 mins on a bike or 15 to 45 mins by car depending on traffic , the cost in the car is petrol plus £0 to £8 to park .by bike the cost is £0 Though i had to buy a new tyre and inner yesterday after a dramatic blow out on the way in to work.
health wise i get fitter and thinner riding in as opposed to sitting in a Que of traffic.
Plus i get to vent a lot of stress at students who manage to get a university place but haven't learned to look before stepping in to the road and car drivers who believe an arrow marked with left or straight on means turn right but don't under any circumstances look or signal.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I wish I had further to commute so I could ride but as it's only 5 minutes walk from my house to the office it would take longer to ride in than it does on foot. If I was already on the bike then I might be a bit moremotivated to extend it but as it is the option to spontaneously go for a ride on the way home is lost.
Posted 8 months ago # -
i live 2 miles from work. I can walk, skate, cycle or drive. I nearly always cycle unless its heaving down, or I need my car straight after work for something. Due to parking, its the fastest method of getting here by far
Posted 8 months ago # -
Strangely, the only times I drive is when I'm going to the DH course straight after work with a Volvo full of BigHit and tools.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Take company car in on Mondays, take bike left in strationary cupboard over weekend, cycle home, repeat til friday, leave bike in cupboard, drive home. Not far but quicker and saves sanity.........
Posted 8 months ago # -
Definitley by choice, my OH currently drives to work everyday and we work at same place.
11 mile journey is quicker by bike than car except for school holidays.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I cycle by choice, normally leaving the car at home. It's 21 miles, takes an hour to cycle plus time for a shower, and 40 minutes to drive. Sometimes, especially in Winter, I drive the first 10 miles, get the bike out of the car and ride the rest. It helps me keep fit and I'm sure it costs less than driving.
Most of tie time I enjoy it. Sometimes though, on the days when I struggle in to work through a headwind, then set off home to find the wind has changed 180 degrees.....
Posted 8 months ago # -
I got used to cycling every day when I dad a 5 mile commute into Manchester city centre. In 2 years i reckon i drove in about 4 times.
You'd have to be mental not too. 20 minutes on the bike. 45 in the car in solid gridlocked traffic. Maybe an hour including trying to find parking. Then there's the cost of parking. Daylight robbery!! How anyone puts themselves through that every day, I can't comprehend!
In the end my business partner bought a bike, having never ridden since school, and started doing the same after noting our somewhat different moods at the start of the day. He ended up selling his car shortly afterwards as he never used it any more
Posted 8 months ago # -
ride in most day shifts (12 hours) because it wakes me up and theres little chance of me doing any other exercise before or after work. don't bother on nights because i'll usually do some training before work and i really couldn't face riding home after a nightshift.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I cycle by choice, not all the time…on days I cycle in, 6 miles at 5 in the morning certainly wakes you up, roads are deserted and quite often i see owls, badgers. Deer, foxes and the occasional lion, tiger,rhino and giraffe!, on nights I go in the car so I can get home and straight in to bed!, would do it all the time but It completely knackers me out cycling and doing 12hour shifts.
Posted 8 months ago # -
My commute is 3 minutes or 5 if the ducks cause a traffic jam. So I take the long way round about 30 road or off road. Different route each time. I'm happier and nicer to the ducks as a result.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Can't afford a car.. cycle 10 miles all in to work and back each day.. nightmare roads..
Posted 8 months ago # -
i choose to, i have a car and can afford diesel, i could get the bus for free as im a bus driver.
as others have said, i feel better/more awake all day when i do it.Posted 8 months ago # -
+1 to doing it through choice.
Currently cycling 10 miles each way roughly twice a week on my ancient MTB that I bought when I was 12. Having just spent a year commuting 65 miles each way in the car from Newcastle to Carlisle, it's so much more relaxing and I definitely feel fitter.
Don't see the point when it is tipping down with rain but, when it's a lovely autumn day, it would be rude not to!
Posted 8 months ago # -
+ By choice.
Car sits on the drive until I drive to an MTB ride or for long weekend trips
Posted 8 months ago # -
Yes until the car goes back.
I get:
Free towels for nice showers
Locker for suit and clothes
Secure parking
Free bike maintenance
Bike shop on site
Paid £1 each day
Half price LCC membershipIt would be a shame not to use it
Posted 8 months ago # -
Of course, what kind of idiot would drive 5 miles to work? I've pretty much cycled everywhere since 1986.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Indeed, it would do my head in having to drive into to work.
Once a year to take it in for an M.O.T. is enough.Posted 8 months ago # -
I choose to cycle, a 15 mile round trip on the more scenic route. I have a car parking permit I've never used, can get a bus which is mostly quicker, or go by motorbike which is loads quicker. I cycle at least 90% of the time. Even in the suburbs I get to ride about a mile of singletrack and a couple more of towpath.
It is worth riding through the coldest of winters to see the first snowdrops of spring, ducklings, lambs etc at sunrise or before. It is only when cycling in that I've been late for work because I've stopped to take photos on the way.Posted 8 months ago # -
Absolutely... I only cycle commute as a wee easy boost for my mountainbiking fitness. Car is only a few minutes faster though so it's no hardship.
Posted 8 months ago # -
I have the option of tram, bus, cycle or drive but the last one would be totally mad, 4 miles of horrendous traffic into manchester and pay for parking.... I ride every day and even though I choose to, it's not a conscious choice as I do it out of habit. keeps me fit and it's cheap
Posted 8 months ago # -
Chose to go without a car when after I had a year living in new york without one about 7 years ago. I live in Manchester with a 9 mile each way ride to work. I do hire a car or van about 2 or 3 times a year, and use planes, trains and public transport for some local trips. I don't have kids so it's pretty easy for me. I haven't really done any cost comparisons to what I spend versus owning a car, as I didn't do it as a cost thing. I just couldn't see why I needed a car.
Posted 8 months ago # -
by bike whenever possible, its 46 miles to work and try and do that when I'm in the office (2-3 times a week) then train home, unless I'm feeling V keen.
I travel a lot by train with work and recently bought a brompton which is getting substantial use around london, waaaaay better than the tube and probably quicker. felt a little guilty riding through hyde park in the sun this week but it better for the soul than looking at a crackberry on the underground
Posted 8 months ago # -
Yup, have a car and work location has plenty of parking spaces + journey is easy. But I chose to bike it because I'm getting exercise for free, helps environmental bobbins and I enjoy it
Posted 8 months ago # -
Cycle five miles each way when I have the options of the bus, my own car or car share at my disposal.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Cycle six miles each way, feel more awake and ready for the day.
It requires horizontal rain before I use the car.
DevilmanPosted 8 months ago #
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