Do you enjoy not cycling?

[3narf]

I feel guilty about this but here goes.

My commute to Heathrow is now so miserable that I've lost all enthusiasm. I can't cycle through the CTA tunnel any more (see my Heathrow Thread) so I have a 40 minute ride, a 10 minute wait, a ten minute bus ride and a ten minute walk. All this is about 15 minutes longer than it takes me to drive.

What with the stress off the traffic, awful road surface, winter weather, punctures etc I find I'm actually much more relaxed on the days when I don't ride. I never thought I'd say that!

Obviously I'm getting excercise and saving a bit of fuel money, so I'll continue to ride a couple of times a week, but I no longer care if there are days when I can't use the bike. I just drive and feel less anxious and less stressed.

I probably need to do some cycling that isn't to work & back, but on a 4on/2off shift, there's precious little opportunity. Hence my current downer on cycling, I suppose.

 

[helston90]

My commute is 17 hilly miles each way so takes a fair bit to get me out there in the winter- I just try to cram as many other jobs in to my commute as possible to justify it.

On the flip side if I don't commute I don't ride with family stuff at the moment- so the 23mph head wind for over an hour was worth it in an 'only cyclists know why he's still smiling' sort of way.

 

[ianrauk]

I just have to get the train (well 2 trains in fact) to work in rush hour in the mornings to remind me how hellish a form of travel it is and how brilliant riding a bike on my commute is. Even taking into consideration traffic, punctures, crappy weather, crappy motons and what ever a 30 odd mile round daily commute throws at you.I have been doing this current cycle commute for nearly 10 years now and cycling wins hands down everytime.

 

[Cuchilo]

Ummmmm cant you find another route into work ?

 

[Brandane]

Ummmmm cant you find another route into work ?

I think the tunnel is the one and only access to the central area where the OP works. Disgraceful situation that they haven't come up with a suitable alternative access for cyclists.

 

[The Brewer]

I have a week off every 6-7weeks. It gives the legs a rest and when I start again it feels great

 

[BrevetRider]

Sometimes it is nice just to have a break once in a while. I myself would get the train into work but I'd have to get up half hour earlier and it costs.

If it works for you this way then why not? Happiness and well being are more important then feeling compelled to commute by bike.

 

[bluecycle64]

I only comute 6 miles each way but feel when I get to work i'm more ready to work than if I have to drive. I hate it during the winter at 0500 or finishing nights for about a minute but then I'm fine.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

My wife does not like me riding from work in the dark, my route home in the pitch black is really not safe. Its an unlit, hilly, windy, narrow, busy and fast road.

personally, I have no issue with the ride at night. As long as I can illuminate the road and be seen. On a wet night, as a car driver, and can well imagine coming across a bike with a dramatic speed differential, its a 40, and with the hills, bikes can be going at 10mph.

During the floods last year, I had no choice to use the route, it was the only way to get to work.

The only time saving of the journey, is the start of the day - the road backs up and endless queues form - I can save 30 minutes by doing a 15 min ride!

So, in answer to your question, go with the flow and how you feel. The minute I am unhappy cycling, I stop.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/searc...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srqwILFpU-l9jA-AnxAgI8Q!2e0

 

[Turbo Rider]

No I don't. I only got a bike in the first place to commute, as driving was too expensive. Grew on me like fungus though, it did, so I went from 4 days a week to five days before I knew it, but this was also partly because I was hating the day off bus travel. Bus also takes me longer as I have to walk for half an hour as well if I go by bus.

I do know what it feels like to get completely peeved with something you once loved though and the best remedy, from personal experience, is complete withdrawal. After that, you either drift back into whatever it is or decide you're done with it & generally feel happier about life. Your own happiness is far more important than feeling like you have to and I'd apply that rule to anything.

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

I am as much a car enthusiast as I am a cyclist. If I have the option of using the car, especially in this weather then I use it. It is relaxing in a different way.
Even the on the odd occasion I have to get a bus I'm happy enough to stick my earphones in and relax.

 

[Panter]

I love not cycling! warm, squidgy car with deep leather seats and music. And it takes less than half the time to drive in.
But, I need to cycle it, so I do.

 

[Bodhbh]

Ummmmm cant you find another route into work ?

^^ I would look at your route and/or how you can avoid messing with buses etc.

I'm not being macho - I don't do a massive commute compaired to some - but if I don't go in by bike I feel lethargic and like the day has missed something. That and it costs me 6 quid for every day I skip. And on a bus full of noisy kids. So I don't enjoy not cycling in much, and it's not really about guilt.

 

[subaqua]

i used the tube over the summer and hated every minute of it . back on the bike is brilliant even in the foulest of weathers.

i went to a works drinks last night and knew i would be hammered so didn't ride in yesterday. the journey in was OK as i went in on 1st tube but coming home was horrible even being hammered

 

[confusedcyclist]

I only started commuting by bike in June but I'm hooked. With an 75 mins in the car, or 45 minutes on the bike it's a no brainier for me personally. Despite it being riskier and some of the idiotic drivers making me want to cry. Money saved (if you can call it that after buying about 2k in equipment/bikes/tools/clothing) and the fact that I never need to step foot in a gym again would motivate me plenty, even if it wasn't faster or as convenient.

I read your last thread and your circumstances certainly don't sound conducive to happy cycling! I wouldn't blame yourself for hating it! Perhaps you need to look at it differently though, the alternatives are rarely more convenient, and after you factor in the costs (wallet and health) you should have plenty of motivation and enjoyment out of it.

You could just switch back to the car/bus and you'll slowly grow to despise those again and will relish the thought of being out on the bike (at least in the spring - not far away now!)