inquisitive commuting

[Moodyman]

Too often, I'm a creature of habit. Same old commute to and from work.

Recently I've tried to break up the monotony of winter commuting by checking out the side streets just for the sake of it.

It's refreshing. Getting to see the ins and outs of neighbourhoods I would have no reason to go
through otherwise.

Last night, several streets into a housing estate, I hit a dead end. There was no snicket or public path so had to ride all the way out. I saw houses with wet decaying sofas in the garden. A skip full with household rubbish. a bloke with his car bonnet up doing some work.

It's the sort of stuff you just don't see riding on main roads and it's a great way to rejuvenate the drudgery of winter commuting.

 

[Turbo Rider]

Massive thumbs up on that...it's a lovely crazy world full of lovely crazy, non contrived sights...and it's Christmas season soon, so all the Christmas freaks will have decorated their houses, which is usually quite nice, even if it is contrived.

 

[summerdays]

I mostly do it in the summer rather than the winter. Though I do remember taking a few unknown bits in the last week or two. Mostly they work out OK, every now and again I end up in a graveyard or dead end retracing my steps, or one time deep in mud in the city! Generally better to do on the way back rather than the way going.

 

[jonny jeez]

Mixing up your route is a really good way to remove the monotony. I have a few routes in and out and swap them fairy regularly, some make a huge extension (for light summer rides home) and others remove main roads but stick to the general route.

Good on you.

J

 

[dr snuggles]

You know it's something I do regularly on my weekend rides but for some reason the commute never ever deviates. I've seen some great sights over the years and trying to do this on a commute would be excellent but aren't we usually running by the clock when commuting? That'll put a lot of people off.

 

[winjim]

I seem to remember reading somewhere the suggestion that varying your commute is a good idea to keep your brain active. If you go the same way all the time you sort of go into autopilot and your brain shuts down. I guess that means you'd be less alert to hazards and such.

Interesting theory, might be nonsense.

 

[Moodyman]

just to clarify - I only do this on the homeward commute. I love my lie ins in the morning so it's the shortest 'n' quickest route to work

 

[gaz]

I change my route everyday, gets boring otherwise!!

 

[palinurus]

I like doing this.

Recently I've been trying to see if I can reduce my daily mileage to the absolute minimum so I've been taking any little shortcuts that might reduce the distance a little. Got the commute down from a normal 19 miles round trip to 17.76 miles. Having trouble getting it below this, perhaps in the summer I might see if I can find some off-road sections to cut a corner or two. I prefer parts of my new short route so I think some of it will stick.

 

[ianrauk]

I don't change my route every day..but every now and then.

 

[MarkF]

Where/what is your commute Moodyman? If I am going to Leeds I use the canal, working in BD9 or BD3 then I vary it, always something interesting happening in both areas.

 

[winjim]

I vary between the road and the cycle path next to it, depending on traffic conditions and my mood.

 

[Leaway2]

I was forced to change my route about 6 months ago, due to a bridge being demolished and is now in the process of being replaced.
It as been great! Finding different routes and adjusting the ride. I may well continue with this new route after the bridge has been replaced.

 

[Moodyman]

Where/what is your commute Moodyman? If I am going to Leeds I use the canal, working in BD9 or BD3 then I vary it, always something interesting happening in both areas.

Frizinghall to South Leeds by the White Rise Centre. Done the canal a couple of times but not to my liking - too lump and too many runners / pedestrians.

Normal routes, up Wakefield road, Tong, Drighlington, Morley or Pudsey via Morrisons Head Office.