Nice experiences you would miss if you commuted by car

[markharry66]

Quite a simple one swearing under my breath at people who cut me up

 

[avsd]

Mist rising of the river, sun rising, dawn chorus, ducks paddling on the river. I even think I saw an otter one day. People smiling and having time to say hello. The only thing I miss from the car is the hi-fi. I refuse to use headphones/ipod whilst cycling.

 

[cyberknight]

lambs playing in the fields
waves from other cyclists
the satisfaction and euphoria of another ride that makes work bearable
people thinking your mad to ride that far every day
all the cake you can eat because "you need the carbs "

 

[Sara_H]

Has anyone else had a positive experience that they would have missed in a car?

More or less evey time I go out on the bike I find that somewhere alon the route, someone will pass a few pleasantaries. More so since I got the electric bike, people are intrigued by it, generally have a chuckle and want to have a lift up the hill!
This last two days in a row I've had to brake for the same dog running in front of me (in the park), had a nice chat with the owner.
I'd miss all this if I had to drive.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

the sights and smells
the time saved
the little kid who yelled "hello mister bicycle man" from her cr window as i passed her friday afternoon

 

[BSRU]

This morning

 

[PocketFrog]

Following a sandwich van with an awesome name; "Bap Van" gave me a smile....

When it turned into an industrial estate and started playing the nananananananana batman theme, ice cream van style it made my whole day!

 

[HLaB]

This morning, cycling in the and proper air conditioning

 

[jarlrmai]

Pootling along at 20mph in the sun, makes the whole winter worth it.

 

[Mugshot]

This kind of thing

It reminds me that the grass really is greener on my side of the fence.

 

[VamP]

There's lots of good stuff, but a recent highlight was following an in-flight barn owl about 10 yards ahead of me, at roughly the same altitude as my head, and flying at about the same speed. Awesome moment - all 10 seconds of it.

 

[Kookas]

Here's something I'd miss: tearing out of college doing 28mph right up until the first roundabout. Doing that speed under your own steam even for only 300m or so feels great.

 

[Biscuit]

There's lots of good stuff, but a recent highlight was following an in-flight barn owl about 10 yards ahead of me, at roughly the same altitude as my head, and flying at about the same speed. Awesome moment - all 10 seconds of it.

Must be something in the air. Same happened to me this morning. Barn owl, matching my speed across the field to my left just 3 yards away. Nearly fell down a pot hole watching it!!

Oh and the other thing I noticed yesterday..... the smell of cut grass !!!!!

 

[compo]

I did a couple of pleasant miles following a couple of young ladies who were wearing extremely tight tights. I would have liked to overtake them but wasn't fast enough.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Knowing the road, knowing the exact location of all of the bumps, lumps, holes, dips, smooth sections, poorly constructed repair attempts, well constructed repairs, mud on field exits, recent roadkill, puddles, overhanging branches, different grades of surface, manhole covers, overgrown verges, cambers...... no-one knows the detail of a route like a cyclist does....