The Differences Between Commuting and Leisure Cycling

[summerdays]

Leisure cycling needs a combination of some of the following factors: time, nice weather, company, a destination (could be the pub) and a bit of motivation. Commuting is just commuting ... you get up ... look out the window to decide what you are wearing and just get on with it.

I prefer my leisure cycling but do so much less of it ... commuting also has its rewards in that it tends to be a bit more exhilarating at times.

 

[marshmella]

Leisure cycling: It doesn't matter if i reach my intended destination or not.
Commuting: I have to reach my intended destination or get sacked!

 

[BrumJim]

Commuter cycling: I must catch up with the bike in front.
Leisure cycling: I must catch up with the bike in front.
Hold on, no difference there:
Commuter cycling: Cheery wave and hello to all fellow cyclists
Leisure cycling: Cheery wave and hello to all fellow cyclists
No. Still no difference.
Commuter cycling: 25 minutes of all out effort, then a cup of tea.
Leisure cycling: 2 hours of a mixture of hill bashing and recovery, followed by a cup of coffee and cake.

There you go - its the cake!

 

[biggs682]

Why just commuting? Is commuting not just one of many branches of utility cycling?

yes from me to

 

[bicyclos]

Work is the big difference. Having to go and not go.....Weather wise, unless it's torrentialy bad, I usually cycle in all weathers commute or leisure. It has been nice this last couple of days though to chill out with family and friends and service my bikes ready for Tuesday.

 

[johnr]

Easy. Leisure cycling is for amateurs; commuting is for those of us maintaining peak performance in the hope that the IOC introduces a suitable event in time for London

 

[Col5632]

I used to only commute on 'nice' days now i do it regardless, im not the same on leisure rides, although since joining here i go on the forum rides regardless of weather

 

[davehann]

ok , commuting is on the way to work and leisure cycling is taking the time to add an extra 20k loop on the way home.

 

[sunnyjim]

I refer you to my sig.

 

[Col5632]

I refer you to my sig.

If only there wasnt 7.5hrs of work inbetween each cycle

 

[CopperCyclist]

Commuting is 'go as fast as you can' and leisure cycling I take it easy and go for distance!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Commuting is 'go as fast as you can' and leisure cycling I take it easy and go for distance!

I'm the other way round, ride easy on the commute and have a blast on the club ride.

 

[Boris Bajic]

1. The weather. I do not ride for fun unless the weather is nice. Not so for commuting.

2. On my former commute I knew every gear change, every farm gate, almost every piece of grit on the road. On a fun ride I am often in unknown territory.

3. The commute had a shape to it. Always around 70 minutes and always: locker, shower, changing room..... desk. leisure rides just sort of burble along.

4. (Whisper this bit) I occasionally had a smug feeling of comparative wellbeing after a commute. Lots of tubbies in my office who wheezed in from the car park and creaked up the stairs, laden with snacks and Diet Coke. At home, everyone seems much slimmer an healthier than me, so I don't get to feel smug after a ride. Dreadful to admit to smugness, but I do not believe I am alone.

 

[Col5632]

I'm the other way round, ride easy on the commute and have a blast on the club ride.

Im the same cause on the commute i know i have the whole week ahead of me and if i blasted it on the monday then tues, wed etc would just not happen

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Im the same cause on the commute i know i have the whole week ahead of me and if i blasted it on the monday then tues, wed etc would just not happen

I commute in my work clothes and always have done, I did my first ride to work in 1967, I didn't cycle between 1970 & 1979, but have been commuting continually since I came back to cycling in 1979, so I take it easy, I don't want to work the first hour of the shift dripping, though I have been known to be tempted into some SCR occasionally.