What motivates You?

[Cringles]

I used to cycle to get fit, all weather depended of course. I used to get home from work during summer nights & go out, but once winter comes, I put the bike away. Basically a fair weather cyclist? But more recently I have the ambition to tour, so I've now go to the stage were the weather makes no difference if I'm going out. I usually carry panniers, empty, or half filled, anything just to add a bit of weight to.

I'm only 3 miles via car from my work, but I love the 6 miles in the morning & at home by bike, hardly any road cycling really. I'm in a better mood when I travel by bike, no stress, I can say hello to people, I often have a story to tell of something I seen on my way in. I'm starting to dislike using the car, but I can't go without it really, I need it on some occasions.

I often day dream on the bike that I'm cycling for much longer or dream of being in a different country. I'll do it some day, maybe next year, but I have a major work load for the next few months. It was the same workload that made me lose time for cycling 2 years ago, but I'm making sure I don't lose the cycling this time. I just absolutely love my bike. I've seen so many things within 5 miles of my house, which I've never seen in a car, & I want to see what's further a field.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I don't enjoy driving generally, commuting particularly. I like riding my bike and being part of the world.

There's no direct and financially sensible public transport option for me.

Also with riding I can vary my routes and whether its a fast bike day or a meander through the back routes and parks.

I don't really feel the need for a coffee as soon as I wander in to work either when I've ridden in

 

[screenman]

I want my body to stay as young and as fit as possible. Which is the same reason I swim 4 hours per week.

 

[Specialeyes]

I take my bike to work in the back of the car on a Monday (in case I need to go out and visit clients during the week) then leave it at work, locked in one of our buildings, and cycle home each night. That way, I have no choice other than to cycle in, whatever the weather the next morning. Rinse and repeat until Friday night, when I take the car home again

 

[Skyfoil]

My commute by car is too stressful due to ridiculous traffic.
The commute by train is too expensive and they only run every hour.
The commute by bus takes too long and there always seems to be trouble on them.

My bike helps wake me up in the morning. It's the only exercise I get in the week, and I can blame my helmet for my bad hair. Best solution all round!

 

[Soltydog]

My main motivation is fitness, as I dont get any exercise at work It's 16 miles each way for me & with shifts I often find an excuse not to cycle, ie I'm on too early finish too late etc. However I was saving for a new bike, so decided that I'd put a fiver away each time I cycled in as thats roughly what I save in fuel costs, so that helped motivate on some days & recently my employer has done a cycle challenge with Evans vouchers up for grabs. Its not the wanting to win the vouchers, just to beat my workmates that has motivated me. I like to cycle in 2 or 3 times a week normally, but last week I cycled in on 5 out of 6 early shifts, even leaving home at 4am some days. Think I ended up doing 475 miles in under 4 weeks & hopefully in the next day or so I'll find out how much £s in Evans vouchers I'll be receiving Hopefully I can keep the mileage up for the rest of summer.

 

[confusedcyclist]

For me its getting fitter, saving money on not idling in my car in ridiculous traffic... oh and definitely not TdF...

 

[w00hoo_kent]

As another post has said "it's what I do" is why I do it every day. By making it the norm I don't have to wonder 'will I do it today?' I just get on with it. I may question it as the rain soaks through me, the cars spray me, the git in the champagne (it's metallic brown, live with it) Rover 75 users a rizla to measure his overtaking margin. But I have an answer. "It's what I do".

I started because work wanted £600 a year for me to park, so I began parking and walking for 30 minutes. Then with the Olympics coming up in 2012 there was going to be no available free parking anywhere near where I worked so I parked further away and cycled. The cycling means I don't sit in traffic every day (I now drive to just outside where the traffic starts and cycle past it all). My ride in is quicker than my drive would ever be, my ride out is probably 10-15 minutes slower on most days, but quicker occasionally. I get a load of 'free' exercise which is great too.

 

[furball]

I drive to work on Monday morning and leave the car there. I then cycle between work and home during the week until Friday when I drive home and leave the bike at work. I have to be motivated in the mornings as there isn't any choice.