Why did you start cycle commuting?

[sticky sherbert]

I thought it would save me money so I could buy more biscuits.

 

[Holdsworth]

I started because when I got a summer job at the college golf course which was 5 miles away, I had no other way of getting there at half-six in the morning so cycling was my only option. It was extremely knackering at first as I hadn't cycled any more than 1 mile in the past and at the time I was quite unfit and all I had to ride at first was a catalogue special mtb which was less than ideal for commuting on. I did eventually get a used road bike cheap which has done me well since and is a pleasure to ride, and despite it's less than optimal condition, it continues to work ok.

I continued to cycle the same distance to college instead of taking the college bus when the job ended and I went back to studying. Since I have left college prematurely I no longer have to cycle such a distance on a regular basis and only have to take the occasional ride to town and back.

 

[mgarl10024]

1. Exercise - lose weight.
2. Green commuting.
3. Save money.
I started in March 2010, and I guess I've not been all that successful looking at that list!
1. I've not lost weight (although my fitness is much better)
2. I like to think I've done the 1400 miles so far more greenly than the car - although all of the bike parts needed to be made and this will cause some impact - not sure how many cycling miles you need to do to counteract that.
3. overall I think the cycling has been an overall net loss in terms of money (but I'm putting that down to initial expenditure, and this should change over time as long as the cycle commuting continues).
That all sounds a bit negative, but it's been great fun and I'm still very keen.

Chatting to another work colleague we egged each other on to do it.

snap! My work colleagues are fairly keen so we're 'working on me' for sometime before I cracked and gave it a go. They told me that over time it would get easier and whilst I didn't believe them, they were right.

6. Picking new routes to/from work (love reading maps).

I love doing this too! I've become a regular user of GoogleEarth and Bing maps, and have a drawer full of leaflets/maps from the local council and bike charities.

reliable journey time.

Something I'd not considered, but you're spot on. The showering when you get to work is a faff, but cyclists are proved to be about the most punctual workers.

One final thing I'd throw in is a conversation starter. From speaking to people on here, to people at work, to even old people at my grandparent's flats, most people have found memories of cycling and will engage in a conversation about it, and most technical people like having their brains picked whist you are learning how to fix things yourself.

 

[mgarl10024]

Long Answer:
<snip - 10 pages>

You weren't kidding! Great post though.
Not that I can talk - mine often turn into a ramble

 

[slowmotion]

I started about 18 months ago when I bought the bike. Not every day, but a couple of times a week. Ten miles total. I felt that I was badly in need some excercise.

After a totally ruinous retail splurge over the course of six months, I was fully waterproof and warm, whatever the weather could chuck in my direction. At that point, I was enjoying the ride to work so much more than the drive that I just hated the prospect of going by motor. ( The public transport option has always been a whole order of magnitude more ghastly than driving ). Only ice can stop me now. I never thought it would come to this....I have totally surprised myself.

 

[Keith Oates]

I commute to work mainly because I like cycling but also I hate waiting for other forms of transport to turn up and now I can flexi time my work hours to what I need to do. Also keeping fit and being able to eat well without putting on weight is a bonus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DrSquirrel]

You weren't kidding! Great post though.
Not that I can talk - mine often turn into a ramble

I felt I was rambling too so cut it down a bit...!

 

[brokenbetty]

The thing that really stands out in this thread is that many of us weren't already "cyclists" trying to find more time on the bike. We started cycle commuting for purely practical reasons, and were pleasantly surprised to find out that on top of the practical benefits it's so much fun!

I guess that's something that doesn't always come across in the various cycling advocacy initiatives I've seen. The emphasis is on the health or environmental benefits and the fact it's just the funnest way to get to work doesn't really get mentioned at all, when that's got to be the best selling point of all.

I think a public realisation that cycling is actually a lot of fun would even help road relations. As you can see from the comments that get posted to youtube and the newspaper sites, many drivers assume cyclists are either paupers who'll upgrade to a car like a shot if we ever get the cash, or health nuts and green warriors who endure the ride to claim our moral high ground. This makes it easy to dismiss any criticism of drivers by cyclists as envy and resentment. If the public realised most of us are just out there having a great time and don't envy their cars at all that would take away one of the main excuses to not take cyclist issues seriously.

 

[gavintc]

I started cycling to work as it seemed a natural thing to do. When I started working, it was a short walk to work and as I moved further away, it became more difficult to walk. I never really considered driving or taking the bus. I just felt at the time that driving was such a waste for an expensive asset to be used on the commute. I then married and we could not afford 2 cars. It made sense to leave the car with my wife to allow her to get around with the babes etc. I continued cycling more because it seemed the normal thing rather than exceptional. There have been exceptions; when I lived in Hong Kong it was impossible to use public transport for the route, and I was too far to cycle, so I drove. But, I think for the most of my adult life I have walked or cycled to work. Recently (in the last 5 years) I have moved from a sturdy commute bike to road bike and become a lycra clad commuter. If I am honest, this is probably a mid life crisis. I have the disposable income and was looking for a hobby that would keep me in trim and delay the middle aged spread. So far it seems to work, and I have found a hobby that is so much fun.

 

[campbellab]

Started off to get more exercise, save money, avoid the stress of driving and not have to worry about traffic.

Carried on because of the above and I felt much better off after exercising in the morning followed by a nice warm shower at work before having to teach orrible kids...

 

[subaqua]

Started off to get more exercise, save money, avoid the stress of driving and not have to worry about traffic.

Carried on because of the above and I felt much better off after exercising in the morning followed by a nice warm shower at work before having to teach orrible kids...

that is such a good feeling , especially when its a power shower fed by "unlimited " hot water. works one is far better than the one i have at home

 

[mgarl10024]

I guess that's something that doesn't always come across in the various cycling advocacy initiatives I've seen. The emphasis is on the health or environmental benefits and the fact it's just the funnest way to get to work doesn't really get mentioned at all, when that's got to be the best selling point of all.

Excellent post.

 

[goo_mason]

1. Exercise
2. Lose weight
3. Save money by ditching the bus-pass
4. Limit my exposure to some of the feral lowlife that uses public transport

This year I need to get back to cutting down on the excess junk that I eat as I seem to have plateau'd on the weight-loss front....

 

[Arfcollins]

Some years ago one of the managers at my place of work cycled in every day. He only lived a couple of miles away. I didn't cycle then and I thought he was bonkers as he used to 'take the scenic route' of up to 15 miles to work. I would visit his office sometimes and sit among his sweaty gear drying out on the radiators.

I've bike-commuted to work for the last two and a half years and have, like many others here, become addicted. And guess what? My office is moving, so my 8 mile trip will become somewhat less than 5 miles. So I will be taking 'the scenic route' in future.

 

[slowmotion]

The thing that really stands out in this thread is that many of us weren't already "cyclists" trying to find more time on the bike. We started cycle commuting for purely practical reasons, and were pleasantly surprised to find out that on top of the practical benefits it's so much fun!

I guess that's something that doesn't always come across in the various cycling advocacy initiatives I've seen. The emphasis is on the health or environmental benefits and the fact it's just the funnest way to get to work doesn't really get mentioned at all, when that's got to be the best selling point of all.

I think a public realisation that cycling is actually a lot of fun would even help road relations. As you can see from the comments that get posted to youtube and the newspaper sites, many drivers assume cyclists are either paupers who'll upgrade to a car like a shot if we ever get the cash, or health nuts and green warriors who endure the ride to claim our moral high ground. This makes it easy to dismiss any criticism of drivers by cyclists as envy and resentment. If the public realised most of us are just out there having a great time and don't envy their cars at all that would take away one of the main excuses to not take cyclist issues seriously.

Well put! Thank-you.