I love commuting, now more than ever!

il_principe

DonDaddyD wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

biondino wrote:

I don't love commuting by bike because every single time I do it I fear for my life. Indeed, any time I ride I feel this way. I love pretty much everything else about it, mind, but I just can't shift this sense of mortality from how I see cycling.

really? I'm sorry to hear you think like that

I'm going to have to start calling you girls names soon

What a great character. You know they've never used the same name twice. Apparently it's become tricky to think of new ones.

Who is he?





Also, I gotta say that I don't share Biondino's view. I never feel more alive than when I'm on a bike, perhaps its my mortality becoming evermore apparant as I gasp for air, pushing myself in the hope of fending off getting scalped.

Dr Cox from Scrubs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Cox

biondino

Thought I'd replied to this but it seems I didn't - I wanted to say it's in the anticipation of the ride that I tend to feel the mortality, much less so when I'm riding unless I've had a near miss. Things like the clipless moment that must have been thousandths of a second away from actually being killed, for example, flash into my head regularly and every time I read of another cyclist dying it's another virtual notch on the subconscious scale I have in my brain of when I'm going to consider it too risky to cycle any more.

Littigator

biondino wrote:

Thought I'd replied to this but it seems I didn't - I wanted to say it's in the anticipation of the ride that I tend to feel the mortality, much less so when I'm riding unless I've had a near miss. Things like the clipless moment that must have been thousandths of a second away from actually being killed, for example, flash into my head regularly and every time I read of another cyclist dying it's another virtual notch on the subconscious scale I have in my brain of when I'm going to consider it too risky to cycle any more.

Phew, and there was me feeling a bit down in the dumps...no need to worry now eh! :roll:

DonDaddyD

biondino wrote:

Thought I'd replied to this but it seems I didn't - I wanted to say it's in the anticipation of the ride that I tend to feel the mortality, much less so when I'm riding unless I've had a near miss. Things like the clipless moment that must have been thousandths of a second away from actually being killed, for example, flash into my head regularly and every time I read of another cyclist dying it's another virtual notch on the subconscious scale I have in my brain of when I'm going to consider it too risky to cycle any more.

This doesn't happen to me.

Only time I'm more excited than when anticipating a ride is when I'm actually riding.

Given that the reality of being mortal is ever present I don't think I'll ever consider it too dangerous to do something I enjoy while I'm fit and healthy to do so. Except, of course, if a situation makes it too dangerous. But a day to day commute? I could decide it too dangerous to ride my bike and have a fatal crash in my car instead.

If i spent my time worrying about every eventuality, satistics and the mortal condition I'd never leave the house but that's me. I'm sorry Biondino you're entitled to your opinion but to me it sounds like being overly cautious leading to a point where it could stop one from living life.

biondino

Thing is it doesn't stop me from commuting - yet - but equally I can't simply stop myself from worrying about it. I wish I could! Interestingly I almost never feel this way when driving.

jimmypippa

biondino wrote:

Thing is it doesn't stop me from commuting - yet - but equally I can't simply stop myself from worrying about it. I wish I could! Interestingly I almost never feel this way when driving.

Unfortunately nor do many others...

I doubt there are car forums where people talk about how much they like their commute.

My wife does but she works in the middle of the Peak District.

I used to be active, but found little time to do anything, and now I am not very active except for 130-miles a week commuting...

Fresh air, exercise, and the chance to get into the hills, and pretend to myself that it is justa variation commute

This was my view on my route home last friday, I went a shorter, but hillier route:

UnworthyPapaLazaru

biondino wrote:

Thing is it doesn't stop me from commuting - yet - but equally I can't simply stop myself from worrying about it. I wish I could! Interestingly I almost never feel this way when driving.

I know its rude to ask a lady, but how old are you? Have you reached that age where you are aware of your own mortality and start worring about everything? Giving up smoking, general health concerns etc.

boy on bike

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

whyamihere wrote:

Ah, another convert to the church of Campagnolo (Fulcrum is a sub brand of Campag). Imagine how amazing your ride would be with a full groupset.

*runs away*

So do the Fulcrums have the same level of lovely clickiness as Campag freehubs? Yum. Second nicest freewheel noise in the world. FACT.

OK, got to ask... what is the 1st nicest freewheel noise in the world??

MrsT

I just love cycling, so much so that I commute to work by bike! It takes 3 mins! I take the long way home though - about 10 miles!!!!

attica

I have to relate a massive moment I had on the IOW on Saturday, we'd had a lovely morning, spent a very pleasant couple of hours having a pub lunch and were enjoying a beautiful sunset as we rode along the south coast. We rounded a corner and Linsen promised us that we were facing the last biggish hill of the day a two parter going up, through a small pass, dropping down and then climbing again, I realised that I needed a couple of minutes to put on another layer as the lack of sun was about to make it quite a bit colder, so I summoned up all my reserves of energy and hit the climb for all I was worth, I climbed and climbed, gradually slowing from spinny spinny to an absolute honk (the joys of single speed climbing, you'll discover them soon DDDDD), I dropped down the small descent before continuing to climb, looking over my shoulder I could see my friends coming into view, I pushed on gasping for air, feeling the cold pouring down my throat with each heaving breath I reached the top of the hill, triumphant I jumped off the bike and clambered up a small bank to stand atop the cliff looking at the sunset, chest heaving. Paralysed by the sunset, everyone caught up before I realised I hadn't put my jacket on at all.
I can honestly say that I haven't felt that alive in quite a while. The beauty of the sunset, the joy of a day well spent in the saddle in fine company and the exhilaration of breathlessness all added up to create a wonderful moment.

That is why I love cycling, of any nature

itboffin

Very nice Attica

Surely an advert for cycling right there

Now if you'd taken some pictures

DiggingDeeper

It's been quite a read this thread. I am sitting in front of the box watching some film that I won't see the end of and flexing my aching legs. 80 miles done so far this week and I am wondering whether to do the 24 miles tomorrow.

Before the inevitable MTFU wings my way - I am going to enter my first Cat4 race on saturday and the way the legs feel at mo, tomorrow may better spent resting.

However, and why I bothering to reply to the thread is that I really want to cycle tomorrow, sod the race - what will happen will happen, because the commute does provide the extra bit of life between home work home (switch on/switch off space) and given family life and time constraints its the only exercise I get so I really go for it.

In the past I have done loads of mountaineering and climbing and have fantastic memories of spectacular places but cannot say that cycling has much to offer me here, except once when I MTB in Chamonix - that almost put me off MTB - hard tail in the Alps trying tp keep up with mates on full sus, never again. I also have empathy with biondino's current thought processes cos whenever you filter as careful as you can be you need to stay lucky. I got knocked off 2 months back. One of the punters here carries Lance's quote about if you were worried about falling off, you'd never get on one and I guess this what must be what I really think.

The racing thing - I've always been competitive and have had little outlet in the last few years to let rip. It will be interesting to see whether it really does add an extra dimension to the cycling as I hope.

Someone mentioned about becoming more self righteous. This does seem to be a trait I've noticed in me and just about every other cyclist. Ive got a big car (which don't move much) so I guess I am just trying to cover something up.

I used to do 30,000 miles a year in the motor on previous jobs which became a chore eventually and I much prefer the bike commute now. Its probably just my age 43 years and that time of life.

DDD, You have a passion, enjoy the moment. Pretty much all of us here know where you are coming from, maybe just not quite as enthusiatic as you. My wife would have got me sectioned if I sent her that letter.

F*ck it, I'm cycling tomorrow, just won't give it the full beans


..unless some suit on a brompton goes past :evil:

lost_in_thought

I miss my bike so much

Shouldn't have read this thread really!

I have to say I'm not really a worrier, my mortality on a bike isn't really a concern. I figure we're all going to end up dead somehow so might as well enjoy life.

But I sympathise with Blondie, in that it must be a real pain to worry about it.

linsen

itboffin wrote:

Very nice Attica

Surely an advert for cycling right there

Now if you'd taken some pictures

I have got a few snaps - give me a decade or two and I'll figure out the best way to show you them

And I haven't, I don't think, said yet why I like commuting. Several reasons really:

It costs the environment nothing
It saves me thinking about going to the gym that day (unless I want to go laze in the sauna - mmmm)
I can wait near the front of every traffic queue for a red light
I don't have to panic about being late
I can eat what I like with impunity
It starts lots of conversations with colleagues that I would otherwise not talk to in the course of my day (I teach, therefore mostly "converse" with pubescent teenagers)

And as for cycling in general - it is freedom, and that is enough to keep me on a bike

The two people most on my mind with regard to bikes at the moment are Jen and LiT - I wish you both speedy recoveries and I hope to ride with you soon x

singlespeedexplosif

OK, got to ask... what is the 1st nicest freewheel noise in the world??

Dear god, I thought EVERYONE knew that one?
http://www.whiteind.com/singlespeedgearing/freewheels.html

il_principe

" Things.

Firstly:

UnworthyPapaLazaru wrote:

biondino wrote:

Thing is it doesn't stop me from commuting - yet - but equally I can't simply stop myself from worrying about it. I wish I could! Interestingly I almost never feel this way when driving.

I know its rude to ask a lady, but how old are you? Have you reached that age where you are aware of your own mortality and start worring about everything? Giving up smoking, general health concerns etc.

Secondly:

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

OK, got to ask... what is the 1st nicest freewheel noise in the world??

Dear god, I thought EVERYONE knew that one?
http://www.whiteind.com/singlespeedgearing/freewheels.html

Mmm I've got my eye on a 16T White freewheel, bootiful.

I've gotta say though, the new DT Swiss 190 ceramic hubs make a luvverly noise.

biondino

jashburnham wrote:

"

UnworthyPapaLazaru wrote:

biondino wrote:

Thing is it doesn't stop me from commuting - yet - but equally I can't simply stop myself from worrying about it. I wish I could! Interestingly I almost never feel this way when driving.

I know its rude to ask a lady, but how old are you? Have you reached that age where you are aware of your own mortality and start worring about everything? Giving up smoking, general health concerns etc.

Yeah, that took my by surprise too, but maybe UPL is subtly continuing the Dr Cox joke? Chapeau for the subtlety if so!

(and I'm 34, sweetheart)

UnworthyPapaLazaru

Just as I thought. My age is currently sitting at 33 years, and these thoughts of morality now come into mind. Namley the stopping smoking and health type things like getting more excersise and trying not to die. I even went through a period not long ago of wearing a crash helmet, but it didnt last long. It was too cold and I needed to wear a wooly hat.

I suspect that these worries will hang about for a few years but will then be replaced with wild abandon.

Hold tight darling.

Littigator

OMG....I've just dribbled over my desk....how much do those cost?

Totalnewbie

I'm the same as Biondino unfortunately, I worry and get nervous (before the ride rather than during). Once I'm on the bike I'm normally ok and enjoying it very much (although I still freak out on steep descents), but it is the anticipation. I am a worrier by nature though, and will worry about anything and everything, which is a real crap trait to have and something passed down from my Nan to my mum to me.

It doesn't help that my family hate me riding the bike and regularly tell me how they are convinced it will be the death of me etc.

DonDaddyD

Totalnewbie wrote:

I'm the same as Biondino unfortunately, I worry and get nervous (before the ride rather than during). Once I'm on the bike I'm normally ok and enjoying it very much (although I still freak out on steep descents), but it is the anticipation. I am a worrier by nature though, and will worry about anything and everything, which is a real crap trait to have and something passed down from my Nan to my mum to me.

It doesn't help that my family hate me riding the bike and regularly tell me how they are convinced it will be the death of me etc.

OK. Totalnewbie and Biondino what star sign are you?

I'm an Aries, Fire sign.

I bet you're water signs....

Clever Pun

DonDaddyD wrote:

Totalnewbie wrote:

I'm the same as Biondino unfortunately, I worry and get nervous (before the ride rather than during). Once I'm on the bike I'm normally ok and enjoying it very much (although I still freak out on steep descents), but it is the anticipation. I am a worrier by nature though, and will worry about anything and everything, which is a real crap trait to have and something passed down from my Nan to my mum to me.

It doesn't help that my family hate me riding the bike and regularly tell me how they are convinced it will be the death of me etc.

OK. Totalnewbie and Biondino what star sign are you?

I'm and Ares, Fire sign.

I bet you're water signs....

do you really hold sway with that stuff??

iain_j

I don't get that mortality before riding thing, but over the last few months i've definitely got more nervous in busy traffic, especially when passing side roads and crossing big junctions. I think driving standards, and impatience especially, have gotten much worse in the last year or 2. Then again it could be a subconcious thing having had a couple of accidents in the last couple of years.

Funnily enough though, it doesn't bother me when i'm out doing long rides at the weekends, it's only on the commute.

DonDaddyD

Clever Pun wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Totalnewbie wrote:

I'm the same as Biondino unfortunately, I worry and get nervous (before the ride rather than during). Once I'm on the bike I'm normally ok and enjoying it very much (although I still freak out on steep descents), but it is the anticipation. I am a worrier by nature though, and will worry about anything and everything, which is a real crap trait to have and something passed down from my Nan to my mum to me.

It doesn't help that my family hate me riding the bike and regularly tell me how they are convinced it will be the death of me etc.

OK. Totalnewbie and Biondino what star sign are you?

I'm and Ares, Fire sign.

I bet you're water signs....

do you really hold sway with that stuff??

I don't think you realise how much of a geek I really am.

Astronomy interests me...

Totalnewbie

Actually I'm a Sagittarius which I believe is also a fire sign! And I don't believe that stuff at all. I believe I worry about stuff because I was brought up to worry about stuff by my mum and it's hard to shake off.

(I don't think my age is a factor either because I have been this way since I was about 20 when I first got an adult bike).

Totalnewbie

DDD poppet, you are talking about astrology not astronomy.

Clever Pun

DonDaddyD wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Totalnewbie wrote:

I'm the same as Biondino unfortunately, I worry and get nervous (before the ride rather than during). Once I'm on the bike I'm normally ok and enjoying it very much (although I still freak out on steep descents), but it is the anticipation. I am a worrier by nature though, and will worry about anything and everything, which is a real crap trait to have and something passed down from my Nan to my mum to me.

It doesn't help that my family hate me riding the bike and regularly tell me how they are convinced it will be the death of me etc.

OK. Totalnewbie and Biondino what star sign are you?

I'm and Ares, Fire sign.

I bet you're water signs....

do you really hold sway with that stuff??

I don't think you realise how much of a geek I really am.

Astronomy interests me...

Astronomy yes that has scientific basis... Astrology??? nah that's just utter cackwizard

DonDaddyD

Totalnewbie wrote:

DDD poppet, you are talking about astrology not astronomy.

Its annoying because I wrote astronomy in my original sentence and changed that to astrology. Then I deleted the original sentence only to write friggen astronomy again. ARGH!!! Why am I such a moron! Superman would never make such mistakes.

<<Turns Green and goes on a rampage>>

biondino

OMG DDD I AM A PISCES YOU ARE AT ONE W/ MYSTERIES OF UNIVERSE!!1!1one!

DonDaddyD

biondino wrote:

OMG DDD I AM A PISCES YOU ARE AT ONE W/ MYSTERIES OF UNIVERSE!!1!1one!

I reckon LiT is an Earth sign and Jash is an air sign....

Clever Pun, not sure far too intelligent.

ITBoffin fire sign.

If you want to share a quarter of the winnings I can tell you the winning lottery numbers for the next six weeks.... :roll:

what was this thread about... oh, yes! Why I love commuting or something...