Bit of an obvious thing to say, really, since I rely on my Divvie to haul the sack of meat and grease I call my body into the office and home again each day, but it's more than that.

Days like today, when I know I'm going to have to deal with some ignorant, self-centred sods. Days like today when I know I'm going to have to suffer my bosses' lack of boundaries regarding my employment remit. Days like today, when it could be quite nice outside, but I know I'm going to be stuck in a basement with nothing to look at out the window but a cellar door and a brick wall (I can't even tell when it's sunny). On days like this, I leave the house, get on my bike, and I just relax. All my problems seem so much smaller and less relevant, and I can just concentrate on keeping my ride smooth and pleasant.

My bike gets me to work, and I park up, get off, put the lock on, and stop. That's the bit where I have to try to go into the office. Up until that point it's been a joy getting here.

I'm sure I'm not saying anything new, but it's nice to just get it out. On the other hand, if I'd thrown a sickie I could be halfway to Perth by now...

It cant be nice taking the bike to work each and every day, I used to commute on the bike way back in the 70's, and it never bothered me one way or the other, course i was married at that time and any escape from that was a great escape . but when i worked in Derby my attitude to biking changed, well i should say my attitude to commuting on the bike to work changed..My bike then was for fun and adventure, and there was no fun riding my bike to a factory, where i would spend a shift covered in Ink's or breathing in all sorts of nasty chemicals...the only times i felt happy taking the bike to work was when we were on nightshift, so on a thursday night, i would take the bike in to work. we finished early on a Friday morning (5a.m.) and would head on off to ride the cat and fiddle or the snake pass when the world was empty

Well, it's not "fun and adventure" as you put it, but I don't get stressed on my morning commute. The bike carves through the traffic nicely. The Divvie's smooth, comfy, relaxed and quiet. I don't really care about being on time, so long as I'm close. It's a nice quiet spot in the day where there's no pressure, and I can forget about things that are bothering me.

I'm on the bus during December, January and February, and it drives me mad. I really miss the bike during those months.

My problem is that I find that doing 50 odd miles a day on the bike that the last thing I want to do at the weekend is get back on it, commuting has meant my "pleasure miles" have dropped to almost zero.

I think it has had the opposite effect on Hobo. His commute is so awful that at the weekend he likees to go out on the bike to get the fun element!

It's true that I don't get out much on a weekend. I cover 30 miles a day commuting. But at the same time, when I *do* get out for a blast it tends to be on the Ducati, so it's a different experience. Maybe that's a topic worthy of a poll, though - has commuting by bike ruined your pleasure biking?

I think I get your sentiment Defiler. My commute is a 20 miles return journey. It's the bit of the working day I enjoy even tho it's rush hour. I look forward to it, work I don't.

I enjoy commuting on the bike but my commutes only short (6 miles accross town).. generally quicker on the bike too as we can use the bus lanes here - sometimes in the car it can take over an hour which is a very bad start to the day ..... I think commutings been good for my riding too. The only thing I don't enjoy is if I've had an overly busy day and am knackered leaving work.. at that point I'd much rather be in the car than on the bike...

I wonder if the location of the commute might have something to do with this.

I do 80 miles a day, commuting, and still look forward to a weekend blast. But, 80% of the roads I use are good, so the stress from slow & difficult traffic never appears on my horizon. Plus, of course, I use a different bike at the weekend.

as have mine, I never get to ride for pleasure any more, even though I get pleasure riding my bike....what I'm trying to say is that I don't get to go for a ride with any destination in mind...

Thinking about it, I suppose I didn't ride my bike for pleasure as much as I used to before becoming self employed and riding all day everyday. But I do miss the spontaneous little rideouts into the countryside or to the beach on nice evenings

I know I shouldn't really reply to this thread as it's about bikes and work - and I have neither

the spontaneous ride outs are the best, I would organise one....but then it wouldn't be spontaneous

Soon Faze, soon - hopefully!





You could spontaneous decide to join us at Ma Larkins on Sunday!



Doesn't apply in Hobo's case - he only has the one bike and his commute is all through traffic - 12 miles of it inside the M25 and it includes the Tottenham One Way system! I gues he is just an addict!

I have been using the car for work and to be honest it might not be much quicker to use the bike due to the amount of dressing and undressing, and my journey is not as bad as his - but I might find that changes when the schools go back and will probably start using the bike to avoid the hassle of sitting in traffic.

If you make it for next year then I could come too

lol I am sure ill survive for another year! I have managed 22 years thus far...

try being a bike instructor!
at least 6 hours a day-6 days a week atm. you find yourself cherry-picking the days you want to "pleasure" ride. for instance i always get the piss taken if i decide not to ride in the rain on a weekend-usually by friends with short memory loss

the commute to work isnt always a pleasure-its only 7 miles by the direct route & i usually take that-most mornings i just like to get there, put my instructor head on & get on with it. i ride a cbf500 as my work bike.
some mornings i find myself taking the wrong turn out of our village-it doesnt really have to be a concious thing, more of an "ah feck it, i'm going this way today"

the ride home is always something to savour, because i'm then putting the ninja12 head back on-its a bit of a different ride to the cbf500 then its usually governed by how much fecking overtime i've worked-if i've been in since 7am & finished at 7pm, then its straight home, up the dually, on to the fast bit of country road to the village. it also depends on varying factors like, is my son at home today,am i 1st in, how desperate are the dogs for a walk, what time Nova has TOLD me i should be in for


i guess you have to decide what type of ride you want, i always envy Mally, rides the tread off his tyres, has a commute of about 7 miles like me, but works flexi & has been known to go home via the Lake District.
i phoned him once,
where are you?
just got home
working late?
no, just came home via Devils bridge

lucky bastard.