Top 10...

[RCOH]

...reasons why I like commuting to work on a bike:

10. I can leave for work later than if icatch the bus, allowing more time to sleep, have a proper breakfast or spend time with my kids (that still sounds weird).

09. Fitness. I has been proven that the best time to exercise is early in the morning. It has also been proven that those who exercise before work/school are more attentive & work better.

08. Beating traffic. I ride along a major arterial road (cleveland st) every morning & it feels good to scoot past cars stuck in traffic.

07. Options. If a road is feeling dangerous I can take the backstreets, if i feel like going through the park, i do. On sundays I ride via oxford street solely to check out the drugged nightclub patrons/24 hour drunks. It's cool.

06. Practising tricks. I practise manuals al the way to & from work but I still can't do them. I am getting better though. Also trackstanding, car dodging & sprinting to make the lights all must count for something like training.

05. Bragging rights. When co-workers ask how i get to work & I say " I ride" they generally ask if it is dangerous & marvel at how quick I am. I say 'yes' to the former & agree to the latter.

04. Having a reason to wear sweat stained t-shirt & shorts at work. Although there are showers, ther are no lockers & I prefer just to bring a can of deodorant & not lug towel/soap/spare clothes to work every freakin' day.

03. Travelling light. I have breakfast before i leave home & keep a supply of lunches at work (mi-goreng noodles & tined tuna, mmm). So all I take to work is my wallet, keys, MP3 player & work ID card. Except on Wednesdays when i bring a light camelpak with tools for the city night ride.

02. Looking at Girls. You get a lot more time to check out hotties when you are on a bike & you get the added advantage of looking in cars & on the street, also i work next door to a uni & TAFE & the talent is pretty damn high.

01. Doing things at lunch. This is what inspired this thread therefore it is number 1. Today at lunch I rode to the fish markets, got some fish & chips & sat on the wharf in the sunshine looking at boats & pelicans & asian tourists. If i didn't ride I wouldn't have time to do this. I amalso within riding distance of hyde park, darling harbour, Circular Quey & a number of other quiet spots that are good to relax at but too far away to walk to & from in a lunch break. Now I am at work & I feel good, & it all because of my bike!!

[eam]

i'm exactly the same. i ride to school every day and i practice manuels and hit as many natural jumps as possible and i can stay after school with my mates instead of catching the bus. the good life.

[nickz]

That sounds awesome Rod, especially that it's quicker than the bus. If only I could commute!

[Adrian]

Work's been that good today hey rod...


Been bike commuting as of this week and can get from maroubra to rozelle faster than two buses could ever hope to. Have also improved my time on the commute through the city by ten minutes so far this week, gaining confidence and bike skills through moving obstacles such as cars and suits... Oh yeah, and my bike's in the city and friends are going to be at a surry hills pub after work so I have no excuse left to not go on a city ride this evening. :)

[dunk]

I agree totally, except for #2, as there aren't any pretty girls walking along the M4 on my commute :mad:

[Binaural]

11. It rocks walking into work having had gotten out of the shower a few minutes before

12. Not many things as good as that nice slow burn of your legs cooling down as you get to work

13. Complete invulnerability to traffic jams!

14. Finding ace shortcuts through the city is cool, finding tricks to hit better still

15. Meeting up with mates for some after work shuttle runs :)

16. Riding like a madman one day, riding chilled another

17. Driving cars is boring, riding bikes is fun!

18. Riding home really late at night when you can't see is a weirdly peaceful feeling, makes you feel really reflective

19. Beer tastes extra good if you've just ridden 15km for it

20. Bikes are more reliable than cars if you look after them, and you can fix any problems yourself (or bribe a mate with item 19)

Downsides:

1. Extra energy consumption makes missing lunch suck

2. Riding home during peak hour can suck balls, riding home an hour or two later is much better if you have the choice

3. Frostbite on winter mornings, sweat like pig on 35deg+ summer days

4. Sydney is seriously hilly = big pain if you're feeling slack

5. General driving population is on PCP, have to keep your wits about you

[Caine]

i totally agree. if i catch a bus to school i have to leave at 7:30 if i ride i can leave at 8:30 and still beat the people that catch the bus and i feel better all day when i get some exersie in the morning

[Rider]

19. Beer tastes extra good if you've just ridden 15km for it

That's so true!

Now you've made me have to walk to the fridge