I live in the Boston area, and I bike to work just about every day, year round. It's a nice commute - about 15 miles each way, and includes both bike path (the Minuteman Bikeway) and city streets through Cambridge. Anyway, last week one of my colleagues who commutes by car, asked, "doesn't it get boring doing the same ride every day?" My first reaction was to say, "not nearly as boring as sitting in a metal can driving the same route every day!" Of course I didn't say that. But I started thinking about the comment. I realized that while my commute takes the same route, or nearly the same, every day, each ride is unique. Today, for example: the nursery along the bike path had taken a delivery of cedar chips . . . nice aroma; two geese came in for a landing in the marsh at the far end of the bike path; in Cambridge, I hit that one particular dip in the road just right, and caught some air; I had a nice conversation with a fellow biker (she was riding a mountain bike with huge knobby tires, but flying!) Among the many, many benefits of commuting by bicycle is the fact that you never have the same commute twice. There are always myriad little details that make each ride unique and fun.
"Josh Hassol" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I live in the Boston area, and I bike to work just about every day, year round. It's a nice commute - about 15 miles each way, and includes both bike path (the Minuteman Bikeway) and city streets through Cambridge. Anyway, last week one of my colleagues who commutes by car, asked, "doesn't it get boring doing the same ride every day?" My first reaction was to say, "not nearly as boring as sitting in a metal can driving the same route every day!" Of course I didn't say that. But I started thinking about the comment. I realized that while my commute takes the same route, or nearly the same, every day, each ride is unique. Today, for example: the nursery along the bike path had taken a delivery of cedar chips . . . nice aroma; two geese came in for a landing in the marsh at the far end of the bike path; in Cambridge, I hit that one particular dip in the road just right, and caught some air; I had a nice conversation with a fellow biker (she was riding a mountain bike with huge knobby tires, but flying!) Among the many, many benefits of commuting by bicycle is the fact that you never have the same commute twice. There are always myriad little details that make each ride unique and fun.
Cheers,
Josh
It's the same way for people who walk. My wife and I can do the same 20-30 minute walk through the neighborhood almost everyday and it's always different. Whether it's the angle of the sun, the day to day change of seasons or a man-made change, there are always things that are different. The same thing happens on our bike commutes. I wonder if folks who are not active outdoors are the ones who don't realize how the natural world changes daily. It's sad for them.
I realized that while my commute takes the same route, or nearly the same, every day, each ride is unique.
The weather itself makes every commute different. I've seen deer, raccoons, skunks, and other wildlife on my commute, sometimes dead on the side of the road. Everyday, I pass a Prarie dog preserve, and if it's warm enough, they're all out cheeping loudly. I go thru parks, where people are playing frisbee golf, walking dogs, jogging, etc. Each day I pass other commuters, some I recognize, but many I don't. However, my next door neighbor could pass me in a car, and I wouldn't notice. I pass farms, where I am fascinated by all the different plowing, irrigation, and grain storage techniques. Granted, I would see some of this in a car too. But there's a more personal and deeper interaction when you're in the open air travelling slowly, savoring the experience. Jim Gagnepain http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/
I live in the Boston area, and I bike to work just about every day, year round. It's a nice commute - about 15 miles each way, and includes both bike path (the Minuteman Bikeway) and city streets through Cambridge. Anyway, last week one of my colleagues who commutes by car, asked, "doesn't it get boring doing the same ride every day?"
Actually, I've found that it could get a little boring ... after about 15 years or so.
I eventually started exploring different routes to and from work. It's kind of interesting to ride through different neighborhoods, or to do little exploratory "projects" - like, trying out every possible street on the way. If I'm in a hurry, I use the default route (which is shortest). Other days I might climb the extra hill that gives the big view over the valley. Alternately, I explored for a while to find the absolute flattest route into work.
