Daily Commuting Tip - Make Groundhog Day Pay
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Posted: 28th October 2009 | Eddie Allen
You might not think it, but the Groundhog Day dynamic of the daily commute is a blessing in disguise. If you're a glass-half-full type, the daily commute is an evergreen opportunity to get slicker, quicker and breezier.
Do something every day and you get better at it through experimentation, adaptation and plain old practice. And so it goes with your commute. I've been cycle commuting for many years and I still find ways I can improve the experience and make it an ever more seamless part of my day.
Take your route for example. Ride the same roads every day and you get to know the sequence of the traffic lights, the ebb and flow of the traffic at certain times, when to change lanes, when it's faster to get off and push across the junction. You'll get to know when you can ease off and preserve effort.
Each day is an opportunity to re-evaluate what you take with you and what you leave behind. The contents of your commuting bag evolves until it contains everything you need and nothing that you don't.
You can use each daily ride to experiment with your bike and gear - different bars and controls, gearing, tyres, etc. You can experiment and find out which clothing works and which doesn't. The great thing is, if you make a mistake, it's only a short ride and you can try something different tomorrow.
The key to all of this is evolution not revolution. Adapt your ways gradually, make small changes in the name of improvement, not just for change's sake. Make a mental note of routes that worked and ones that didn't, bike setups that made it easier to get you and your stuff to work in an efficient and seamless way.
So many people confront the bike commute as an obstacle between home and work, rather than an integral part of their day, which, done right, can be enjoyed for its own sake.