Commuting by bike is a daily habit for one 48-year-old Reddit user, who said his work ride is about 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) and often extends well outside of just getting to work.
Replies suggested he is far from alone, with other riders on the r/bikecommuting subreddit saying they also use bicycles as everyday transportation.
Here's what to know
On Reddit, the original poster described a routine that includes riding to work "6 days a week" and covering "12 km + a few extra kilometers for leisure during lunch breaks and in the evenings and sometimes grocery shopping."
"I have three bikes: one for road, one for trail, and one for grocery shopping (expected to be stolen someday)," the poster also wrote.
That prompt to "share your stories too" ended up drawing over 230 comments. Among them was one reply from a user who said he was 51 and posted a picture of a pristine bike path: "On my commute right now."
The responses were often encouraging. One commenter wrote: "Damn I hope I still commute by bike when I'm your age."
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For the original poster, the appeal went beyond getting from place to place: "Daily commuting is the best secret training. Nothing beats legs over wallet."
More background
Elsewhere in the thread, riders described commuting as routine, practical, and sustainable.
Several replies cast bike commuting as the convenient choice rather than a hardship. One 50-year-old said he mainly rides to work because, "due to road congestion — it's faster than driving or public transport."
Comfort, not speed, shaped that same rider's setup. He said he owns "my old mountain bike and my newer steel road bike" and uses the mountain bike for work trips because "it's more comfortable." He added that his daily commute is "only about 5 miles in total" and said he often sees deer along the way.
What's being done
The thread also showed a wide range of commuting habits, and made it clear it is not a one-size-fits-all habit. A 35-year-old said he commutes "a measly 5.5 miles daily," while a 57-year-old said he has five bikes he can ride, plus others in storage and one in London.
Taken together, the comments came from self-described commuters ranging from their late 30s to their late 50s, not only younger riders or hardcore athletes, and they described folding biking into normal workdays, errands, and short training rides.
The listed benefits were vast, but some commenters just loved the feeling of going out for a ride.
"Best part of my day not even close," a 40-year-old with a seven-mile commute shared. "I just put a new chain on yesterday and oh boy, today was great."
Where can I learn more?
Researchers have also looked at the practical and health side of daily riding, and explored what bike commuting can mean for health, comfort, and access.
• Researchers following active commuters found fewer sick days overall among people who biked to work.
• Among older riders, e-bike riding brought brain benefits and another reason to keep pedaling.
• Cities adding protected bike lanes could see commuting ridership climb far faster.
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