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@BringMeMyFix
My current approach for the commute is slow cycling. It seems to keep me sane. Perhaps it’s the reduced stress and tension that comes from having more time to judge things. Perhaps it’s the extrication from the rush-hour psychology.
I was recently in a hurry going home, and having said hello to some forumengers at traffic lights, I rode off more aggressively, though still observing red lights and whatnot. All that happened was that I was caught by one of the aforementioned, slower-paced forumengers (Caz) at each set of lights. There’s not enough time saved through a faster average speed in relation to the increased stress.
I’ve done the whole ‘must keep up with the motorised traffic' thing. In the context of commuting, although there’s a superficial sense of acceptance through integration, the longterm effect is cumulative stress and resentment directed towards other road users. Switching to slower riding is a shock at first because of the slight increase in speed of others passing you, but once you’ve adjusted and adapted it’s okay. You can still be assertive with road positioning, you still get to where you’re going in reasonable time (and can make allowances for the extra 5 minutes or so if it’s a longer commute), and your stress hormones don’t go mental (overtly or covertly).
So here’s me ambling along ~5mph more slowly, and things look better. I save my faster riding for my thrill-seeking outings far beyond the suffocating tendrils of the rush-hour.
Everyone’s different, of course.