Hitting the gym for an hour, going home to take a a shower, etc takes about an hour and a half. What's the difference?

Plus, as a practical matter, the equivalent commute by subway takes almost an hour round-trip, once walking to the station, waiting for a train, etc is taken into account. If anything, adding an hour to my commute takes less time than the subway + the gym and is somehow more rewarding since I can vary my route vs being a hamster on a wheel.

Gym + subway = 1.5 hr + 1 hr = 2.5 hr
Walking (quickly) = 2 hr

I'll probably start biking more in a few weeks, but right now it doesn't feel comfortable. Too icy for it to be safe.