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My decision to start cycling was a practical one, I was done with the stress and unpredictability of public transit to get to school and work. I didn’t drive, no one needed to in a city like San Francisco unless you commuted out. I had been contemplating cycling for some time and told my then boyfriend, who was bike commuting, that it was about time I got two wheels. Within a month, I finally got a bike and was smitten. As I learned the rules of the road and became more comfortable in my route, I was arriving to work and class on time, feeling energized and sharp with a glowing smile. After some time, cycling was all I wanted to rely on and wanted to share how wonderful my new mode of transport was. Since, I’ve relied on two wheels for all my endeavors.
If you’re thinking about adopting a cycling lifestyle or to learn how to incorporate it into your everyday life, today’s post is for you. A cycling lifestyle for me is taking life by the handlebars whether that’s to work, the grocery store, to school, to shopping, to eat, to appointments, to have fun, to exercise, to spend time with loved ones, to spend time alone, to reduce your costs, to community service, to church, to reduce your carbon footprint, to make friends, and many other reasons. However you incorporate it, the cycling lifestyle is what you make it.
After 10 years of living life on two wheels, the cycling lifestyle feels more like a gentle political statement, a commitment to my values: health, environment, adventure and community. If you’re thinking about embarking on a life on two wheels, be sure to ease yourself into it, that way, you will enjoy and stick with it. To help you get started, here are some ways you can adopt a cycling lifestyle.
Cycle To Work
Whether it’s avoiding traffic or unreliable and crowded public transportation or taking in a bit of fresh air and exercise into your daily routine, biking to work can brighten the daily grind. If you’re ready to get rolling, here is a step by step guide to get you going…
- Get your bike ready – If your bike has not seen the light of day for a while, you’ll need to get it ready for action. Tune it up or take it to your bike shop to get it ready for you. Here are some bike maintenance tips you should know.
- Plan your route – Consult Google maps to plan your route with bike lanes highlighted.
- Build confidence – If you haven’t been out cycling for a while, best to start with shorter trips nearby to get comfortable with your skills on the road with traffic.
- Practice route – Test out your commute on a day when you’re not pressed for time. Remember places, cafes, shops, streets, and more to help you sort out junctions and more.
- Choose your way – Choose a day when you’re ready to try your new route and give yourself plenty of time – there may be surprises that you didn’t plan for and don’t want to be in a rush or late!
Cycle For Fun
The cycling world is full of community driven events and people who are passionate about cycling to build a social and thriving community. Cycling for fun can be had whether you’re going for a leisure ride for fresh air, to grab a cup of coffee, or around the world. Doing it by bike can be practical and enjoyable even when you’re riding with others. Here are a few ways you can cycle for fun:
- Shopping – When it comes to shopping by bicycle, you’ll have greater success with the right accessories and buying what you only need. At a minimum, install a front basket, a rear rack, and panniers.
- Going Out – Cycling when going out can be a money saver and can have a romantic feeling when arriving to dinner or theater. Just remember to not drink too much and pack your lights.
- Ride for pleasure – Cycling for pleasure is the perfect way to enjoy fresh air, spend time alone, and appreciate your surrounding more than you would by car.
- Cycling trips – Whether you’re doing a bike tour or riding across the country, a bike holiday is a great way to have a new adventure.
- Group Rides – Organized rides, charity rides, or group rides are great ways to connect with the cycling community and meet new friends. It’s also a great way to get involved with your local community to improve cycling access.
Cycle To Keep Healthy
Like most exercise, cycling has a great many benefits to improving and maintaining our overall health. But did you know that cycling adds additional health benefits? Here are just a few worth mentioning…
- Weight loss – It’s well known that being active is a great way to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
- Mental health – From increasing self esteem to lowering stress levels, cycling has a way of boosting our endorphins. In fact, cycling is the top choice to busting stress levels according to research.
- Wellness – Cycling has a ways of making us feel sexier, preventing certain diseases, reducing risk of cancers, keeping us young, and increasing longevity.
- Productivity – Cycling can improve your brain’s cognition, functioning, and physical structure which is linked to increased memory, productivity, work stress management, and time management. Add a healthy immune system, you’re less likely to get sick and take off days from work.
Choosing two wheels as a lifestyle doesn’t imply any cost, apart from the initial cost of the bicycle and small maintenance costs. But overall, freedom is free.
Image: RG&B