My Experiences with Biking to Work and How to Do it Yourself

 I decided to pick this topic because over 57% of people live close enough to work to take themselves via bicycle. My goal is to help you realize that commuting to work can be challenging yet super fun. I found it extremely difficult to adapt to not only the beaming heat searing the streets in Phoenix, but, also, to mentally accept the need to drive to wake up and also to hop on the bike and ride back home after a long day at work. It's definitely not the easiest thing you could do everyday. But, once you overcome those challenges, you'll be unstoppable.

Yes, I used to commute via bike in Phoenix...mid summer. Those three miles were always strenuous. I didn't own a car, so commuting any other way wasn't really possible for me. The train did help some, but for the most part, it was just me and my feet on the pedals. Sweat dripping off my face and burning my eyes, I look down at my bike and smile. The serotonin my body is releasing is making me feel really happy to be alive.

Cycling to work at a bicycle shop - that ride was mostly streets and sidewalks. It was in the suburbs of Chicago, and the funny thing is, I was the only one from that shop who would ride their bike to work. Eventually, everyone else caught on and decided to ride their bikes, too. The power of persuasion!

While at my current job, my car's brakes decided to stop working, so therefore, my only option was to ride to work. When I first started, I noticed there were A LOT of bikes parked up next to the Amazon building. I was excited to make new cycling friends! I even got to race one of my co-workers to see whose bike was faster. I won. I had so many adventures riding my bike 20 miles a day - on graveyard shift.

HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF

1.  Evaluate your route. Is taking the trails more efficient? Do you also have to take the bus or train to get there?

2.  Try the route before you use it for commuting. You don't want to make yourself late or run into any issues that may cause you delay.

3.  Get ready to leave the house. Make sure you have a change of clothes, deodorant, and extra shoes. Everything you might need before, during, and after arrival.

4.  Commute to work on your bike.! The best part.

5.  Arrive at work and lock your bike.

6.  Leave work and ride home. Be safe, and if it's dark outside, you will need to make sure your lights are working.

Follow these six step and you'll be able to successfully ride your bike to work. Try it at least once. Have any further questions? Feel free to reach out to one of our Bike Ambassadors!

#ridemoredriveless #cyclist_lawyer #commuting #biketowork

Jess B.

Biking and Mindfulness

Cycling has impacted my life in myriad ways, but most importantly, cycling has taught me how to be present. Mindfulness is a common refrain these days, and there are any number of apps or shamans out there willing to help guide you on a path to better mindfulness - and I'm sure many of them are quite good. For me though, nothing has had quite the same impact on my ability to step outside the noise of my mind and be totally aware of my being, surroundings, and mental state as cycling. I often think of the John Denver line: "His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand...The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake" - I don't know that John was a big cyclist, but that line could embody any of my longer training rides.

The key goal of mindfulness is to achieve a state of awareness of your mind and body in your current surroundings. The first time I really remember achieving this level of zen was on the bike. The feeling of letting my thoughts completely evaporate and just feeling the wind across my face, my connection to the pedals, and the road beneath my wheels was intoxicating. The reasons that I ride are numerous: the health benefits, I'm good at it :), the feeling of accomplishment when you get a PR on a serious climb or just crush a local segment; but the reason I always lace up my shoes and throw a leg over my ridiculously high saddle (I'm a tall guy) is that feeling of complete oneness with myself and my world.

This blog is meant to share the benefits of bike commuting and riding in general, but it also serves as an educational guide for those just getting into riding. If you haven't reached this moment of zen yet, don't fear, it's probably just around the corner! Here are some quick tips that have helped me get to a place of inner peace - which you're going to want on your next hundred mile ride.

1) Don't force it - the more that you try to meditate, the more you're working too hard. Instead, try to gently nudge your mind back to where you are at present as your thoughts start to wander. Don't fight it, if you start thinking about work that's fine - just gently nudge yourself back to feeling your breathing and watching the road ahead (as with all of this the idea is not to be asleep at the handlebars...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE always pay attention to the road and your surroundings, that's actually a huge part of this!)

2) Focus on your breathing - this is probably the most important part. Not only will better breathing help your riding (your HR monitor will thank you), but focusing on your breathing is the easiest way to help your mind from wandering. This works best on serious climbs IMO - head to your local measuring stick climb and think about active breathing - breathing from the stomach and actively pushing the air out. This cycle will center your body and your mind, and don't be surprised if you start pushing the watts!

3) Relax and take notes - I stole that one from a rap song :). Honestly keeping a journal entry of your rides, training, and where you were from a headspace is invaluable. You'll start to better understand what might trigger your tougher rides, what thoughts you have trouble clearing from your head, and what you did right on the days that you were flying. 

Feel free to comment below with some of your own experiences/tips for achieving better mindfulness, and as always, have fun and be safe out there!

Missed Miles: Gained Perspectives

Wow, did this year start off with a bang! I had become a Guinness World record holder, shuttered our 20-year retail store, and started a successful consulting business. Little did any of us know what was around the January 2020 corner.

Over the past several years, I wound down my local road racing while ramping up gravel riding.  I've found great pleasure in including my wife, Rhonda, in my training. We started joining in on longer rides, which in turn led to Gran Fondo and Century touring. We've attended the Cache Gran Fondo in Logan, Utah for several years and recruited Bike Ambassadors for this mid-July road trip. COVID obviously cheated us of this plus many group rides as travel ground to a hard STOP.

Not one to sit still for long, as you can only put so many puzzles together, I snagged a part-time position at my local bike shop in late April. I began to notice that most of the bikes, which first time riders were bringing in for "complete tune-ups" just needed a good clean and lube. We had to sanitize every bike out in the yard prior to bringing it into our bike techs. While the customers' bikes were in the rack, I'd discuss washing every other ride with dish detergent liquid, an old tooth brush on the chain, wax, dry or wet lubes; the little things that help those small mishaps from turning into big, expensive repairs. "Save your $$ for fun clothing, colored pedals or bar tape, maybe upgrade to new wheels." I've made quite a few new friends through just starting the conversation, being thoughtful, and offering helpful advice. Having a now semi-seasoned rider stop by the shop, hunt me down just to say "thanks" with a big smile beneath the mask feels awesome!

As Bike Ambassadors, we should all stop and assist, start the conversation, wave as you pass riders and listen to others' concerns. It's amazing how often we can help if we just listen and hear what others are trying to convey.

Our missed Fondos, Centuries, and group rides have allowed us to see and hear things we would have missed otherwise. We've spent more time with our immediate loved ones. We all hiked, biked, and commuted more. We are all learning that the "new normal" is doable not to mention the overall wellness these new endeavors have shown us.

Cheryl

Biking to Kids' Activities

Amidst all the challenges of the past several months, it can be uplifting to recognize a few "silver linings." Here's one: biking is having a bit of a moment. Bike sales are at their highest since the 1970s. Individuals and families around the world are jumping on their bicycles for both exercise and for transportation.

Those of us who were already “in the know” about the glorious biking lifestyle might feel a bit smug. But I’d argue that there’s always room for us to increase our dependence on our bikes. This is particularly true for those of us who have children. It’s common for avid cyclists to trade in their bike commutes for an SUV or a minivan when little ones come into the picture. Biking becomes more of a recreational activity for families and less of a transportation method.

But it doesn’t have to be this way! I’ve been biking as my primary means of transportation with little ones since 2012, and I plan to keep biking with them for years to come.

If you, too, would like to avoiding the prevailing car culture while getting your kids to and from school and activities, here are my top tips:

Invest early in your biking infrastructure. Often new parents start with a baby seat that mounts on the back of their bike, and then progress to a bike trailer. While both of these options allow you to bike with your children, to haul significant weight more than a couple miles, you need a cargo bike. Cargo bikes are increasing in popularity in the United States. There are many options in different price ranges and you can sometimes even find one used. But no matter what bike gear you choose, just make sure you're thinking ahead. Don't buy the bike accessory that works only for that moment; remember how quickly kids grow!

Don't over schedule your family. Biking does take longer than driving. (Not always a lot longer when you take traffic and finding parking into consideration though!) It's difficult to bike to one child's soccer practice if your other child has an art class immediately before or after. Try to keep your family's schedule relatively light and consider biking part of the activity. It's good exercise and family time, after all!

Select activities near home. The choices for kids' activities are plentiful these days. When looking for options for your kids, see what's within a few miles' radius. Also consider the biking routes you would take to each location. It's great for kids to be exposed to a wide-variety of activities, so try to let the availability lead your search. This will make it easier to bike instead of drive.

Teach older kids safe riding skills. Once your children are old enough to ride on their own, make sure you've done plenty of practice rides close to home. Kids should be well-versed on how to ride safely. For more tips on this topic, check out Bike Ambassador Erin's previous post on biking with kids! 

Pack well. Keep your bike(s) stocked just as you would your car. Have plenty of water and snacks for the family, as well as a first aid kit and extra clothes. Entertainment for little ones is a great idea, too. My family loves having a portable speaker on our cargo bike for music or audiobooks!

Remember the lights and safety gear. Kids' sports and activities can sometime go longer than expected. Make sure all riders have lights for their bikes as well as their helmets of course. Fluorescent jackets or vests and flags are a good idea too.

Just do it. In our modern society, too often we default to driving instead of biking. Maybe we're more used to it or we think it's easier or it's just what everyone does. But you can retrain your brain to think of biking as the default. The more you "just do it," the easier it becomes. The more second nature it will be for your whole family! 

How COVID Has Changed My Cycling Mindset

As an aging road runner, cycling found its way into my heart forever back in my mid 40s. Through a friend's suggestion I ride a 50 miler with her, I discovered a great workout that didn't hurt my back quite as much as running had. I soon discovered that I felt like a kid every time I got on a bicycle. The freedom of moving through the air on a machine powered solely by me...and gravity...absolutely delicious...downhills are the  BEST :)...uphills not so much :/. I hadn't ridden that much since I stopped triathlon training in my early 20s and began having children. Starting my medical career also cut into time on the bike as medical school and training doesn't leave much time/energy for long rides.

I'm now at 20 years of constant cycling and years past setting cycling goals by way of registering for big event rides. When I register for an event, it drives me to set goals for mileage and climbing, so as to complete the event with pride, rather than killing myself and calling for a SAG wagon. I eventually began to do these events for charities and causes I feel passionately about, raising money...essentially marrying 2 passions, cycling and philanthropy.

I've cycled Charity Treks across New England several times (400+ miles Burlington, VT to Portland, ME to raise money for HIV Vaccine Research), Courage Classic several times (rides out of Copper Mountain, CO, to benefit Children's Hospital Colorado, where I work as a Pediatric Radiology physician), AIDS LifeCycle (545 miles to SF to LA to benefit AIDS organizations) in 2019. Several other rides I've done have also been benefit rides and it makes me happy to raise the money while doing something I love.

A product of all this cycling has been joining bike clubs to help me get my miles in. It's hard to ride long miles alone every time, so joining in with others registered for an event, or locals with other goals, has been a fabulous way to meet others who love to ride. I've made lifelong friends through bike clubs, an unexpected outcome from all the miles and all the fundraising. What a gift.

Now that COVID has become our reality and "social distancing" is in place as the spring cycling season gets underway, I miss my friends from the OUTspokin' bike club (Denver's LGBTQ cycling club), the anticipation of a group ride to see my old friends and meet new ones. I miss my friends on Team Colorado ALC (the group here in Colorado that trains for AIDS LifeCycle together). I see my friends' rides on Strava and on Facebook and we are all alone now, or with just one other, safely "social distance" riding.

It makes me sad in some ways that this cycling season is so very different from all of my others, but I have discovered a silver lining in this for me personally. I now have no event to plan for...I have no miles I HAVE to ride...I have no hills I HAVE to climb. I'm a kid again. Getting on my bicycle for the pure enjoyment of riding a bike. WHEEEEE :).

P.S. Also feeling strong in my new Bike Ambassadors kit!

First Taste of Freedom

Bike to school day typically falls in early May each year so I had planned to write about that and share tips and tricks on how to make it a successful event for you and your family. Things like how to find safe routes to and from school and the importance of practicing with your kids prior to the event day. Well, thanks to the Corona Virus, “school” is taking place at kitchen tables around the country, eliminating the need to commute at all, let alone via bike. However, now is actually a fantastic time to teach your kids to ride, brush up on the rules of the road and set the foundation for safe cycling!

Let’s start with the obvious. With much of the country currently on some sort of “stay at home” orders, there are very few cars on the road. And, I’m finding the cars I do encounter are driving more patiently and less aggressively, ostensibly because no one is in a hurry these days. So now is the PERFECT time to get your little ones out and start building confidence by teaching them the basics. Seriously, LOOK at these empty/quiet intersections!!

Since one of the biggest hurdles can be moving your little one from the sidewalk to the road (where bicycles belong), the reduced traffic, slower pace and over-all quiet neighborhoods will work in your favor. Initially, when I was teaching my kids to ride, I found it easiest to have them follow behind me, single-file and basically do whatever I was doing: signal when I signaled, stop when I stopped, etc. Like “follow the leader” but on bikes. Even better if a second adult can bring up the rear and follow behind the little ones ensuring their compliance and safety.

Now that mine are older, I like them to lead the way so I can follow behind and see if they are actually obeying the rules of the road: staying on the right side of the road for starters (I have one who likes to take his half in the middle), signaling when turning and obeying traffic signs. 

Seeing them in action gives me greater confidence that they are being safe when I’m not cycling with them. That said they need constant reminding on the basics which include:

• ALWAYS wear a helmet - this is non-negotiable for me: if you get on a bike, you wear a helmet. Period.
• Bike on the right side of the road, with traffic (never against it).
• Do NOT bike on the sidewalk - sidewalks are for pedestrians. 
• STOP at stop signs and obey traffic rules.
• Do NOT listen to music while biking - stay aware and listen for cars.
• SIGNAL when turning - cars, pedestrians and cyclists need to know what you are doing.
• Have fun!!

The freedom that cycling provides kids is priceless. The ability to explore, play and transport yourself by virtue of your own two legs and lungs builds confidence as well as fitness. Teaching your kids to ride a bike is their first taste of freedom and helps foster independence. I also hope that, by starting them young and teaching them how to share the road safely, they will be more aware and more careful drivers when that day comes.

Stay safe and happy cycling!

Erin

February’s Winter Trainer Love, Hate, and Glorious Suffering Blog

February can be a rather depressing and boring month when you are trying to ride outside. Unfortunately, Mother Nature has other ideas. This mostly applies to those like me who own but one bike, and it is a 100% road bike for paved roads. So, then we have the dreaded trainer to aid in our, umm, relief by connecting your bike to this beast and spinning aimlessly till the snow melts. Sound familiar friends!? 

OK, so some back history on my trainer love/hate relationship when we used to go to the Mecca of spinning dens in Golden run by a world famous bad-ass named Megan. We would show up every Saturday morning in the winter and some Wednesday evenings to be lulled into a nice warm-up and then told to spin till we bake forever. There was quite the following for many years to this den of sweat, smiles, sometimes cookies, and decent views out the windows. This definitely grew my love for riding even more. Thank you Megan.

Now, back to this month, February 2020, and what I do for cycling promotion, encouragement, commuting (not so much) and the love of riding. The highlight of this month is always the virtual tour of a mythical nation that is nine days long. Yes, nine consecutive days on your trainer with a couple thousand other friends from around the world. Why you ask would anyone want to subject themselves to this type of insanity? Well I shall tell you why as best I can. The name of this tour is The Tour of Sufferlandria (TOS) and is based in our mythical nation of Agonia (no one knows where this actually is), somewhere in the highest mountain range, so the suffering is glorious. We do this tour to raise money for the Davis Phinney Foundation. Their mission is to make the lives of those with Parkinson's disease more livable and normal. This year, we raised close to $225,000 for the foundation. The tour is very hard and requires a lot of planning. Some stages are two to three hours long. I have met so many great people virtually and in person over the years and encouraged them to improve on the bike as they have encouraged me. Every day, we post our glorious suffering results, pics only no data of the ride. Then we encourage and heckle everyone else till the next day's stage.

Throughout the year, many Sufferlandrians use the Sufferfest App to train both indoors and outdoors for races they have their sights on for months. But really, the main focus for all of us is the TOS. The tour is different every year. In the stages' videos, we are challenged to complete within a global 50 hour window for each stage. This year was probably the toughest of the seven tours I have done, having a mixture of sprint, time trial, and climbing workouts.

This tour is also a great springboard for many of us to get into shape for the upcoming outdoor season of commuting, riding, and racing. No one likes to hit spring time up 10-15 lbs. or worse. Right!? 

After the tour is complete, rest and recovery are the keys, then back on the trainer till spring arrives and Mother Nature will allow us to ride outside on our awesome road bikes. Throughout this month, and especially during the tour, positive posts of why we ride, how we ride, or equipment and attack plans are critical to all. This is how we grow our cycling community both indoors and outdoors. Always be looking for ways to encourage those who are new to riding and to those who may be a tad burned out from riding. #ridemoredriveless

This is my February on the bike as an Ambassador.

Gerry Stephenson (GJStache53)

Road Cyclist/Racer -> Bike Commuter

Last year was my first year racing bikes. I got into cycling a few years ago as a form of cross training to complement my running. I've always been very competitive, have loved working hard, and seeing results, and chasing down goals. Naturally, after riding bikes for a couple years, racing was the next step. I joined a local cycling team here in Denver for the 2019 season and although I was only able to race a handful of times, I'd call the season a success. I ended up getting some good results: 11th, 2nd, 6th, and 4th.

Toward the end of the year, I was riding with Megan and she asked me if I was planning to race again in 2020. At that point, I wasn't sure what my plans for 2020 were for bike racing, but I knew that my free time would be extremely limited due to two little ones at home.

Megan asked me to join the Bike Ambassador team of bike commuters who are passionate about getting people on bikes and out riding, specifically to/from work. In doing so, I've been forced to bike commute more (can't talk-the-talk if you don't walk-the-walk) and in doing so I've learned a couple of things:

1. Bike Commuting Can Be Just as Fun as Bike Racing - The competitive drive can still be satisfied when you aren't focused on racing. Seeing others who commute can fuel your fire. I know people who commute all-year round, in all conditions. That motivates me to get out. I know people who commute further, or have harder commutes, but they still do it, so it motivates me to get out and do it. Etc., etc.
2. You Can Still Set and Achieve Goals -  Maybe instead of doing Tuesday intervals, you bike commute both ways to and from the office. Maybe instead of increasing your threshold by 10 watts, you want to bike commute at least three days, each week for this month. And, of course, you can still chase KOMs for segments that are on your commute - although it's harder when you're carrying work cloths, shoes, etc.
3. It Is a Great Use of Time - Especially now with our second kiddo, bike commuting is an excellent use of my time. Instead of the 30-minute commute each way + trying to fit in at least an hour workout a day, I can bike commute and accomplish the commute and workout simultaneously. It is a great way to prepare for work in the morning and decompress on the way home. The mental benefits of bike commuting and not driving the car/sitting in traffic are amazing.
4. It's Okay to Not Bike Commute Every Day/Everywhere - Sure, I'd love to ride my bike everywhere, work, the grocery store, post office, bank, doctors, or dentist, etc., but it isn't always going to happen. Sometimes, it isn't practical, sometimes I have a limited amount of time and driving is faster, sometimes I need to stay at home later in the morning or be home sooner in the evening to help with the kiddos, sometimes it isn't safe due to the weather, and sometimes I just don't want to. That's okay!!! You don't have to ride every single day. You don't have to ride everywhere. You can still take the car and drive. Fact of the matter is you're still getting exercise, reducing your carbon footprint, and making the world a better place! Don't feel bad about using the car sometimes!

If you haven't tried bike commuting, you need to. It'll change your life.

-Ben

In Search of Adversity

            Earlier this year, I gave an interview to the marketing team for an undisclosed major outdoor retail brand.  While I was never made aware of the exact reason the in-person interview was taking place, I had a blast spending about 90 minutes with the crew, talking all-things-outdoors.  In case you don’t know me really well, at heart, I am your typical running nerd.  As you might expect, it wasn’t long until we started to take a pretty deep dive into my love of running and the lure that the nearby Rocky Mountains have over my soul.

            As our conversation continued, we shifted to the subject of fear when out in the wilderness.  I ended up telling a story about a solo weekend outing in which I found myself in some pretty nasty weather.  Though I had all the right gear with me: satellite beacon, food, extra clothing, etc and I was never truly in any danger, the mere thought that I was on some sort of edge kept me 100% dialed-in to the task of getting to my destination.  As I told my story, the interviewer sat, listening attentively. Much to my surprise, afterwards, she was chuckling a bit.  “This entire interview, and it took you up until a story where you felt scared to show me a smile that big?!?” she said.  Apparently, my face had just LIT up when speaking, and, in reflection, I could see it too.  Why had I reacted like that?

            I thought about this occurrence for quite a few weeks. What was so different about that story that sparked joy and life into me?  Then, one day, while talking to some friends about the rise in popularity of trail running events, it hit me.  People crave adversity in their lives.  Actually, scratch that, they NEED adversity in their lives!

            The guy who sits alone in a cubicle for 50 hours each week signs up for an ultramarathon to feel like he’s part of something bigger than himself. The brotherhood and camaraderie that comes along with completing a trail ultra is powerful!  In our daily, civilized cultures, though, people go from air-conditioned houses into air-conditioned cars and make their way into air-conditioned work spaces.  Unless you specifically choose to be under a little duress, you can live comfortably forever.  This sounds great until you realize that the human species did not evolve because we chose comfort.

            While I’m not saying that everybody needs to take cold showers all the time, putting yourself in a place of discomfort enables a primal side of your brain to engage.  This reptilian part of your brain thrives on binary decisions – am I safe or not?  Pick one. When you subject yourself to a little bit of duress, you can help fine tune the workings of your fight-or-flight system.  The daily stresses of life in 2020 try to keep this system turned on 24-7; you can help it discriminate between true threat and perception of threat by allowing it to function in its own right. For example, a 35-minute bike ride into work in the winter doesn’t typically appeal to the average cyclist, yet, it can be the crack in the door needed to reset your brain.  When you choose to, in this case, ride into work despite there not being “perfect conditions,” you offer the autonomic nervous system a chance at doing its job.  So, how will you add some adversity to your life?

            There are a number of action steps you could take right now.  Whether for completion or competition, that endurance event that you’ve been procrastinating in registering for – sign up!  Have you always wanted to try acro yoga?  Take an introductory class!  Grown tired of rock climbing indoors and have wanted to get outside?  Find a camp!  OR, for those of you that just want to shake your life up a bit, creating a touch of adversity twice a day, start riding your bike to work.  Simply pick one day a week as a target and, before you know it, you’ll be trying to find ways to ride everywhere!  Bike commuting will change your life in ways you will not imagine, and you’ll find yourself smiling just a bit more each day because of it.

My Journey Into Bike Commuting

Six months ago, I started commuting to work by bicycle. Here are six things I’ve learned in that time:

1)    Bike Commuting Saves you Time, and it Saves you Dollars! As an endurance junkie, I am always looking for new ways to grab a quick workout.  What sounds more appealing to you: sitting in traffic and slugging to work in 25 minutes OR hopping on a bike and cruising there in 35? Obviously, the option that comes with aerobic gain!  Then, there’s the savings on gas & vehicle maintenance.  What if you only had to drive your vehicle on the weekends? How cool would that be?!?

2)    I’m Better at Combatting the “What Ifs” As a chronic over-analyzer, one of my biggest problems lies in obsessing over all the details of a decision.  If I pick this, will this other thing happen?  What if I don’t have the time to do this as a result?  Whether it’s your classic decision fatigue or “analysis paralysis,” choosing two wheels over four has helped me narrow my focus.  While I thought I might still do this with my bike commute, making the choice to ride into work has given me some pretty good resiliency in staying committed to getting out of my own head.

3)    Daily Injections of Momentum For me, the ongoing path toward health and wellness has always been blazed by movement.  Whether running, cycling, lifting weights, or yoga, ensuring that I get a daily dose of exercise takes me off a mental edge.  It makes me a better human, dad, husband, and teacher. However, like every busy human in the 21^stcentury, I have days where I get bogged down by life.  I lack motivation after a poor night of sleep, or I come up with 57 things I “need” to do before I make time for exercise. When I started bike commuting, though, the barriers to movement were removed.  Whether I felt “ready” to ride into work, I was going!  After just a few days of transitioning into this change, I was completely sold.  Bike commuting provides me the impetus to keep my activity level up and buzzing.

4)    A Time for Reflection We all have those difficult and draining days at work – maybe these are frequent for some of you.  On your drive back home, what do you do to help unwind? After all, once you walk in the house, you have to quickly put on your new hat – as a parent, as a spouse/significant other, etc.  Do you listen to music or put on a podcast?  While either of those used to be my go-to, I have yet to find a better way to reset my brain than simply moving.  My 35-minute bike commute affords me some time to prepare for my day in the morning and shake off any stressors in the evening.  Have you ever heard anybody say, “Man, I really wish I didn’t go on that bike ride.  I’m so stressed now.”  No, I didn’t think so.

5)    Upping My Problem-Solving Game How often have you found yourself wrestling a problem in your head for days, only to completely unravel it & find a solution during exercise?  If you’re like me, then the answer is a resounding “All the Time!”  While I used to “double” quite a bit in college (running in the morning and afternoon), I have scaled back on that practice in adulthood. This meant I lost out on some key problem-solving time.  Well, the to-and-from work time on my bike has reopened that portal.  Upon entering my house, after commuting home, the number of times my conversations have started, “Hi, family!  I missed you today.  Okay, I think I figured out what to do” is too many to pin down.

6)    I’m Better at Channeling the “What Wills” In removing the “what ifs” from my daily thought, I have replaced them with “what wills.”  By getting out of my own head, I can clearly see the benefits of my six months of bike commuting.  What will happen if you choose to follow a similar path is some or all of the following.  You will inspire those around you, both at home and at work, to engage in conversation about the benefits of riding to work. You will contribute to the health of our planet by removing one more vehicle from the roads.  You will be part of the solution to many of humankind’s problems – connecting with your environment on a deeper level and finding yourself experiencing the world on your way to work, instead of just passing it by.

            Six months ago, I made the decision to commute to work on my bike. I didn’t know how much of a positive impact this simple choice would have on my life.  I thought I was just giving this biking-to-work thing a try.  I didn’t know I was about to fall (back) in love with my bike.  As you sit there and contemplate riding your bicycle to work, try to avoid lingering on all the “what ifs.”  What if it rains?  What if I have to go somewhere after work?  What if I usually drive to get my lunch every day?  Let all those thoughts fly out the window.  Instead, focus on the “what wills.”  Commit to riding your bike to work one day each week and try it out for a month.  Take some time to do a little planning.  On your next drive into the office, stash some spare clothes and a box of granola bars at your desk.  There is a way to make it work; you just have to find it.  I’m always here to help so please feel free to reach out with any questions.  I promise you won’t regret this decision.