Health Benefits of Bike Commuting

Health Benefits of Bike Commuting

There are many reasons to bike to work, and it should be no shock that biking to work improves overall health.  There was one particular study done, involving over 200,000 people in 5 years.  It looked at those who only bike to work, people who bike and drive to work, biking and walking, walking alone and driving alone.  It was found that people who biked to work experienced a 41% decreased risk of dying than those who took public transport or drove.  People who solely biked to work had a 46% lower risk of developing and a 52% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than those who used public transport.  Bike commuters enjoy a 40% decreased risk of dying from cancer as well.  

People who biked and used public transport also retained a benefit of 24% decreased incidence of dying from any cause, as compared to those who used public transport.  The above benefits increased as the distance traveled to work increased as well.

Biking, which is known to be great exercise in of itself, will result in better cardiovascular health overall.  Even bike commuting short distances with improve baseline metabolic rate and cardiovascular output.  This improves cardiovascular health, decreases blood pressure, and leads to improved lean muscle mass and weight loss.  Additional benefits of bike commuting include improved digestion, better sleep, decreased anxiety and depression, and an boost overall sense of wellness.  Those who bike commute are less stressed overall,  and more productive  than their non bike-commuting counterparts.  These benefits are seen both at work, and in the household. 

 

Giving yourself the extra time to bike to and from work allows for some mental down time in between work and home.  One's ability to immediate focus at work is great, and to relax once home, and let work go, is enhanced.  Interactions with coworkers family members are more pleasant.  It is impossible to be in a bad mood after even just 5 minutes on a bicycle!  No matter how long or how short a commute is, making a least some of it on a bicycle is always worth it.

Commuting with your Dog! It's not only possible, it's so AWESOME!

Commuting is bliss.  Adding a dog to the mix well... that's heaven.  How awesome to get to where you're going, and for your pup to get a workout in at the same time.  It's the best.  

Tips: Start small at first.  Start with a traditional short, non-stretchy, non-retractable leash.  Ride slow on an open path or road where people, dogs, cars, bikes won't be an issue.  Ride with the dog to your right side, get them used to the bike and the spinning wheels.  Learn to ride the bike with one hand while the other (right hand) manages the leash and keeps the dog off to the right side.  Having them right next to you while learning is best.  This keeps them from taking out your front wheel or getting a paw in the spokes.  Keep the speed slow and if things go wonky on you just remember to let go of the leash and bring things to a stop.  

What I've learned, at least for my dogs, is when they are running alongside me on my bike, they consider it "time to work" and they aren't distracted by things like dogs, people, rabbits -as they usually would be on a regular walk.  Dogs really like this higher-speed exercise fix.  

I've talked to my vet about this practice and she advises to always let the dog set the pace and dictate breaks and water stops. Don't ever pull the dog behind you or drag them along (obvi!).  Check their paws often to be sure their paw pads are doing ok, and if it's hot, stop often and give them water.  (They will usually gladly drink from your water bottle when they get thirsty enough).  As with any exercise, build up and work into it slowly.  If you have a puppy, ask your vet about this -it may not be wise with a young dog until their joints are fully developed.  

Another key item to teach the dog is "stop" so they know what is happening when you come to a stop sign or red light or other hazard or obstacle.  

The next best step for my dog and me was to graduate to an extendable-leash clipped with a carabiner to my waist- either to a fanny pack or to my backpack.  This frees up both hands to focus on handlebars and brakes and allows the dog to run ahead, next to you, or slightly behind, while avoiding a slack leash that can get easily tangled up.  

Here's a video to show that to you in practice: 

More than Miles, Bike Commuting Delivers a Daily Dose of Joy

Just shy of two years ago, we decided to move from the trail mecca of Golden, Colo. (complete with across-the-street trail access) to Denver. While I loved having trail access out my front door, I found climbing in a car to go anywhere exhausting and tough on my carbon consciousness. We found a darling, yet woefully dated bungalow in West Highland that offered a #ridemoredriveless daily lifestyle, shaved my daily commute to 15 minutes by bicycle, and served up plenty of renovation projects to keep us busy.

Our first year was hard – city life was dramatically different than rural Golden. The parking hassles, the noise, pavement everywhere…despite my best intentions to ride everywhere, I found the adjustment to city life difficult and old car habits were hard to break. Add to that my work and travel schedule kept me off the saddle and behind a desk more than ever…the days of carefree riding, simply opening my garage door to roll out on canyon roads or dirt felt foreign and beyond distant.

Interestingly, I found a daily dose of sanity by reaching for my bike to make that 15-minute commute to work. I chose between bikes lanes, bike paths and neighborhoods roads to pedal out the day before and behind me. And despite traveling upwards of three weeks a month, I strapped on my helmet to commute 96 times. The simplicity of grabbing my bike to go to work, dinner or the grocery store is indescribable. My commute became my joy and the system of bike paths around Denver, my new stomping grounds. I finally invested in a cruiser bike, complete with rechargeable lights, a rear wheel lock, fenders, a basket and a grocery getter pannier. The neighborhood was an old friend now, and I knew it’s streets. It wasn’t the foothills of Golden, but it was pretty awesome.

When my second spring rolled around, the quiet streets of West Highland blossomed into an entirely new neighborhood. My morning commutes were fragrant with spring flowers, and train of commuters on my route home brought familiar comfort when my days ran into darkness. I was now going days without moving my car. I added Lyft, walking and begging rides from hubby to my commute mix.

Even bigger this year, my hubby and I took our first cycling vacation. Rather than rent a car, we explored Norway by bike for eight days. The experience of riding our bikes in a foreign country, along quiet roads and boarding ferries to cross a fjord was indescribable. Sitting in a fruit stand to have lunch before pedaling to the next town...pure joy.  

I also found peace with merging my professional job + commuting. I don’t have a shower at work, so the struggle with hair + sweat management + outfit selection is real. I embraced the side ponytail to make my new post-helmet hair manageable and slowed my pace to avoid glistening. I tested my “professional” wardrobe and found that most everything was bike-friendliness for the time/distance required for my commute.  Despite my crazy travel schedule, I managed 92 commutes and 331 rather stylish miles by bike, if I do say so!  

If 2017 taught me anything, it’s that a commuter mindset happens in small, every day actions, not just the bold ones. I'm so grateful for my commuter team..this team is comprised of women from all backgrounds...medical, executives, lawyers, nonprofit leaders, small business owners and mathematicians. Despite their full schedules, these ladies stay committed to the bike commuter lifestyles they want to lead and remind me of the possibilities, joy and experiences to be had by bike. It would be very hard to trade in this lifestyle, given the freedom and hours of car-free life I’ve taken back. 

So here's to 2018! I'm ready for the adventures you have in store!

On commuting...

I have to say, I absolutely LOVE that I've been able to commute to work more in the last week. You see, I recently changed jobs. No small part of my decision was that my choices for getting to work are now bike, run, or walk... And my bike ride to work now takes just as long as my drive to work used to!

I dusted off my commuter...

Okay, I took off the basket and panniers - I don't have to carry NEARLY as much stuff for a 19 minute commute! - And off I went to my first day!

It's been a couple days now, and I'm looking forward to not driving more and more. There's a kind of freedom that comes from not having to get in a car, put on your seatbelt, start it, and start driving. All there is to do is hop on your bike and go.  And if it's raining (like today), I can always walk!  But with views like these, who wants to do that...?

Cleat malfunction not 1 but 2!

I thought this was worth sharing! I found myself 30 miles out on my ride today unable to clip in with my right or left cleat. To say this was frustrating is an understatement when I had 30 miles to ride back home including a couple decent climbs. After 5 stops and multiple tools and cleanings....still no dice. However I am proud to say I got through it by soft-pedaling and when out of the saddle climbing kept my feet very still. It amazes me sometimes what we have to do to make it home safely, and I am so grateful. Once home after more manipulating and a little lube was able to fix both cleats....lesson....perhaps I will carry a small tube of lube on my rides! 😀

Ah, motivation...

It seems like motivation, or maybe a lack of it, has been a theme for a while. In the life of an endurance athlete, it's important. Motivation can make you feel invincible. Lack of it can make you feel completely worthless. I've struggled throughout the beginning of this year with motivation. Made me feel horrible. I went from consistent 30-50 mile running weeks and running ultras to sitting on the couch, unable to make myself do anything. I didn't gain weight, per se, but everything certainly rearranged itself around my body. I signed up for some races, ones that truly scared me, to see if that would help. It didn't. I was reduced to 25 and 30 minute sessions, spinning bored on my trainer. It was all I could make myself do. I'd run, "to the park and back." At 1.4 miles, a far cry from where I used to be. And it was hard. Not just a little bit hard, it was HARD. Like, I'd never run that far hard. 

Then I had a conversation with my husband. In one of his (rare ;-) moments of insight, he told me to be patient. That I've now been running, biking, climbing, and an athlete (I have such an issue considering myself as such) for 20 years now.  That I know damned well I can get it back. Just be patient. Now, that has never been my strong suit. ESPECIALLY not with myself. 

 I realized he had a point. And (gasp!) he was right. I thought some things through, decided to bail out on the running race that I didn't have a prayer of finishing upright, and give somebody on the wait list that truly deserved the spot a chance. Made me feel better, actually. 

That was two weeks ago. And damned if I don't suddenly have the motivation to go out and just run again.

And ride my bike, for that matter.... Patience, people!

Continued Motivation

Since embarking on a new journey and dedication to track cycling this year, I have a few quotes that I find myself revisiting with increased frequency when training starts to take its toll.

• It takes years of hard work to become an overnight success - Gary Mack

• Motivation gets you going. Discipline keeps you going - Jim Ryan

I love both of these because they remind me that it's the hard work and time put in that is going to set me apart from the others and that I am being true to myself.  It also brings me comfort and reassurance of my goals during particularly difficult times....like when friends ask to meet up for dinner, go skiing or take a 2 hour bike ride.  The guilt of saying "no, I have to go to the gym/riding" weighed quite heavily on my heart for a while. At first it was "I have to", but after 4 months of devotion to my training, it's now "I choose to" because in reality, everything is a choice!  There is nobody forcing you to do anything, regardless of what you may think.  :-) 

But if you do set goals for yourself, hold fast to them and see them through because in the end, 

you are worth the investment!  :-D

And....if your goals happen to be learning something new, such as riding the velodrome, let me know!

Hee hee hee...