Are you the type of person who gets frustrated driving your car, having to pay for gas, or have a hard time finding a place in your schedule for exercise? Then stop getting mad at those cyclists slowing down traffic a tad and try to understand why they do it.
On a local trail.
Riding your bike is good for you. That bike in your garage that you never ride can be a tool to improve your fitness and save you money. Here are a few of the benefits of taking your bike instead:
1. Exercise
All that pedaling is amazing exercise. That is why so many people sit in gyms to ride a stationary bike. But why do that? Do you really want to be one of those people who sit in a gym on a piece of equipment that was originally meant for travel? Save yourself the money on the gym membership and take your bike instead on short trips. When I say short trips, I mean going to the grocery store to grab a couple small things or meeting a friend at that local restaurant. A couple miles won’t kill you, and the more often you do it the stronger your body will be, leaving you with the capability to go further.
2. Saving Gas
If you hate traffic and need to get somewhere within a couple miles from your home, you can ride your bike there instead. More gas is used when you repeatedly stop and then accelerate again while driving around town. Riding your bike in those instances where you are wandering around town and don’t really need to carry anything heavy. Even if you’re going to the grocery store, you could still ride your bike if you have a luggage rack on it. There are plenty of people who load their bikes up with their massive toilet paper rolls or their cases of beer and ride all the way home.
3. Avoiding traffic
Bike trails. Those two words can save you a lot of hassle. When you’re riding your bike down a trail specifically meant for people to walk or ride their bikes down, you’re avoiding traffic and the concurrent risk that comes along with that traffic. Instead of sitting in your car angry at the person who won’t turn their blinker off, you could be riding at a healthy pace down a quiet bike trail listening to the wind rushing around you. That certainly sounds more appealing than the angry guy next to you in traffic yelling at you, right?
Go ride your bicycle. Start with something small, like a mile or two. Slowly work your way up to tens of miles or carrying your groceries around with you. You’ll find that it is a great way to stay healthy and save money.
