One of the amusing things about modern man is his resemblance to his ancestors. Warring over how to get exactly what we want out of life has continued for millennia. This particularly true of our daily commute. We insist on having a luxurious vehicle that pampers us with leather, GPS navigation and 300 horses worth of high speed for the 30 minutes we sit in traffic on our way downtown. We ignore the fuel cost. We ignore the interest on the car loan. We ignore our expanding waistline. We ignore the engineering inefficiency of pulling one little human with hundreds of horses. All we see is the immediate comfort of the moment. DC auto insurance bills are an afterthought. If this sounds like you, you are not alone.
What is it that keeps us from using alternative and greener methods of transportation? It can be summarized by one word: fear. Fear of being seen as odd. Fear of crashing. Fear of suffering. Fear of learning something new. Fear of being unpopular. And so, we accept the high costs of our commute, both physically and financially, as normal.
If you are of a different sort of mind, and want to learn something new, then biking is for you. Bikes are green. They use your body. They are much faster than walking. They often beat traffic downtown. They make you stronger and happier. They let you enjoy the scenery and the benefits of your employer’s wellness program.
There are several things that can make a bike commute enjoyable. We will share some of the major ones:
- Accept Some Pain At First – Anything new is going to hurt. Particularly anything physical. You will have to compromise on your wake up time. Better yet, negotiate to work second shift. Some perceive biking as more dangerous, but it has statistically a lower threat of accidents then driving a car. Many managers are quite willing to have someone take the unpopular hours when everyone else is chugging beer and pizza at home. You will need to use your work’s showers if you work at a larger white collar office. Thankfully, many employers in the big cities understand what you are doing. Try wearing an office appropriate outfit that is also good for biking. Jeans and tough slacks paired with a normal tee. Plan your route, and try it out on the weekend before doing it live. Expect some muscular groaning. It will pass in a week. Keep the benefits in mind, such as those listed below.
- Enjoy It – Several months from now, your blood pressure will be lower. You will be stronger. You will be happier. You will get less stressed on the job. Why? You are using your body to get you to your work. Your colleagues will be remarking on your endurance on the job. It used to be that work did use our bodies. Now, it is the other way around. We have to find leisure that gets our body moving. Biking is just the thing.
- Buy a Single Speed Cruiser – Single speed cruiser bikes are simple, and they build up your muscle. They are comfortable to sit on, with large cushions. Your back does not hurt as much as a normal bike. They also last a long time, because they have fewer parts to break. Their brake systems do not wear out as quickly as the handlebar brakes that most adult bikes use. Unless you have the budget for a high quality road bike, cruisers put a long lasting vehicle in the hands of the common man. They build your muscle even more than a normal bike, because you have to pedal using a single gear.
If you need encouragement, try asking your manager if they are okay if you bike to work. You will probably be surprised at how flexible a lot of employers are. Why? They do not like fat and sickly employees.