Bike (bicycle) commuting, biking to work (office)

More and more people are adopting biking as their favourite commuting method.

Here are several aspects of daily commuting by bike: The advantages of using a bike, how to minimise the inconvenients and a solution for less sporty people: The electric bike.

31/01/2007

Quality of life and wellbeing enhanced for bicycle users

By going to work every day on a bike, cyclists improve their lives in the following ways:

1. It enables them to feel better at work by dimishing stress and improving energy levels.
2. It enables them to save money on medical bills (doctor's bills) and to prolong their life (the risk of heart disease is reduced).
3. It enables them to avoid having to go regularly to a fitness center (gym), hence enabling them to save time and money.
4. It enables them to eat more and specifically more of what they like as food will be eliminated faster by the body.
5. It enables them to feel proud of their performance progress: For example going up slopes that used to be difficult a few months ago becomes easy.
6. It enables them not to feel guilty about pollution or global warming.
7. It enables them never to be stuck in traffic jams.
8. It enables them to save time: On small trips in town centers biking is much faster than public transport and about as fast as travelling by car with the big difference being that it isn't necessary to find a parking space when reaching destination, bikes are the best solution.
9. It enables them to save money: Using a bike costs less than using the public transport and much less than using a car.

In summer the perspiration problem

The perspiration problem is one of the major reasons for which a lot of people hesitate on biking to work. Here are a few simple tips to solve the problem or greatly reduce its impact:

1. The simplest and most obvious way to reduce perspiring is to pedal slower.
2. Go to work earlier in the morning when the air is still reasonably cool.
3. Start-off with a light T-shirt. After getting to the workplace wait 10 minutes for the body to stop perspiring then either wash with a flannel (washcloth) or take a shower (if possible). Then slip on daily working clothes.
4. Use a deodorant stick which is both a deodorant and an antiperspirant with no or minimum scent.
5. Try to avoid body odour in case of perspiration: Have a balanced diet, do not eat too much meat or salt and drink a lot of water, 2 liters per day minimum.

In winter the cold and the wet

Another problem encountered by regular cyclists is the bad weather and cold.

Pedaling keeps the bike-rider warm. Therefore it isn't really necessary to wear very warm clothes.

Clothes that are too warm and not breathable will cause perspiration (see above).

The solution is to wear a jacket or light wind-stopper made of Gore-Tex. The Gore-Tex fabric will protect from the cold and the wet while at the same time letting perspiration out.

For temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees C, a T-shirt worn under a Gore-Tex wind-stopper is sufficient to keep warm.

For slightly colder weather, a polar fleece can be worn over the T-shirt (as it gets colder more layers can be added) as well as woolen gloves.

The electric bicycle: the perfect solution for less sports minded people

Electric bikes are coming more and more into fashion and are the ideal option for car drivers, not in perfect physical condition but aware of the environmental issues, to be able to start cycling in a comfortable way.

Aspect wise electric bikes look very similar to normal bikes. The only difference being that they are equipped with a small motor that assists the user when he/she is pedaling. As soon as the user starts turning the pedals the motor kicks in and makes the pedaling easier.

Advantages of electric bicycles:

• Can be used by non-sporty people
• Enable users to start a physical activity without it being too strenuous
• Preserve users from getting tired or puffed, especially when going uphill
• Possesses the same advantages as normal bikes: maneuverability, easy storage

Disadvantages of electric bicycles:

• Expensive to buy
• Weigh more than traditional bikes
• Have a limited autonomy (have to be recharged every 50 Km)

Biking to work is definetly the best way to get there. Try it you might like it.

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