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Benefits and downsides to riding a bike to work 5 days a week

Written by Fiona

July 21 2020

With rising numbers of people looking for a healthier and more environmentally friendly ways to live, the bicycle is an obvious choice. Cycling is a great form of transport and helps to reduce the pollutants created by motorised vehicles.

Cycling also has health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening muscles and helping you to maintain a healthy weight. There a mental advantages as well.

One of the best ways to fit cycling into your life is to ride to work each day.

Benefits of riding your bike to work every day

Cycling to work each day has a number of benefits, including the fact that cycling is a great form of exercise. Bicycle commuting provides one of the best cardio workouts. It’s responsible for not only getting the lower body in incredible shape, especially strengthening the legs, but it develops your core, including the abs. If you’re new to the concept, click to get some tips.

In addition, cycle commuting gives you time in the outdoors, which has been proven to be a good way to reduce stress and improve your mental health. Rather than being cooped up in a car or on a train, if you are on your bike you are exposed to nature and the various seasons. It’s best if you can find a cycle route away from the busy roads, such as a cycling path. In this way, you can enjoy the scents, scenes and sounds of the surrounding natural environment.

Cycling to work place has also certain benefits for those working with people. For instance, those taking a traineeship in psychology can enjoy a bike ride to the office to rest their minds and enjoy the time on their own. It can also improve the emotional state after particularly difficult sessions.

If you are worried about cycling every day even when it is wet and cold you should think about buying some waterproof cycle clothing. Many people find that modern cycling jackets are both waterproof and breathable, which means you do not need to arrive at the office soaked through if the rain comes on.

Or you could reserve your cycling for the days when the weather is milder and choose an alternative way to get to work on bad weather days. Even if you cycle to work five days each week in the spring and summer and then only a couple of days each week in the winter you will still reap numerous benefits.

Cycling can also be a good way to socialise with others. Perhaps there are other colleagues or people who work in the same town or city who you could choose to ride with each day. Cycling is a good way to enjoy the company of another person.

You can be proud of yourself for cycling because it is an eco-friendly mode of transportation everyone should try. By not taking your car or taking up a seat on the local bus, you’re sparing the environment from harsh toxins and reducing your carbon footprint. When each person does their part, they will be helping to develop a greener community.

Cycle to and from work also means you are likely to have abetter sleep. Exercising daily has been shown to help people to achieve a better sleeping pattern.

Cycling can often be a quicker way to travel over distances of up to about 10 miles, especially at busy commuter times. By bike, you can usually estimate to the nearest few minutes how long your journey will take, especially if you use cycle paths and bike lanes. This is very different from driving because you can so easily get caught in traffic and you will have no idea how long the journey might take form one day to the next.

In addition, parking a bike is free and easy to do. Most work places will have a place to lock up a bike.

If you live too far from your office for an easy bike ride, you could consider an electric bike. These are becoming very popular and offer many benefits that are similar to a normal pedal cycle. You will gain cardio fitness and strength but also have the advantage of an electric power boost to take your longer distances while using less energy and when you need to go up hills. E-bikes have all the many eco-friendly benefits, too.

You should also consider a few must-have items for cycling to the office. A helmet is a good idea and is a legal requirement in some countries. As well as a waterproof jacket, as mentioned above, you might find that padded shorts are helpful for preventing a sore butt. Cycling gloves are good for grip in the handlebars and in cooler weather they will stop your fingers becoming numb.

Many people use clip-in shoes and pedals to give a greater rotational push and power for cycling faster. Or you can simply keep the flat pedals on your bike and wear a pair of trainers.

Baselayers should be breathable and offer good sweat wicking. If you wear non-wicking fabrics, such as cotton, you will find that the sweat leaves you wet and cold. It is well worth investing in a few useful cycling items so that your bike commute is more comfortable.

In conclusion:

Commuting by bicycle has very few drawbacks. For details on what biking has the potential for in general as depicted by one website, go to https://www.bikebinge.com. You’ll enjoy reading and finding out more a bout cycling and other people’s cycling adventures.

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