Guest Post by Jakob Barry
Once upon a time when gasoline wasn’t so expensive many of us enjoyed the commute in our cars as it gave us a chance to listen to music, catch the breeze in our face and most of all, it was more attractive than taking the bus or carpooling with coworkers.
However, times have changed and the price of fuel has risen tremendously pushing many people towards other modes of transportation, namely, bike riding.
If the option presents itself and the weather permits, biking to work has many advantages, the most important being saving money at the pump.
A second plus is that biking is an excellent form of cardiovascular work that doesn’t impact the knees like running and when commuting this way it takes care of that much sought after daily exercise.
Nevertheless, there are few things to consider when taking on this routine, even if it’s just a few times a week:
1.The way one drives or even walks to work may not be the best for riding a bike. For example, depending on the topography of an area it may be prudent to ride slightly out of the direct route in order to avoid hills and have a flatter ride, as elevations use up time and energy.
2.If the temperatures are hot there is the issue of showing up to work all sweaty. Depending on many factors, all having to do with your job and office, this can get tricky but some tips on getting around it include the following:
•Wear a different shirt to sweat in when riding to work and bring a change of cloths.
•Leave a towel at work to wash off.
•If you travel light a messenger bag may be better than a back pack but if the opposite is the case go with the back pack.
3.Most offices aren’t like bicycle friendly homes and don’t want them in the work space. When locking a bicycle up outside make sure it’s in a safe place, as you don’t want to worry about your ride home during the day.
Finally, judge the level of exertion you can tolerate. The last thing you want to do is overdo it before walking through the door at the start of the day. If necessary push yourself less on the way to work and make the ride home the main workout.
Jakob Barry writes for Networx.com, a growing community of homeowners and contractors getting the most from their resources by sharing and monitoring home improvement projects. He covers various Green topics including eco-friendly landscapers and grounds maintenance.
