Bike to Work Week

In the face of constantly rising fuel prices, what better way to save some dollars and do something good for yourself than to ride your bicycle to work? You can save hundreds, if not a thousand dollars in fuel and maintenance costs depending on how often and how far you normally drive and what you drive. You'll also burn hundreds of calories each day, which means you can lose those extra pounds or you can afford to have that extra scoop of ice cream! All that is without even considering the other benefits such as fewer cars on the road and less pollution.

It's not easy for everyone, but for most, it's probably easier than first imagined. You don't have to be Lance Armstrong to ride 5 miles to work. If you can walk a mile, you can easily handle 5 miles. In fact, you can probably get that far in 20-30 minutes without breaking a sweat!

But what about clothes? Depending on what your job requires, you can wear your work wear or you can simply roll (not fold) your clothes into a backpack or even a trunk pack that attaches to your bike. You can always pack a few handi-wipes just in case you do break a sweat.

But my bike, will my bike be a good commuter? Any bicycle can be used. That old Schwinn road bike, that new Trek comfort bike, or that mountain bike collecting dust in the garage. Make sure the tires are inflated, and consider having a bike mechanic give it a once over to make sure it's shifting well and the brakes are in good shape.

Take a Saturday and give it a try. If nothing else, think about riding once a week, or just getting out and riding after work! You'll feel a lot better at the end of the day!

Check out the League of Bicyclists Brochure designed for new cyclists thinking about biking to work to read many more tips!

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