4 Ways to Enjoy Cycling Today
Because of our dependence on cars, cycling is not nearly as prevalent as it has been in the past. This is partially because of the inherent risks, but also because of our natural affinity to our cars. It doesn’t matter what reason you ride, there is a certain beauty to getting out to ride. If you are looking for an excuse, here are 4 ways to to enjoy riding your bike.
- Commuting
Whether you are commuting to work, the store, school or wherever, bicycle commuting can be a great way (or excuse) to get out and ride. Because you have to commute to where you are going anyway, you don’t have to make any ’special time’ to ride your bike. Build in a few extra minutes and take your bike. You’ll find that you appreciate the extra scenery and experiences that you come across along the way. - Cross Country (Mountain Biking, Trail Riding, etc.)
If you’ve never been out on a trail, now is the time. Although “Mountain Biking” is often seen as hard or challenging, it is really just as difficult as you want it to be. With a little searching, you can find a trail of any difficulty near you. Riding amongst the trees is not only great exercise, but also a great escape. - Cyclocross
Cyclocross is perhaps one of the most vigorous, dynamic and challenging forms of cycling. It combines a short course with various obstacles, terrains and challenges that will require you to dismount, carry your bike, and remount on the other side. Be prepared to be exhausted, and covered in mud. - Riding the Road
When you think of cycling, you probably thing of the typical road rider: Helmet, Spandex Shorts and a Jersey. While this uniform can make your ride more productive and comfortable, it’s not for everyone. If you’re not comfortable in this type of garb, by all means wear what you’re most comfortable in. The important thing is to go out and ride. Go on a family bike ride, a midnight bike ride, or a leisurely ride through town.
How do you like to ride? Let us know in the comments!
6 Easy Ways to Stay in Shape During the Off-Season
by Frank on November 29, 2009
in Off-Season, Training
How many of you keep riding throughout the winter months? An honest answer please.
For most of us snow, ice, rain and the cold are just enough to keep us out of the saddle for a few months. Without fail, we find ourselves grumbling once we actually step back on.
How do you stay in cycling shape throughout the winter then?
How Can We Make Cycling Safer For Everyone?
by Frank on October 25, 2009
in Riding the Road, Safety, lifestyle
I very often go cycling by myself, or with a small group. I also bike very frequently pulling my son in a trailer, and this always brings my most safety-conscious self to the forefront. I find myself thinking “what is this car going to do?” “are they going to see us?”
Bicycle Safety
That being said, the trailer actually makes me more visible, and I have had very few bad experiences. I have, however, had a few close calls that made me think twice.
I think that it’s safe to say that many more people would ride if they thought riding a bike was safer. How, then, can we make cycling safer for everyone? How can we do away with the machismo attitude that claims that cars own the road? Here are just a few thoughts:
Our streets would be more bicycle friendly if. . .
5 Cycling Books That Aren’t Just Training and Maintenance
It’s a fact: for all intensive purposes, books on cycling can be boring.
You’re constantly bombarded with fitness and training advice. The others are all about maintenance.
While these things are important, it’s sometimes good to step away from the technicalities and enjoy a book about cycling as much as we enjoy cycling itself.
(disclaimer: at least one of these books fits the fitness/maintenance category. . )
Here are 5 picks:
Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne
12 Bicycle Photos You Just Can’t Miss
Maybe you ride every day, or maybe you haven’t ridden years. Do you ride with your kids, competitively, for fun? Everybody rides for different reasons, which only lends beauty to cycling.
Take a moment and remember the times you’ve ridden; remember the people you’ve ridden with; motivate yourself to ride more or ride again. Let these photos remind and reinforce the beauty in cycling.
Enjoy.
Bicycle Punk
Collapsible Bikes: Fun or Folly?
by Frank on October 11, 2009
in Cycling Business and Industry, concepts
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a collapsible bicycle are those goofy looking travel bikes with tiny wheels. And then I saw this:
Folding Bicycle
Bicycle Couriers. . In a City Near You
by Frank on September 14, 2009
in Bicycle Couriers, Bike Messengers, Cycling Business and Industry
Bicycle Couriers (also known as Bike Messengers) may not be your first thought when considering logistics or choosing a parcel delivery service. There are, however, many compelling reasons that you (or your business) should use bicycle couriers instead of other courier services (aside from the fact that most of them will even bring you your lunch).
5 Reasons You Should Ditch Your Car and Ride a Bike
by Frank on August 29, 2009
in Riding the Road, lifestyle
Ditch Your Car - Ride a Bike!
Ask yourself the question: Why do I ride my bike? or Why do I not ride my bike? Do you know the answer? Maybe it’s a simple. Maybe it’s not. Must you ride your bike, due to lack of vehicle? Or is riding a bike a conscious choice? Maybe you don’t ride a bike. Why not?
In any event, I believe it’s important to know why exactly you do what you do. In this case, why do you ride a bike? Why don’t you ride a bike? If you don’t spend much time on a bike, I challenge you (yes you) to ditch your car and ride a bike! If you do spend time on a bike, i challenge you to spend more time on it. I’ll even give you 5 reasons why:
From Bicycle Couriers to Coffee Delivery: The World of Every Day Cycling
by Frank on August 6, 2009
in Cycling Business and Industry, lifestyle
Bicycle Courier
In my recent post about the comeback of Bicycle Couriers, I wrote about Oklahoma City’s Ecotrack Bicycle Couriers. This got me thinking about what other ways bicycle’s are being used in every day business and industry. After doing some research I found a few company’s using bicycles in innovative ways, as well as some food for thought in how they can be used to make our city’s more bicycle friendly.
Here’s what I found:
Bicycle Couriers: Are They Making a Comeback?
by Frank on July 17, 2009
in Cycling Business and Industry, lifestyle
Have you ever seen a bicycle courier? I’ve seen a few trolling around larger cities like NYC, but even then not too many.
Enter: Ecotrack Cycle Couriers. These guys have brought the cycling courier back to Oklahoma and at the moment, provide the only totally eco-friendly courier service in Oklahoma. They deliver with no emissions, and on sweet rides at that. Here’s why they say you should use a cycling courier:
Benefits of using bicycle messengers versus car couriers for deliveries include:
- Reduced pollution
- Reduced traffic congestion
- Save on-street parking for more necessary activities and emergencies
- Faster
- Cheaper
Bicycle couriers provide solutions to the environmental problems related to many forms of pollution such as air, noise and smell. The more couriers on bikes there are, the fewer cars there are and therefore the less carbon dioxide emissions. More bikes mean less noise and stench. Bike messengers take up less space on the road and do less damage to the roads than cars. More bike couriers mean less gridlock and fewer road repairs.
As a result more bike couriers mean better conditions and streets for all road users including motorists.
And I couldn’t agree more. In cities clogged more and more with cumbersome, polluting automobiles, cyclists CAN be faster, and because of that be cheaper. Furthermore, if all couriers rode bikes, how much clearer would the roads be for you? I dig what these guys are doing and hope to see it spread.
Do your cities have bicycle couriers? Are you one? Let us know in the comments!
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