Let's be honest; whether or not you've ever considered riding your bike to work, you've easily heard of the pros and cons. It isn't all rainbows and sunshine (literally), but it can do things for your soul you never even knew you needed.
My body loves it.
Love it
GiphyI've always had an athletically-inclined body and mind but after a solid month of riding to and from work on the ol' bicycle, I've noticed that I feel revitalized after every ride. Mind you, I only live about 3 miles from my workplace so the ride is only about 20 minutes each way but it is worth the extra time. About halfway through the ride, my heart starts pumping faster, my legs start burning and I start breathing harder. It's a bit of a rush, I highly recommend it. In comparison to driving to work in my car, I physically feel like I accomplished something upon arriving at work on my bike. My ride home from work at the end of the day is mostly uphill and you'd think I would dread it. Far from it, actually. I look forward to the challenge. Bonus: any frustration I encounter during the day at work I can take out on the pavement on the ride home. My personal record is arriving home 12 minutes after leaving work, it was a doozy of a day let me tell you.
I've learned things about my hometown I never knew.
Learning about the town
It might sound unorthodox, but I've learned tidbits about my hometown (in which I've lived for 25 years) that I didn't know I needed to know! For example, there are 3 calves on one of the streets of my ride in a little field. They almost always watch me curiously as I pass by. One time, they even loped alongside me. It was comical and enlightening at the same time. How many times had I missed something so simple, yet so enjoyable, on my daily car ride to work? My guess is a couple of thousand opportunities had passed me by. I learned that my little hometown has a network of roads for me to utilize safely that have petite houses with white, picket fences, open green fields and other such little pleasures. I learned my arid hometown is indeed home to a great deal of beauty, I only had to take the couple of extra minutes a day to see it.
I've learned to look both ways.
Look Both Ways
GiphyI can't say I've run into the particular situation in the gif above, but I have almost been flattened a couple times. I didn't realize how much people hate bicyclists until I turned into one. I've had engines revved at me, been flipped very charming hand signals, and been catcalled. I didn't even know that was still a thing! Bicycling even in a small town can be hazardous and I've learned that the city streets of my little home are far from quiet. The old adage "look both ways before crossing the street" applies quite heavily when riding a bike to work.
People see me in a different light.
Different Light
GiphyIt's weird but it's true. All of sudden I'm part of the elite cyclists cult who bike thousands of miles each year. Er, so people think. I almost fell over laughing the first time someone asked if I competed in cycling events. I had to stop myself from looking around and asking, "Who, me?" The fact is that I only wanted to get extra exercise and some sunlight, both of which are perks of riding a bike by the way. Eyebrows raise whenever I mention riding my bike to work, like I'm some sort of overachiever or elitist. I'm just a woman who wanted to try something new. Who knew it would shake the very earth on which I walk?
Life is too short to avoid things that scare you.
Life Too Short
GiphyBelieve it or not, I was a little nervous to start riding my bike to work. Sure, I knew the streets I was going to take, but I wasn't sure how others drivers, cyclists or people on the sidewalks would react to me. I wasn't 100% sure of where I was allowed to ride/not allowed to ride, etc. However, all the things that made me nervous proved to be moot points once I started riding. I realized that taking an extra ten minutes to get to work gave me time to mull over the problems in my life and pray for guidance through those issues. Most of the time, I found myself mumbling to God about this issue or that conundrum. The people I passed probably thought I was crazy, but it doesn't really matter. I discovered many beautiful things that I didn't know I was missing and I'm thankful for that. It really is important to stop and smell the roses every once in a while, take it from someone who's actually done it.
Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health, says science
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