3 Reasons to Commute by Bike

 

 It is estimated that there are currently about one billion bikes in the world, which is roughly double the number of existing cars. In addition, more than 100 million bikes are produced globally every year and bike shops everywhere offer a wide selection to choose from. As of 2017, 66.21 million individuals in the United States reported that within the previous year, they had gone bike riding.

Given the popularity of bicycles, It only seems natural that people would enjoy biking to work. If you aren't already doing so, here are three great reasons to visit one of your local bike shops, pick up some toe clips, some handy bike bags, a bike with a streamlined all city frame, and give commuting by bike a try.
 
1. It's Good For Your Health.

Engaging in some form of physical activity every day offers many health benefits, and riding a bicycle is no exception. According to Glenn Stewart's research at Brunel University in London, bike riding reduces premature mortality risk by as much as 30% and also lowers a person's risk of developing cardiorespiratory problems by approximately 40%. A study in 2017 also concluded that riding your bike to the office burns as much fat as working out at a gym for 40 minutes a day, five days per week.

By biking to work, your stress levels will also go down. Unlike being stuck in rush-hour traffic jams, bicycle riding lowers stress levels, as MapMyRun explains.

2. It's Kind to the Environment.

Bike riding is also much more environmentally-friendly than driving your car. Studies have shown that if the populations of Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, replaced just 20% of shorter car trips with bike trips, 57,405 fewer tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted. Bicycle riding saves more than 238 million gallons of gasoline yearly as well.

3. It's Economical.

Riding your bicycle saves you a significant amount of money. MapMyRun calculates that if you add up the cost of a brand new automobile, car insurance, gas money, and the price of maintaining a car, you probably spend about 8,469 a year to own and drive your car. In comparison, checking out bike shops in your area and purchasing a good quality bike along with the proper bike gear for your commute to work would cost you about $350-$500 annually.

Commuting by bike offers numerous health benefits. You'll also save a significant amount of money on car expenses while helping our environment in the process. These are three great reasons to consider ditching the morning drive in favor of becoming a bike commuter.

Benefits of Biking: Easy Commutes, Improved Health, and More

Have you been thinking of investing in a new bike? Or maybe you would like to fix up the old one in your garage and give it a spin? Excellent. Biking is a great hobby that is sure to help you feel great, physically and mentally, and if you use it in your commute, it does the environment a favor, too.

Learn more about the benefits of biking today, and remember to visit your favorite bike shops to find the right parts for your needs. Finding the right bike frame, toe clips, and more will guarantee a better ride every time.

Your Body Will Thank You

Cycling is a great way to work out, without putting too much strain on your muscles. You can easily lose weight, improve strength, and keep your metabolism going, all while exploring new trails and taking in great sights.

Sick of your daily work out? One study done in 2017 revealed that by biking to work every day, instead of driving your car, you could burn as much fat as you would working out at the gym for 40 minutes five days a week.

Along with working out almost all of your muscle groups at once, riding a bike will also decrease your chances of experiencing various diseases, and it improves heart health, as well. Your risk of strokes, heart attacks, depression, diabetes, and some cancers will decrease significantly.

Finally, cycling has been known to help people live longer. Glenn Stewart at Brunel University did research on this very assumption and discovered that the risk of premature mortality could be reduced by 30% for those that make biking a part of their regular routine. Along with this, your chances of experiencing cardiorespiratory disease will lower, too.

Environmental Impacts

Now, there is no doubt that cars pump a lot of hazardous fumes into our air. Traveling by bike, instead, can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air significantly. Consider Milwaukee and Madison in Wisconsin. If just 20% of short car trips there were done with bicycles instead, we could stop over 57,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering our air.

Along with this, 238 million gallons of gas every year are saved by bicycle riders and, when it comes to energy and resources, we create 100 bicycles for every one car. If you are looking to improve your carbon footprint, cycling is definitely a great way to do it.

Visit Bike Shops Today to Find the Right Parts for Your Needs

Now, getting the most from your ride means visiting some bike shops to find the perfect parts for your unique riding style. A faulty seat, for example, could leave you hurting, and you need to establish a good form to get the most from your biking experience.

A reputable bicycle shop, like Ben’s Cycle, will have everything you need. From bike chains to bottom brackets to wheel builders and more, we can set you up right every single time. Visit us today, so you can get biking.

Top 3 Reasons to Hop on a Bike This Year

High on people's New Year's resolution lists is usually getting more exercise or becoming more fit. However, it can be difficult to carve out the time in your day to exercise -- if you're not a morning person, mornings can be difficult; evenings might be spent with your partner or kids or you're just too tired, and it's easy to work through the lunch hour (or perhaps there's not a way for you to get exercise during the lunch hour). But if you don't commute too far, there might be a single easy solution that involves a visit to a bicycle shop near you. Bicycling to and from work is an easy way to incorporate daily exercise into your routine, be environmentally friendly, and perhaps even cut through traffic, all at the same time.

Where Do I Find a Bike That Works For Me?

There are actually quite a few kinds of bikes. We're probably most familiar with hybrid bikes, which is fairly versatile and can do a little bit of everything. Though you wouldn't want to do any off-road mountain trails on them, they're usually okay on unpaved bike trails and have front suspension to cushion you from bumps, and also can be used on paved roads, and sport padded seats for comfort. They're a great errand or short commute bike, and good for everyday use.

Mountain bikes or trail bikes are probably what you want if you intend to take up biking in a bit more rugged of a fashion; you want the grip, low gear range, and good suspension.
If you plan on using your bike in the city or for commuting or long distances, touring bikes are a good fit. They're built for pavement, but can support long distances, and racks or fenders can easily be installed. A lower gear range means that you can carry things up steeper inclines and the bike frame and design allow for heavier loads to be managed well. Whether you're getting groceries or commuting to work, a touring bike is likely the right choice.

Why Bike?

Exercise
This is perhaps the most compelling reason for some people to take up biking on a regular basis. It's aerobic, so it gets your heart pumping and your lungs going and increases blood flow. Better cardiovascular health is important all around, and it's likely that your calves, hamstrings, and legs will get stronger too. You might find that you have better endurance and lose weight, which is associated with other positive health benefits.


Environmental Reasons
Biking doesn't involve any carbon emissions -- it's just your own exertion and two wheels getting you places. On already clogged roads with too many cars on the road, choosing to bike can help with congestion and reduce emissions. Plus, bikes save almost 250 million gallons of gas every year!

Sightseeing
You might be surprised at how much of your village, town, or city you can explore by biking. It might necessitate you taking a different way to work or school or the store, so you might get to know other parts of your neighborhood that you wouldn't have seen before.

How a Bicycle Shop Can Help?

A bicycle shop can just not help you find a bike, but also offer advice and expertise on being a bike owner. They might suggest certain pedals for bikes, whether or not you need toe clips, or suggest good bags for bikes if you're commuting. If something breaks, your bicycle shop can often conduct repairs or refer you to someone else who can.

Purchasing your bike from a local bike shop is always a good idea, because you also get their resources and assistance with the bike along with it, instead of having to battle a bigger chain's often frustrating customer service.

Make a change this year and commit to biking! Whether it's to work or school or just taking it to the store or getting out on the weekends, biking can exert positive change in your life.