Ideal Bite

Biking to Work

Cycle-path

05.08.2009

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 05/07/2009 - 11:00pm.

The Bite:

Think peeps who bike to work are crazy? Maybe - helmet hair and dried sweat don't make for the best postwork date. Luckily, we've got tips to assuage your top five cycling reservations, just in time for National Bike to Work Week (May 11-15). It's gonna be insane.

The Benefits:

Losing it (pollution, that is). Every gallon of gasoline we burn creates about 20 pounds of climate-change-causing CO2, making commuting by bike way eco-friendly.
A crazy physique. Casual biking burns about 173 calories per hour.
Saving up for therapy. A typical U.S. family spends nearly $8,000 per year operating a car, while a bike might cost $50 for an annual tune-up.

Personally Speaking:

Toshio bikes to work most days, but he's been lagging on replacing the helmet he lost a few months ago, leading Hanah to threaten that if he doesn't, she's not gonna come visit him in the hospital when he crashes.

Wanna Try:

Our top tips

Get a "Trunk." Need to bring stuff with you? Backpacks and messenger bags do the trick, but if you need more space, consider a bike basket (we like Jorg & Olif's wicker version; $60), rack (Topeak has ones you can install yourself; $28), or trailer (Xtracycle has plenty; $264 and up).
Wear Layers. You can strip down or layer up depending on how hot you get (and minimize sweating).
Hitch a Ride. If you're too far from the office to ride all the way, most buses have easy-to-use bike racks. (And remember: Riding farther distances gets easier with time, since you're getting in better shape.)
Get Safe. See if your local bike org offers a biking map showing the best roads to take, always have bike lights handy for night riding, and dress in bright colors. And of course…
Get a Cute Helmet. Try Bern's Berkeley Helmet (most models come with a removable knit lining for cold weather; $60) or Jorg & Olif (kinda like an equestrian riding helmet, in a good way, but note: it's toasty; $75).

More resources

League of American Bicyclists - find National Bike Month events in your area.
Wanna get $20 a month for free? As of January, the government will reimburse employers who give bike commuters a $20 per month allowance. Ask your HR department to get vouchers from Accor.

Cocktail Fact

Sam Whittingham holds the world record for human-powered bike speed, at 82.33 mph.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters bike once a week (to the store, to work, to the bar...one way), in a year we'll save enough gas to drive from SF to NYC 537 times, round-trip.

15 comments

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Kristen ossmann on May 08, 2009 at 04:09 AM 1

I wanted to thank you for this posting. I have been meaning to get a bike helmet for years and I have just been lazy about it. I actually stopped riding my bike as much because of not having a helmet. Now I just ordered one and I will be back on the road soon. Thanks!

haverwench on May 08, 2009 at 05:21 AM 2

If you don't have one of those fancy helmets with a removable lining, you can keep yourself warm in chilly weather with an earband. Patagonia has one made of recycled polyester fleece, but it's a bit pricey. I made one for my husband from an old pair of acrylic socks--just tucked each toe into the top of the other sock to make a circle and stitched them down.

Jet Floyd on May 08, 2009 at 07:30 AM 3

I would really like to know how you came up with a figure of $8,000 per year to operate a vehicle? That's astounding to me. My car isn't even worth $8,000. I work at home and only drive my car on weekends for pleasure and when I shop for groceries.

kim moore on May 08, 2009 at 09:23 AM 4

Im an avid walker at the moment. I cant bike due to abdominal surgery but I will get back on my bike if all goes well in another 4 weeks and I cant wait! Thanks for all the helpful advice and tips. I for one appreciate your efforts to inform the public. I be the public! smiles, Kim

Kristen on May 08, 2009 at 12:45 PM 5

I usually love the creative play on words/puns/themes of my daily Ideal Bite newsletters, but I'm extremely disappointed in this one. Mental illness is not something to laugh about. Using words like psychopath (or, in your newsletter "cycle-path"), insane, crazy, losing it, making references to therapy, all contribute to the terrible stigma associated with mental illness. Sadly, the stigma of having a mental illness (as opposed to illness of any other body part), prevents many people from seeking the help they need. Would you be poking fun of people with cancer? Diabetes? Heart disease? Please see organizations like NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) www.nami.org for more information on fighting (instead of contributing to), the stigma of mental illness. I hope to see an apology follow-up sent to everyone who received this newsletter.

Fariya on May 08, 2009 at 02:50 PM 6

It would really be great if you guys provided sources for where you get your facts and figures from - if not in the email itself, it should at least be made available online somewhere on your website. I'd like to quote some of these numbers but I need to point to legit sounding sources like the U.S. EPA, etc. Can you tell me where you derived the biking figures in this tip from? Thanks!

Audrey Burr on May 08, 2009 at 06:20 PM 7

I live near Portland OR and I am all with improving the clean air and getting healthy! HOWEVER, up here, if there is an improvement with the roads, (GASP) car drivers need to pay for bike path improvements. My idea is not the popular one ... bike riders need to register their bikes and pay for licenses to help pay for these improvements (bike boxes at intersections and bike parking[free]thus removing metered car parking that takes income away from the city). I know this is not the popular view, but if you register your bicycle, then if it's stolen, maybe the cops will find it quicker .... hmmmmm food for thought. Aud Burr

Wayne Witzel on May 12, 2009 at 08:49 AM 8

I recently bought an electric bike and I love it. It was only about $800, and it's a great compromise for people whose commute is overly strenuous on a regular bike. I would love to see this as a larger trend that takes cars off the roads and clears the air.

Amy Diederich on May 15, 2009 at 11:15 AM 9

How about listing some efficient low to high range ($$$) bicycles?

Panic Attacks on September 11, 2009 at 02:25 AM 10

My car isn't even worth $8,000. I work at home and only drive my car on weekends for pleasure and when I shop for groceries. Panic Attacks

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