Ideal Bite

What's worse than the cowlick you get from protective headgear?

05.14.2008

Submitted by tmeronek on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:10am.

The Bite:

Global warming - by a hair. If you can get past the untamable 'do issues, this Friday is National Bike to Work Day, so grab something with pedals and imagine a fitter world with less pollution (albeit in need of some major coiffure).

The Benefits:

Less (h)air pollution. Every gallon of gasoline we burn creates about 20 pounds of climate change-causing CO2.
Shaping up. Casual biking burns about 173 calories per hour.
Saving up for a blowout with Antoine. 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.
Looking cooler than a faux-hawk circa 2001. We've got some bike accessories to offset your matted mane.

Personally Speaking:

Jen burns a few extra cals by carting Cricket around on the back of her Xtracycle.

Wanna Try:

Xtracycle - sport-utility bikes with a tail for lugging a briefcase or groceries ($599 and up).
Hokey Spokes - cool, low-energy LED light blades with seven color options that make your ride even safer at night; requires three AA batteries ($30).
Jorg & Olif - download its Order Guide to check out some extremely cute cargo baskets that you can install on just about any bike ($60-$85).
Bike to Work Week and League of American Bicyclists - find biking events in your area.
Community Bike Programs - more and more cities are introducing bike-sharing programs. Check this map of current ones in North America.

Cocktail Fact

BUI? In Feb. 2007, a TN woman was arrested for biking under the influence...on a stationary bike at her gym.

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, roundtrip.

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