Achievements after a Year and a Half as a Bike Commuter
As I look back over the past year and a half as a cyclist and a bike commuter I have a few observations and reflections to pass along. First and foremost I am forever grateful to cycling for restoring my health, reducing my stress, and improving my looks, mood and mental acuity.
With all these benefits, I’m hooked and I can’t ever go back to my car or transit ever again.
Amazingly, I have reaped all these benefits without being a full-time bike commuter. I cycle only three days a week, to and from work for a total of about 75 km per week. For anyone who is thinking of adding cycling as a hobby or a transportation alternative I say DO IT. It doesn’t have to be a long ride and it doesn’t have to be every day.
Related Post: How to Become a Bike Commuter – 7 Tips to Plan for Success for Women Bike Commuters
Here are the observations of a rookie:
- Why is it that putting a windshield in front of our face suddenly isolates us and amps up our impatience and aggression? I’m not going to rant about bad drivers because quite honestly I notice that this happens to me sometimes. Curiously, cycling has actually made me a calmer driver. I am more aware not only of other drivers and of course cyclists, but also when my own mood goes south, and I make a conscious effort to relax and take it easy.
- Yes – there are bad cyclists just as there are bad motorists. I get angry when someone makes a dumb or dangerous move, but I can shake it off far easier when I’m on a bike than when I am driving. I was even hit by a truck a few weeks ago, but was not seriously hurt, and I have shaken that off too.
- A smile, nod or wave of appreciation goes a long way when in traffic.
- Being a little late is NOT the end of the world.
- Cycling is addictive – I’ve started running short errands on my bike on non-commuting days.
Not all my cycling has to be a hot sweaty, epic ride. I have bought a beautiful electric bike that I use when I want an easier ride. It’s a BH E-Motion Street 650, and I love it. I can even ride it in a dress! I will write a review about it soon.- I’ve bought my last car. When our current Fiat 500 is gone it will be the end of my 30+ years as a car owner.
I’ve come a long way. I’ve passed the 5,000 km mark, and I look forward to many more kilometers in my future.
And as soon as they’re old enough, I look forward to sharing the love of cycling with my grandkids!
Good 4 you Maggie! Sorry to hear you were hit by a trick? Are you OK?
Hi Maxie. Maggie says thanks, but she’s fine. I always call her a rhinoceros (for some reason she does not like that). But what I mean is that she is very, very tough. The truck mirror caught her on her shoulder bone, which the doctor thinks prevented her from being seriously injured (a couple of inches lower and it could have broken her ribs and punctured a lung, which is potentially life threatening). Anyway, the truck driver was pretty upset and drove her and her bike to work. She went to work as if nothing had happened, but has had to have some physio since then.