Grab your bicycle bags; biking is good for you!

 “Mere mortals travel to work in cars and buses and on foot. Cyclists glide, wind roaring in their ears, in a state of effortless motion.” ^[1]

So, it is swimsuit season and, once again, you did not start the season off with the ripped abs and toned legs that you vowed to have when you last donned your bikini 11 months ago.

A far too common excuse, but unless you can add more hours to your day, you are not sure how you will add an exercise routine to your daily activities. You’ve managed to drag yourself out for a few runs when the kids are in bed; however, the effort involved and the frustration felt after only a few blocks is more than enough to discourage you.   

As you are waiting for the dreaded bus to take you to work, your neighbour whisks by on her bicycle; fitted out in shorts and a t-shirt, a bicycle helmet, a handlebar bag and two bicycle bags, she barely has time to wave to you. Far from riding a slick bike seen in the Tour de France, she is rolling at a good pace, clearly breaking a sweat, yet seemingly enjoying herself; as you see the tail end of her bicycle bag, you begin to ponder how much it would cost to have the old bike tuned up. The heat from your bus jolts you back to reality; as you climb aboard, perspiring yourself, you yearn to feel a slight breeze from the window.

Cycling fitness tidbits ^[2]:

• Cycling puts weight on your bicycle, not on your joints;
• Cycling allows you to maintain a constant pace; burning more calories than stop and start exercise;
• Cycling’s constant pace contributes to training your heart;
•  Cycling exposes you to lesser levels of pollutants than motorists; pollutants accumulate in cars and are not dispersed, the body’s natural salivation, runny eyes and nose act as a barrier to the pollution;
• Cycling can be done using reasonably priced gear and better yet, no gym fee is required!

Two weeks later, your old bike looking new again (thanks to a tune up, a pannier bag and a handlebar bag), you zoom past the folks at your old bus stop; your waistline may not yet be slimmer, but the satisfaction you feel is more than enough to keep you pedaling. The toned muscles and the strong heart will come with time; and, more imperative, you are actually cutting 10 minutes off your commute time!  

Help your bike join the 21^st century: dust it off, tune it up, purchase a bicycle bag, a handlebar bag or a pannier bag and, best of all, be proud, you are getting in shape! Visit Arkel to view their complete line of bicycle bags that will make your commute easier.  

1.      http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/cycling-the-shortest-road-to-fitness-482242.html

2.      http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/index.htm