Bikes- Even More Proof God Loves Us
I’ve been biking to work for almost a year now, and I’m convinced that bike commuting is one of the best kept secret blessings. For very little upfront cost, you can convert fat into muscle, save a bunch of wasted money, and make the world a better place! Interestingly, you can get all these benefits without spending much extra time, because you can use a bike to transport yourself to places you were planning to go anyway. Here in Staunton, VA, many people already own bikes, though they seem to be mostly used as foundations for spiders to build webs on in garages. What a bummer! Let me touch on a few of the benefits I’ve discovered from daily biking, and then I’ll give you some tips to get you on the road.
As everyone knows, healthy human bodies are designed to move, not atrophy in place. I bike to work five days a week, and I love the feeling of the blood pumping through my legs as I barrel through intersections and crawl up hills before whooshing down on the other side. It only takes about fifteen minutes for me to bike the three miles or so to my job, even in our hilly area. When I drove my truck, it was about ten minutes. So for only ten minutes of time per day (there and back), I get a thirty minute workout! I’ve seen real improvements in my cardio and leg muscle strength since I started. Establishing a good foundation of healthy habits now lowers the risk of expensive and painful medical problems down the line, perhaps when I’m no longer getting health insurance through my employer. Biking is also good for my mental health– I get to enjoy views I might miss racing by in a vehicle and I can use the time to pray and thank God for the gifts of existing in a body that is capable of joyful movement and living in a beautiful place with everchanging seasons.
Bike commuting has saved me much more money than just the cost of gas. I estimate I’ve only driven my truck two thousand miles over the last year (though my daughter has her learner’s permit, so I’ve spent some time in a car with her as she accumulates supervised practice hours). All vehicle costs are lower– oil, tires, insurance. Mr. Sense and I own our vehicles outright, but if I drove more we might be tempted to purchase another car on credit so we could each have something reliable to drive. But the biggest unexpected savings area is avoiding purchases that I’ll need to cart home on my bike! When I drove our truck to work, I often stopped somewhere on the way home to pick up a six pack of beer or some other junk. When I need to carry my stuff with me in my bike bag, I buy less stuff.
Sitting behind cars in intersections also makes me appreciate the simplicity of bikes. Watching big clouds of black smelly exhaust issue out of tailpipes makes me consider the environmental impact of driving for trips that could easily be taken on foot or bike. Driving is culturally imprinted in most suburban areas, but it’s worth considering how we can minimize the global costs. To be clear, I don’t judge others for driving. Cars are amazing! Mr. Sense and I own vehicles that we use for trips with the whole family and out of town, and I have zero plans to go car-free. We just try to be thoughtful about how we use our cars. God has entrusted us with this planet and we should strive to be good stewards of the resources He has provided.
So let’s get down to it. Here’s how you start biking to work: 1) Get a bike or clean up the rusty old one in your shed, and 2) Point the front tire of the bike in the direction of your office and push on the pedals with your feet, one at a time. Really, there’s not much more to it than getting started. When I started reading other FIRE blogs, I saw lots of posts about biking and thought it was a weird side act, totally optional and mostly for guys. And also, I didn’t have a bike. Once I decided to give it a chance, I uncharacteristically headed out without doing any research. I knew I wanted something that wouldn’t fall apart but wasn’t over a thousand dollars, light enough for me to carry three steps up from my back patio into the laundry room, and rideable on sidewalks, streets, and gravel. The very helpful guys at Black Dog Bikes let me test out a few models and I left with a Specialized Crossroads II in Lilac Pearl. I’m not an expert, but I love this bike. Our town is full of hills and the weather changes constantly, and this bike is geared so even a novice can make it home, rain or shine. Mr. Sense and I also own an ebike, the Aventon Pace 350. This bike is so much fun to ride, you won’t need me to talk you into it. You can race up hills at full speed, feeling like you’re riding on flat ground. I take the Pace when I have somewhere to be right after work, and Mr. Sense likes it for the grocery store and other places he’ll need to carry lots of stuff from. We have a cooler that clips onto the back rack and an insulated backpack designed for bikers that allows him to bring home a whole week’s worth of groceries this way. I think we paid around $1200 for the Aventon Pace 350, and it functions for us like a one passenger car that can go anywhere within the city limits.
Here’s the truth about starting bike commuting: it’s really hard for about two weeks, and then you fall in love with it. The first day I biked to work, I was out of breath, sweaty and felt an almost alcoholic type buzz for a couple hours. I hated it, but I made it back home (though I didn’t plan my route well and had to walk the bike up a hill on the way back). But I kept going, and within a month I was actually excited for the trip each day. On the rare occasions that I drove the truck, I felt like my morning didn’t start out right. I liked the feeling of accomplishment before diving into the workday.
It’s possible to bike commute all year in Staunton, but it requires some preparation. During the summer, it can get up to 100 degrees or so on the hottest days. Carry lots of water. My work doesn’t have a shower, but I bring a fresh wash cloth to clean up with, and I have a bag in my office containing deodorant, mascara, facial wipes, and dry shampoo. I also keep several pairs of shoes in a cabinet in my office, so I don’t have to cart heels back and forth if I don’t want to wear sneakers all day (but I usually do). Personally, I prefer the heat to the cold. In the winter, more gear is essential. I have several lights on my bike and ride very cautiously in the evenings when it’s dark out. I also have a flashing vest to aid visibility. I typically wear a sweatshirt under a lighter windproof jacket, which keeps me comfortable well below freezing temperatures. It should feel a bit chilly when you step outside, but the exercise warms you up. When it’s very cold, I wear heated gloves– an absolute lifesaver– and a fleece face mask with a mesh panel over the mouth and nose. The mask keeps me from coughing from the cold air when I get inside, and it keeps my face toasty no matter how cold it is outside. I ride through rain, snow, and sleet, and there’s not much you can do to protect yourself from every drop of water. My jacket is rainproof, but I still get pretty soaked. I think it’s worth it though, plus everyone will be very impressed with your tenacity.
To sum up, bikes are awesome. Show some love to your waistline, your wallet, and your world, and get out there already!
