7 Reasons To Ride Your Bike To Work

Let's be honest 99% of most people commute to work by car, train, or bus because it's easy and quite frankly "stress-free," but have you ever thought about getting to work using an alternative mode of transport? 

Well, recently, millions of people around the world have. Cycling or "bike commuting" has seen a massive rise in popularity, especially as gas prices rise and the concern of global warming and climate change becomes a real one. Riding your bike to work could also be a viable option for you.

At StrideCharge, we love cycling. Whether it's road cycling, mountain biking, riding with friends on the weekend, or commuting to work, We want to see you on your bike. So here are our top 7 reasons why you SHOULD start riding your bike to work.

Let's get cycling!

Stay fresh

There's nothing worse than sitting crammed on the bus or subway in poorly ventilated metal boxes every day as you commute to work. On subway lines, particularly in the summer, temps can reach close to 40c or 100f depending on where you live; either way, hot is hot. 

Riding your bike to work gets you out in the fresh air and, more importantly, out of that cramped bus or train. Sure, you'll get a little bit sweaty, but if you take it easy and pace yourself, riding your bike to work is a great way to start the day feeling fit and invigorated.

Save money

Even if you don't own a bike, it's still a much cheaper option than buying a car or taking public transport to and from work every day. You will need to buy a bike and some cycling-specific clothing like shorts, helmets, gloves, and some "highly-visible" clothing, but still, you don't need to outlay a fortune if you don't want to.

Once you've got your bike set up and ready to ride, your maintenance costs are minimal, especially compared to the yearly costs of running a car. No gas, no expensive tires, no parking fees, no looking for parking spaces, no tolls, and NO TAX. 

No speeding tickets too!!

Sick of paying tax? Ride your bike

Many states and counties have "cycle to work" initiatives that offer massive savings on your taxes. In some cases, employers will even pay for your bike and all your equipment such as clothing, lights, helmets, iPhone wireless charging cases, and bike phone mount. 

Speaking of iPhone charging cases, you'll want to make sure your iPhone battery never runs out, and the only way to do that is by purchasing an iPhone compatible charging case. Who knows, your iPhone charging case might even be tax-deductible if you're lucky. 

Great way to stay fit and healthy

Riding your bike to work is one of the best ways to stay fit and healthy, but the benefits of riding your bike go far beyond the physical. Riding your bike is a great way to clear your mind of the day's trouble and gives you a renewed appreciation for the wonders that mother nature has to offer.

Cycling is excellent for your cardiovascular fitness and also helps to keep your muscles looking toned. You can get fit, burn off those unwanted calories and enjoy the great outdoors all at once; now, there are not many sports you can do that.

A great time saver

Hang on a second; I know what you're thinking; doesn't it take longer to ride to work than drive? Well, you might be surprised to realize that by the time you've stopped at all those traffic lights and sat in traffic for an hour, cycling to work can be much quicker.

If you live in the city, then cycling to work is easily one of the fastest ways to get from A to B. There's no need to sit in traffic wasting time; you can carefully weave your way through the traffic and arrive at work on time, which will help keep your boss happy too.

Some commuters even ride folding bikes allowing them to ride part of the journey before jumping on the bus or subway. 

Arrive on time every time

Besides a helicopter, did you ever think that cycling to work is probably the best way to ensure you arrive on time, every time? Okay, so you might need to replace a flat tire every now and then, but that's only minutes compared to the sometimes hours it might take when buses and trains are delayed.

Once you have your ride time and route plotted and "down to a tee," it's easy to gauge how long you need to arrive at work safely and on time. After a few weeks of riding, you'll even notice different wind patterns, which you can use to your advantage.

Hopefully, you get a tailwind on the home.

Much more fun than public transport

Do you enjoy sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day for hours on end? How about standing in jam-packed subway cars? What about waiting for 45 mins for that late bus? 

Riding your bike to work allows you to bypass all the things above, and not only that, you do it in a fun and healthy way. I love the feeling of exploring new sites and taking different routes when I commute. You can find a new bar to stop at and have a drink after work or a coffee shop or art gallery you've never seen before.

Cycling is fun, and it's something many of us forget, myself included. Next time you're on your bike, take some time to look around and explore parts of the city you've never ventured into before.