I just bought my bike in January, and as you can imagine, I didn’t do a whole lot of riding during the snow-and-ice covered winter months. I’m looking forward to riding more now that it’s starting to get warmer outside, but one benefit that I’ve certainly noticed is my fitness level. The only thing I’ve really changed since January is riding my bike (and maybe cutting back just a little on fast food). Since January, I have lost 2 pants sizes and approximately 30 lbs. These are just on the occasional recreational rides in the winter – riding to work and short errands more often are bound to have an even bigger impact. I can’t wait to see the results as summer gets closer!
Another benefit to this is the saving on gas. When you register for Bike Week (it’s not too late!), you have the option of tracking your trips by bike, bus and walking as part of the Car Free Challenge. Since Sunday, I’m up to 26 miles since you only get half credit for trips on the bus or by carpool. By the end of this week I’ll likely be up near 100 miles, which is roughly a half tank of gas in my car, so I’ll have saved about $20 in gas just this week. That’s pretty significant, even in my little car – imagine the gas savings in a larger car, truck or SUV. With gas approaching $4/gallon, it’s certainly an option to consider.
