For two years, we lived in a neighborhood where we promised ourselves we'd bike everywhere. But did we cycle to the store? Rarely. To the movies? Once. To grab dinner or rent a flick? Maybe thrice. It was a fail. Sound familiar? Well, we moved last weekend—and we've saddled up about fifteen times already. Here's what we changed.
We think our biggest obstacle in our previous neighborhood was the huge hill we had to climb leaving the front door. When hopping on the bike means pumping the pedals like crazy for the first ten minutes of any ride, it can seem daunting. Our new neighborhood is at a much more coastable altitude, which surely helps any bike commute; but here are a few tips that have us hopping on the bike instead of reaching for the keys.
Make a commitment to cut the carbon. The first step was recognizing that riding our bikes meant we weren't using any petroleum-based fuel. (We'll admit, the oil spill has encouraged us to cut the car out of the picture as much as we can.) If you're able to turn to car, bus, or train, it sometimes seems like the easiest route. But making a concerted effort to give up fuel consumption is helping us pedal forward, quite literally.
Set yourself up for success. Keep your tires aired up, the bicycle clean, and your bike lock handy. If you keep your bikes inside, try to store them near the door or make them more accessible. If you keep them outside, protect them from the elements so that they stay in good working condition. We've found that we're more likely to ride on two wheels out the door if everything is waiting at the ready. That means helmets, lights, locks, and even bike-friendly bags.
Have fun while riding. Make each trip an adventure. Find new routes, explore parts of your neighborhood you haven't seen before, try new things (like learning to ride without using your hands), and—at the risk of sounding cheesy—set out to have a good time. Everything is easier when you have a good attitude about it!
For more inspiration, check out these links:
• Roundup: Cycloc Bike Racks on Apartment Therapy
• Bicycle Storage Soluions
• Best City Bikes & Easy Rides 2010
• Inspiration: Beautiful Bikes for Living Car-Free
• Biking Directions iPhone App: Ride the City
(Image: Small Cool 2008: East #12: Wes' Family Farm Inspiration)
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I love this post!
Another thing people frequently find daunting about biking in urban areas is biking with traffic. Look around your area for local bike groups; there are frequently classes that will teach you the rules of the road. It's like Driver's Ed, only for bikes, and it will help you have the confidence to enjoy yourself!
1. Eat well, drink well. If you ride on an empty stomach or a bit dehydrated you will find yourself more tired and easily winded. If you ever feel like your performance is sporadic day to day it is most likely nutrition. Our sedentary lifestyles are very forgiving most of the time.
2.Ride, Ride, Ride. A lot of people give up in a week or less. They get tired on hills, can't sprint after a light, and otherwise just feel like they can't keep up. The thing is it is almost never a strength issue, it is an aerobic issue. If you Ride for a few weeks regularly you will quickly adjust. Big hills are always going to be big hills, but you will find yourself able to breeze up things that at the start killed you.
3. Learn to ride in traffic, no seriously. People think cars are the number one killer, but you know what cyclists normally find themselves running into? Pedestrians and objects. You know where most cyclists and get hit when it comes to cars? Crosswalks. In the road cars are begrudgingly aware of you. On a sidewalk you are a pedestrian that can go 15-20 MPH and come out of nowhere. After a short period of time you will get used to traffic, and in a larger city you will be surprisingly capable of pacing cars.
4. Get a rack, use it. Yes you can carry things in a messenger bag, but you will be way less comfortable. Most riders don't even notice how much energy they waste shifting their weight to accommodate bags. Couriers do it because they have to, cut yourself some slack.
Since we moved into our new place last August we've not taken our bikes off our dining room wall [ http://craftscafe.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/bike-wall-art/ ] until (thankfully!) this weekend! All of our weekends last summer & fall were spent setting up our new place. So my advice is – don’t let your apartment decorating addiction take over your life! :-)
A bicycle in good working order will make the trip so much nicer. :) A rack and panniers/baskets will make the carrying of your goods much more convenient. There are a lot of options out there for baskets that are more like "bags" that you can remove and take into the store and carry around with you.
I completely understand how a big hill out the door can be a deterrent. I love riding my bike and hope other people will too. Right now, my biggest obstacle is weather. I am tired of the rain, it's been almost non-stop this spring :( I do try to get out there as much as possible, though!
check out these great bikes: www.civiacycles.com No affiliation, other than I LOVE my Loring :)
Last year I made a commitment to start riding on errands around my neighborhood. This often means shlepping my 50 pound daughter. To make this happen, I rely on her enthusiasm for biking with me. She loves being on her bike or in the trailer, and now when we are going some place she always asks if we are biking there. If I say we are driving, she asks why. Definitely makes me think about where I can bike and walk, and encourages me to build in time to do that with her.