Bicycle Commuting by Kaleb

Although we have not posted about fitness as much this year, it is still a huge part of our lives. Staying in shape and exercising regularly is a great way to relieve stress and it may seem hard to believe, but such a small thing like consistent exercise helps us to stay sane most days. It's a great way to meditate and to get out in nature and enjoy God's wonderful creation. It's also makes for great alone time or self-reflection. We both find that taking care of our bodies has a domino effect on other parts of our lives. When we are fit and healthy, we feel better about ourselves and days are just better when you feel good!

Now that the weather is getting warmer and tornado season is wrapping up I am starting to commute by bike into work again. I usually commute to work 2-3 times a week, this is a great way for me to get a good portion of my weeks miles in. I may have posted about this earlier, but I participate on local bike teams here that compete in different mountain and cross bike races. My commute to and from work is about 35 miles, so by the time I get home I have a solid 2 hours of riding completed. This has been a great way for me to build endurance for my longer bike races. Here's a time lapse of one of my winter commutes to work. I was able to use a GoPro camera and attach it onto my bike to capture this video.

I wanted to share some of the tips and tricks I have figured out about commuting (or for any type of endurance sport). First and foremost: preparation is the best motivator for me. I make sure to get everything ready the night before I commute...I mean everything. I pack my bag with work clothes, air up my tires, fill water bottles, put lights on my bike, and lay out my kit (that would be those spandex outfits you might see cyclists wearing), helmet, and shoes. The easier you make it for yourself in the morning, the more likely that you are actually going to ride. There have been several times where I tell myself that I'll just get everything ready in the morning, and what normally happens is I wake up to my alarm and decide that extra hour of sleep sounds way better. 

Below is a list of items that I recommend for commuting:

Helmet

Bike Lights (front and rear)

Bag (for work cloths, computer, etc.)

Saddle Bag (with extra tube, co2 pump, multi-tool)

Glasses

Water Bottle

If commuting by bike to work, home, or wherever is something you are interested in, I recommend to start small. Try cycling just a few miles around a local park or neighborhood before you aim for 35 miles. You can do it if you want to! A great motivator is to sign up for a local non-competitive race. As you build your endurance, you may find a new passion like I did!