Bike to work challenge

Urban cycling is kinda normal.

Molly talks about her bike to work.

We just spotted this lovely video over at Urban Velo (which we’re SO going to subscribe to).  And while we can’t quite claim it as a testimonial we do think it’s kinda wonderful and sums up the attitude to cycling to work that really love.  Her attitude is very gentle, friendly and has a wonderfully self-effacing cool ‘surely this is normal’ attitude.

Nice one Molly.

Molly Rides Her Bike (full version) from Tim Taylor, Director on Vimeo.

Cycling to work?

Considering bike commuting?

Confused by the Cycle to Work Scheme?

Taking your bike to work is cheaper than taking your car, more convenient than public transport and faster than walking. Cycling is extremely good for your health; cycling just a few miles to work every day (or even once a week) will improve your well-being, reduce your risk of serious illness and will likely help you lose weight.

There are many organisations here in the UK who are keen to promote cycle-commuting as a choice that is not only beneficial to the cyclist, but also helps reduce pollution and minimises the carbon footprint of both the employer and employee.

Biking to work can be more than just a way of commuting, it can lead onto a fully blown cycling obsession, a truly beautiful thing indeed. But then we would say that wouldn’t we. So before we leave you to have a look around the website we’ll leave you with one thought:

Cars run on money and make you fat, bikes run on fat and save you money!

Click here to read all the Bike to Work Challenge posts…

Cycling to work offers a wide range of health benefits including:

• Excellent calorie burn, an estimated 700-800 calories per hour when you’re commuting!
• Superior cardiovascular conditioning. Cycling to work builds stamina and increases endurance while lower the resting heart rate. Generally, individuals who cycle regularly have a resting heart rate in the mid to low 60s.
• Lower body toning. Taking your bike to work is especially good for building leg muscles, and the slimming effect can be almost magical.

Many people prefer to cycle to work (rather than using an exercise bike indoors) because there’s really nothing to replace the freedom and adventure to be had exploring under your own foot power.

1. A comfortable saddle appropriate to the rider’s gender.
2. A rack to carry a water bottle. (Drinking water is recommended every 20 minutes during a lengthy ride.)
3. A ride computer that registers speed and distance travelled.
4. Gears to assist with handling terrain (unless you’re hardcore and ride a fixie or single-speed!)
5. Appropriate illumination via reflectors and/or lights.

These items represent the bare minimum for safe and effective operation. A ride computer (or GPS) is especially important as cycling is, generally speaking, an exercise in which the rider competes against himself for better speed and longer distances travelled.

Using a Heart Monitor

Where weight loss is the goal, it is also recommended that the cyclist use a heart monitor which includes a chest strap and a wrist unit that measures the duration of exercise, time in ‘the zone’ (your target heart rate to accomplish fat burning), average and maximum heart rate, and calories burned. One pound equals 3500 calories. If you manage a 500 calorie deficit (burn or expend more than you consume) you’ll lose approximately one pound per week.

Indoor Cycling

For individuals who do not like to be out in the elements (or are maybe training themselves to bike to work), an exercise bike can be a comfortable way to cycle daily in the comfort of your own home. Many riders watch television while they pedal and cycling DVDs are available to create the illusion that you are traveling through the hills of the California wine country or perhaps the French countryside. Recumbent exercise bikes with their bucket seats are especially comfortable. For some riders, the different angle at which the recumbent bike places the body is even more effective for body slimming and overall the position is easier for the back and the backside.

Spinning Bikes for Indoor Cycling

Spinning bikes (found at most gyms) are a special class of exercise bikes that have weighted flywheels to simulate, as closely as is possible, the feel of riding a road bike indoors. Generally, spinning is done at a gym in a class environment or, if done at home, to directions from a DVD. The workout involves ‘intervals’ of intense riding where the cyclist is standing on the pedals and working at maximum output balanced by seated periods of a lesser cadence. Spinning is a hardcore exercise with maximum calorie burn. If you have not been working out, it’s best to get moderately in shape and to check with your physician before beginning a spinning program.

When to Cycle?

Almost any time of day is appropriate for cycling, although if you’re cycling to work this will influence when you cycle.  If you’re cycling entirely for leisure choices can be made about when you go out on your bike.  Depending on the climate in your area, it may be best to ride in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler. Some fitness experts recommend riding first thing in the morning before eating to stimulate the metabolism, while others suggest ‘fueling up’ first. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid cycling just before bedtime as the stimulation will contribute to your insomnia. Regardless of when or where you choose to cycle, keep track of the numbers so you can monitor your improvement and work out at a pace and duration that will show effective results.

Benefits of Cycling

As an aerobic, fat-burning exercise, cycling offers multiple health benefits. Upright exercise bikes can be purchased for as little as £100 (or nothing if you check freecycle) while a recumbent will run from £200 to £600. These devices allow you to exercise regardless of the weather while road bikes get you out and about exploring and having fun while you get in shape. Spinning bikes can cost as much as £1500, so that’s an activity that will most likely send you to the gym. Regardless of the type of cycling you choose, you’ll begin to see results in a month or less, putting you well on the road to those lovely words – long and lean.

We launched this part of the Veloballs website primarily to encourage people who are on the verge of deciding to bike to work to take that first little step.  We believe there are many folk out there who are fed up with sitting in traffic jams, or who just want to get a little bit fitter, but need a gentle nudge in the right direction.  This is why a big part of our site is the ‘Testimonials‘ section; we want the world to see that there is no one type of person who cycles to work; we believe strongly that deciding to leave the car at home is a rational, logical, safe and financially-viable decision.

You may notice that almost all of the photos on this section of the website (outside of the testimonials section) don’t look like they were taken in this country, and there’s a good reason for that; they were taken in Copenhagen.  It was during a trip to Denmark that we realised just how far behind the British mentality is when it comes to using bikes in towns and cities.  If you’d like to see the rest of the photos from that trip then go HERE…

So there you have it; if you’re new to cycling I hope we give you the confidence you need to get cracking.