Bicycling - A Life Long Journey

November 18, 2010

Over the last couple of months, I’ve started replacing my car trips with bicycle trips. Grocery store, work, and even dates often now take place on my bike. Bicycle to the grocery store? Bicycle to work? You must think I’m crazy. I know sometimes my co-workers think I am. But when you stop to think about it for a minute, the benefits become clear: First, it’s cheap! With gasoline in the $2.50 range, even short trips in a car start to stretch the budget. Second, it’s fun and relaxing! I love the challenge of making it up a hill and the exhilaration of speeding down the other side. In addition, there is a great sense of freedom and empowerment to maneuver around the city on my own leg power. Third, it’s great exercise! Riding a bike, even at a casual rate, can burn over 400 calories an hour. And fourth, it’s good for the planet! There is a fun website, called the bike commute calculator, that lets you input your miles bicycled, and then tells you how many calories you’ve burned, the money you’ve saved on gas, and how many pounds of toxic emissions you didn’t create.

If you are like me, and it’s been a while since you’ve biked, the library can be a great resource. Over the last several months, I’ve checked out books on bicycle maintenance, how to properly and safely ride a bike, and even a book on bicycle poetry. So hop on your bike, get down to your local Mid-Continent branch,  and start a life long journey on two wheels.

Lisa W.
Claycomo Branch