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Biking is a wonderful means to improve your aerobic capacity, save money, while assisting in keeping the air unpolluted at the same time. Bicycling also doesn’t injure your muscles that running and using gym equipment can. Not only that, it’s practical since one can get exercise by travelling to work, or doing the shopping, so it’s not like you’re having to make time for working out as most other forms of work out enforce on you.

All the same, there are a great many different sorts of bicycle - which one to purchase? A bike that’s comfortable for you as you’re biking, and has plenty of gears to enable you to take on inclines with relative comfort - we don’t all live in Amsterdam! One ought to also be able to pick up your cycle with relative comfort as you’ll discover this is necessary sometimes, for instance up a few stairs.

Also ensure you have decent accessories for your cycle : reliable bicycle brake system parts, front and back light, bike mudguards, reflector lights, reflective jacket, helmet and strong lock. These will aid you in keeping secure at nighttime, and the bike out of reach from robbery. Make sure you lock the bicycle in a somewhat public place.

Lastly, it’s a smart idea to invest a bit of time into studying how to fix your bike. You don’t need to be an expert, but it’s useful if you can learn how to align your brake cables and brake pads as these oftentimes demand calibrating after heavy usage. Also make sure you keep the bicycle well oiled and the tyres pumped up to a reasonable pressure to make bicycling less difficult. And of course, be sensible on the roads - use your arms to indicate when turning, and stay to the left at all times.

“Well it’s a frosty one this morning folks -5C (23F) you’re going to need that scraper today!” said the radio announcer. I groaned as I turned over, I felt like had just got to sleep half an hour ago. I strained to lift my dead body from the bed. My 5 year old daughter had been up few times during the night saying she was having bad dreams. With the little sleep I had I guess I was going to have a bad day. I slide out of bed and crawl into the shower. My body revives ever so slightly so I can now stand erect with one eye open. As I stub my toe leaving the washroom I realize I need both eyes open.

Into the closet should I ride in today? Did the radio say -5C it’s only October 13th give me a break! Maybe the ride will be good for me. I slip on my cycling clothes and decide against the t-shirt under my turtleneck, I’m tough I can take it. I stumble downstairs for breakfast. It’s cold downstairs because I haven’t turned the furnace on yet. I flick the switch, the house will probably get warm by the time I leave.

I slip on my wind pants and shell; I hope I will be warm enough. I step into the garage, its cold! I roll my bike to the driveway, it’s colder! I’m sure it will be okay once I’m riding. I slip a head band on and put on my helmet, a few stretches, turn on my headlight, and I’m off. Whoa, Maybe I should have put that t-shirt on! Riding into the park and down the ridge the wind is cutting like a knife.

My eyes are watering from the cold wind and it’s hard to see, I think I see someone walking their dog along the path. In this city we have bylaw that bikes have to have a bell, I slide my numb thumb over to ring it and the frozen ringer tab snaps off. Fortunately this lady sees my wavering headlight and jumps out of the way, “sorry” I yell as I roll past. Heading down towards the river I think I see a little water across the path, my brain kicks in at last second and says that’s not water, its -5C. My front tire slips off the path into the grass I am able to recover enough to not crash. I am awake now, at least for the next minute.

I cross the bridge over the river and head into the woods as I come out of the woods I just about clip some guy riding without any light on. I curse the guy under my breath and realize if I was not riding half asleep I would have seen him sooner. Thoughts of riding out of the valley in my condition haunt me as I approach the hill. I gear down quickly and crawl up the hill, I’m in my lowest gear pumping, and if this hill is any longer I’m going to have a stroke! I make it to the top and my head is pounding but I’m not cold anymore now. My legs are soaked in sweat, which reminds me I need to find better gear for the cold. Through the streets to my office as the sweat starts freezing to my legs I question why I didn’t drive in today. I pull up to the office start locking my bike up, a guy walks by and says “Wow you rode in today it’s freezing out, you must be a real man” and smiles. A small inkling of pride rises in me “Thanks” I say to him. Maybe even a bad ride can still be a good ride.

Kevin Redmond is a senior design supervisor at a large engineering company in Canada. He cycles into work whenever he can. He also runs a consumers Website called http://www.avoidconfusion.com you can get your cycling accessories at this site plus lots of other stuff give it browse and check it out.