In my free time, I enjoy sitting on the couch and watching Real Housewives while my husband, the avid biker, does his indoor cycling routine in background to the latest housewife drama. He’s always encouraged me to be more active but I felt like I had to do it on my terms.
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My commute to work is supposed to be a 15-minute bus ride but with city traffic, I was averaging a 45-minute commute which is frustrating when work is so close but felt so far when you’re stuck on a bus. Last fall, after trialing the Lime and Bird scooters in Austin, Texas, I decided to buy an inexpensive electric scooter. My faithful Swagtron got me to work in about 20-minutes with some breaks to walk it up steep hills. After doing this for a few months, I decided to venture into biking especially with the overcrowding on public transit during a pandemic. My husband was understandably nervous, NYC is not quite bike friendly yet and I’m not an experienced bike rider. Luckily because I had done my commute by scooter previously, I was already well versed on the quieter streets and safer routes to and from.
With any decision I make, I did my extensive research (on Pinterest, of course) and figured out what kind of bike would be best for me, the right accessories and the necessities. I went with a Specialized Sirrus 1.0 bike which falls under their “fitness/hybrid bike” category. It’s pretty lightweight and I feel confident when riding it on flat roads or bumpy city streets.
A list of essentials that you need to bike:
1. Helmet: I currently have a standard Bell helmet that I bought at a discount store. Nothing fancy on it besides the adjuster to accomodate a ponytail/bun. But now that I see myself biking not just for work, I’ve considered buying a nicer helmet. The brand, Thousand, has caught my eye on Instagram but I’d like to do some research before buying.
2. Bell: This a must-have (by law) and for safety. I went with the standard ding type bell as it was loud enough for others to hear and easy enough to ring while riding.
3. Bike lock: A few years ago, I borrowed my now-husband’s roommate’s bike and had locked it up at a bike rack with one of those cable locks in front of a sporting goods store. Not even 10 minutes later, we exited the store and the bike was GONE. I was mortified and dumbfounded on how easy it was to steal a bike. That’s why I invested in a u-lock by Kryptonite. Most importantly, you have to remember to lock the bike within the triangle and ideally along with the back wheel for the most secure hold.
4. Bike lights: Unfortunately, I’ve noticed a lot of bikers with only reflectors and NO headlights or backlights. As a driver, I know how easy it is to miss a cyclist in a blind spot or even just on a dark road. I turn my rear red blinking light anytime that I’m riding even during daylight hours.
Recently, I biked 9-miles from The Bronx to the Upper East Side and back to meet my friend Michelle for brunch. I rewarded myself with a glass of frozen Rosé for my journey but I think I was too brazen in my journey because the next day I could hardly get up off the couch.
On a typical day, I average 4-miles and now I want to add a lap around the local park after work.
Have you changed your commute style recently in the name of fitness?
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