Biking to Work

This week I decided I needed to do something different and get more exercise.  There are many different options that I could have chosen; walking on lunch break, running before/after work...anything really! But I decided to be that crazy person, in Toronto heat, to bike to work.

Now this is what I imagined it would be like.  Breezy, happy, getting a great work out.  It was 10km all downhill to work.  It was great.  Took me only 34 minutes to get to work, wasn't too hot out.  I really enjoyed myself.I live near the Bramalea City Centre and I work here at Victory.  So biking straight down Dixie, across Drew and BAM,  here I am.  However the ride home was a totally different story.  Since it was all downhill to work, that meant it was all uphill home.  Almost a full hour of riding with rush hour traffic - apparently crosswalks don't mean anything to anyone here!  
Now there are Bike to Work Weeks available for every Province.  Toronto has a Bike Month which starts Monday May 28 till Thursday June 28 and offers 100 different events locally for people to be involved and have fun!

I totally recommend everyone should try biking to work, even if it is just once a week.  It relieves stress from traffic and stress from work and offers amazing exercise benefits.  
7 Health Benefits of Cycling

1. Cycling is good for your heart: Cycling is associated with improved cardiovascular fitness, as well as a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease.

2. Cycling is good for your muscles: Riding a bike is great for toning and building your muscles, especially in the lower half of the body – your calves, your thighs, and your rear end. It’s also a great low-impact mode of exercise for those with joint conditions or injuries to the legs or hips, which might keep them from being active.

3. Cycling is good for your waistline: You can burn a lot of calories while biking, especially when you cycle faster than a leisurely pace, and cycling has been associated with helping to keep weight gain down. And cycling has the added benefit of ramping up your metabolism, even after the ride is over.

4. Cycling is good for your lifespan: Bicycling is a great way to increase your longevity, as cycling regularly has been associated with increased ‘life-years’, even when adjusted for risks of injury through cycling.

5. Cycling is good for your coordination: Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and your body’s own weight is good practice for your coordination skills.

6. Cycling is good for your mental health: Riding a bike has been linked to improved mental health.

7. Cycling is good for your immune system: Cycling can strengthen your immune system, and could protect against certain kinds of cancers.

You don't have to be a professional at cycling, you just have to own a bike and get going! 

~Elinor~

Top 5 Favourite Beaches

When the weather gets great, it's the perfect time going to the beach! I've been to a number of beaches and I do have my favourites. Although the weather has its ups and downs, we have already had a number of really hot days! I thought it'd be nice to share a list of my top 5 favourite beaches with you. :) If you disagree or agree, or have other beaches in mind you would also like to share, feel free to comment! Note: Distance travel is from Mississauga, ON!

 #5) WASAGA BEACH

Approx Drive Time: 1 hr & 45 mins 

Parking Costs: Varies on the area (i.e. by the hour, $10 for a day, $20) 

Cleanliness: 2.5/5

Pros: popular beach, has a walking strip for food & items shop, restaurants, very large, different available areas (1-6), shortest distance for me 

Cons: dirty waters, known to be very shallow (ideal for children) for a good distance

Overall, I've been to this beach countless times. I always knew Wasaga to be the hit spot for teens or young adults (area 1), and families (i.e. other grassy areas). I usually try to avoid this beach because I rarely swim in the Wasaga waters, since it is pretty dirty and you have to venture far off if you want it to be atleast waist/chest deep. On hot days, it can be very packed and finding a parking spot can be a bummer, since it's popular and well-known!

#4) GRAND BEND BEACH

 Approx Drive Time: 3 hrs 

Parking Costs: By the hour, $10-$15 for day 

Cleanliness: 3/5 

Pros: popular beach, has a walking strip for food & items shop, large, lifeguards on duty, park area for children 

Cons: rocks in water, gets deep easily (not ideal for children)

Overall, I've been to this beach 3-4 times. This beach is pretty awesome! But I'm personally not a huge fan of traveling long distances and rocks in the water (hurts my feet), which is why it's lower on the list for me. 

#3) CRYSTAL BEACH

Approx Drive Time: 2 hrs 

Parking Costs: $15 for day 

Cleanliness: 4.5/5 

Pros: very clear water (hence the beach's name!), lifeguard on duty, shorter travel distance, good water level, beautiful sand 

Cons: smaller and private, guard at the front gates that checks to make sure you don't bring in any glass items, finding parking can be a bummer, no stores/food shops in walking distance

Overall, I fell in love with this beach's water because of how clean it was (which brings it way up on the list). We had a little trouble finding it first because it was sort of hidden, and the first time we took a lot longer to find it! 

 #2) LONG POINT BEACH

 Approx Drive Time: 2.5 hrs 

Parking Costs: $15-$20 for day 

Cleanliness: 3.5/5 

Pros: fairly clean water, good water level, beautiful sand, grassy areas 

Cons: their sand dunes/hills can be annoying (especially when you have to climb over them), no food shops from what I can remember

Overall, Long Point Beach places pretty high on my list because I always enjoy my visits every time I come. I love their waters and everytime I come here with my family, we usually get a shady grassy area at the back and put up a small tent. 

 #1) SAUBLE BEACH

 Approx Drive Time: 2.5 - 3 hrs 

Parking Costs: $15 for day 

Cleanliness: 4/5

 Pros: popular beach, very close to parking, good water level, nice water, food & items shops/restaurants

Cons: far distance, sand tends to be compacted, more of a narrow beach strip than wide

Overall, this is the my favourite beach to go to! :D Although it is far, I find it definitely worth the travel because everything I look for in a beach, Sauble has it. The fact that they have necessities, as well as lovely water is a plus!

~ Vanida