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~