Cruising on a Bicycle for Health and Wealth
In order to produce the podcast and keep content up free for you, I work with partners so this post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure for more info.
Last week I was proud to post about finally sitting down with an attorney and getting our wills updated and our guardianship paperwork in order.
Motivated by the ‘win' I decided to move on to another goal I've had for a bit – getting a bicycle. (Yep, I'm growing a mustache!)
Why I Bought a Bicycle
There a few reasons why I decided to buy a bike. They include:
- Incorporate exercise into my weekly routine: While I've always have great results on my check-ups and I'm in fairly good shape, I feel that bicycling can help me to get more fit.
- Save on gasoline: Yep, having a bicycle can make you rich! Honestly using it for very local trips not only cuts back on gas, but it also reduces the wear and tear on our family car.
- Be outdoors more: Having a regular activity that benefits me and gets my daughter and I outdoors is a plus in my book.
You probably may have thought that saving money would be the main factor since I blog about finances, but believe it or not, my main reason is health.
If you're on the fence about getting a bicycle, you may want to check out 30 benefits to owning a bicycle.
Buying a Bicycle
Looking at various bicycles I decided to keep it simple and went for a cruiser.
I don't have plans on being an avid biker, hitting the trails or racing, so getting an expensive with all the bells and whistles bike wouldn't really work for me.
If you're looking at a bicycle, here a few questions to think about so you can choose a bike that if right for you and your family.
- Why do I want a bicycle? As you saw from my list above, I plan on using the bike for short commute around the neighborhood.
- Will I want to carry a lot of stuff? Since I plan on using it for a grocery run, having a basket or storage are on the bike is on my to buy list.
- Are the local roads well paved or will I ever want to venture on trails? For now, I'm sticking to the neighborhood streets.
- How important is comfort? If I'll be using this around the neighborhood being comfortable is a big deal.
Like finances, just getting started is often more important than finding the perfect solution.
If you're looking at grabbing a solid bike ask around for a few recommendations, weigh it against your needs, and just buy one.
Thoughts Switching Over to a Bicycle
I'd love to hear from you. For those who bike for commuting or errands, what motivated you to make the switch?
I’ve been thinking a lot about getting a bike but haven’t been on one since I was a kid. It would surely be a lot easier to get around if I had one though, I’m curious to hear how this goes for you!
Thanks Shannon. It’s been years since I used a bike for commutes. Unfortunately I had to return the bike as it was damaged and missing a couple of crucial bolts :/ Hopefully next week I can start.
Oh no :(. I hope you have much better luck next time!
that looks awesome – I usually walk to work, but sometimes if I have to run other errands I take my bike – usually I just have to do a bit of advance planning – what will I need to take with me, what will I need to carry back, etc.
Jeff, how do you like biking locally? I figure that I’ll have to plan my trips a bit more, but I think it’ll be a plus in my case and will help with cutting back on extra spending.
I absolutely love my bike – so much so that I started a bike blog. 😉 I ride to Starbucks, ride it to work most days, and ride it as much as I can. It’s my main method of exercise (I really have never been a gym person) and it keeps me in shape. Most of the streets in my neighborhood really aren’t bike friendly, but I’ve figured out the ones that have less traffic and are a little safer. I also ride on sidewalks when the traffic is too heavy – a no-no, but it beats getting run over by a car.
So glad to hear this! I have a car, but I try not to use it ever; it usually works out to a couple of times per month. I’m a college student and I just moved across the street from campus, so I have the option to walk or bike to school. My job is on campus as well so my life is easy. I recently bought a bike trailer just like the Stache himself ($20 on Craigslist!) and it makes trips to the grocery store wonderful.
Sorry to hear about the bike having trouble; just be sure to stay away from bikes at the big box stores, a little extra money at a bike shop is always a good investment, and buying a reputable used bike is even better. Keep at it, sometimes cars can be intimidating but you’ll gain confidence over time. There’s a certain flavor and freedom a bicycle brings to life that no gas powered vehicle could ever provide.