What’s your goal for this year? Lots of us are using the beautiful Australian summer to get fit and active. Others want to pour less money into their petrol tanks, or reduce their impact on the environment. The bike is a vehicle for freedom in lots of ways.
Read on for our top four New Year’s Resolutions.
One: Start exercising!
The Aussie Department of Health recommends that adults get at least of 30 minutes of medium intensity exercise most, if not all days. It sounds like a lot, but that’s just a 15 minute pedal to the shops and back, or a short commute to work.
The trick is to start with an easy ride. The big secret of cycling is that’s not tough. It’s easy. The bicycle is the most efficient mode of transport ever invented. Sure the Tour de France guys looking like they’re suffering, but you and I can ride for fun. A flat-bar road bike like our Osprey makes a fantastic way to get fit while you're getting around. Remember, riding on a stationary bike gets you nowhere.
Two: Save some cash!
The bike is the second cheapest mode of travel in existence, and who wants to walk? Ride your bike, and you can keep your bus fare, your parking coins and fuel money. Gym membership? Scratch that. Taxi home from the pub? Boom: gone. Just ride safe! If you're on a budget, check out the Harrier 1.0. It's Australia's favourite pub bike, because it's tough, reliable and ridiculously good value.
Three: Be more environmentally friendly!
The average car produces an average of 271 grams of CO2 per kilometre, if you include the pollution from producing the car. All up, light vehicles produce about 10 per cent of emissions in Australia. The bike, by comparison, produces a little as 21 grams of CO2 per kilometre, including the production of the bike and the food the biker ate to get where they’re going. The production accounts for just 5 grams per kilometre! The rest is food. Just another reason to burn fat, not oil. Our classic city bike for mastering the commuter is called the City bike... makes sense really.
Four: Ride 100 kilometres!
Let’s get real. Maybe you’re already a gym-junkie-tightwad-environmentalist, but you’re looking for your next challenge. A 100 kilometre bike ride is a great target, as it’s within the range of any determined rider. There are lots of charity events and other fun rides that give you the chance to ride 100 kays, but the real fun is in the training and preparation in the lead-up to the big ride!
No matter your biking goals for this year, Reid Cycles would love to help.
Visit us at one of our four stores, or online.
Happy riding!
Alex