May is bike-a-palooza month: it’s not only National Bike month, there’s also a National Bike to Work Week scheduled for May 14-18, culminating in National Bike to Work Day on May 18. Get more info on Bike Month activities at the event sponsor, the League of American Bicyclists. Maybe you can talk to your work colleagues and get a bike-to-work-athon going.
Biking is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy the spring weather and give your physical and mental health a tune-up after the long winter months. Biking is a great aerobic exercise, it’s an economical and environmentally-friendly transportation option and it’s fun. The health benefits are tremendous: Burn calories, strengthen your muscles, improve cardiovascular fitness, develop lower body strength and improve balance. Plus, you get to wear a cool helmet!
Before you get out on the road, think safety. Brush up on your state bike laws about helmets, passing, sidewalk riding an more. The League also has some excellent resources on Smart Cycling – the offer useful information so you can learn more about biking safety, performing maintenance on your bike, improving your biking skills and more. To build more confidence in your ability to ride, you can learn where to take classes, which is also a great way to connect with other bicyclists and advocates in your area. And here are a few good videos on a basic bike check for prepping your bike for the season and good info on bike helmets.
Basic Bike Check
Bike Helmets