Cycle to work
Cycling to work makes sense. It’s cheaper and more convenient than travelling by car or bus and it’s a great way of fitting some exercise into your everyday life while getting from A to B.
Still not convinced? Cycle Colchester has the answers…
I don’t have time to cycle to work
The beauty of cycling is that a journey takes as long as you want it to. You’re not beholding to a bus timetable, you don’t get stuck in jams and your journey time won’t vary with traffic. If you’re running late you can pedal faster, or if you’re on schedule you can take your journey at a more leisurely pace. Plus if you’re travelling by bike there are many more shortcuts open to you that will speed up your journey, too. And, more often than not, you can park outside your destination rather than having to search for a space.
I’ll get dirty and sweaty
The first simple thing you can do is fit a mudguard to your bike, which will stop dirt splattering onto your back.
If you’re worried about getting sweaty take the journey at a slower pace, don’t pedal so hard and freewheel every now and then. Just because you are cycling to work doesn’t mean you have to race. Some employers offer showers at work, but if you are travelling at an even pace you shouldn’t get any sweatier than if you were walking.
It costs too much
Owning a bike needn’t cost the earth. Once you have made your initial purchase, maintaining a bike is significantly cheaper than running a car. According to Sustrans, the average cost of maintaining a car each year is £273 compared to just £75 for a bike - even less if you pick up the spanner or allen key yourself.
You don’t need road tax, an MOT or breakdown cover and, above all, there aren’t any fuel bills. On top of that you don’t have to pay for parking when you travel by bike. And forget the myth that you need to wear special clothes to ride a bike – your usual clothes will do just fine.
I’m too out of shape
Why not try cycling once or twice a week to start with, and slowly build up how often and how far you cycle? You’ll soon notice the difference in your fitness levels – and it can help to firm your thighs and bottom and tone your tummy, too.
Cycling is a low impact exercise. However, as with all forms of exercise, if you are starting from zero it’s wise to check with your doctor first.
You can’t carry much
Nowadays there are lots of different types of panniers that you can fit to your bike to make transporting everything from folders to laptops really easy. Take a look in your local cycling shop to find the right sort for you.
| Joseph Warren, 37, works as a photographic re-toucher in London. He has lived in Colchester for the past five years. |
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 When I lived in London I cycled everywhere because going by car always took ages. Cycling really shrinks the city. But after I moved to Colchester and started commuting, I had to think about the best way for me to get to work. I looked into getting a folding bike that I could take on the train. Then I realised that I could take my full-size bike in the guard’s van on the Intercity trains and it’s worked out really well. It only takes me about five minutes to cycle to North Station. I haven’t even looked into the cost of car parking at the station because it seems such a waste of money. I put my bike on the train then, when I get out at Liverpool Street, cycle to my office. Having a bike really empowers you – it’s so much easier to get around. There are obvious health benefits to cycling, too. It may be only a small bit of exercise every day, but it all adds up over a year. I wear my cycling gear on the journey and leave a change of clothes at work. These days, a lot of companies are more clued-up about providing facilities for cyclists, like lockers and a shower. If your company doesn’t, ask them to do something about it. |
