If you want to get in shape AND save the planet this year, consider biking to work. Jeff Rossini wraps up his 4-part series to help you do just that.

When the first day comes and you walk out the door and mount your bicycle instead of stepping into a car, your world will change. You will see the same world – the same streets, the same mailboxes – but will feel as if you are opening your eyes for the very first time. You will notice things you had never noticed before. The only uncertainty is: will you allow it to change you?

In his book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig writes about the difference between the experience of driving a car and riding a motorcycle - which to me, can be translated to bicycles as well:

You see things...on a motorcycle in a way that is completely different from any other. In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame. On a cycle the frame is gone. You're completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming. That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing, the same stuff you walk on, it's right there, so blurred you can't focus on it, yet you can put your foot down and touch it anytime, and the whole thing, the whole experience, is never removed from immediate consciousness. (page 14)

Sometimes the hardest part of doing something new is starting – or as the old adage goes, "a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Bike commuting is no different. You will have to rethink your morning routine: when you shower, when you eat, when you get dressed. But once you develop a system, this new routine can become as natural as any other.

But that's not to say there won't be eventful moments. Flat tires, exposure to extreme heat, irate automobile drivers – these things are all part of bike commuting. And the best way to continue bike commuting AFTER experiencing any of these things is to be prepared.

Before you begin bike commuting, there are a few skills that are essential:

• Advanced bike riding skills - you should be extremely comfortable and confident riding a bike before starting to bike commute. It is not always a leisurely ride, and you must be able to adapt to constantly changing situations and environments.
  
• General bike repair skills - know how to change a tire/patch a tube, adjust your brakes, and fix a stuck chain. These things will most likely happen, but if you are prepared, the most common repairs will merely be a hiccup and not leave you stranded.
  
• Patience and cool-headedness - chances are, you will get honked at, cat-called, and yelled at. Motorists will be upset that you are getting in their way. Personally, I prefer to let these things go and avoid unnecessary confrontation. If a motorist puts you in danger do your best to record the license plate number and description of the car, and contact the local police immediately. While conflict is unnecessary, that doesn't mean you have to let motorists endanger you.

I cannot stress the importance of being prepared enough. Bike commuting can be a relatively simple lifestyle change to make, so long as you concentrate your efforts in the right place. Be prepared, be aware and be seen. This will help ensure a happy commute each day.

In the short time that I have embraced bike commuting, I have learned many things, some from first-hand experience. I find it is a good idea to have a mental checklist to run through every morning before leaving your residence. Think through everything to make sure you have all the clothes you need. Be sure to carry sufficient water and other emergency gear with you (change for a bus or pay phone). Take it easy when you first start out, and even if you are a seasoned cyclist, commuting by bike every day will leave you with sore and tired legs - it is a good idea to stretch after each ride. People will make random conversation with you when they see you leaving the office with a bike - and many will say, "I would ride my bike, but..."

I now look forward to biking to and from work each day instead of dreading the traffic gridlock, and I have a feeling you will too.

Previous Installments:
Bike Commuting 101: Car if You Don’t, Don’t Car if You Do
Bike Commuting 102: Get Your "Ifs," "Ands," and "Buts" on the Saddle
Bike Commuting 103: No Shopping Spree Necessary

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