As a possibly unusually example, when I commute to work on my bike (or on foot), I deliberately choose a route that goes past one of the schools in my neighbourhood despite the fact that it is much slower and more challenging ride because of all the families dropping off kids or walking / scootering to school. But it just makes me happy to see all those people - not just cars - but people & kids outside on the streets, and being able to say good morning to the crossing guards. It makes my whole day better to stop and wait at a crosswalk while a mom or dad shepherd two excited 7year old to school.
I'm a quieter person but if I bike somewhere I always have a human interaction. I bike everywhere I can and am saving up for an electric cargo bike to replace the last few reasons I would drive. I do live in Minneapolis which has decent bike infrastructure which I think helps a lot when it comes to how much I bike. I'm originally from Sydney, Australia and I didn't enjoy biking there partly because of the hills but mostly because I felt like I would be run over. Luckily the public transport there is great so I didn't need a car still.
Gained 30lbs during the covid shutdown. I was working from home, with crazy hours as I was interacting with counterparts in multiple time zones and, of course, surrounded myself with comfort food. When I became aware just how much my clothes had shrunk (😊) I dusted off my 20 year old Trek bike and started riding. The covid weight melted away and, with few exceptions, riding is now a part of my daily routine. BTW, donated the Trek and bought a Priority bike - love the belt drive and internally geared hub …
@@TheHonestPeanut Privileged? its not really a privilege to ride a bike any idiot can do it, heck even i do it. Its a choice, i mean not other people's fault others are obese, some choose to have a car and some choose to ride a bike its all about priorities in life. To be healthy is a choice, nobody's forced to drive a car.
@@danielpedersen1688 yeah a lot of people are forced to use cars or busses. It's ok to be privileged dude. Having the luxury of living and working where you can bike everywhere by choice instead of driving or carpooling or using public transportation isn't a bad thing. Fat shaming is a bad thing. That's something to be ashamed of. Poverty shaming. Pretty much kicking down at all is worth shame. But not acknowledging ones privilege.
@@TheHonestPeanut ok u tell me how a lot of people are forced to use a car. Give me examples and don’t use the usual bullshit excuses like “oh my countries too big, it’s too far, weather isn’t good” like other people use. Use some valid reasons as to why a lot or most people must use a car
@@danielpedersen1688 you're ignorant to the decades of lobbying to city, state and national planning to split up and isolate neighborhoods so people are forced to use vehicles? It's got nothing to do with some fallacy of land mass or whatever you're talking about. If you're actually interested in learning there are a few good channels that explain all this. "Not just bikes" and "climate town" have a lot of good videos. If you're more interested in arguing for arguments sake though you can float off.
Thank you so much, I’m so honored you asked me to be a part of this. You were my original inspiration for riding my bike in winter and it’s amazing to be your guest on here. Cheers!
I already proved this when I stopped riding my bike and focused on my work. I became miserable, anxious, and I gained weight. I finally let go of my desk job. I make less money but I get to enjoy riding again and have more family time.
Tom’s work on this channel is a key reason I bought my first bike in 30 years. Back then it was strictly recreation, today my focus is on all the aspects mentioned in this video. The other day I did my first random shopping - pants, socks, vinegar, eggs!
Very similar story here too. Got my first bike since I was a teen 7 years ago. Thankfully an all rounder hybrid. Only rode it occasionally for the first year or two. I just couldn't be bothered cycling for no reason other than to ride a bike. Not in my mentality. Then got a cheap rack in Lidl followed by a pair of excellent big panniers also from Lidl for just €9 each and I was off. The bike had a purpose. Shopping, chores, commuting, socialising instead of taking the car. Needed more carrying capacity and got a couple of fairly big bike trailers for cargo and now it was a full on car alternative. Carrying everything from 70 kg of weekly shopping to a full sized lawnmower and much more. Fitted out handlebars to tail in racks, bags and accessories and I'm having a whale of a time just getting stuff done by bike instead of using the car. A few health issues and legs getting stiffer but waiting on my first e-bike to increase my overall biking miles and options. Non competitive cycling is a slower way to get things done than by car and takes a good deal more physical effort but it's extremely satisfying and I feel disappointed when I miss an opportunity for any reason. Basically it's just FUN! You are part of your environment and not just hurtling through it in a car. And I meet so many more people to talk to than in a car which makes it even slower still. And I mean that in a very positive way. Although I am an enthusiast I don't think I'm a fanatic. I still have a car especially because I live in a rural area. But looking forward to increasing my non car kilometres by another few thousand with the e-bike. But not going to hang up my faithful hybrid either.
@@tconnolly9820 The other day a random geezer smiled and called out from his porch, "Oh, you have an old bike!" It's a 2 week old Priority Turi (the swept-back handlebars and fenders make it look more like an old cruiser.) re: _The bike had a purpose._ This is paramount. Even for owners of classic (and today, impractical, cars) they use them for special trips to the pub, coffee shop, park outings. These may be luxuries but they still serve a function with social value. The only time I "rode for pleasure" was with friends. When I moved away from them, guess what? I had no new friends who rode.
The bike I use for exercise was bought by my dad before I was born. It's still going hard today, I've replaced quite a few parts on it but that bike is still going strong. I used that bike when I started getting into bike commuting before I bought my ebike. I've loved bike commuting ever since and the health benefits, physical and mental, are great. 100 out of 10, would cycle for life
I’m so lucky to have been born in the Netherlands: excellent safe bicycle infrastructure through the whole country. I love cycling, live in the city and don’t even have to own a car, which I don’t. I wish every country would adopt this approach to cycling.
@@Kitiwake they're very rare and like the video said, the mortality rate for regular bike users is 40% less. So even if he's injuries are slightly more, everything else is substantially less. And I've ridden for thousands of miles and the only time I fell is the first time I ever used my bike.
I feel so free riding my bike. When I'm commuting the time I need is always predictable. I leave home the same time and start my shift with colleagues who moan about having to leave home earlier than they'd like because of traffic jams.
Getting past the traffic and returning home on a predictable timeframe is what finally sold my partner on it. Taking the bus was a drain of $1100 annually for us and sometimes the 30 minute trip home could push nearly 3 hours if the road network got gridlocked.
I commuted for 5 years in my home city with one of the worst traffic of the world. It was the best feeling flying by a river of stopped cars on the side and knowing I didn’t have to stay in a car just getting angrier by the minute. Since working from home in a new city it’s been more difficult to keep the habit, but I’m trying to emulate the commute time by riding my bike in the morning. Kilos and weight also are being dropped!
2 years ago my car died and the only option I had to get around was my bike. Bike Commuting has helped me loose 45 lbs (from 220 down to 175 now) and heal from covid. I got long haulers and my lungs are still recovering but biking has helped so much in rebuilding my stamina, and I actually do talk to more people now because they'll come up and tell me they recognize me from my rides around the neighborhood. I'm also very entertained anytime people mention my calfs and how solid my legs look 😂
I love that biking helps you be more recognizable. I know the cars of like maybe four neighbors and even then, 3 of the 4 cars are pretty common so it may not be them. Lots of people can recognize ME because I'm not surrounded by a big metal box. Of course since biking isn't a common mode of transportation in North America, you *can stand out by virtue of being on a bike. I've had a few people approach me at the grocery store or library and say they recognize me because they see me zipping around on my bike. About two years ago I was biking by a Target in my area and I heard someone say, "I see them everywhere!! They get around!" 😂💅🏾 #Facts
I got rid of my car a year ago and cycle commute everywhere. I've always liked biking as a kid, so I knew I would enjoy it. But I was not expecting my mental health to improve so much. I feel more a part of my community, connected to the city I live in and the people I pass. I love my morning commute now, and I no longer dread going to work (as much) anymore. Our society would improve tenfold if even 10% gave up driving.
I lived these benefits early in the E-Bike era when I commuted to work to downtown DC on one of the early Giant Lite models from 2006-2011. I could ride to work in office clothes, no showers, eat a second breakfast upon arrival, and went from 210 to 190 lb. steady weight (I'm 6'). Groceries and other errands in the neighborhood were a breeze, even with a little one on the back. Miss those days. So glad to see some science backing up my assertions that a new ebike is a good investment from a health standpoint.
I have been bike commuting for nearly two years now. It has definitely helped me to lose a little weight but the main thing I love about it is how mindful riding a bike can be. When I am on my bike, I need to be present and paying attenting to my surroundings. I am not thinking about the stresses of life or ruminating on what can go wrong. I now think of time on the bike as my time, irrespective of whether I am cycling through a forest or I am going grocery shopping or just the train station.
I’m with you. I have plenty of other sources of fitness (avid gym goer, long distance runner) but bike commuting is such a nice hard stop to being at work. Total and complete disconnect and reset at the end of the day on a level that driving or even transit could never be. All I can think about is pedal and pedal and pedal. 30 minutes each way that can only be about what I’m in the moment doing.
What I found was that for a few years I simply wasn't putting enough into it. Up to last summer I was maintaining 185, which was down from 195 before I had a bike again. I had been at the higher weight for three years. That ten pounds came off fast, but that was as far as it got. It was regular riding which cut off in the winters, but mostly shorter rides (20-25 minutes) which I felt during that time were decent enough. When I bought a road bike, I immediately put in many more miles per day, and basically doubled the time spent on it. The style of bike and the style of riding suited me and I had simply forgotten about it from my teenaged years. So that translated to a 2.5 pounds per month average lost from last May to March, leaving me at 160 again, at that month. Predominately it was the same kind of food, with only slight changes. So the main thing is fitness, but fitting into 32 inch pants again is pretty cool too. Bottom line is the work you put into it.
Absolutely! I started riding because I HATE TRAFFIC. I love where I live, and everything is within a bike ride or short walk, but everyone here drives everywhere. It's crazy! Now that I ride most days, I don't have to worry about traffic. I can leave the same time every day and know I will get to work early. Also, I'm in much better shape. I am happier and more energetic, and I get to say "good morning" or "good evening" to my neighbors every day. I can still listen to podcasts during the commute. Now I dread the few days when I have to drive.
I consider becoming a bike commuter one of my best decisions of my life. This video does a good job of explaining reasons why. There’s an interesting point at 8:28. Cyclists don’t get “stuck in traffic.” On a bike there’s always a way forward.
Incidental activity is one of the reasons I love biking, especially as someone with ADHD, where I can get exercise that isn't boring and I don't have to go stare at a wall on a treadmill in the gym or something like that to feel active!
Riding a bicycle is a great way to exercise. Ebikes are bringing many older adults back to cycling. Cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles. Safe protected bike lanes and trails are needed so adults and children can ride safely. Speak up for bicycles in your community. Bicycles make life and cities better. Ask your local transportation planner and elected officials to support more protected bike lanes and trails. Children should be riding a bicycle to school and not be driven in a minivan. Be healthier and happier. Ride a bicycle regularly.
Where I live, I remember not being able to ride a bike to elementary school alone because of this 4 way intersection with no stoplights and having one of the busiest roads in my area running in between it. Now, many years later, they are finally doing something about it and are not only adding those stoplights, they are also giving it another lane and repaving the multi use path running along part of it. Lowkey one of the best things my county ever decided to do, not only can pedestrians and bikers cross safely, but car and bus transportation to the nearby high schools are also made more efficient! Proves that you don’t have to choose one mode of transportation or the other, you can accommodate both just as well if you put in the time, money, and effort.
Excellent film. As a doctor I cycle commute to work and do home visits to my patients by bicycle. For some of my elderly, frail and lonely patients having their doctor turn up by bike is a real highlight! I incorporate cycling exercise into helping my patients as there are quite a few where they may have difficulty walking due to back, knee or hip problems but can cycle. Thanks for your films.
You have no idea how much I relate to this video. Everything in my life became so much better once I picked up cycling. I live in Staten Island, NYC and started riding when I was 15 and I'm 17 now. The improvements I noticed in myself are insane. I always feel much better mentally and physically from biking. I always find people I know and I get to be way more social. Even taking the bus instead of driving improved my life so much. I'm way more social since I always walk to stops and take the bus with friends, I'm outside way more and go to so many different places, and I feel much healthier from the walking involved. I feel like I'm actually LIVING life and enjoying every moment being outside. Ditch the car, it makes your life so much better. Anything but driving a car is way better for you.
The combination of an office job at not-too-close-not-too-far distance (~4 miles), a folding bike, and last but not least - merino wool clothing (to deal with the stinky issues after coming to work) - it's a BIG win for me! It gets you going in the morning by ~20-25 min of mild cardio, without the typical exhaustion of a jog. Having a ~10 kg bike which you just grab near the door, literally 20 seconds to unfold, ride and at the office - just fold it and put it near your desk - this whole procedure add so much less friction, even compared to a regular bike (non-folding, usually heavier) which generally one gets from a storage/garage (a couple of minutes overhead when in cellar type of storage in the case of apartment building), and usually larger overhead to park and lock at the office building bike rack. Bonus point - 20 inch folding bike is so compact that I sometimes fold it and bring it with me, right in the shopping cart when I need to get something from a supermarket, usually on the way home.
(Warning - longish one) I had a car and didn't use it during lockdown and eventually got rid of it. A year or so later my Father-In Law died and we were clearing out his garage. I found a 1990s Raleigh 3-speeder at the back, oiled it and a couple of new tyres later, it was good to go. I'd fallen out of love with driving due to jams, other drivers and a few speeding idiots on the roads. I just used to get wound up constantly when a commute was taking 45 mins+ for just 5 miles. I use my bike now 99% of the time, saves money, masses of time and my sanity. I agree on the mental health aspect, I'm pretty down at the moment but all this vanishes when I'm out on my bike. Only downside is the weather is rotten at the moment here in the UK and sadly, we haven't got the safe cycling infrastructure here that many other counties enjoy. Since then, I've bought a 1980s three speeder and also a 1957 racing bike which I love. I wouldn't give up cycling for anything now and I think the main thing that I love about it is that it takes me back to my teens....that taste of freedom when I got my first proper bike all those years ago. Sorry for the ramblings - great channel.
I used to commute to work by bicycle, one hour each way. I was getting at work all prepped up, ready for the tasks at hand. Used to tell my bosses that I was just back from vacations, two hours a day of vacations. I am still volunteering for the cycling community, an engagement of more than 30 years and continuing.
I know exactly how Patty feels! My coworkers are always talking as if I'm making a big sacrifice, but I tell them that riding my bike adds so much to my day. I feel deprived on the odd day that I can' t ride.
I'm sometimes surprised as to why my mental health has improved so much since I started cycling everywhere, but then I get back on the bike and go "ah, that's why"!
Thanks for all your Shifter programs, Tom. They are interesting. I am retired so I don't commute to work, but I use my bicycle for running errands. I feel that this activity does have a positive impact for me in all three areas. Even though there are not many people who bike in my community, biking has sparked numerous conversations with people (sometimes bikers, but usually non-bikers) on my route or at my destination. My home-made basket on the back rack has sparked conversations with people where I park my bike. I take off and carry my helmet when I go in the bank and in stores, which sometimes sparks conversations with people about biking or how their health keeps them from biking.
I’m waiting for someone to ask me about my “shopping bag” I hang over the edge of the shopping cart at the grocery (a clip-on pannier, but it looks like any canvas tote. )
I recently started to commute by bike on some days instead of driving due to wanting to cut my car use for environmental reasons. The commute by bike on paper wasn’t great, I need to get on a train, it takes longer than driving as is not cheap either (due to the train ticket). So I didn’t have very high expectations, but after a couple of months I am amazed at how much better I feel when I cycle to work. I am more energised when I get to the office and when I get back home I rarely feel so tired that I sit on the couch for the rest of the evening (which happens with driving). I was really shocked at how stark the difference was.
I totally agree with the idea that cycling helps with my social health. When cycling I'm allowed to partake in something amazing... Spontaneous human interaction. I'm a big ebike fan as it was the difference between riding and not riding on my hilly 8 mile commute, and love showing people my bike, and asking others about theirs. One day, while riding a greenway I saw an older couple at least in their 70s. They had parked their recumbent e-trikes and were sitting on a bench eating a pair of peanut butter sandwiches. Having not seen a recumbent e-trike before in person I stopped and asked them about it. They told me a story about how, when they were younger and more capable, they would ride bikes together for fun. Eventually time started to wear on their bodies and they switched to a tandem... then to recumbent bikes, then a recumbent tandem (wish I could have seen that) and finally to the pair of recumbent e-trikes they had parked next to them. They said that the technology allowed them to continue to enjoy a hobby they both loved together for a little bit longer. I thanked them for letting me witness a little bit of their life story and left these two people that loved each other to finish their peanut butter sandwiches. While riding I've met other people with interesting stories and talked to them as well... more and more each day. I feel more a part of the world because its people are sharing their lives with me in small amounts as I pass by.
Fantastic video. I have severe eosinophilic asthma, and ~8 years ago I started taking a biologic medicine that helped mitigate symptoms. I’ve always been a cyclist, but now I can go 100 Km (personal best, 163 km). It does wonders for my mental health, and in Toronto, it’s always faster than driving or transit to get around, even in winter.
I think the control over time is not only a benefit over driving, but also commuting via public transit. Where I live we have BRT but it changes its frequency depending on time of day and even then can be anywhere from 5-10 minutes early or late. Cycling is less time spent waiting even if I’d arrive around the same time
I've always loved being outside and moving under human power. I'm the last few years I say, frequently, that driving a car really sucks and is mentally exhausting. This video explains why beautifully. I actually cried because I see my story in this video. Patty had some great quotes. Looking forward to more Big Stories.
Wow R&M, their bikes are great. I rented one in Germany last year. The mental health impact is really huge for most cyclist I know. Anecdotally I find people how commute by bike are also more civic minded and connected to thier community (volunteer more, involved in local government, etc).
This was a fantastic video, Tom! The benefits of cycling for transportation, even with ebikes, are truly extensive and compounding. In our household, we’ve experienced significant improvements in physical and mental health, as well as financial benefits.
2015 we started going to Santa Barbara in the winter. We biked regularly in Santa Barbara. Then we went Back to South Dakota and started biking at home during the summer. The next year 2016 we started doing Bike & Barge trips in Europe, we have now done 10 of these. Like you say it is physically good for us, plus just plain fun. We also have been doing weekly bike rides with a small bike group. I now watch several bike channels on RU-vid, like Shifter. Good video!
I loved Patty's comment about being part of a community when you cycle through it in a way that you are not when driving. When we drive, we usually think about the benefits ( climate control, weather protection) but don't realize that the cost is separation. I have become a regular cyclist commuter, biking my kids to school all seasons for a couple of years. I want to keep cycling forever. Great video!
I recognise all of those benefits from my commute. Even in rain or cold, 10 miles each way. 45 minutes in London. Love it. I’m no lightweight Lycra person either - anyone can do it. (nothing wrong with lycra of course!).
There’s plenty wrong with lycra. True lycra is Du Pont trademark and that company has an appalling reputation for polluting the environment in any and all countries where they have a factory. The fabric is really just spandex and it’s a fabric that is derived from the petroleum industry. It’s hard to completely divorce oneself from petroleum derived products but minimising plastic use and fabrics that are made from it certainly helps.
These are all amazing points why I advocate against car dependency in my life. I love the random encounters with people as you cycle around. I've had people ask me about my ebike and I love chatting about it. It's nice to talk to the local crossing guards, the convenient store clerks, and other people you pass by daily. It's also nice chatting with the people who run the bike shops around here. In a car you become faceless, nameless. All the benefits of bike commuting are reasons why I'm sticking with my decision to ride bikes as transportation. Even ebikes give you great benefits. Yes the pedaling might be easier on an ebike but you are more inclined to ride farther and you get all the other benefits too. I love bike commuting and I wish cities in the US and Canada start catching on.
I happened upon your videos a couple of days ago. By far the best channel regarding cycling for simple folk like myself. Having a comfortable, reliable bike versus having to look like a tour de France reject is what makes it appealing and accessible. Thank you so much!
I'm fortunate that the worst thing about covid was loosing my bike commute. I just can't force myself to go for a loop in the morning to get the exercise. Having a destination makes getting out so much easier to fit into the day.
I can confirm that my mental health improved a lot when I started cycling to work. Exercise is good for mental health, and cycling is just such an easy and convenient way to get started and get some work out at a very basic level. When you are depressed and don't have the energy for the exercise you know you should be doing, cycling is a good way to get started. And it's cheap, because you save a lot of money on petrol and parking etc.
With my current job i'v been riding 18 miles round trip for a year now and a year and a half with a 8 mile round trip before this job . It's the best part of my day's no matter what season or weather it's the adventure i look forward to the most.
Experiencing life through a bike is incredible. I interact with strangers, hang out with friends, spend more time in nature, shop and eat at stores, do my grocery shopping, and even dabble in gravel and mountain bike riding as a hobby. I firmly believe framing your transportation around bike riding improves many aspects of your life, thus improving the quality of life of those around you.
64 here, and just got back into riding bikes about 3 years ago. I ride my bike almost every day for at least 8 miles on a nice trail along the lakefront in the north suburbs of Chicago. I love the freedom of moving through my environment, up close and personal, right along the lake, passing parks and beaches, hearing sounds and seeing sights that I just don't see from a car. I love listening to bird calls and trying to determine what sort of bird I am hearing. I heard the storied 17-year cicada brood while up in the older refined north suburb of Wilmette, with its many quaint brick roads (not fun for bikes), and just veered off the bike path onto some of these residential brick streets where there were no cars whizzing by, and just slowly rode around streets I had never been on with no particular destination in mind, just in awe of the sound of the cicadas. I would prefer they were not brick roads, but when you ride slow on them it is not so bad. I wended my way back to Evanston, and then back to the bike trail, and it was a wonderful 16 mile ride. On nice summer weekend mornings, when I am really ambitious, I will ride up the Green Bay Trail all the way to the Botanical Gardens in a far flung suburb, and park the bike and stroll through the gardens, and then head back home, for a round trip of 30 miles. These are the mornings that I feel really connected to my surroundings and see so many things I have never seen before. I am lucky to live in an area where I can easily connect to the lakefront bike trail and from there connect to the Green Bay Trail, the Forest Preserve Trails, and many other trails. I think there is one series of trails that will take you all the way to the Wisconsin state line, with just a few detours on some city streets in the suburbs, but I have not been so ambitious to try that yet. 50 miles up and 50 miles back, is a little too much for me.
Please make a big story on getting kids started on bikes. I'm having so much fun with my two (7 and 4 years). They learn as much as I do each day we are on our Bikes together!
Since I started winter cycle commuting during the pandemic (I've been a three season bike commuter for over 30 years, lucky me!) I seem to have completely avoided the annual December seasonal depression I used to get. Just getting outside for an hour a day has made winters seem a lot more liveable. I've always been active (marathoner) but cycling in the winter seems to elevate my mood like nothing else. I really resent having to take the car to work these days. Love your channel thanks for all the great videos.
Awesome work! Love the idea behind this new series: in depth, well researched, and perfectly packaged to send to local council members or the bike curious.
Great video shifter!! I know it, and feel it, I love cars too, but I hate driving these days. Freedom of a bike is a wonderous thing. Just try to go out one day without your car, walking passed your car in your driveway is a huge relief and trust me life gets more exciting, you'll feel free of burden once you get used to it. You'll see things in your neighborhood you had no idea existed. Start a brief friendly chat with another cyclist at a stop light or a park bench. Find a local bike share an pop around your city, take your time and voila, you'll start to get it. Hop from a bike share to a bus or train. No worries about returning to your parked car destination. I realize that not everyone has this option but you could take a commuter rail and then bike around. Enjoy yourself for goodness sake.
bike to work, work from home... Whenever I manage to get a short 30-minutes ride in before sitting at my desk, it really improves mood and productivity.
I don't need to commute for my work, but now I commute for my Dog - I bike him to different dog parks and other interesting places to go explore. I think I've turned more heads and created more smiles on our rides than a person driving a sports car could hope to accomplish.
I'm 61. Commuting by bike fo 20 years.Car feee for 12 years. I'll never go back. (I rent a car once or twice a year if and when I really need to.) I'm strong and alert all day. Biking really takes the edge off mental stress when it occurs. And think of the amount of income that frees up when mostly biking.
I got a e-bike because i like to cycle in groups but couldn't keep up. It allows me to participate, get exercise at whatever level I'm at that day, and get fresh air. ❤
A perfect mirror of my experience. The quality of life change when I only had a bike was unreal. Now I have a car again and I don’t always make the choice to bike, and I feel the mental consequences
I've been biking to work for the past year and it's changed a lot of outlook on life, or at least opened up avenues to help me realize there are words and communities for things I always thought but was used to the suburbs. Urbanism, walkability, transit, local communities, public spaces/third places, etc. are all much bigger deals to me, and I have the knowledge and vocabulary to talk about them. I always enjoyed walking and biking around as a kid/teenager, I took transit to university, and have never really liked driving, and despite being more socially introverted I like to go outside and have limited, controlled interactions with people. I didn't know all those concepts were interconnected until just looking up ways to ride my bike safely to work. I still would never say I'm a cyclist or that it's my hobby, but it's definitely a huge factor that enables and links what aspects of life are important to me.
It’s so cool to notice such small things about a city! Being on a bike helps dive into where you actually are and has personally improved my appreciation of the many people caring for our cities!
As soon as the video started I said WOW what a leap in quality. Congratulations to you and the team. Brutal that a brand like Riese and Muller supports this channel.
This video convinced me and my wife to finally pull the trigger and budget for some new bikes that we'll actually enjoy riding. 3 Months later they are getting delivered today, so thanks for making these videos.
Once upon a time I could and did commute by bicycle. It was great and my BP and heart rate were so low it was wonderful. Now I work in a place where I would get run over on the way to work due to a lack of police presence allowing people to do 90 on a 50mph road. I wish I could commute again.
@@Shifter_Cycling Too be completely honest I feel that for most small to medium cities here in the USA there is no interest from city officials or planners to make streets safer for pedestrians or cyclists.
@@Shifter_Cycling sadly no, it needs traffic enforcement. As I live in NJ and work in Atlantic City, the roads onto the island are very limited. All are considered highways, but two are completely off limits to bicycles; The Atlantic City Expressway and the Margate Bridge. The White Horse Pike and Black Horse Pike do allow bicycles, but while their speed limits are 50mph, people often exceed them by a wide margin due to very lax to non-existent police. This leaves the southern most bridge, the Somers Point-Longport causeway. It is exactly 12 miles to work if I drive, easily ridden on a bicycle. To do so though, requires going an additional 10 miles out of my way as the only safe route onto the island is the Somers Point-Longport Causeway.
@@sailingspark9748I agree with your opinion about enforcement. I just came back from a visit to NJ; the majority of towns in the Union County area of NJ have little to no infrastructure. People ride on the sidewalks because they don't feel safe on the roads; the cars simply drive too fast. If hit by a car at those speeds, death is certain. I did notice a lot of recreational bicycling in the large parks.
@@dcb8531 This is true, the vast majority of the USA is not bicycle specific. It should be , infrastructure costs for autos are 1,000's% higher. Win for health, win for the environment & society. But the drivers here are raging murderers, so I bike only in small protected areas.
I changed my habits when I was allowed to return to the office after COVID-19. Things came together. COVID-19 had at least one positive effect on me; I now only have to be at the office 2 days a week. The timing was perfect to try something new. Furthermore, we have switched to a new location, and the new office is well equipped for people who commute by bike. I bought an E-Bike and am now commuting to work from March/April to November. I would not change that for anything else. It was the right decision. My daily commute is around 65 Km, making it hard to keep commuting through winter. I tried it, and exposure to cold temperatures made it another ball game. I am sure some hardcore cyclists would do it; they have all my respect. I was a cyclist for many years before deciding to commute to work by bike, so why did I buy an E-Bike? Because it gives me predictability, it does not matter if I am tired, or if it's windy, etc.; I know how long it will take me. For me, it was the perfect compromise. It's not as much of a workout as it would be using a regular bike, but it's more of a workout than using the car/bus/train. I also make a point of almost always using the minimum level of assistance. This decision has definitely improved my wellness and health.
I have about 350m of commute. While I use my brompton for this miniscule amount of cycling it is fun. Last week I sprinkled in few km of cycling after work and enjoyed it very much. Also just got stainless steel chains and studded tires in, so I will be ready to do more this winter. I really liked the bit about appearing as a human on the bike - one just greets each other. While the metal box drivers, annoy me more often then not.
All good points. I comutted for 2 years by bike and on feet , was great. I experienced all u said. Then moved and needed to use car again.Something that wasnt said was that ridding bike if you achieve getting to work by your own ability, not relying on car and gas production, kinda like taking control of your life. Not dependent on others production of gas ,money for gas, and less worry about breakdown ( walk a bike home, tow truck for a car. worse case is a new bike $100 -$ 600 where as in car $200 to $30,000in repair or replacement
After an oil change place ruined my car and left me stranded, I had to go bike only. Been this way for a month and a half now, and I feel so much better than I did before. Yesterday, I came home exhausted from a 20 mile ride on my way home from work because I had a few stops to make This morning, I feel great. I love my bike now
I started bike commuting back in 2011 after the death of one of my family members who was getting heavy. I was getting heavy as well and the bike has helped me keep my weight down for the the last 13 years.
It has definitely improved my health and wellness. I have pretty thoroughly proved that I won't carve out time for exercise anymore, but the bike commute has me doing way more than the recommended amount of exercise just by living my normal life. Plus, it's fun! I genuinely miss my commute when I don't get to do it
I completely agree with everything you've shown on the video, my experience is exactly this. I've been cycle commuting in the UK for years, in normal everyday clothes, no lycra needed. I got myself a Brompton through my employer cycle to work scheme which has made for compact convenience as well as an excellent ride experience. Well done for representing us cycle commuters Patty you were excellent.
10:00 "as an introvert who hates joining things" 😂😅 that's me!! Great video, Tom! I look forward to more. I bought my new first bike in over 20 years and my first e-bike due to a big push from your channel and content 😊 The e-bike video from climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark made me think that biking to work rather than driving was positive for the planet and your videos made me see that it was possible for me! It's only 2-3 days per week, but seeing my bike's odometer tick up is really motivating.
Yep, that sounds familiar. In early 2023 I went from running six days per week and cycling 2x7k five days per week, to just running six days per week (and walking 400m to work), and my VO2 max dropped by two points. That may not sound like a lot, but I could really feel it. I'm moving soon, and, as convenient as it has been to be able to walk to work in a few minutes, I really look forward to cycling 2x8k Monday to Friday. Yes, even in the rain.
Tom, your video ticks all the boxes for me. I've been a lifelong cyclist using a bike to get to work, as a sport and as an endurance cyclist. It's enabled me to meet 100's of people over the years and to ride in my favourite places around the world. It's shown me I am part of the universe, part of nature. It's provided health and understanding beyond mere words. and that's the way I like it. It's full on sensory.
Wish here that bike/trike, passenger/cargo cycling would become both MAJOR interests and hobbies in America!!! This video needs to be nationally viewed to hugely serve America!
I started tearing up during this video because it made me realize just how much happiness and social connection I've gotten for the last 7 years because I decided to start riding to work. It really changes lives.
At one time in my life I worked 50-hour weeks on the regular. My commute to work was 11 miles each way and cycling saved me. During the darkest months my wife insisted that I drive, and when I did my sleep suffered, I was tense and ill at ease and I probably put on some weight as well. When I resumed cycling to work I slept better, I could eat double pudding including custard and I was happy. The one time my head is quiet is when I’m riding my bike. Now we’re car free and my wife is the one with the long commute, which she does by bike at least in the snow-free months. She commented on the improvement in the first week of cycling. It’s real!
There are two lovely crossing guards near local schools I pass who I love waving at: there's so many cool things happening all the time and biking to work and home everyday makes me feel connected and happy in my community.
Great video! I remember reading a study not too long ago that compared different kinds of excercise in treating depression. It found that cycling is about just as effective as taking an antidepressant, but both are actually pretty low on the list. If you're curious, the most effective kind of exercise for treating depression was dancing. Cheers
Well done to the editor Josh on this video. Your work hasn't gone unnoticed. Really liked the editing on this one. Made the whole thing feel professional.
Just ordered a new bike this week after an accident left my last bike, in less of a bike shape. I'll be (hopefully) picking it up next week, and I've switched to a more relaxed "Cruiser" style for the suburbs instead of getting another Mountain Bike 😅 I'm really excited to get back on!
Over the years I've changed the stem and handlebars on my much-loved 'daily driver' several times, to progressively more upright /comfort-oriented positions. 🙂 Enjoy!
Team mental health here. I'm in a leadership position in R&D. Commuting leaves me awake every morning for a good start, and after a demanding day at the desk, I can push all my thoughts into the cranks, arriving home in a good mood. Having one of the frustrating days leads to a new record on that climb home 😂
Wow the quality of this video is notably better than your earlier work. This channel's about to pop off for sure. Clearly putting that R&M money to good use!
I'm a mobile crane operator myself in The Netherlands, wich is mostly a sitting job. My body stores it's body fat in and around the liver wich is very risky for my health. It can lead to scar tissue on the liver wich can also lead to cancer or a bad functioning liver. So my doctor said i had to change my way of life. At first i started to swim one day a week. But it was hard to combine that with my work because of the irregular work times. Now i leased a new Gazelle Ultimate C380 e-bike through my work, and i bike around one hour every day. Last wednesday i recieved very good news that i don't have to go to the hospital anymore, and my blood stats have improved alot back to normal value's. I also went down 2 sizes in clothes💪🏻 all thanks to riding my bike!
When I first picked up riding again in Fall of 2021, it was because I knew I was sliding into obesity between the stress of the pandemic and the changes in my daily activities. I really really wanted a treadmill but I could only find used models for three THOUSAND dollars in my local market as the cheapest... I bought an entry level single speed fixie e-bike from one of the larger companies offering at the time and since I got my Radmission 1 I have put serious mileage into it. Weight and endurance issues after just putting in as little as 8km three times a week for 30 mins at a time or so gradually but surely did go away. Without thinking about it, once it was habitual, I lost 90lbs of fat in 3 months and I was routinely lowering the electric assist on my longer and longer rides. People will tell me I have the wrong equipment to really get the most out of my bike, or that I'm not a real cyclist because it's an e-bike, or that I should get off the road because it belongs to their lifted trucks. I wave them by. I have unlocked a lot more out of my physical body through the joy of just putting rubber on road with pedals and that's probably a good 60% of the mental health benefit right there. There's still a tangle of life to handle, there always is, but I'm never gonna give up biking again even if it means I am just going for a loop around the park to unwind if I can no longer commute to my next job. Oh and thanks Shifter, I bought the Vaude rain poncho and it has been *incredibly valuable* after watching your video on the topic. The regular street rain jacket I was wearing just wasn't enough when you put in the wind effects at moving at speed. The only days I don't ride feature frost on pavement, snow/ice, or intense forest fire smoke in the air. Very heavy rain isn't a pleasure but with the right gear you can show up to places dry underneath. The financial benefits of not topping up the fuel tank in my personal vehicle has proven to be more than I anticipated. Yeah, some trips are too much to bike (when a lot of groceries need to be bought all at once) but my partner and I have staggered when we buy certain things so it's all manageable on the hills back home. Spending that pump money on other things has been a real side bonus! From twice a week at the gas station to once every two weeks at most, it adds up. I think about that when I'm hauling a big load up the hill as motivation haha Much respect to this channel, I hope others get the benefits by picking up any bicycle. Don't let the gear-heads dissuade you, if your bike works for you and is safe, ride on!
This was terrific. Perhaps you could team up with Not Just Bikes again and perhaps a university and do an analysis of the financial benefits to cities if 10% or more of commuters biked. Such as financial benefits of a healthier population, benefit to employers from healthier employees and fewer sick days, reduction of car accidents, reduction in traffic and the corresponding reduction in sound and pollution, reduced wear and tear on roads and resulting reduced repair and resurfacing costs. There is a good chance that improving bike infrastructure would ultimately improve the city’s budget and completely offset the cost of bike infrastructure improvements.
Couldnt agree more with this vid. I bike 2 to 3 times a week ( 25km each way) to work in New Zealand and feel better in my mind on those days I cycle compared to those days I take the car.
Cycling has improved my health immensely. At 56 years old, my VO2 is 50, and my BMI is 23.7. I don't commute by bike as I live too far away and don't particularly enjoy it. I do mostly mountain biking and a bit of gravel riding.
