Five great reasons to get out of the car and start cycling!

1. Get Fit
Cycling is a great way to burn fat and tones your butt and thighs. We think there’s not a single woman out there who wouldn’t love a tighter tush – so get pedalling!

With each rotation your glutes and quads propel you forward, downhill and up, meaning you are constantly working this important group of muscles. Cycling is an awesome way to increase cardio-vascular fitness, but unlike other great cardio work-outs like jogging, there is lighter stress on your joints so you won’t come home with jarred knees and ankles.

2. Save Cash
These days, cars are super-duper expensive to run. So, what better way to save some dosh for your next vacation than by taking a bike instead of a car! The average person spends around AU$1,500 on petrol per year, not to mention the cost of insurance, registration, servicing and the inevitable mechanic’s bills!

You can buy a bike from around AU$150 (and let’s face it, most of us already have one kicking around the garage somewhere). All your bike needs is air in the tyres and a bit of oil every now and then. And, once seeing the results of all your hard pedalling, you might even want to scrap the gym membership too!

3. Save the World!
Cars create pollution and rob the earth of natural resources. Transport-related carbon emissions are the second-worst polluters in the world, leading to global warming and rising sea-levels. As travel-lovers, we all surely want our world to stay healthy and accessible for as long as possible, so if you want to keep Venice above water, leave the car at home and take a bike instead!

4. See the World
Forget about spending your mornings and afternoons sitting stationary in traffic listening to inane radio stations and staring at the number-plate of the car in front of you. Get on a bike and cruise past the cars with the wind in your hair!

Often, the quickest route to a place by car is via freeways and main roads, but the quickest and safest routes to take on a bike can involve back-streets and bike-paths that run along gorgeous pieces of land: from the hibiscus-covered track through your local Botanical Gardens to the crushed-shell path along the waterfront, riding a bike can be a great way to see the world!
 
5. Save Time
Riding a bike doesn’t actually eat into your schedule as much as you might think. If you’ve ever sat in traffic watching the cyclists fly past, you will already know that bike-riders have it easy when it comes to beating the traffic.

Most trips taken in a car are less than five kilometres long, like driving to the gym or picking up milk from the corner store. By the time you’ve found your keys, strapped yourself in, battled through traffic and searched for a park, the time difference between riding and driving is hardly anything at all!

If you’re in the market for a bike, check out Cell bikes or head to your local bike store, second-hand store or department store.  Look for a bike that is well suited for your terrain most traveled such as road or dirt.  Most brands carry specially designed bikes for women. 

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Gemma Considine