When I started bicycle commuting to work and there are three main factors that help motivate me to get out of the road and behind a wheel.

You see all need motivation to start something new. No matter how insignificant or how insignificant the task that the benefit will be the doer, you need a reason to stop what they are doing is to start doing something new. It is like one of Newton's laws of physics applied a.

For me, the forces prompted me to cycling was my desire to get fit, I need to save money, and a desire to improve the environment.

The distance my door for me to work is 11.2 miles according to the estimates of several online mapping applications. Riding 5 days a week to bring my total mileage up to 112 miles a week. If I work 48 out of 52 weeks in a year I will be cycling over 5300 miles in one year only bike ride alone. That's a lot exercise.

To put in perspective the 5300 miles is more than the bike ride from my native San Diego, California to Charleston, South Carolina and back to San Diego. This represents about 400 hours of exercise – or about 66 minutes per day throughout the year.

Besides all the benefits of cardiovascular exercise normal, cycling also has the added benefit of building lean muscle, improve flexibility, strengthens the heart, and serves as a very low impact form of exercise.

The benefits of cycling exercise was definitely my first reason to use pedal power to go to work, but the second is probably as important – cycling saving money.

Driving a care has tons and tons of expenses when people think. You have gas costs that never end and probably only go up and up in the future. Then there is the cost of insurance that can vary in cost factors as age, sex, marital status, and history of accidents. As a 20 something man of my insurance did not come cheap. Then there are the oil changes and tires, and car washes. And that is only recurrent costs.

Also consider the purchase price of vehicles and wear the cost breakdown in terms of repairs and the value of the car in general. The cars are very expensive!

Bike are not expensive. Even if you go to buy a good $ 2000 – $ 3000 bikes are the chances you last the rest of your life if you take car of the same. Can the same be said of a similarly priced car? I think not.

Then you still have to consider the costs of things such as tires and maintenance of the bike, plus the cost of clothing for riding in But that is only a hundred or two hundred dollars a year maximum. Some people I know who spend a lot on gas in one month!

Overall, it was estimated that cycling saves me over $ 100 a month in travel expenses.

Interestingly, many things that save people money also reduce the impact of those same people about the environment around them. According to one carbon calculator, by reducing the driving 5300 miles in my life I will eliminate 1.8 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

All these factors played a role in getting me out of a car and a bicycle. I wanted to improve my overall health by increasing the amount of exercise I get each day. I also wanted to find a way to save my family some money so we could use for other things. And I wanted a positive impact on the environment. Fortunately, cycling provides all these benefits!

Steward writes for Bike Commuting for Beginners where he discusses how he started his bike commuting journey along with tips and trips to make the commute safer, more efficient, and more fun.

Commuter bike challenge

Targus Commuter Notebook Case TET027US $73.32 Targus Commuter Notebook Case TET027US

EK Sticko Stickers Biking $1.89 EK Sticko Stickers are acid free and photo safe. Great for collecting, invitations, stationery, gift wrapping, parties, scrapbooking and much more! Use stickers in all your projects! Biking- This is a collection of 18 stickers that include all you need for biking. There are two bikes, gloves, water bottles, shirt and pants, helmets, a bike rack and road signs with Share the Road, Bike Route and a bike sign. They vary in size from approximately 5/8″ to 2.5″.

Otterbox Commuter Smartphone Case – Smartphone – Black – Polycarbonate $21.1 Otterbox Commuter Smartphone Case – Smartphone – Black – Polycarbonate

Otterbox Commuter SmartPhone Skin – Smartphone – Black – Silicone $21.1 Otterbox Commuter SmartPhone Skin – Smartphone – Black – Silicone

Commuter Series f/Motorola® Photon™ – Black $23.52 OtterBox Commuter Series f/Motorola® Photon™ – Black

Targus Commuter Notebook Case – Leather – Black $68.58 Targus Commuter Notebook Case – Leather – Black

City Lights Series Commuter Crib With Mini Rail $459 City Lights Series Commuter Crib With Mini Rail

Otterbox Commuter Skin for Smartphone – Black – Silicone RBB49550S20C50TR $27.71 Otterbox Commuter Skin for Smartphone – Black – Silicone RBB49550S20C50TR

Otterbox Commuter SmartPhone Skin – Silicone – Black RBB49000S20C5OTR $29.56 Otterbox Commuter SmartPhone Skin – Silicone – Black RBB49000S20C5OTR

Otterbox Commuter Series For Iphone 4 / 4S Black $28.65 Otterbox Commuter Series For Iphone 4 / 4S Black

Commuter Driver’s Cap $19.99 Our waterproof Commuter Cap features a durable nylon microfiber shell, warm fleece lining and a flexible interior band for comfortable fit. Washable. Import.

Commuter Series Nokia N8 $21.94 Commuter Series Nokia N8 Nokia N8 Commuter Series CaseThe Nokia N8 is a phone that fosters innovation and creativity. Keep your new best friend polished and brilliant with the Otterbox Commuter Series for Nokia N8. This stylish and surprisingly thin case will ensure that you stay connected through bumps, scratches and shocks.Compatibility:Nokia N8Features:Access to all buttons and featuresSilicone plugs provide coverage for portsIncludes a self-adhering protective filmMaterial:Self-adhering clear screen protectorDurable silicone skinHigh-quality polycarbonate outer shellEnvironmental Protection:Case provides added protection against bump and shock. Case is NOT protective against water.

Commuter Series Samsung Rogue $21.94 Commuter Series Samsung Rogue Samsung Rogue Commuter Series CaseThe Samsung Rogue is sure to enhance your life with its 3.1″ widescreen display and fully QWERTY keyboard. Make sure you protect it properly with the Otterbox Commuter Series. This case is slim and trim, offering 3 layers of protection and solid peace of mind.About our Commuter Series:Three slender, yet sturdy layers offer tough protection in a sleek package. With a slim form factor and smooth outer layer, your Samsung Rogue will slide easily in and out of a pocket, purse or bag.Features:Access to all buttons and featuresSilicone plugs provide coverage for portsIncludes a self-adhering protective film for your touch screenCompatibility:Samsung RogueEnvironmental Protection:Case provides added protection against bump and shock. Case is NOT protective against water.

Commuter Series LG Optimus $21.94 Commuter Series LG Optimus LG Optimus Commuter Series CaseWe understand that some folks don’t want to cover up their new LG Optimus with a big, bulky case. That’s why we made a Commuter Series case precisely designed to enhance your phone’s features. The Otterbox Commuter Series for LG Optimus is the perfect balance of protection and style. Don?t let the sleekness fool you! This case provides top-notch protection against bumps, dust, scratches and dents.Compatibility:LG Optimus S (Sprint)LG Optimus U (U.S. Cellular)Features:Access to all buttons and featuresSilicone plugs provide coverage for portsIncludes a self-adhering protective filmMaterial:Self-adhering clear screen protectorDurable silicone skinHigh-quality polycarbonate outer shellEnvironmental Protection:Case provides added protection against bump and shock. This case is NOT protective against water.

---