| Do you remember first learning to ride a bike as | | | | the wind at your back or spending a half hour at |
| a kid? Do you remember the exhilarating sense of | | | | the gym, counting the minutes on the screen of |
| freedom and the feel of the wind on your face? | | | | the recumbent bicycle? |
| It's time to reconnect with our old childhood friend | | | | Getting a bicycle is easy. You can find them in |
| - the bicycle - and learn about some of its more | | | | specialty shops, sports equipment stores and |
| practical, adult applications. Reintroducing the bike | | | | some thrift/reuse stores. Buying from a specialty |
| into your life can save you tons of money on gas | | | | shop is the easy way to go - you know you're |
| for your car, pricey auto maintenance and that | | | | getting a solid, reliable bike, but you'll pay a little |
| gym membership you won't need anymore! | | | | extra for the privilege. Watch for season-end |
| Gas prices are soaring and there's no indication | | | | sales and ask the salespeople to recommend a |
| that they're going to come down anytime soon. In | | | | decent, reasonably priced bike. If you find a |
| fact, some geological experts predict that we've | | | | bicycle at a garage sale or thrift shop, take it into |
| already reached a peak in gasoline production - a | | | | a specialty store to have it checked out and have |
| point at which it becomes increasingly more | | | | any necessary maintenance performed. |
| difficult and more expensive to drill and refine | | | | And don't scrimp on safety gear just to save |
| fossil fuels. And no matter how hard we try, we | | | | money! A helmet is non-negotiable and you might |
| can't ignore the fact that global climate change is | | | | like some elbow and knee pads if it's been awhile |
| occurring and is caused, at least in part, by human | | | | since you've ridden. You'll also need some basic |
| actions. | | | | maintenance equipment. See if any local specialty |
| Ignoring gas prices, it's expensive just to keep a | | | | shops or bike societies offer maintenance courses |
| car. Most poor secretaries are stuck driving used | | | | so that you can learn how to do simple repairs on |
| vehicles that need seemingly constant | | | | your own. Also look for a bicycle safety class - |
| maintenance just to stay running. One week it's | | | | learning to ride safely in traffic is essential if you |
| the alternator, the next it's the transmission - | | | | plan to use your bicycle to commute to work. |
| those repair bills add up fast. Reducing your auto | | | | A final note of caution - be reasonable with |
| usage by taking your bike on short trips helps to | | | | yourself. If you're out of shape, don't expect to |
| extend the life of your car since you're putting | | | | be riding 20 miles a day to start. If you have any |
| less wear and tear on it. | | | | health concerns, check with your doctor before |
| But riding your bike doesn't just cut down on car | | | | making the bicycle your primary mode of |
| bills; it also helps you get in shape! Things like | | | | transportation. Work your way up to longer and |
| obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and | | | | longer rides and say goodbye to the gas pump |
| diabetes have become all too common lately, | | | | that's siphoning away your money. The bicycle is |
| largely because of our sedentary lifestyle. By | | | | financially and environmentally friendly, and can |
| making the bicycle your mode of transportation, | | | | bring an experience of new energy and |
| you automatically put an end to that. And | | | | enjoyment to your life. So what are you waiting |
| seriously, what's more fun? Rushing down hills with | | | | for? Buy a bicycle! |