Biking is one of the better exercise forms. More people are doing it this year as well, with Covid-19 closing many gyms. Some of them still have not reopened yet.
You have to pay for your bike and a helmet. Then, once you have those, you don’t need to pay any further dues or fees, as you do with a gym membership. This is ideal for many people right now since many have had to deplete their savings, while others have lost their jobs.
After the initial financial outlay, you have your bike, and you can hop on and explore whenever you want to. Here are some notions if you want to check out some pleasant bike routes.
Explore Your Neighborhood
The first and most obvious thing to do with your bike is to check out your neighborhood. When you do so, you can:
- Find out-of-the-way stores about which you didn’t know
- Find local oddities and interesting sights
Many people don’t explore their neighborhoods very well. They may know the areas directly around them, but they don’t often go very far afield.
You can get on your bike and check out some unfamiliar neighborhood areas. You never know when you’re going to come across an ethnic grocery store with some fun food items to try or a secondhand clothing store where you can hunt down some great bargains.
Just be sure that you stick to streets with as little traffic as possible. Bicycle accidents are prone to end with devastating injuries, so wear your helmet, and you might consider pads as well. Adhere to all laws if you’re in a high-traffic area.
Check Out Some Other Neighborhoods
You can also leave your neighborhood and bike through some others in your city. You might bike from one city’s end to the other if you want a really good workout, and there are streets where you feel safe.
Exploring new neighborhoods is great because:
- You’ll learn more about your city and the different people who live there
- You can find things you didn’t know about, like restaurants, museums, stores, etc.
Again, some people stick to particular neighborhoods, and they don’t ever explore the others at all. It’s nice sometimes to go places you don’t usually visit to learn as much about your surroundings as you can.
Be sure, though, that you avoid any high crime areas. Exploring is great, but you’re somewhat vulnerable on a bike, so watch out for places where muggings and street crime often occur.
Go to Your Local Park
You might also figure out where the nearest public park is and take your bike there. You might bike there if it is close enough. If it’s further away, you can load your bicycle into your vehicle and drive there.
Once you arrive, you can unload your bike, put on your helmet, and explore the park’s trails. Many of them are gorgeous in the fall, and you can get in some good riding before the cold weather arrives.
If you’re in a state where the leaves change, the fall scenery can put you in a wonderful mood. It’s nice to lose yourself in the autumn colors after a pandemic year where there have been so many deaths and so much pain.
You’ll probably see other bikers there, and you’ll feel solidarity with them. You’re all out there trying to get some exercise, but you’re trying to ease your minds as well and get in a better headspace.
Go to a Nature Preserve or National Park
You might also decide that you wish to undertake a more ambitious bike trip. If so, you can figure out where the nearest nature preserve or national park is.
Many national parks and nature preserves have bike trails. Some have walking trails on which you can ride a bike.
Either way, you’ll have to do some research before you go. On the park or preserve’s website, you can probably figure out whether it’s appropriate for your needs.
You can also sometimes find online feedback from people who have biked in the park or preserve before. You can learn whether you need to watch out for any dangerous animals or whether some of the trails are impassable for a cyclist.
You can go there and camp out for a couple of days if you like, biking during the days. This can be a vacation for you if you want to break up the routine. It’s also a way to burn some serious calories and get in shape if you want to drop a few pounds.
Go Biking by the Water
Somewhere by the water always makes another great biking route. If you live near the ocean, for instance, there’s nothing better than a pleasant sea breeze that cools you as you bike past it. Whether it’s the Pacific or the Atlantic, there are few more picturesque bike routes than one which takes you by the ocean.
If you don’t live close to either coast, you might bike by one of the Great Lakes instead. If you live in upstate New York, for instance, there are simply gorgeous bike paths that take you right past Lake Ontario.
You can often see nature up close as you bike past the water, like fishing birds and aquatic mammals. In a challenging year, it’s a real palate-cleanser watching nature go about its businesses.
Whether you prefer urban or rural biking, you can find a route that fits your needs perfectly. You might have some less ambitious routes you take around your neighborhood, but you can branch out if you’re feeling more adventurous.
You can also take family members along with you if they have bikes as well. This can be a way for you and your spouse or partner to reconnect. Maybe your kids want to go biking with you.
Whether you do some solo biking or go as a group, it’s fantastic exercise and the ideal way to get yourself in a better mood.
Cover image: photo by Richard Tao on Unsplash
