May is National Bike Month! With Bike to Work Week kicking off May 15, let’s take a look at the increasingly popular sport of biking and how it has won over every day consumers. It’s easy to add biking into your life thanks to bike share programs. Read on to learn more about this popular exercise and recreational activity and what gear you’ll need to start biking!
Rising popularity
Cities across America have been adding bike lanes to accommodate the growing number of bike riders. The number of Americans who ride bikes has increased by over 30% since 2012. According to PeopleForBikes, 54% percent of adults in the U.S. perceive bicycling as a convenient way to get from one place to another, and 53% would like to ride more often. The rise in “bike sharing” or easily accessible, self-serve bike rentals have significantly contributed to the increase in biking popularity. According to metrobike.net, worldwide bike sharing grew by 8x in just 5 years!
Bike sharing services have increased in popularity.
Everyday Bikers
The growth in the bike sharing category, typically favored for every day or recreational use means it’s no surprise that most bikers fall into the recreational or leisure category. PeopleForBikes notes that 70% of cyclers rode their bikes for social, recreation, or leisure, while 46% rode to commute to work or school.
Biking for exercise is growing as well, especially among your average health enthusiasts. Cycling isn’t just for the road warriors anymore! Not only has indoor cycling become increasingly popular thanks to brands like SoulCycle and Flywheel, but actual exercise biking has seen an uptick in recent years too! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cycling jumped from Americans 9th favorite exercise activity in 2008 to the 6th most popular exercise activity in 2016.
Get Out and Bike!
Adding biking to your go-to leisure or exercise regimen is easy! These days there are more bike lanes and bike rental services than ever before. The increasing popularity of the sport has also led to equipment and accessory improvements. Here are the top recommendations for gear to get you cycling for National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week:
Helmets That Aren’t Weird. If you’re just looking to bike for exercise, not racing, you don’t need to worry about all the fancy aerodynamic feathers of fancy bike helmets. The Giro Aeon helmet is incredibly lightweight and won’t bog you down on longer rides while the Closca Fuga helmet actually collapses for easy storage in your bag or desk if you’re biking to work. Social media fans can opt for the Kask Rex helmet for its cool integrated camera to capture all the beautiful sights from your city or countryside ride.
Cycling Shoe Covers. For exercise cyclists, don’t let inclement weather slow your roll! Pop on a sleek cycling shoe covers to protect your workout or cycling shoes from the rain, or puddles after heavy rainfall. You can also get rain covers for your not-weird-looking helmet!
Bikewear. You’ll want exercise pants that hang close at the ankle to prevent the fabric from catching in the bike mechanism. Dry-fit material is ideal for exercise overall, but especially for those biking to work. A quick rinse in the sink and vigorous twist will make storing your bike wear easy and (mostly) smell- free! The best part is, they’ll be dry and ready for your ride home by the day’s end. Add a gilet, or a sleeveless cycling vest, as an outer layer on chilly or windy days. Men and women alike will be well served to also equip themselves with subtle cushioning like that of the Bettie cycling panty.
Personal Seat Cover. When bike sharing, you’ll definitely want to BYOSC- bring your own seat cover/cushion. Bike seats leave much to be desired, cushioning specifically. Bike sharing programs use standard sized bike seats, so almost any cover will do. Bike seat covers will also come in handy after rainfall to prevent you from sinking into a sopping wet seat, with lasting water marks on your pants to prove it.
Easy to Use Water Bottles. Drinking while cycling is not an easy task. You’ll definitely want to get a water bottle with an external nozzle or straw for easy sipping. The cup holders on most bikes, including bike sharing bikes, is the standard coffee cup size that you find in cars. Squeezable water bottles will come in handy once your water supply gets low as tipping a water bottle back can be quite risky while moving forward on your bike. If you’re into longer rides, get a water bottle with thermal capabilities to keep your water nice and cool.
Now you’re all set to get outside and ride!