Five reasons why I love to cycle

I want to ride my bicycle: Cycling equals fist-pumpin’ good times for local recording engineer and producer John Paul Peters, who rides daily. Stefan Isfeld

Reason #1

Riding a bike is awesome!

I figured that out as a five-year-old. As a bike commuter I get to do something that I like every day, both before and after work, as opposed to being cooped up in a car stuck in traffic.

Reason #2

Good friends.

I’ve made many good friends through bike clubs, cycling events and races. Bike riding is really something you can do with others any time you want. Whether it’s with one other person or a group of 20-plus, a good ride always affords lots of time to socialize.

I ride regularly on Tuesday nights with a great group of folks, usually concluded at a local joint for post-ride drinks. Let’s just call it beer o’clock-calories justified.

I’ve also had fantastic times on group trips to various riding destinations such as the Maah Daah Hey trail in North Dakota, Falcon Trails in the Whiteshell and Canmore, Alta.

Reason #3

I love bike racing!

The adrenaline, the pain, the glory, the failure, the strategy and the camaraderie all keep me coming back for more.

I’ve been racing mountain bikes for six years and cyclocross for two seasons. My only regret is not getting into it sooner.

There are lots of levels of competition and the sport is very welcoming to riders interested in exploring bike racing. Find more information at www.mbcycling.ca.

Reasons #4 & #5

It has been said that while cars run on money and make you fat, bicycles run on fat and save you money.

As a year-round bicycle commuter, I save anywhere upwards of $6,000 per year of the cost of a second vehicle. While I do own a car, it is used primarily for family transportation and longer-distance ventures.

My commuter bike cost me an initial output of around $700 and averages about $50 per year in maintenance, plus $45 dollars in insurance for a total of only roughly $200 per year in bicycle-specific expenses.

Obviously winter commuting requires a certain amount of specialized clothing. However, most of it is useful for other winter activities.

Staying fit was initially my main reason for commuting to work. I work in the music industry and while I love my work, I don’t move around a lot on the job. Since I started riding regularly, I’ve been able to eat lots of good food and maintain a healthy weight at the same time. I get to work invigorated and ready to go, not to mention I’m not shivering in a cold car.

That’s right - winter bike commuting doesn’t have to be cold. It’s all about what you wear. I ride my normal commuting bike with slick road tires year-round.

Reason #6 (Bonus - but equally as important!)

Cycling is good for the environment.

Less waste, drastically lower production resources, virtually no carbon emissions, high efficiency, less traffic congestion, better use of space.

The list goes on. What is there not to love about this?

John Paul Peters is a classically trained violinist who first made a name for himself in Manitoba’s music scene as the guitarist for the bands The Undecided and Officer Down. Over the past nine years, he’s established himself as a recording engineer and producer, working on albums with Comeback Kid, The Waking Eyes, SubCity, Evil Survives, Matt Epp, Electro Quarterstaff and many more. Visit www.privateear.ca.

Published in Volume 66, Number 9 of The Uniter (October 26, 2011)

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