Spin cycle

By Marco Buscaglia

While there are plenty of cycling enthusiasts who love riding year-round, you prefer a kinder climate before breaking out the bicycle.

Well, wait no longer—it’s time to get your bike ready for spring, hit the pavement when possible and remember why you love biking in the first place.

Here’s a list of six reasons you should be biking more this spring:

1. It clears your mind

David Rodriguez, a paralegal in Chicago, says his daily bike rides keep his mind free of clutter. “I try to do the same thing with walks in the winter but it’s not the same, probably because it’s a slower process. When I’m on my bike, I’m moving. Rodriguez says that as soon as the weather warms up, he rides along the Chicago lakefront or through his Wicker Park neighborhood. And he’s not the only person in his house who enjoys the meditative elements of riding his bicycle. “My partner and I actually went on our first date nine years ago on the trail to the Chicago Botanic Garden. What was great about it was that he didn’t feel the need to talk the whole time. We just rode and enjoyed the day,” says Rodriguez, 41. “I was worried he was going to be chatting me up the entire time but he told me that he enjoyed the solitude of riding, even when he was with riding alongside another person. That sold me right there.”

Rodriguez says he’s looking forward to that first ride of spring. “I hope it’s soon,” he says. “Just that chance to ride along the trails and see the lake or trees. I just inhale and exhale and let it all go.”

2. It’s great in a group

Bicycling is an excellent way to share the mental and physical benefits of outdoor activity with others “It’s something you can do with your children or grandchildren. It’s something you can do with a group of friends. You have so many options,” Rodriguez says. “I’ve ridden with friends from work and people in my building. It’s a great way to be social.”

If you can’t find someone to ride with, you can always check out your local bike shop or online social sites for local riding groups.

3. You burn calories

Unlike most stationary bikes, which offer a fairly smooth riding experience, riding outdoors means you’ll be faced with stops and starts, wind, uneven riding surfaces and more, meaning you’ll burn more calories by adjusting to the elements. “If you’re on an open trail, you can control your heart rate, your intensity level and more,” says Shannon Sovndal, MD. “The outdoors adds unexpected elements to your riding experience and most times, that means if you choose to, you can work a little harder.”

Sovndal, a former competitive cyclist and author of several books on the subject, maintains that you can ride your bike to reach your desired level of fitness. “It’s not just about riding from Point A to Point B,” he says. “You can customize workouts to achieve certain goals.”

4. It puts your senses to work

Riding outdoors means you’ll be seeing, smelling, hearing and feeling numerous elements. “I’ve ridden along the lakefront in the summer when it’s windy and you’re getting sprayed by the water,” Rodriguez says. “I’ve ridden through parks where there are people barbecuing. I’ve ridden along the edge of Millennial Park during concerts and heard everything. It really is something that appeals to your senses.”

5. It keeps you young

“I’m not sure there’s any activity that’s associated more with childhood than riding a bike,” says Beth Taylor, a graphic designer based in New York. “I remember the feeling of riding around in my little hometown in Wisconsin when I was a kid and it’s not too different from how I feel now when I ride in Central Park. It just puts me back in time even though I know I’m very much in the present.”

6. It’s good for the environment

A self-powered, two-wheel mode of transportation that emits no pollutants into the atmosphere can’t be a bad thing, no matter where you stand on the current environmental spectrum. “I gave up my car six years ago and I haven’t looked back,” says Taylor. “I still take buses and the subway, and I rent a car on occasion but in my daily life, I feel like I’m doing my part.”