If you found yourself in a new environment in April, you might have chosen cycling as your way to commute to work or school.

On the other hand, some of you might still be undecided, so I'd like to take this opportunity to share the appeal and enjoyment of cycling to work (or school).

The Appeal of Cycle Commuting

One of the appeals of cycling to work (or school) is the freedom from waiting for buses and trains.

With public transportation, you need to arrive at the bus stop or station early.

However, with a bicycle, everything can be decided at your convenience.

You are free to decide, "I'll leave 5 minutes earlier today" or "I'll leave 10 minutes later."

Being freed from time constraints significantly eases your mind.

If you have a road bike or cross bike, you can gradually increase your speed as you get used to it.

This means your commute time gets shorter day by day.

As a result, you gain more free time.

It even adds a playful element, like a game of chicken, to see how late you can leave.

(Please be extra careful to ride safely.)

As you ride daily, you'll also discover safe routes, and you can add fun elements like checking your speed with a speedometer to see how many kilometers per hour you can reach.

This is an idea that would never occur during a bus or train commute.

Perhaps incorporating these "playful" aspects into daily life can create a sense of mental space.

Moving Your Body Feels Good

The enjoyment of cycling to work (or school) also stems from the simple reason that moving your body feels good.

Moving your body before work or school wakes up both your eyes and your mind.

Perhaps you'll even come up with new ideas!

When you first start, the excitement of doing something different from your usual routine is exhilarating.

You can experience a unique joy that is hard to put into words.

Refreshing Your Mind

I used to commute by bus, and during my commute, I would think about the arrangements for the morning.

For example, "First, I need to finish the documents I didn't get to yesterday, then submit them to my boss..." and so on.

That itself might not be a bad thing.

However, you're already working before you even get to work, aren't you?

While it might be necessary at times, if it's every day, it gradually makes you feel down.

On the other hand, with a bicycle, you're actively thinking about driving, so you can't think about such "extra things."

Since you arrive at the office earlier than usual, it's not too late to think about your arrangements then.

Thinking by writing things down can be effective, so it's not always more efficient to think on the bus or train during your commute.

Of course, it's not that you can't think at all when cycling.

There are also ideas that come to you during moderate exercise, to the extent that you might want to ride a bicycle just to come up with ideas.

Distance Guideline

Let's consider a guideline for the distance of cycling to work (or school).

While it's true that you can cycle 10km or even 20km if you can ride, there's actually a distance that feels "just right" when commuting by bicycle.

Of course, that distance will vary from person to person, so please use this as a reference and find your optimal distance.

For city bikes (mamachari) or mini velos, a comfortable commuting distance is up to about 5 km.

Beyond that, you'll need to put in a bit more effort.

While it's perfectly fine for a day or two, if it's for commuting (or school), it's a daily activity, so there will be times when it feels tough.

For road bikes and cross bikes, up to about 10 km should be easy.

Unlike city bikes (mamachari), the frame is lighter, so you can easily pick up speed.

The distance you can cover with the same amount of effort is completely different.

Even so, if you find it difficult, you can simply choose to use public transportation on those days.

The principle of "not overdoing it" makes you feel free and at ease.

How long does it take to get used to it?

When you start cycling to work (or school), it might feel unfamiliar at first, and if you need to ride long distances, it might even feel tough.

Even so, you'll get used to it within about a month.

One approach is to initially replace a few bus stops or train stations with cycling, and then gradually extend the distance.

The ability to do anything with a little creativity and quickly adapt is also one of the charms of cycling to work (or school), isn't it?

Change your route

One of the appeals of cycling to work is the freedom to change your route.

With trains, unless you're in a major metropolitan area like Tokyo or Osaka, your destination and train are a set, and there aren't multiple options.

However, with a bicycle, you can take a shortcut or deliberately take a longer route.

You might discover new roads, new shops, or parks as resting spots, which adds richness to your life.

You might drive a car or bus along the same roads, but there are always discoveries you can only make when cycling.

I don't know if it's a matter of speed or simply being more observant of your surroundings, but you will definitely see different things.

This, too, can be considered one of the charms of cycling to work (or school).

Summary

Cycling to work (or school) involves moderate physical and mental activity, so good effects can be expected.

There's no doubt that it makes you feel more at ease.

The pleasure of being liberated from various unnecessary things is only known by those who have experienced it.

The effects are significant, such as exercising your mind by thinking about your commute route and time, and being able to come up with new ideas.

Please do try cycling to work (or school).