What is your method of commuting to work?

Consider commuting by bicycle.

If you try it, you'll find it's a very pleasant experience.

■Benefits of cycling to work

If you think about it, cycling to work has only positive connotations.

・No commuting costs

・No worries about COVID

・Shorter commute time than by bus

・Relieves lack of exercise

・Weight loss effect

To truly experience these benefits, you'd need to buy a bicycle, but please read on a little before making a purchase.

Even if you buy a new bicycle, if it's too difficult to ride and you end up disliking it, it will be a waste of money.

Even a super cheap bicycle for 5,000 yen is a loss if you don't ride it.

■Things you should know before cycling to work

Perhaps you don't own a bicycle.

These days, there are also share cycles, so you might want to try them out.

The moment you sit on a bicycle, you think:

"The seat is hard."

I don't know how far your company is from your home, but your bottom will hurt during that distance.

Even if you ride on the road, it makes a slight difference whether you ride on the sidewalk or the roadway, but it hurts even more if you ride on the sidewalk.

Bicycles are originally meant to be ridden on the roadway according to traffic laws, so I'd like you to ride on the roadway, but riding on the sidewalk is also permitted.

However, when you ride on the sidewalk, can you imagine the steps at every corner?

Like this:

One or two steps might be fine, but when you ride for a long distance, your bottom hurts every time you go over these steps.

Also, the vibration from the handlebars can make your palms itch or hurt, so it can hardly be called an enjoyable bike commute.

If you've ever ridden a slightly better bicycle, you might think that "cycling to work means your bottom will hurt" with such a seat.

If you're going to commute by bike anyway, I want you to enjoy it.

Here's how to enjoy your bike commute.

■Don't use the front basket of your bicycle

Bicycles invariably come with a front basket.

It's dangerous to put valuables here, as there's a risk of snatching.

Moreover, when going over the sidewalk steps I mentioned earlier, you might drop your belongings.

Your precious smartphone screen might crack.

There's not much good in it.

It's a good idea to wear a backpack.

Still, carrying too many items while riding is dangerous, and from an outside perspective, it doesn't look very smart, does it?

It's best to consolidate your belongings into one backpack.

■The option of an MTB

Considering various factors, if you're not very used to commuting by bicycle, an MTB (mountain bike) is highly recommended.

Once you are mentally and technically able to ride on the road, I think a road bike could also be an option.

However, for starting an enjoyable and casual bike commute, I recommend an MTB.

The frames of ordinary bicycles usually have a shape combining straight lines, don't they?

And at their intersections, parts like the handlebars, pedals, gears, and front and rear wheels are attached.

While MTBs made of straight lines might be practical, I believe they lack beauty.

For example, look at the MTB we carry.

With curves incorporated here and there, it's clear at a glance that it's a good bicycle.

Didn't you also find it "beautiful"?

And it's not just beautiful.

The discomfort in your bottom that I mentioned earlier is significantly reduced.

Have you noticed the suspension (damper) in the center of the frame?

This suspension absorbs impacts from the road, making for an amazingly quiet ride.

It's a bicycle originally designed for rough terrain.

Since you'll be riding on paved roads, even slight bumps will hardly be noticeable.

At the very least, it's a world apart from shared bicycles.

Suspension isn't the only thing that absorbs vibrations.

Thick tires are another reason.

Thick tires absorb impacts from the road and also provide good grip, even with small obstacles on the road.

You'll immediately understand from this image that such effects cannot be expected from the shared bicycles for comparison.

For a comfortable bike commute, "lightness" is also desirable.

Try riding a shared bike, for example.

The heaviness of the pedals will make you recall, with a slight sense of disappointment, "Ah, bikes used to be like this."

Apparently, that red shared bike weighs about 33 kg.

It's small but heavy.

Perhaps it's designed to be used roughly by various people, so it's heavy because it's sturdy.

On the other hand, the MTB I just introduced weighs less than 25 kg.

That's a difference of about 8 kg.

They say it's like a whole bag of rice difference.

It's like riding while carrying a bag of rice on your back.

It's natural to feel it's heavy, isn't it?

Please be amazed by the lightness of this MTB.