The Health Benefits of Bike Commuting

Welcome to the Bike Bulletin. It’s the mid-ride café for your inbox.

As always, reply directly to this email. I love reading all the thoughtful replies.

—Sam Westby @samcwestby

Here’s what we have today.

• 🌍 RIDE: Route des Grandes Alpes

• ❓ RESEARCH: The Health Benefits of Bike Commuting

• 💡 TIP: Bike Theft

• 🎥 WATCH: Cycling Sardinia

• 🚲 ARCHIVES: Bikeways for Better Living (1974)

• 📰 NEWS: Stats for the Nerds

ROUTE ON MY RADAR

Route des Grandes Alpes

Here’s what you’d be getting yourself into.

• From the top of the French Alps to the bottom

• Lake Geneva, France to Menton, France

• 403 miles (649 km) with 64,000 feet (19,500 m) of climbing

• Access to the highest paved road in Europe

• Crossing 17 mountain passes

• Wikipedia

• Route on RideWithGPS

• kolthoff1’s ride on YouTube

I want to ride this route when I visit Europe this summer. The climbs look ridiculous, the views are amazing, and the road is smooth.

FROM THE IVORY TOWER

The Health Benefits of Bike Commuting

An 18-year longitudinal study in Scotland looked at health outcomes of bike commuting among 82,000 people. Here’s what they found:

• 51% lower risk of cancer death

• 47% lower risk of death from any cause

• 24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease hospitalization

• 24% lower risk of cancer hospitalization

• 20% lower risk of receiving a mental health-related prescription

If you’re a bike commuter, you’re in a special class. We’re pretty weird, and our bodies are happy.

This study is correlation, not causation, but it hints at how cycling keeps us healthy.

Read the study at BMJ Public Health

BIKE TRIP TIP

Theft

I hate worrying about my bike when I’m traveling. I know several people who have had their bikes stolen. This makes it hard to enjoy my food in a restaurant and forces me to rush in a grocery store.

You can go two routes.

1. Up the Security

The extreme end of the spectrum is a Kryptonite New York U-Lock with 3 cables carrying your panniers into every shop. Yes, you won’t have any issues, but at what cost? You’ll spend more time thinking about your possessions than the beautiful landscapes around you.

2. Relax the Mind

This is easier said than done.

During the first week of the Tour Divide, everything was going wrong. I wished I could quit. I would only quit if something catastrophic happened — like my bike getting stolen.

I would leave my bike unlocked outside shops and buildings hoping for the worst case. It never happened. My bike was always there.

A side effect was I didn’t mentally cling to my bike or my gear. I could let go and relax when I was away from my bike. It made hanging out in a restaurant or getting a coffee enjoyable and relaxing.

My recommendation.

I carry a small lightweight hiplock. This is a middle ground that works for me. If I feel worried, I’ll lock up. That way someone can’t just snatch my frame and toss it in their truck. I won't if it’s a small town or a gas station with cameras.

Find your middle ground. Theft is unlikely, but it can happen. There is peace when you let go of the stronghold your possessions have on you.

WHAT I’M WATCHING

Cycling Sardinia

Join Belle and Sanne as they bike for 10 days around a Mediterranean Island. I enjoyed themes of friendship, nostalgia, and exploration.

Watch all 33 minutes on YouTube

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Bikeways for Better Living (1974)

This 20-minute documentary dives into bike paths and bike lanes across the U.S. in 1974.

I learned that Americans bought more bicycles than automobiles back then. After a quick Google search — this is still true today!

Watch on Vimeo. Read more at the UMB Archives.

• £65. The amount actor Timothée Chalamet was fined for not docking his Lime Bike properly. He made headlines by taking a Lime Bike to his movie premiere due to a traffic jam. (CNN)

• #4. The U.S.’s global ranking for road fatalities per billion vehicle kilometers (2023). Canada ranks #11. (OECD)

• February 1st. The start of President Trump’s tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada. I’ll keep an eye on the bicycle market for you. (People For Bikes)

• 2.4 million. The estimated number of bicycles stolen annually in the U.S. (Findings)

• 3,577. The number of warnings and tickets given to cars parked in Chicago bike lanes last month. (Chicago Tribune)

A Note From Sam

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