Cycling to work is so much fun and good for your health!

Cheerfully pushing her slanted-frame bicycle and slinging her laptop backpack, Tran Ha Thai Quyen (35 years old, residing in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City) cycles to her office, 2.3km from her home. Having cycled to work for many years, sometimes working two shifts a day, morning and evening, she makes four trips back and forth.

Besides going to work, Mr. Le Dinh Luan also cycles along the beautiful roads of the city - Photo: YEN TRINH

Every morning, the sight of young people cycling amidst the bustling traffic is becoming increasingly familiar. It's not necessarily that they rely solely on cycling for transportation; some want to change their lifestyle, while others cycle as a form of exercise...

The two sisters shared a bicycle.

Quyen smiled brightly and said, "We have a motorbike and a bicycle, so my sister and I share them. Riding the bicycle isn't inconvenient because it's relatively close." When she worked at the Binh Tan District branch, she cycled nearly 8km each way through streets like 3 Thang 2 and Hong Bang...

The area where Quyen lives has spacious alleys and lots of greenery, so she often cycles to buy groceries from nearby shops. When meeting friends not too far away, she chooses to cycle if she's not in a hurry. Besides improving her health, Quyen finds cycling a simple, economical way of life, without the fuel or maintenance costs of a motorbike.

Loving a green lifestyle, cycling, according to Quyen, contributes a small part to her way of life, alongside using environmentally friendly products. However, on roads mostly filled with cars and motorbikes, bicycles appear "small," requiring riders to concentrate and observe carefully, especially when crossing the road, as they lack the loud horn and rearview mirrors of motorbikes.

During the rainy season, Quyen doesn't see any problem if it's just light rain. "But on nights with heavy rain, the roads can be flooded on the way home from work, making it difficult to see, or the wind can be strong and make cycling difficult. Sometimes I walk to be safe because I'm afraid of hitting a loose manhole cover," she recounted. Every mode of transportation has its problems, like once when she got a flat tire after work, Quyen had to walk home to get it replaced the next morning...

After developing a passion for cycling following a trekking tour through the Ma Da forest ( Dong Nai province), Mr. Le Dinh Luan (38 years old, residing in Thu Duc City) invested in a mountain bike costing nearly 50 million VND. From Thu Duc City to his company on Cong Hoa Street (Tan Binh District), he usually takes the route via Mai Chi Tho Street, Ba Son Bridge, or towards Saigon Bridge and the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe embankment, a round trip of 45-50 km.

"I usually leave home at 6:30 a.m. and it takes about an hour to get there. Of course, I don't cycle every day, because sometimes I take my children to and from school," he said. He views cycling as a sport and has been cycling to work for three years now, so he finds it normal; his heart rate and body have adapted. Initially, he felt sluggish and had to start with lighter workouts before gradually increasing the intensity.

Tran Ha Thai Quyen happily cycles to work - Photo: YEN TRINH

Enjoy a relaxing bike ride and admire the city streets.

Having received a bicycle as a gift in October 2023, Phan Giang (32 years old, residing in Go Vap district) said that at first she wasn't used to the strenuous effort. "Since I started working, I've only ever ridden a motorbike; I rarely even walk, let alone cycle. Especially in Ho Chi Minh City, the weather is hot and humid, there are traffic jams, and many large intersections. Cycling in the city, except in the early morning, is inconvenient because there are so many motorbikes," she explained.

Giang believes that if you overcome these obstacles, you'll find cycling useful and enjoyable. Besides using it for commuting to work on suitable days, in her free time Giang cycles in the park near her house to relax, exercise, or on open roads to admire the city streets. On days when she feels like it, she goes a little further, like the time she went to Can Gio - Vung Tau with a group of friends.

"I also love adventure, and if possible, I'd like to challenge myself and explore further routes," she said. According to Giang, cycling helps connect with more friends, leading to new experiences and joys.

Similarly, Mr. Luan said that cycling helps improve his mood. He recounted: "Cycling in the early morning and late afternoon makes me feel healthier and gives me time to slowly observe life. Cycling helps relieve stress, observe the surroundings, and reduce dependence on phones... The bike weighs 10kg, but I can lift it to cross through traffic jams." According to him, cycling slowly allows you to encounter unique moments that can never be repeated, such as the sunrise with its orange-tinged clouds in a particular area.

Because of the long commute, he often brings his work clothes to change into at the office. He shared that one problem with cycling or playing sports before work is sweating, but companies usually don't have showers.

"This is a drawback when wanting to cycle to work. And cycling isn't for those who are overly concerned about looking good all over, for example, the sun, the sweat... Cycling all the time makes your legs look two different colors, dark from the knees down. Not to mention the mud splashing in the rain, making it very difficult to wash clothes clean," he said with a laugh, adding that he has overcome this inconvenience.

Committed to cycling, formed a long-distance cycling group.

Luan, a cycling enthusiast, says that he and his friends now cycle around 200km without any problem. On weekends, they often choose scenic routes such as Can Gio, Nui Dinh, and Tri An Lake.

He and his friends developed skills such as having repair tools readily available in their motorcycle bags in case of flat tires or other breakdowns. If the tires or brakes were worn, he could buy replacement parts himself. Every six months, he took his motorcycle to the dealership for a check-up.

The group set a target of at least 6,000km of cycling per year for each member, while he set himself a target of 10,000km. "The Lunar New Year month doesn't count because I'm busy, so I cycle about 900km each month, or about 250-300km each week, which is completely achievable," he confidently stated.

Experienced cyclists recommend that beginners start with short distances of 5-10km to allow their bodies to adapt, and maintain a speed of 8-12km/h in the beginning. Joining cycling groups can provide motivation and experience.

Bicycles come in many types, such as racing bikes, mountain bikes, and electric-assisted bikes (when tired, switch to electric mode, then switch back to pedal mode to recharge the small battery). Office workers actually only need a regular, functional bike (touring type) costing a few million dong that fits their budget.

7 out of 10 people who cycle to work have more energy.

Forbes magazine cited a survey by the ebike.org cycling community (USA) with over 1,000 respondents, of whom 363 started cycling to work and the rest used other means of transportation.

The results showed that 7 out of 10 people who cycled to work, an average distance of more than 6km, "felt their hearts pounding and the wind on their faces each morning" and felt more energetic. 51% experienced reduced stress, a more balanced life, increased motivation for innovation... and saved $48 per week (approximately 1.2 million VND). This also helped them feel more connected to the city and motivated to reduce their carbon footprint.

In an interview with the health website WebMD (USA), Dr. Jabeen Begum (AIG Hospital, India) stated that cycling helps burn calories, maintain a healthy weight, is good for the heart and lungs, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and some types of cancer.

Cycling saves money on gas, improves health, and is also a fun activity for long-distance trips.

Many "toys" for bicycles

The market offers a wide variety of bicycle accessories, such as saddlebags and frame bags, transparent phone pouches, etc., with prices starting from a few hundred thousand dong.

Cycling is suitable for those who commute relatively short distances or on open routes, and it's a great way to combine work with exercise. For distances over 10km, you should buy a suitable bike, bring water, and some snacks in case of low blood pressure. You should wear a helmet and bright, eye-catching clothing so that other vehicles can easily see you, as bicycles travel at low speeds. At night, your bike should have lights, and you shouldn't ride long distances.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dap-xe-di-lam-vui-khoe-qua-xa-20250302091925035.htm