Written by Aldo, one of our four sponsored riders in the Commuter Challenge.
"Being selected for the 99 Bikes Commuter Challenge could not have come at a better time"
It has been an exciting two weeks into the 99 Bikes Commuter Challenge, which started off with me picking up my Lapierre Xelius SL 600 from 99 Bikes Fitzroy North.
The team made sure that I chose a bike that I liked and suited my riding style. As I started my commutes to work, my Strava stats showed that I was beating my previous best times, reinforcing that the bike selection and bike fit was spot on. I am looking forward to seeing further improvements in my commuting time as my fitness levels improve throughout the Challenge.
Lapierre Xelius SL 600
Being in my 40s, measuring 170cm in height, weighing 82kgs and having a waist circumference of 101cm – I have all the signs of the “middle-age spread”. Putting these figures into BMI calculators, I am told that I am overweight and have an increased risk of developing heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes and some Cancers – being selected for the 99 Bikes Commuter Challenge could not have come at a better time for me.
I am hoping that the end of the three month challenge I will be able to report back with some more favourable statistics, to inspire others to ditch the car for the bike and live a healthier lifestyle. If you are interested in commuting to work here are some useful tips to get started:
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If you are in Victoria, Google “Travelsmart” and the name of the municipality you will be riding through and you will gain access to maps which show where bike paths are located. If you are not a confident rider look for routes which have dedicated paths for bikes.
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Do a trial run on a weekend to gauge how long it will take for the commute to work.
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If your workplace does not have shower facilities look at using your local pool/gym’s shower facilities. If you are travelling into the CBD see if your city has “end of trip” facilities such as:
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Cycle2city (King George Square Cycle Centre) in Brisbane
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Bike Pod or Bike Park in Melbourne
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I ended the fortnight of the Challenge by taking the advice of the team at 99 Bikes Fitzroy North to get involved in their Tuesday morning shop ride or the Ascot Vale store’s Saturday morning ride, I took their advice and joined the riders at 99 Bikes Ascot Vale. It was a great ride and I met some friendly staff and riders.
– Aldo
