We’ve seen them all, the wide array of different cyclists on their morning commute. All wearing different cycle clothing, from suits to lycra. All riding different types of bikes ranging from streamlined road bikes to slow and steady granny bikes.
Obviously, the choice drills down to what they are going to use the bike for. A number of things affect which bike is chosen, how far is your work, if you need to bring anything and finally, if they have a shower at work.
Most people think they have made the best choice for commuting. But have they made the right choice? Would it work out faster for a granny bike to get to work over a fixed gear bike? You’d think not, but I might just prove you wrong.
If you get 4 different cyclists and see which one gets to work first, then you’ll find your most efficient means of travel. If we pick out 2 lycra wearing cyclists and place one on a road bike and the other on a fixed gear bike. Then take another two cyclists, one in a dress on a granny bike and the other in casual clothing on a mountain bike.
Of course the majority of people will look at the fixed gear and road bike and assume they will win by miles. This is true, however, don’t cut out the other competitors yet. Once these 2 arrive at work, they are sweating more than a gorilla in a desert. So for them, not only do you have the time to get to work, but you also have to factor in the time to have a shower.
As for the other 2, the mountain biker came in 3rd place, but partcially sticky, a shower would be recommended. Finally, the easy going granny bike, it may come in last, however, the rider is sweat free. No need to catch your breath or have a shower, you can simply walk into work.
So once you get all the factors together and plus the amount of time taken to get to work, plus the time to recover from cycling. The granny bike takes the victory at a steady speed. It really does show that slow and steady will win the race.
Next time you’re on your way to work, spend some extra time considering your travel options.