Mr. Money Mustache was right. Riding a Bicycle is a Super Power!

I heart my bike.

I have never owned a car in my life. I’m 45 years old.

I don’t even want to drive a car even. Not even the latest sports model or Tesla.

I live in a big city and have lived in other cities larger and smaller in Canada and the United States. Cities make owning a car more of a hassle than a joy in my opinion. Where do I park the car? How do I avoid traffic (hint you don’t), and how much do I have to pay for the car itself, including insurance, parking, and repairs, simply for the privilege of having the car sit idle for more time than I will ever drive it?

Even when I travel abroad, I opt for airplanes, trains, buses, walking and cycling (and the occasional taxi or ride share). The thought of having to drive between destinations in Europe makes no sense to me when Europe has such a pleasant and efficient network of inter-city trains.

I also freely admit that I don’t have a family which makes owning a bike and not a car a whole lot easier. No kids and all that they entail (baby strollers, etc.) to shlep onto public transit or into a ride share. But I still like to believe that if I had a family, I would at least try to opt for a bicycle at times and would outfit my ride to accommodate toddler travel companions.

Riding a bike brings a multitude of joys. I absolutely love hopping on my bike and I do so at every opportunity. Here I am on a recent summer visit to NYC cycling along the absolutely fabulous Hudson River bike path that lets you get up and down Manhattan in a New York minute all the while avoiding street lights and cars.

Here are my reasons for riding a bike. My Top Ten list of reasons why you should ride a bicycle or at least ride one more often:

1. Freedom: There’s a sense of liberation that comes with riding a bike. You’re not confined to the limitations of a car or public transportation schedules. You can go wherever you want, whenever you want, taking any route you choose.
2. Physical Health: Cycling is an excellent form of exercise that provides cardiovascular benefits, strengthens muscles, improves joint mobility, and enhances overall fitness levels. It’s a low-impact activity suitable for people of various fitness levels and ages.
3. Mental Health: Riding a bike can be a great stress reliever. The combination of physical activity, fresh air, and being outdoors can boost mood, reduce anxiety, and improve mental well-being. Many people find cycling meditative and use it as a way to clear their minds.
4. Exploration: Biking allows you to explore your surroundings in a way that’s not possible by car. You can venture off the beaten path, discover new routes, and appreciate the beauty of nature and your surroundings at a slower pace.
5. Connection with Nature: Riding through parks, along trails, or even in urban areas gives you a closer connection to nature. You can feel the wind on your face, hear the sounds of birds chirping, and see the changing scenery as you pedal along. I would add on here connection to your city: a bicycle allows you to feel connected to your city and its inhabitants and what makes it tick in a way you simply can’t experience behind the wheel of a car. This includes the sights and sounds and smells and the odd interaction with fellow passer-by’s, including the ability to make a last minute unintended stop along your journey to explore a new route, park, cafe, etc.
6. Community: Cycling can also be a social activity. Whether it’s joining group rides, participating in cycling events, or simply meeting fellow cyclists on the road or trail, biking can help forge connections with like-minded individuals and build a sense of community.
7. Eco-Friendly: Choosing to ride a bike instead of driving a car helps reduce carbon emissions and minimizes your environmental impact. It’s a sustainable mode of transportation that promotes eco-conscious living.
8. Childhood Nostalgia: For many people, and this is a big one for me personally, riding a bike brings back fond memories of childhood adventures. Recapturing that feeling of carefree fun and excitement can be incredibly enjoyable and nostalgic.
9. Sense of Achievement: Whether it’s conquering a challenging hill climb, reaching a new personal distance milestone, or completing a long-distance bike tour, cycling offers numerous opportunities for setting and achieving goals, both big and small.
10. Simple Pleasure: Ultimately, the joy of riding a bike lies in its simplicity. There’s something inherently satisfying about the rhythmic motion of pedaling, the feeling of speed, and the sense of being connected to the road and the world around you.

Another big reason of course that isn’t on the list above is economical: riding a bike saves you a ton of money. I couldn’t post about the super power that is cycling and Mr. Money Mustache without referencing the money saving aspects and frugality of cycling as part of one’s path to financial independence and early retirement. That’s right, no expensive monthly payments, no car insurance, no parking costs, etc.

If I decided to lease a new Toyota Camry today, the costs would work out something like this:

• Lease: About $360 per month
• Parking at home: In my building a parking spot is about $30,000 to buy or $150/month to rent
• Insurance: About $400 a month
• Parking at work: About $20 daily

On a monthly basis, that works out to about $1,310 per month simply to own something that sits idle for most hours in a day and depreciates in value over time. Instead, I have that money to spend or more likely as Dividend Daddy, to purchase more dividend producing assets like shares in various companies or ETFs.

I recently stumbled upon the www.bikepacking.com website. What a joy! While I’ve never set off on an adventurous bike packing journey across countries or continents, and I’m not sure at my age I’d enjoy the thought of sleeping in a tent and all that entails, I do find the videos on this website captivating and enthralling.

While I’m not ready to jump into bike packing full steam (just yet), my pending early retirement of sorts (more to come in a future post and guest interviews on various podcasts and blogs) will provide more time for such adventures.

First up is a solo cycling adventure from the Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps. My journey of discovery to the Julian Alps begins in the northeast Dolomites, following the River Drau through the Drau Valley before biking through the gorgeous Gail Valley on Austria’s comfortable cycle paths. A little detour will take me to the charming Italian border town of Tarvis before continuing onwards into Slovenia.

From there I will behold stunning Lake Bled at the foot of the Julian Alps – the ideal resting stop before a transfer to the south side of the Alps to the famous wine area of Collio in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. From here I will enjoy a visit to Cividale, the former capital of the Lombard region, before my final stage sees me cycling the Adriatic coastline to Trieste, the former harbour city of the grand Habsburg Empire.

Yes, I won’t be tenting it. The tour company will take my luggage to my next hotel or B&B and breakfast is prepared for me daily (I’m responsible for my lunches and dinners). I consider it dipping my toes into the world of bike packing and I’m so looking forward to this cycling adventure in May. Some photos other travellers have taken in the past on the same solo bike adventure:

What about you? Do you opt to bike often, sometimes or not at all? If not, why?

Anyone looking to join me on a future ride?