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How long have you been cycling
to work? I bought a racing bike years
ago with the intention of cycling to work
at least once a week. It’s about twenty
kilometers and would take me an hour
each way. I loved the cycling itself, but
the downside was I would arrive at
work all sweaty. The solution was an
e-bike. Now I go by bike almost every
day, unless the weather is really bad.Is it a pretty route? The route from
my village to my work takes me past
floodplains, a windmill and a canal with
small boats. In the spring and fall, fog
often hangs over the water. When it
gets below freezing, I see water fowl
walking across the ice, and in the
summer, cows ambling along the
dike – it’s so pretty. I see it as a gift to
be able to see nature change with
every season.What happens to you while you’re
cycling? My worries disappear and I
just let my thoughts run free: it’s so
different from getting all worked up
about a car in front of me that won’t
keep up the pace. Things seem
surmountable when you cycle, and I
think this is because you experience
the change of seasons much moreintensely. Nature always goes on, in
spite of our problems and cares, and
these worries seem less important. I
lost both of my parents in a short period
of time and now cycling has become
more of an addiction. Memories pop
up, sadness comes and goes: I really
get so much out of cycling.Does the cycling affect your
performance at work? At the very
least, I start my workday with a much
clearer head. It gives me a satisfying
feeling to know that I’ve just spent an
hour outdoors. I see it as something
positive for myself and it means I’ve
already had my first hour of exercise.
Later in the day, the thought that I’ll
soon be on my bike again for the ride
home makes me happy. Of course I like
seeing my colleagues, but I often sit
there working quietly at my computer
with a huge to-do list in the back of
my mind. That’s when I really miss
the quiet outdoors. >Christien Jansen (51, journalist)
cycles to work almost every day.