May is Bike Month: Health and Wellness Blog

Happy Bike Month! According to IowaHealthState.com, two-wheeled transportation has been around since the early 1800s when Karl von Drais invented the first hobby horse.

No, it was not the child's toy you're familiar with today, but a type of two-wheeled bicycle made entirely of wood but without pedals, gears or a chain. Riders simply moved it along with their feet. That primitive form of transportation  —  hey, it was faster than walking  —  evolved into the bicycle we know today.

We celebrate the benefits cycling brings to our health and our community each May during National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Cyclists. Fortunately, finding a safe bike or walking route is becoming less challenging as more and more cities adopt Complete Streets policies that include safe bike and walking lanes in planning pedestrian- and rider-friendly city streets.

I have biked casually on the great trails we have in the Cedar Valley and even accidentaly biked ~40miles one day in France, yet I have never trained for or attempted a feat such as RAGBRAI.

I love that biking provides a way to move naturally and spend time in nature (“Vitamin N – Nature”). In France, I even incorporated sight-seeing. I remember stopping at the patisserie after my long ride, and I wish I had my natural sports nutrition with me so I was not so sore the next day =). I learned two of the most important parts of biking: preparation and recovery. My body appreciates that we have progressed from that original wooden bicycle!

For your FREE consultation (in person, over the phone, via email), speaking and training needs, tips, or gift certificates, please contact Jessica Crouch: www.ChooseToImprove.com, Jessica@OrganizeAnywhere.com, 319-504-6689. Remember, reaching a goal with help is better than not reaching it at all: working with busy women who are passionate about making a change in their health because they are “sick and tired” of being sick and tired - mentoring them using natural health & wellness so they can save money and sick days!