About
I live and work in the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja.
Cycle commuting was an easy decision to make. I do it, not because I don’t have alternative means of getting to work, but just because I want to.
How long have you been cycle commuting?
My first cycle commute was in April of 2019, after I bought a mountian bike. To be honest, it was an easy decision for two major reasons: it provided a good form of regular exercise and it allowed me spend more time on the saddle.
The thought of it felt a bit daunting at first because no one I knew at the time had done it before The idea of sharing the road with vehicles was scary and there were other hazards peculiar to my locality that gave me concern. However, after the first successful attempt, I was hooked.
It also helped a lot that I found Iain Maciver (the owner of CycleCommute.CC) on Instagram and I followed his feed religiously, observing, asking him questions about techniques etc. and over time I was able to build up confidence.
Your Commute
I started by cycle commuting on random days then a few weeks later I decided to push things up a notch by doing it as frequently as possible. To make this possible, I had to adjust some schedules at home and this activity has continued over time as new and better ideas to improve the commute come up.
The shortest and safest distance to work is a little over 6+ km in about 20 minutes. However I got bored very quickly and started exploring new routes as my fitness and confidence increased. Living in the Capital of Nigeria doesn’t provide many terrain choices because I ride on mostly well tarred surfaces. However, on days I commute with a mountain bike, I get creative by riding on the un-tarred side of the road to get some off road workouts.
The dry season is the best time of the year to cycle commute – if you can endure the poor air quality. Then the rainy season comes and cycle commuting can get a bit hairy for obvious reasons.
What is the best thing about Cycle Commuting?
The best thing about cycle commuting for me has been the regular exercise I get from doing it. I also appreciate avoiding traffic congestion, and knowing how long the journey is going to take me.
Your bikes
1. Cannondale Trail 3 2019
2. Canyon Endurace CF SL 2020
Any top tips?
Maintain your bike – once you start cycle commuting it’s no longer just a toy to play with on weekends. It becomes a very important tool to get you to work and back home safely.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifeuma/
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