Celebrated on November 22, Go For a Ride Day urges you to do exactly that—get outside and go for a ride! While the idea behind the day is getting out in whatever way you can, we think it’s best to harness physical, mental, and environmental benefits by using your ebike to celebrate Go For a Ride Day. Here’s how you can make the day a little more special.
Put Down Your Keys
Sure, you can fill up the tank and cruise around town or head to a new region in your state, but why not use today as the perfect excuse to feel the wind in your hair as you enjoy a pedal-powered ride? By choosing to use your bike instead, you’ll protect the environment by not releasing pollutants like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and lead.
In fact, for these reasons and more, Go For a Ride Day is an excellent time to swap a gas-guzzling car for an electric-powered bike. Between grocery shopping, running errands, and taking the kids to school, there are several opportunities to leave the car keys behind. It’s been estimated that if everyone who works within five miles of their home cycled instead of driving to work just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of removing one million cars from the roads.
Make Meaningful Memories
Gather up your friends and take a long ride together, to the beach, your favorite café or pub, the park, or even just around your neighborhood. Going out for a solo spin? Take a journal and plan a stop to reflect on your ride. Consider jotting down your feelings during the day, then how they changed during the ride. You’ll likely report an improved mood and sharper thinking.
Regardless of if you go alone or with a group of friends and family, your ride will show you that the journey is sometimes a whole lot more interesting than the destination.
Explore A New Route
If you often pass an interesting-looking street on your usual commute or have a new area of town that you know nothing about, use this day as a good excuse to try something new. Or, if you commute by bus or train, bring your Vika+ so that you can ride home instead. You might discover a new favorite spot or view, or be introduced to a new favorite café or bookshop on your new route.
As an added benefit, studies have found that taking a new route could expand your mind. Here’s how that works: when we take the same route day in and day out, our brains go into autopilot mode—the reason you may feel like you sometimes blink and you make it to your destination without even realizing it. By switching up your route, you can help to activate a part in your brain called the hippocampus—the center of emotion and memory. In doing so, you may experience benefits to your memory and increased mental sharpness.
Final Thoughts on Go For a Ride Day
Before you head out on Go For a Ride Day, be sure to pack a reusable water bottle, your GPS, and excitement for the adventure ahead. To join the global movement, be sure to use the hashtag #GoForARideDay, and, as a part of the Blix rider community, don’t forget to use #blix for a chance to be featured on our Instagram.
