Managing finances and energy of commutes
Lately I haven’t posted much—not because I’ve fallen off track, but almost the opposite. I’ve been busy with fitness, family time, and now I’m fighting off a minor cold.
Exercise has slowed so much while sick, that I’m only getting very short walks outside (less than 10 minutes!), short rides on a plain old exercise bike, and frequent short bouts of gentle stretching to relax tense old injuries.
Meanwhile, this topic keeps coming back to me during spring: cycling as a commuting option.
“I thrive on biking, exercising, skating…and I know from decades of experience that I need errands done and out of sight as quicky as possible from day to day, so I can enjoy that exercise.”
I don’t do bike commuting anymore
And I feel guilty about that – like it’s not allowed today.
On paper, biking to work sounds amazing. It’s healthy, it’s efficient, it saves money, it’s good for the environment. I’ve done it before, for long stretches of time, when I didn’t have a car and it was my main way of getting around.
But the reality – at least for me – felt unhelpful in my life. Disruptive to diabetes control. Disrupted my desire to eat and sleep at target times.
It robbed me of comfort
Sure, the bus ain’t so comfortable either, and when I lived in my first apartments, I didn’t have an easy bus route to work. So the bike was a natural fit for me.
But did I have the energy for that? At first, yes, no problem. My work was only a 10-minute ride away.
However, I also needed to ride to the book store, the college, my family (50-minute ride one way). Rain o shine, I walked to get groceries. I had type 1 diabetes – I still needed a bus or bike to get to the diabetes supply shop.
So guess how many times I had a low blood glucose at work? Countless times.
How many times did I arrive sweaty or rushed? Same. More often than not.
And rain-soaked? Yes, you bet I arrived at work soaking wet sometimes.
Biking to work isn’t just a nice little workout. Sometimes, yeah. Sometimes, no, if you’re me, you barely make it to work. One time I passed out on the way to work. One time, I was so out of it, I forgot to lock my bike and it was missing when I wanted to ride home. I had wet clothes hanging in my locker at work. Totally uncomfortable, too often.
The cost of getting to work
A car can be figured out conveniently. Suppose you already are willing to pay for insurance because it makes car available for many things, not just going to work. You can go shopping, visit family, take your family out to a park, and so on. So here, I only measure the cost of fuel.
Bicycling costs no fuel, but does cost energy and food, and having riding gear ready to go.
The bus costs a walk to the bus stop, and potentially snacks to cover the distance.
So let’s gather a bit of data from my experience:
- My near-home commutes consume 2 to 4 litres of gas at most round trip (currently about $2/L) – done twice a week (say $16/wk total max)
- Cross-town commutes (about once a week) consume about 8L of fuel round trip; I don’t like to bicycle that far from home so I don’t compare it here. My truck thus costs me $16/trip at today’s price
- Bus day passes cost $6 but notice: the nearest bus stop is a 20-minute walk (half a granola bar worth of exercise) + arrive 10 minutes ahead to ensure I don’t miss the bus (it goes rarely) + 10 minutes to reach nearest shopping areas, meaning 40 minutes to go about 7 km
- My bicycling consumption is 1 to 2 granola bars per hour; and takes only 20 minutes to reach nearby shopping or 50 minutes to reach the bigger plazas in town, so about $2/hr for gluten free (Coeliac must-have) one way, $4 round trip IF no meal times occur on the road
So if you weigh the cost of gas vs. granola bars, the odds of having a low blood glucose, the inconvenience of getting to the bus stop and possibly missing it, and the value of getting errands done quickly in a car with the added bonus of taking your whole family AND having energy left over for high quality exercise at the park or back home, I strongly favour the car for most of my commutes.
I don’t even try to do the math
I calculate the common sense.
If I feel like going on a casual bike ride to the store, sure, I’ll consider the bike. I then account my needs for foods and BG control. And sources of gluten-free foods along my routes.
For longer commutes, I can easily justify driving to a better bus route and doing a park-and-ride, especially since my disability status gives me free access to the bus system.
On rainy, cold, or stressful days, or when I’m carrying music gear, sports gear, family, friends, groceries, lumber, or books, guess what – I take the car usually.
Why my truck means so much to me
First, I don’t arrived at destinations in a tired, sweaty, or low blood glucose state. Instead, I arrive full power, with my bike in the back, ready to blast around at the bike park. Or my shopping bag ready to go.
Second, I have loads of room for snacks, water, bike tools, a blanket or two, not to mention groceries and extra people and all their stuff.
Third, I didn’t have a car until I was 31. From about 25 to 31 I had only bicycles and motorbikes in my life. I bought a car when I was 31, and it was such a thrill to feel like a 16 year old, able to throw my bag on the back seat and go off exploring with a friend without worrying about the weather, the bus schedule, or my current level of physical energy. I still treasure that feeling.
Of course, I still have type 1 diabetes, and I treasure any convenience I can get in life. You’d think I’d be fanatical about bicycle commuting but I’m just not.
I thrive on biking, exercising, skating…and I know from decades of experience that I need errands done and out of sight as quicky as possible from day to day, so I can enjoy that exercise.
Commuting for work specifically
If I didn’t work from home, my bike ride would be 50 minutes one way, carrying a laptop and some volume of Coeliac-safe food to cover my meals and emergency snacks for the day. I’d be gone from home 9 hours. That’s the reality of it, and I haven’t had to deal with that since I bought into the vehicle-owner lifestyle and also was blessed with a work-from-home job.
Then there’s the sweat situation. I don’t mind sweating when I’m choosing to work out. That’s part of the deal. But arriving at work damp due to rain or sweat – it won’t help me get noticed at work for the right reasons.
I’ve been doing great with health and blood glucose since having jobs that are close enough to walk, on easier bus routes, and tolerant of working from home.
Commuting by bike (usually) isn’t for me!
For those who have more stability and tolerance for commuting-style exercise, I’m happy for you!
My experience is mine, and I share it to help others feel connected, whether they have complex health conditions or not. The point is to enjoy a shared passion for exercise. I’ve become weary of endless exercise mantras out there – gyms, muscles, racing, bike to work week. We all don’t need to pursue every trendy exercise-related goal that’s out there. Choose what feels right for your situation.
Here’s the highlights of a recent ride of mine I shared on YouTube yesterday. It’s all about fresh air and exercise – the kind of riding I love nowadays (especially since I turned 50).
Commuter preferences in 2026
These days, if I had to go into the office regularly, I’d honestly lean toward a mix of bus and walking. It’s predictable, low-stress, and I can manage my energy a lot more easily. Then I can keep cycling as something I want to do, not something I have to do.
I’m really curious what others think about this.
If you cycle to work:
- Do you genuinely enjoy it, or is it more of a practical choice?
- How do you handle the sweat/clothing situation?
- Does it feel like “fitness” to you, or just transportation?
And if you don’t:
- Is there something that’s stopped you from trying it?
- Or did you try it and decide it wasn’t for you?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone managing diabetes or energy-related conditions. I think that side of the conversation doesn’t get talked about enough. I’ll turn on comments for this post (it’s usually off).
There’s no “right” answer here. I think commuting by bicycle is one of those things that sounds universally good, but in practice, it really depends on the person.