I’m cycling to work! Hooray :) Since half the route goes through Khortytsia, the exhaust fume problem is cut in half — almost no cars there. On top of that, leaving home at roughly the same time, I arrive at work 20–40 minutes earlier than I would by minibus: no waiting time, no pauses at every stop, no kilometer-long walk, and the cycling route is also a bit shorter — about four kilometers less. True, this advantage is somewhat offset by the need to change into office clothes, which eats up a noticeable chunk of time. However, I’ve run into two other difficulties: 1. My back under the backpack sweats very actively compared to the rest of my body. Practically, it’s the only part that does. 2. There’s no way to listen to audiobooks on the way.
The backpack problem can still be fought by buying a pannier bag or a handlebar bag, but riding with earphones is very dangerous and uncomfortable — the wind whistles right against the earphones, and even listening to music is unpleasant. And if you’re listening to a book on top of that, you get absorbed in thought and your attention wanders off completely.
Still, I’m happy: I’m riding, and I’m fighting physical inactivity. True, one jdevelop tried to tell me that my bike is just a bunch of “gas pipes” — I’d still get another one just like it. For commuting to work, it’s exactly what you need.