Cycle your way to a sustainable lifestyle

Ever year this time I can feel the energy pop with enthusiasm and excitement. Not only is it spring time in Houston, but it's also MS 150 time. The MS 150 is the biggest Bike MS event in the United States. This year, over 13,000 cyclists will saddle up to raise funds to support MS research and services for men, women and children living with multiple sclerosis.

It was the MS 150 that inspired me look at cycling as more than just riding a bike or commuting but to see if for offering a sustainable lifestyle. Years ago, when committing to my own personal sustainability plan, I remember walking into Bikesport, my favorite bike shop in Houston, Texas. Unknowing at the time, my world would be changed forever.

Not only did I get a bike, but by becoming more active, my interests naturally shifted towards building an improved sustainable lifestyle. Interests in organic foods and personal care were the first sustainable concepts I embraced because they were tangible and replaced existing habits. Next came recycling, energy efficiency, and the list goes on.

Today, as a sustainability consultant, I have the opportunity to work with individuals and businesses to integrate sustainability concepts into the workplace and daily life. Naturally, cycling is a sustainability concept that meets both worlds: business and individuals. Clients commute to work; businesses provide resources and incentives for cycling commuters.

In my professional consulting, I love sharing the benefits of using cycling to create an improved sustainable lifestyle:

Get outdoors: you'll be amazed how your usual surroundings look so different on a bike.
Feel the exhilaration of the fresh air on your face and skin.
Enjoy the freedom your bike gives you- go places your car can't.
Embark on social ride: invite your friends and neighbors to join you for a ride and visit a local coffee shop.
Find some local trails and see how fast you can go through the trees
Reduce stress and tension
Make new friends! You will make lasting friendships with people you would have never met anywhere else.

Cycling as part of a sustainable lifestyle is a rewarding personal adventure. As an avid cyclist and sustainability consultant, I can't encourage you enough to check it out. Enjoy the ride!