Outside magazine has a great little article in this month’s issue called “Bike Commuting 101.” It answers what it decides are some of the most common excuses people have for NOT commuting by bike. Many of them rang true for me.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about starting to bike to work (instead of by subway), and so far my own excuses have kept me from starting. So, I thought I’d spell them out here.

But first, here’s why I WANT to start biking to work:

1) I love riding my bike! — and especially now that it’s getting dark earlier, there’s really no other time that I can ride during the week.

2) My company makes it pretty easy for bike commuters. They have a bike storage room, and there is a locker room in the basement where I could shower in the morning if I needed to.

3) I would save money. Not that the $89 30-day unlimited card is really that much when compared to car payments and gasoline. But every little bit counts!

4) It’s healthy.

So, why don’t I just hop on my Schwinn tomorrow morning and pedal over the Manhattan Bridge to work? Here are my excuses:

1) I don’t always come right home after work. Sometimes I go to the gym, sometimes I go out to dinner, occasionally I get a drink with friends. I’d rather not bike home at 8, 9 or 10 p.m. after a big meal or a glass of wine.

2) I don’t have all the right accessories (yet), especially for rain. No fender, no waterproof coat, no bike-friendly bag, no clips for my pant cuffs, no front light for riding in the dark (I generally don’t leave work until 6:30 or 7.).

3) I’m not really enamored at the idea of showering at work. And, especially in the warm months, I would DEFINITELY need a shower after riding the few miles to the office.

4) My girlfriend and I take the subway into the city together every morning — and that’s pretty fun.

5) It’s not as safe as the F-train.

What do you think? Should I just buck up and bike? I’m not so sure…

(Photo credit: soyunterrorista)