Tour de Brum: 10 ways to cycle to Uni

According to the statistics, 1 in 10 of us love to cycle to Uni at least once a week. With it being such a good money-saver and a great form of exercise, it’s no surprise that UoB looks like a pit-stop for the Tour de France. 

However, despite the fact we are the next generation of innovators, many of us student cyclists spend these latex-clad, five to ten minute commutes doing nothing but staring ahead, legs kicking frantically.

Frankly I think this is a waste- you’re losing around an hour of your week unproductively toing and froing from Uni.

So to end this madness and veritable waste of youth, I am going to take you through ten ways to put your two-wheeled journeys to better use:

1. Morning shave

Shaving: mankind’s daily curse. This combination of shaving and cycling gives you five minutes extra time in bed before leaving for lectures – a godsend. This idea also accommodates for the ladies. Cycling to a date? Shave your legs while you cycle, there’s no possible way this could go wrong!

Fast-track yourself to having scars like the Joker…

2. Write an essay

You already hate having to go in for a 9 a.m. Why not combine this hatred with something else you dislike: doing work?

Who says students can’t be productive?

3. Snapchats

Did your housemate use all the hot water? Don’t send a passive-aggressive post-it note – send a Snapchat with a smile, informing them how you took a shit in their pillowcase before leaving the house.

4. Do your ironing

Face it, you may have ironed your clothes once or twice since you arrived at Uni, but why waste your down-time doing one more chore? Iron while you cycle to save time, ensuring you’re always on-point when arriving.

stay classy

5. Have a tea-party

Let’s be honest, the majority of us at UoB sound like we should be related to Joanna Lumley. You’re middle class- indulge it! On that ride to Uni make sure you get some much needed hydration with a spot of tea.

So much about Great Britain in one picture

6. Vanquish your foes with a broadsword

It’s incredibly hard these days to get rid of your enemies, what with all that excellent Selly Oak policing…

It’s even harder to do it on horseback without drawing attention, and besides, you’re always telling yourself you’ll get even one day..

So why not cut down that Professor who gave you a third for your essay, or that smart-arse who made you look stupid in a seminar that  one time.

It’s not like they’ll be able to outrun you…

Commuting heroically

7. Breakfast on the move

Don’t get indigestion from wolfing down your breakfast,  or missing it altogether, as you rush out the door in order to get to the 9am. Eating on the move is easily done on a bike- although a full english may be pushing it!

8. Take up a sport

Many students are catastrophically unfit. It is so much more appealing for the majority to go down the pub than to crack out a set of 50 press-ups. Get fit on the move, combine cycling with another sport such as boxing to get you fitter, and save your face in a drunken brawl.

Extra points for having enough concentration left to hum the Rocky theme song

9. Have a beer

Hungover? Hair of the dog. Not hungover? University is the only time in your life where drinking at 9 a.m. is not considered a sign of alcohol dependency.

10. Fuelling the Gains

When you live the hectic student lifestyle, normally a compromise has to be made between vanity and intellect.

Well in the battle over picking gains or grades, get that nutrition in whilst cycling, and you can get gains AND grades.

Lifting AND Lectures, Gains AND Grades