LeBron James and His New Quest to Work

While Lebron surely isn’t rolling like these fine folks of the 1800’s, bicycling has a ton of advantages. By user:Churchh [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

NBA highlights flashing by, in what are miniature clips that represent entire hours of thousands of people’s lives.

I’m half-lazed in a muffled daze, digesting a flashing cursor in consequential blinks. I’m strangled by boredom. Until the TV tunes-in momentarily to cover what reigning NBA MVP forward LeBron James has been up to.

Despite being the greatest basketball player in the world, LeBron James has taken it upon himself to lessen his carbon footprint by wheeling himself to work.

That’s right; LeBron James lugs his 6’9″, 250 pound frame forty miles to and from his home before and after every home game.

Just when I was starting to think every NBA brat was too good for a helmet and bike lights, one of them proves me wrong. And I’m not going to lie: The fact that its LeBron James means more to me than it being say, Jose Calderon.

James is leading charge on behalf of his planet. It’s no longer about his NBA world, or his stats or his pop stardom. It’s now about survival for his children and their childrens children. Something even a multi millionaire cares about.

And I do too.

I haven’t ridden a bike in close to two years. I need training wheels.  But shoot, if LeBron’s doing it then I sure as hell should, and so should you.

The headlining reason to ride your bike to work is saving money. Which is something most of us could use a lot more of. U.S. bicyclist save 4.6 billion dollars a year riding their bikes and get fit doing so. Considering the average American eats 24.3 pounds of candy each year, most of which is consumed during the months of November and December, that is probably a positive secondary affect.

Not to mention, the feel-good topper is saving the environment.

Even if your only reason is to check out girls in spandex, wear the spandex yourself, or to fit into those size six jeans, still DO IT. Nobody knows your intentions. I won’t judge you.  And I sure as hell know the glaciers, polar bears and Al Gore won’t either.