I’m Green… and it hurts.

Posted by: Bob Stott

Guzzling my second cup of ice water, I have just slumped into my chair at work, my Jell-O legs still twitching. Its 8:06 in the morning, and I've just done a marathon. In my steadfast pursuit of all things "green", I've joined the ranks of two million people in America who regularly bike to work – by regularly, I mean two to three days out of a given week. And, with summer heat not even in full swing yet here in the Keystone State, I'm beginning to realize why the other 97 million don't.

When I recently moved within four miles of work, I was happy both for the luxury of not sitting in highway traffic for the better part of an hour, as well as the possibility of being one of those glorified people who "bike to work". I can assure you that most days out of the week, the hype often overpowers the actual experience.

While the bike may mean one less car on the road in a congested urban setting, it is apparently the bane of any random driver's existence in the suburban sprawl I must traverse on the way to work. Unlike the city centers, there are long stretches of road that have no traffic lights and therefore drivers feel content to careen at speed of fifty miles an hour, two ton metal whizzing by me like a BB gun pellet.

Moreover, something you oddly don't notice as much when surveying a route to work via a car ride, seldom are there sidewalks. Again, this would not be so much of a problem if there also were no delineated bike lanes either. Essentially, for much of my ride my wheels are hugging the gutters, and even then, I am furiously honked at as family minivans and huge Semis alike swerve into the opposing lane to avoid coming within twenty feet of me at the curb.

Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty for our young radiology professionals eager to avoid highway traffic, hide-and-seek parking, or contributing to the gasoline monster that is expected grow to Kracken-sized proportions by mid-summer. While biking does provide the chance for people to improve their fitness at a time when obesity is at record levels, it is first and foremost, exercise; and depending on how far you have to bike and what kind of terrain, it can be some rigorous exercise at that. And exercise means sweat. Lots of it.

While you may either enjoy the smell of your own natural musk or (like many women I know) believe they do not have a discernible "sweat smell", other people can and DO notice, even if it's on a subconscious level. A pungent body smell or oily glow of sweat post-exercise can undermine even the most professional of technologists or radiologists, especially when interacting with a patient. Although its more of a cultural taboo than actual hygiene, many people consider body odor to speak volumes about the professional themselves. Patients oftentimes want a super-professional, a calm, cool, collected encyclopedia of helpful information – its odd how a waft of good ol' fashioned "musk" can send that expectation toppling down.

While for hospital staff, a quick shower after getting to work can provide a good cool-down and "wake-up", many of us do not have the luxury of available showers at our facilities. For the morning hike to work, I picked up one of those exercise outfits from the sports store and make sure to pack my backpack with a change of clothes and some deodorant spray. I get to work a little early, cool down for a bit, drink plenty of water, change clothes in the bathroom, and by the time the day starts, no one can tell I just made a grueling bike ride to work and avoided becoming a pancake on a Semi's engine grill.

That's my story, so now I turn it over to you. How many of you professionals are making strides to get that extra bit of cardio in before and after work? Is your automobile ready to take a couple days off as you take a stab at living a "greener" way of life? Do you see any hiring changes at your hospital or imaging facility that might mean a big upswing for the bicycle revolution?