Today is National Bike to Work Day.

Personally, I think that’s a lot of pressure on one day, coming as it does at the end of National Bike to Work Week and smack-dad in the middle of National Bike Month.

Whatever.

To mark the occasion, I thought I’d provide a top-10 list: The Top 10 Reasons Not to Bike to Work (and how to overcome them).

(Thanks for the idea goes to county administrator Craig Weinaug, a cycling hardman who has been riding his bike to work since long before doing so was considered “green.” Heck, I think he’s been riding his bike to work when cycling was high-tech and cars were a luxury).

The Top 10 Excuses Not to Bike to Work (and how to overcome them)

10) Spandex. Nuff said. (Don’t wear it. I don’t, at least not to work. Unless I’m feeling naughty. Or wear it under your regular clothes. It feels kinda … funny, and that’s all I’m gonna say about that).

9) Helmet hair. (Actually, I’m the wrong person to give advice on avoiding helmet hair. Sometimes I catch my co-workers sneaking glances at my ‘do, wondering just how it’s possible to get that wavy hair-pulled-through-the-vents look without product. I hear a minute or two in front of the mirror with one of those things … what do you call them? Combs? Hairbrushes? … can do wonders).

8) Sweat. (Some places of business have showers for their employees. And baby wipes, I’m told, work wonders in a pinch. But, in all honesty — and it helps that I’m naturally slow — it’s easy to pace yourself, especially on the ride into work so that you don’t work up a funk. At least, I don’t think I do. And one fringe benefit is that co-workers tend not to congregate around your desk on the warmest days).

7) It’s too time consuming. (Puh-lease. Trips of five or fewer miles take only marginally longer by car than by bike. My five-mile-each-way commute by bike takes 20-25 minutes, depending on the route and the scenery. It takes 15-20 minutes by car, depending on traffic, parking, etc.)

6) It’s too dangerous. (The mean streets can be a bit intimidating. Cars are big. And heavy. But I take lesser-traveled side roads to cut down on car-bike interactions, and those close calls sure do wonders for heart-rate training. Plus, I’ve learned all sorts of new, colorful words).

5) What if I get a flat? (Flats suck. And, as far as I know, there’s no AAA for bikes. On the other hand, it’s a lot easier to change a flat bike tire than car tire. And many flats can be prevented by rolling on good, puncture-resistant rubber).

4) People will think I’m weird. (Yeah, I’m probably the wrong person again to give advice on avoiding that. People have thought I’m weird for all my weird life. Riding a bike just makes me a mobile weirdo. You’re on your own).

3) It’s too hot/cold/wet/dry/windy. (C’mon, man, this is Kansas. There are, what?, 13.2 perfect-weather days a year? I hate using weather as an excuse not to do something. But I regularly visit all the top weather-related Web sites and know the Weather Channel personalities by name. And if it’s really going to be too nasty, I’ll drive. Hey, I’m not crazy. Just weird).

2) I’d have to get up too early. (You will have to get up a bit earlier. I try to build a little extra time into my commutes, too, in case of mechanical failure. Then again, it’s only 10 or so minutes, and that’s time I don’t have to spend in the gym or on a treadmill).

1) How would I carry all my stuff? (Messenger bag? Man purse? Trailer? Big pockets? I’ve carried just about everything on my bike short of a watermelon. But I’m lucky that I don’t have much to carry on a daily basis. I do, however, tend to make the most of my drives by hauling in as much stuff as I can by car to lighten the bike load. I’ve heard some folks haul a week’s worth of stuff in one trip and ride the rest of the time. Whatever works for you).

Heck, there are all sorts of reasons not to ride to work, but even more — in my humble opinion — to ride. And remember this: It’s not all or nothing. You can ride once a week or once a month or once a year on, say, the third Friday of May.