If you’re one of the millions of Britons who commutes to work every day, you’re likely used to arriving at the office feeling more than a little stressed. Traffic jams, train strikes and overcrowded tube carriages are enough to make anyone sweat with rage – making it doubly unfair that we have to battle with them before our day has even really begun.

But according to a new study, there’s an easy way of reducing that pre-9am ordeal – and it’s as simple as getting on your bike.

Researchers at Concordia University in Montreal have discovered that cycling to work can help reduce stress and improve work performance throughout the day.

The study, published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, compared how three different modes of commuting – cycling, driving and taking public transport – affected people’s stress levels and mood at work.

Why cycling to the office could be the best thing you do all day