8 Benefits of cycling: Why cycle for exercise?

Most of us were taught how to ride a bicycle when we were children. While some of us still use it as a daily means of transportation, others seem to have completely forgotten all the good times and adventures it gave them. Therefore, we are here to remind you that cycling has plenty of benefits for both you and Mother Nature, and here are just some of them.

Low impact

Along with swimming and hiking, cycling is a low-impact type of workout. These kinds of exercises don’t put a lot of stress on your knees, hips, and ankles but they increase your stamina. This is an amazing way to get in shape while the risk of getting hurt is very small. Riding a bicycle is great for people with arthritis as well as for people that are recovering from an injury.

Weight loss

You may not have been aware of this fact, but cycling is an incredible way to burn fat. However, it’s important not to skip breakfast before you go out to ride your bike. You might think that you need to go on a diet to lose weight, but that is not true. If you don’t have breakfast, your body will burn muscle and store fat because it thinks that the fat will be needed for later.

How much fat you burn by cycling depends on several factors, including your height and weight as well as the duration and intensity of the session. A 150-lb person can burn up to 200 calories if they cycle for 20 minutes at an average speed of 13 mph, according to the Calories Burned Biking website.

Toned muscles

People usually assume that cycling only tones your thighs and calves because it mainly involves pedaling. However, that is not true as this activity helps tone and strengthen all your muscles. While helping you keep your balance, your abdominal, back, chest, shoulder and arms muscles will all be getting an exercise.

Cardiovascular benefits

All the previously mentioned low-impact exercises can immensely help your cardiovascular system. These workouts get your blood pumping and heart beating faster. This also improves your circulation and lowers your resting and exercise heart rate in the long run.

Reduced stress levels

Playing any kind of sports can help with stress management but seeing as how not all sports are suitable for everyone, you can opt for cycling. This can be quite fun. You can decide to visit the parts of the city you don’t know that well and see something new. Play some music but be careful of your surroundings. Depending on the type of bike you have, you can go off-road biking too. Being in nature and breathing in the fresh air can have a positive effect on your mental health. Many cyclists say that it helps with their anxiety and depression, and makes them more relaxed. Moreover, you can consider an electric bike that poses significantly less risk rather than speeding vehicle does. Apart from that, this sort of bike is just great for people who find difficulties to drive on long distance.

Convenient

Speaking of relaxing, maybe you should try cycling to work. Depending on where you live, it might even be faster than going by car or public transport as bikes can often squeeze in between cars if there is a traffic jam. There are even folding bikes which you can take with you into the office so they don’t get stolen.

Additionally, you can put some pannier bags on your bike and take everything you need with you. You can pack your lunch, and bring an umbrella or a raincoat so you won’t be caught off guard if it starts raining. Moreover, this is so much more stylish than a regular backpack, and it won’t make your back all sweaty.

Cheap

Along with being convenient, cycling is very cheap. Think about it – you don’t have to pay for gas, for regular maintenance, for vehicle registration. If you are careful, you might even be able to avoid getting a flat tire. Just make sure to protect it if you leave it outside or, as already mentioned, take it with you.

You can also think about purchasing a stationary bicycle. There are many affordable types nowadays and you can save money in the long term as you don’t have to pay for a gym membership and parking. This is also good as you can get some things done while exercising, like answering emails, preparing for a big presentation or catching up on your favorite TV show.

Eco-friendly

Apart from being easy on your wallet, by using your bike to get around town, you are also saving the environment. Cycling reduces pollution, as well as the emission of greenhouse gases. These gases can cause nervous system damage and respiratory issues. Cycling is a type of transport that does not harm the planet but can be beneficial for your health.

In addition, this noiseless type of transport also helps eliminate noise pollution. Exposure to environmental noise has many effects on our physical and mental well-being. It can lead to sleep disturbances and cardiovascular troubles, as well as increased incidence of diabetes. Elevated noise levels are often the cause of antisocial behavior too.

As you can see, there are many great reasons to ride a bike. It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior, a parent with young children or someone who wants to get in shape. There are many different types of bicycles, and you can pick the one that suits your needs the best.