Aside from bike riding being a great way to get out and enjoy a warm summers day, it can double up as a day out with the family and seems far more fun and enticing than heading to your local gym, we look at another 5 reasons why getting on your bike is one of the top ways to get in shape.
- It's Green! These days the majority of us are looking for ways to help sustain our environment and what better way than to forgo our cars and the pollution that comes with them, get on our bikes and cycle to our destination. Yes, cycling can double up as our mode of transportation which means we are keeping fit during our day without having to factor in time of the gym afterwards. With more and more money being invested into bike lanes on our roads and parks, cycling is now not only an easy way to get around (hands up those who are happy to miss out on the rush hour traffic!) but it's free too!
- If you enjoy a less intense form of training or find that your joints are susceptible to aches and pain, bike riding is actually easier on your legs and joints such as your ankles and knees and also feet than if you took up running or another high impact aerobics activity. When bike riding, you're still engaging your quads and glute muscles, still boosting your heart rate but your joints are taking less of an impact so you get all the great benefits of building and toning the muscles and increasing your cardio but less of the force on your joints, which can have long term effects. This is also a great form of exercise if you are recovering from injury or would like to take it easier in older age.
- It is a great way to relax and has been proven to reduce stress. Most forms of exercise and physical activity have been known to help significantly relieve stress but biking also really makes the most of being outdoors – another factor that is regularly suggested to help combat anxiety. The combination of outdoor exercise is definitely a winner in our eyes!
- For health reasons cycling is also a huge benefit. Did you know that cycling just 20 miles per week can reduce your risk of heart disease by 50% compared to someone who does no exercise at all. There is also evidence from Sweden that regular cycling keeps our cells in tip top shape and will also aid in warding off cancers, as much as 50% in men and 34% in women who cycle 30 minutes a day.
- There are also many other motivators that can help you keep on track with your training. For example you could sign up to a charity bike ride; raise money for a good cause whilst keeping fit! There are plenty of bike race events out there to choose from. You may have heard of the recent Butchers Bike Challenge where Welshman and Blue Mountain Security CEO, Nigel Thomas rode 1,027 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats on a 1940′s Butcher's Bike in aid of Hire a Hero. You can read more about his adventure by clicking here. There are plenty of other charity causes out there so keep your eyes open and get involved!
Finally, always make sure you seek professional advice before engaging in any new sporting activity. And that's it folks! There are plenty more reasons to take up bike riding; fat loss, regular bowel movements, deeper sleep, living longer, saving the planet... the list goes on! We hope you enjoyed this article and will consider getting your bike out more often. But remember always be safe and always wear your helmet!
