You never feel obliged to take the same route and you can choose to go where your will takes you. Your journeys are not dependent on anyone but yourself. You can probably guess that we are talking about riding a bicycle.
Whether it’s to boost your fitness and lose fat, boost your health or bank account balance, or as an environmental choice, taking up riding could be one of the best decisions you have ever made. Here are some of the major cycling benefits.
Get back to nature
Fall is one of the most enjoyable seasons to ride a bicycle. So, go out, hop on the bicycle and start pedaling.
Riding a bicycle is one of the most active ways to spend your leisure time. It provides the opportunity to get out into the countryside and get a short respite from the hustle and noise of the city, while improving your fitness and physical shape.
It has been estimated that a relaxing bicycle ride burns more calories than a relaxing walk. And if you need to push yourself harder, just try bicycling up a hill.
Some exercises during a workout can be dreadful and you simply want to go skip them. But cycling is so fun and thrilling that you’ll love even the hardest workouts, we guarantee it. Going to the gym? – bicycle instead of driving to warm up and cool down from your workouts and do some cardio.
Cycling easier on your joints than running
According to Andy Clarke, the president of the League of American Bicyclists, cycling gets your legs moving and your heart pumping without pounding your joints.
Every time a person makes a stride, their weight is being amplified through their knees and ankles. In overweight people this force is even greater and can damage the knees, feet and ankles pretty fast. During cycling, this force is greatly reduced by the seat of the bicycle.
This doesn’t mean that running as cardio is bad, it just might not be the best option for beginners and overweight people. For those that are carrying a few extra pounds or just starting out, cycling might be the right answer.
If you are recovering from an injury, hop on your cycle and ride. Cycling is known for being a low impact activity; it has a lower risk than many other forms of cardio and is generally kinder to your joints and your whole body.
Save money
During the recent global financial crisis, oil prices reached record heights. The price of the fuel was high and it’s probably going to go up again. These events can have terrible effect on your personal finances if you rely on fuel too much.
Saving money by using your bicycle instead of your car whenever you can is a great idea.
If you’ve got a reasonable distance to get to work and you choose to commute to work by bicycle, not only will you save a fortune on gas or tickets, you’ll also get fit without having to spend a fortune on gym fees. You’ll get fit without even thinking about it.
Cycling reduces stress
According to many scientific studies, exercise helps to ease stress. Biking is also a part of it.
A study in New Economics Foundation from last year found that cycle commuters have reported lower stress levels than their counterparts using cars and public transportation. A similar study by Victoria Transport Policy Institute found that cycle commuters like their commute more than people making their way to work using different types of transportation.
You can cycle even when you get old
It is an activity you’ll be able to do for the rest of your life. Even if you are working out hard in the gym and you are in a great shape years pass by and certain exercises will become more difficult. But you can always switch to cycling.
For example there are plenty of 55 year old regular riders who look and move like they are 35, and also 80 year olds who still love to ride and actually can because they’ve been riding for years.
So, riding a bicycle is an activity that can be done for the rest of our lives.
Explore the environment around you
Even if you travel a lot, you are not even close to the level of exploration you will experience when you cycle. When riding your bicycle in areas you usually travel by car, you’ll be surprised by the things you will notice and you usually miss.
The sense of freedom
When you ride a bicycle, it doesn’t matter whether you are going faster or slower. It doesn’t even matter what you are wearing. Riding a bicycle just has something that sets you apart, it sets you free. It gives you a style that’s hard to define, and it inspires admiration and respect.
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