If you’re feeling like getting fresh air, a great cardiovascular workout, and stress-free transportation, then outdoor cycling is for you!
Whether you’re using your bike for commuting, as a hobby, or as a form of exercise, there are a lot of really great benefits to hopping on a bike!
1. It’s Cost Efficient
Opting to cycle instead of driving not only saves money on gas, but it also saves on monthly maintenance repairs and insurance fees.
If you pay for parking at work or at your residence, you’ll bypass that cost as well!
2. It Keeps Your Heart Happy
We all know that cardiovascular health is the way to a happy heart! Recent studies have shown that cycling is one of the best workouts for promoting healthy cardiovascular function [1].*
3. It Helps Our Environment
It takes significantly fewer materials and energy to build a bike than it does a car. Cycling also emits zero pollution into the atmosphere.
4.It’s a Great Stress Reliever
Stress can have a negative effect on our minds and our bodies.* Outdoor cycling not only works for your body, but it can also have a meditative and calming effect on your mind. Find a beautiful route on a particularly trying day, and watch your stress melt away.
5. It’s Easy!
Most of us learned how to ride a bicycle when we were younger, so why not hop on one now? Cycling is a popular exercise because most of us already know how to do it.
6. It’s a Great Way to Start Losing Excess Weight
If you haven’t moved around much lately and are hoping to lose a little weight, jogging may not be the best place to start. It can be jarring on your joints and hard on your tendons. You’d want to start off in smaller increments, and it would take longer to burn the same amount of calories than if you hopped on a bike for an hour or so (on day 1). †
7. It Helps Boost Your Brain
It’s scientifically proven that 30 minutes of cycling can support memory, reasoning, and planning [2]*. Who doesn’t need a little brain boost in the morning after waking up?
8. It Helps with Functional Movements
According to Harvard Health Publications, cycling can improve your balance, standing, endurance, and stair climbing [3]. Functional exercises have greatly increased in popularity in the 20th century as we began to live longer. As we age, being able to perform everyday movements becomes crucial!
Above all, cycling is just plain fun! It gets you outside into the fresh air, and it’s enjoyable with a friend, partner, your children, or grandchildren.
†Always consult with a qualified health care professional if you are unsure before starting a new exercise program.
References:
[1] NHCPS. National Health Care, 17 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2017. [2] Yeager, Selene. “How Cycling Makes You Smarter and Happier.” Training. Bicycling, 13 Nov. 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2017. [3] “The Top 5 Benefits of Cycling.” Harvard Health Letter. Harvard Health Publications, 1 Aug. 2016. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.