Are you looking for a new hobby? Want to improve your fitness without putting too much pressure on your body? Why not try cycling. Cycling might be the safest and most rewarding option for you. This article will share some of the benefits of cycling to help you get started.
Why Try Cycling?
It only takes two to four hours a week to accomplish an improvement to your health. Cycling is:
- Low Impact – It causes less strain and injury than most forms of exercise.
- A Good Muscle Workout – All major muscle groups are used as you pedal.
- Easy – Compared to other sports, cycling does not require high physical skill. Furthermore, most people know how to ride a bike, and once you’ve learnt you don’t forget.
- Strength and Stamina – Cycling improves stamina, strength, and aerobic fitness.
- You Can Go At Your Own Pace – Whilst adjusting to what suits you, cycling can be done at a low intensity. This can help you get used to your new hobby or make it easier if you are recovering from an illness or injury.
- An Entertaining Way to Get Fit – The excitement you get from coasting down hills and being outside means you are likely to continue to cycle regularly, in comparison to other activities that keep you indoors and involve a specific time or place.
Health Benefits of Regular Cycling
Cycling is mainly an aerobic activity, which means your heart, blood vessels, and lungs all get a workout. You tend to breathe deeper, perspire more, and feel an increase in body temperature, which will then enhance your overall fitness level.
The health benefits are:
- Increased cardiovascular fitness
- Decreased stress levels
- Increased muscle strength and flexibility
- Improved joint mobility
- Better posture and coordination
- Strengthened bones
- Decreased body fat
- Prevention or management of disease
- Reduced anxiety and depression
Cycling can improve both mental and physical health, and can minimise the chances of experiencing many health problems such as:
- Obesity and weight control
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Bone injuries and arthritis
- Mental illness
Other Benefits of Cycling
Cycling doesn’t just have benefits when it comes to health, but it also has financial benefits too. Getting on your bike is a much better idea than always jumping into the car and paying for petrol, parking, and congestion charges.
It’s also going to be a lot cheaper than paying for public transport. Of course, if you’re going for the weekly shop you might need to use the car. However, if you’re heading into work or to meet up with friends, why not save your money and cycle into the city? After a month of choosing cycling over motorised transport, we think you’ll be shocked at just how much money you have saved.
As well as saving money and time, the benefits of cycling extend to the environment too.
Environmental benefits of cycling include:
- Reduces air pollutants (walking and biking emit no greenhouse gases)
- Cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change
- Reduces the need for new parking lots and roadways
- Saves valuable green space from development
- Reduces your ecological footprint
- Boosts biodiversity
- Reduces noise pollution and congestion
Active transportation improves the health of not just ourselves but also the health of our communities. It also helps our healthcare systems. The more people walk and bike, the more we reduce the levels of obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
Getting Started with Cycling
If you are considering cycling as your newfound hobby, then we have some tips on how you can get started, because the last thing you want is a stiff neck. So, when you do find the right bike, make sure that your pedals, seat, and handlebars are adjusted properly to suit you.
Once you find the right fit, it is important to know what position to hold when riding your bike. Some posture tips to remember when cycling:
- Keep your shoulders back
- Keep your elbows slightly bent
- Keep a light touch on the handlebars and don’t put too much pressure on your arms
- Keep your chin down and neck stretched
REMEMBER TO: Start slowly and stay safe. That means make sure you ride on designated bike paths and trails. When riding on a road, be sure to stay alert for oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Wear a helmet. Ride with traffic, not against it. Use lights and reflectors.
Peace of Mind from Careline365
Keeping fit is important, regardless of age. However, if you are living with health conditions or mobility issues, you may be nervous about engaging in exercise. With a personal alarm from Careline365, you can call for help at the press of a button. For peace of mind whilst exercising outside the home, consider our GPS Alarm option. This will provide 24/7 coverage wherever you are, with its GPS locator technology helping our Care Team send help directly to you.
To find out more about the Careline365 personal alarm service, read our in-depth guide or view our product pages. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Call us on 0800 030 8777 to speak with our friendly team.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 18th April 2024.
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