Cycling is also a good way to get around, and it’s one of the easiest ways to work exercise into your daily life. These are just a few of the many reasons why millions of people ride their bikes every day. So, let’s look at why cycling is so good for you in more detail.
It’s Cool
First of all, it’s just a lot of fun. Cycling gives you a sense of freedom like nothing else, no matter how old you are, how fit you are, or where you ride your bike. Sharing this feeling of enjoyment with other people makes it even better. We humans are a very social species, so what better way to spend time with family and friends than on a bike ride through the countryside? Getting in shape can also be fun, you know…
It makes it easier to burn fat.
Cycling is one of the best ways to get fit and lose weight, and the benefits get better as you get stronger. Fat is burned when your heart rate is between 65 and 75 percent of its maximum. You can figure out your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220 for men or 225 for women.
When your heart rate is between 65 and 75% of its maximum, fat is burned.
Now, you don’t need a heart rate monitor to burn fat, because you will burn fat even without one. However, having one gives you the ability to be specific and target the zone in which to ride, which helps you burn the most fat. Physiologists have found that fat is still burned after riding.
Tests have shown that after cycling for 30 minutes, the body continues to burn calories at a higher rate for a few hours after stopping. Plus, if you work harder and do a few short intervals (short, hard efforts that last about a minute), you’ll burn even more calories than if you rode for the same amount of time but at a lower intensity. So, it’s a great way to get some exercise and have fun in the fresh air.
It helps you sleep better.
Cycling can help you sleep better, which in turn can be good for your health in other ways. Insomnia patients in a study at Stanford University of Medicine in the United States slept much better after riding for 20 to 30 minutes every other day. Sleep time went up by an hour, and it took half as long to fall asleep. So, if you have trouble sleeping sometimes, cycling could help.
It’s a great way to get your heart and lungs in shape.
Your heart and lungs are part of your cardiovascular system. The more fit you are, the better your heart and lungs work. This means that your blood flow will be better, and as a result, oxygen will move through your body faster. The better your fitness level, the better this process works. If you slowly increase how much and how hard you ride, your cardiovascular system will get stronger and you’ll get fitter over time.
People who bike 20 miles a week are less likely to get heart disease than people who don’t work out at all.
A study by the British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation says that people who cycle 20 miles a week have less than half the risk of getting heart disease as people who don’t exercise. The best way to train your heart and lungs on a bike is to ride for about two and a half hours a week. For example, you could ride shorter distances to work a few days a week and go for a longer ride on the weekend. By riding to work, you’ll soon see and feel the benefits, and you’ll also save money. In other words, everyone is happy.
It doesn’t carry weight, so the risk of getting hurt is lower.
Cycling is also good because it is a low-impact form of exercise that doesn’t put weight on your joints. The bike supports your body’s weight instead of your joints, so your joints are under much less stress.
It’s much easier on your joints than running or other high-impact aerobic activities, and it’s perfect for people with joint problems, weak bones, or who are getting back into training after an injury. Riding will also strengthen your tendons and tone your quads, calves, and glutes without putting you at risk of a load-bearing or impact injury.
Cycling is also a great way to slowly get fitter without making things worse or slowing down the healing process. Many athletes who don’t normally ride bikes, like football or rugby players, use cycling as part of their active recovery after getting hurt.
Relieve stress
Lastly, and on top of all the other benefits, cycling can help improve your brain power, mood, and fight the effects of stress, if you needed one more reason to get out and ride. There has been a lot of research that shows that cycling not only makes your heart, lungs, and legs stronger, but it also makes your brain stronger as well.
After a 30-minute ride on a stationary bike, people did better on tests of memory, reasoning, and planning. Not only that, but cycling can also improve your mood, make you more resistant to stress, and calm you down because it raises the levels of endorphins like serotonin and dopamine. Do you really need more reasons to get out and ride?
Get in shape, lose weight, and beat the blues. What could be wrong with any of that?
