The Health Benefits of Cycling

There’s no question about cycling being a great way to shape the body. And yet a top form is not the only thing to gain from cycling – a more immediate reward is the sheer fun that one gets in doing the activity. In fact, most cyclists get motivated by the sense of adventure that cycling brings.

In short, cycling is both good exercise and good adventure for the cyclist. And both values can do wonders for one’s health – physical and mental. In many places, cycling is a mode of transportation, not just exercise; aside from it being a status badge as well, as learning how to ride a bike is almost a rite of passage for any kid in many cultures.

Peter Glassford, in an article at http://blog. mapmyrun.com, notes that cycling offers many health benefits and is something that people of nearly all ages can do, inside or outside. On the whole, Glassford writes, cycling is low-impact, moves joints through their full range of motion and burns calories to help with body composition and blood sugar control. And Glassford points out that it can also be a social activity encouraging people to get outdoors and travel great distances together.

The other key health benefits that Peter Glassford cites in his article are:

Therapeutic Support. Cycling is often prescribed as therapy for patients who are rehabilitating from injuries in other sports or when they are unable to support their body weight. Cycling – even when just done indoors – allows people with back pain, lower leg injuries, knee injuries and many other conditions to benefit from movement, enhanced blood flow

and muscle activation that can be easily controlled using gears, route choice and resistance settings.

Many people with arthritis, knee joint damage or even knee replacements use cycling to gain relief and rehabilitation. Because sedentary life is damaging metabolically and muscularly, it’s important to find a mode of exercise that can be progressed safely. While it might be uncomfortable to start, the benefits of less discomfort due to enhanced blood flow and strengthened muscles, as well as better metabolic health, are reasons to start pedaling!

Cardiovascular Health.

Many runners turn to cycling after years of pounding the pavement to balance out the impact. While cyclists must be careful that they also do weight-bearing activities like strength training and walking, the inverse is true for runners. Cycling provides an opportunity for runners to take the load off their bones and joints while still training their cardiovascular systems. This low-impact exercise can be enjoyed for years in addition to other sports or as a replacement for a high-impact sport you might have enjoyed in your younger days.

Weight Loss. Body weight and diabetes are large problems in the population, perhaps in the whole world. A good diet goes a long way toward controlling body weight and blood sugar, but movement also helps tremendously. While any activity will help, cycling is especially good because one can start immediately. Running and other sports require more soft-tissue adaptation and skill acquisition to get started, but the phrase “it’s like riding a bike” is well-known for good reason! Further, as one becomes more proficient, he can push his workload and duration to boost energy expenditure.

Brain Health. Cycling also has the benefit of group rides, clubs and classes that can provide a social motivation to stay on top of one’s nutrition and healthy habits. More and more, cycling offers benefits of being outside in nature and of developing real friendships. It is one of the best sports for socializing as it allows a group to ride side by side and chat casually, perhaps while completing errands or exploring new terrain.

Being in nature is also said to assuage a host of conditions including mental fatigue, stress levels, sleep quality and mood. Anytime movement is combined with errands, social interaction and nature, it is a win for overall health.

There are so many different ways to ride and styles of bikes, including tricycles and recumbent, so anyone can start at any age and ability level. Those still debating about taking up cycling may just have to rent a bike for a few hours and give it a try. There’s no better way to see what health benefits cycling will bring their way!