‘Cycling is one of the easiest ways of fitting in exercise without gym visits’
After more than 40 years keeping fit just by cycling, Ian Maxwell was delighted to hear of its additional benefits.
Mr Maxwell cycles four miles to work in Edinburgh each day and has been riding since buying a bike for £5 in a police sale while at university.
The 62-year-old member of Spokes, the Lothian cycle campaign, said: “I was pleased that there are even more benefits to cycling than I thought.
“It is just an added reason to cycle on top of what I already knew.
“Regular cycling is one of the easiest ways of fitting in exercise without the need for gym visits.”
Mr Maxwell said apart from walking, cycling was the only exercise he took, but he soon noticed the difference even after a short break from it.
He said: “My commute is 45 minutes each way, which gives me enough of a workout.
“I do walk a reasonable amount but do not feel the need to do anything else.
“If I’ve had a break from cycling for even only a week or two, I find when I get back to it that I don’t have as much stamina and get out of breath.
“However, it only takes a week or so to recover.”
Mr maxwell said in countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark, people kept cycling to a “great age”. Others continued using their bikes, but as a prop to help them walk, along with to carry heavier items such as shopping.
He said there was an opportunity in Scotland to convert people to cycling when they stopped commuting by car, such as when they retired.
He said: “That’s when it’s important to get folk into regular exercise such as cycling.”
However, Mr Maxwell feared some older people might be switching from cars to buses when they got their free bus pass at 60.
He said: “It makes the bus more attractive and may have an impact on their health.”
However, he predicted the wider availability of electric bikes would encourage more older people to cycle: “For those not as fit, they are a wonderful introduction to cycling and provide a significant boost, especially up hills.”