From the benefits to your health and the potential to aid weight loss to encouraging you to spend more time outdoors with your family, cycling offers up any number of benefits – and if fitness is a factor, this post is for you. When it comes to sticking to a type of exercise, it’s important that you find an activity you actually enjoy taking part in – and cycling can offer exactly that. Let’s find out more.
- It’s great for your fitness
Whether you’ve dabbled with cycling in the past or you haven’t been on a bicycle since the age of 7, the good news is, picking it back up really is just like riding a bike. From road bikes designed to get you from A to B to mountain bikes bedecked with all the extra add-ons, choosing the bike that best suits your needs is all part of the fun.
It’s important you think about practicality here – what will you be using the bike for? Fortunately, there are some aesthetically amazing bikes suited to all needs, so you needn’t sacrifice fashion while on your search for functionality. In terms of fitness, you’ll want to choose a bike that allows you to feel comfortable, so you’ll be happy to spend as much time as possible on two wheels.
- You’ll spend more time outside
With autumn setting in and winter not too far off, it can be all too tempting to stay indoors and say goodbye to the outside world until the seasons break – but this can be damaging for both your mental and physical health.
Armed with your new best friend, you’ll be able to confidently tackle the great outdoors no matter the weather. From weekend rides with friends to perhaps one day working towards cycling competitively, you can say goodbye to weather-related excuses and embrace the various elements in your quest to crack your new skill.
- It’s an inexpensive transport option
If you’re keen to find a new exercise that you’ll enjoy but also don’t want to be splashing out money week after week on fitness classes, cycling is the perfect option. All this requires is a one-off investment to ensure you get the right bike for you, and then you can enjoy years of free exercise!
Whether you’re commuting to the office or carrying out chores on the weekend, leave the car at home and head out on two wheels. This way, you’ll be getting in those extra bits of activity and also saving the planet from unnecessary fuel emissions. It’s a win win!
- You can cycle as a family
With busy 9-5 jobs and social lives on top of that, spending time together as a family can often fall by the wayside – but by finding activities that you can all enjoy together, you can ensure you’re setting aside time to connect as a family.
Get the kids involved by encouraging them to choose routes they’d like to explore and, if you’re heading away on family breaks to the country or coast, install bike racks onto your vehicle so you can discover your destination by bike once you arrive.
- It will give you a new hobby
In the modern world which is ruled by technology and a love of binge-watching TV, physical hobbies are becoming less and less popular. However, with a low intensity activity like cycling, you can get up off the sofa and enjoy some ‘me time’.
No matter your age, new hobbies can allow you to try your hand at something different and perhaps move out of your comfort zone. If you’re not sure that cycling’s for you, why not give it a go? You’ll never know for sure unless you try!
So, if you’ve been thinking about taking up cycling, what are you waiting for? The time is now.
Author bio:
Alex Jones is a features writer for Start Fitness – providers of running, cycling, gym, football and outdoor products.
