Cycling has always been a popular activity throughout the years and interest towards this ‘sport’ isn’t waning yet.
Some may cycle for leisure while others may think of it as a means of transportation towards work, or even as a competitive sport.
The benefits of cycling has always been known to many, but there are more than just health reasons.
Here are some of the advantages of cycling.
15 Benefits Of Cycling Often
1. Improved balance
Many believe that cycling helps improve your balance as you develop more leg muscles due to it. Anyone who hasn’t cycled in his or her life will most likely struggle to balance the bike at first, and it’s totally normal.
Like most things in life, you will find that balance after many attempts at it, and you may fall a couple of times at first.
Once you get the hang of it, it’s really easy.
If you’re not confident enough to be on two wheels, try getting either a balance bike or add training wheels to a bike.
Read also: When Do You Need Drop Bars For Cycling?
2. Cycling improves mental health
According to MensLine, cycling is a good way to positive mental health.
It not only improves your mood and your creative thinking, but also helps you to sleep better and enhance your memory.
If you’re always feeling moody or stressed out, you can try cycling for a change.
3. Weight loss
Cycling is a form of exercise and it can be quite beneficial to weight loss when done in sufficient amounts.
It’s not as strenuous as running or swimming, and as a result it burns less calories in the same time period. That being said, it is a good way to lose weight and you can do it for hours without tiring yourself too quickly.
If you want to increase weight loss through bicycling, try going at a much faster rate instead of just cruising leisurely.
4. Reduces risk of heart disease
Riding a bike not only promotes weight loss through calorie-burning, but may also reduce the risk of heart disease.
A study by a journal Heart seem to suggest that if you commute using a bike, by foot or even with public transport, your risk of heart diseases and stroke is reduced.
Although cycling was not the main group in the research, it still has some merit.
5. Eco-friendly
Using a bicycle is an eco-friendly way to move around the city especially in a really polluted and crowded one. You can reduce pollutants in the air by not being another contributor, and also effectively reducing your own carbon footprint.
Less emissions are produced from manufacturing a bicycle as compared to a car.
Climate change is a real issue and with the world being more aware of climate change, it’s a good time to make a change yourself.
6. It apparently reduces cancer risk
There was even a study which said that cycling does reduce risk of heart disease.
While it’s possible, it probably also applies to other forms of exercises.
Nonetheless, it’s better to cycle and have some exercise than just lazing around at home watching Netflix.
7. Networking is possible
Cycling isn’t only for health benefits, but also for business opportunities.
Similar to golf, some corporate employees are now leaning towards cycling when it comes to networking.
This not only helps to improve your well-being but may also aid you in getting prospective clients or business partners.
8. More food!
As you burn more calories while cycling, you can consume slightly more food without putting on more weight.
However, this doesn’t mean you should start binge-ing on food. Not watching your diet will only make you put on weight.
It’s all depending on your total input of food (calories) and your total output (burning of calories through exercise and metabolism).
If you eat more calories than you burn, then you’ll naturally gain weight.
9. A good way to have family time
These days, families tend to look at their smartphones more than they converse face to face.
It’s also a serious issue but there are ways to reduce it. One great way is by having a family biking activity.
By cycling, you get to exercise, burn calories and also have a family bonding time.
Head on over to your local park which allows bicycles.
10. Aids in creativity
Creativity is a big issue when it comes to those working in the creative industry, like musicians, writers and artists.
There will come a time when you have a mental block and you can’t seem to generate any ideas.
One way to get rid of the mental block is by exercising or going out, and cycling is a great fit.
While cycling, you’ll most likely feel more relaxed as you get to feel the nice breeze against your face.
11. Increases stamina
Exercising in general should help to increase your overall stamina. This is the same with cycling.
If you bike consistently, you’ll increase your muscle stamina and it gets easier next time.
One way to continue improving your stamina is to try cycling further (or faster) than you did before.
You’ll notice that your stamina gets better as time goes by.
12. More fat burning
Bicycling is a great way to burn fat and have a relaxing time simultaneously.
That being said, it’s more effective as a fat burner if you do it in a high intensive course.
There are many high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that you can find on Google.
Try them out and you’ll notice how tiring (and effective) they can be.
13. Make more friends
Hopping on a bike and moving around your neighborhood is a great way to meet new people and make friends.
Most of us may have had a childhood where we went biking with our friends and it’s still an effective way today.
You can join biking clubs or associations and join cycling activities during the weekend or on holidays.
14. Exercise keeps you happy
As mentioned above, exercising is a great way to promote mental health.
Cycling is one of the good forms of exercise and it keeps you happy due to the dopamine increase in your brain.
As you cycle, the dopamine production increases and it makes you happier for a certain period.
Whenever you’re feeling down, get on a bike and get moving!
15. Good means of transport
Yes, cycling isn’t only a way to exercise, feel happy or even make connections with others.
It’s also a viable means of transport for many big cities, and it’s growing.
It is effective as you get to skip the big traffic jams in the city while reducing your own carbon footprint.
Some countries also encourage their people to cycle more.
If you’re looking for an easy way to move around without sweating too much, try electric bikes instead.
In a nutshell
Riding a bike has many benefits as highlighted in the non-exhaustive list above.
If you’ve not ridden a bike before, why not start today?
