Getting around by bike has long been part of Western culture. People there largely prefer to get to work by bicycle or on foot, whether they’re McDonald’s employees, highly paid managers or even prime ministers.
The good news is that this culture of movement is beginning to take root here, too—an environmentally friendly choice on the one hand and beneficial to us on the other.
Whether you choose to walk more often or take up cycling isn’t even the most important thing. Both activities are extremely beneficial for your overall health and will help you stay in good shape.
Read more: Jogging for health, a great figure and energy
Today we’re talking about bicycles and the benefits of getting around on one. But before we begin, let’s reiterate that cycling alone won’t get you in shape—it will be a reliable aid in maintaining it.
Cycling reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
Statistics show, that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in our country. More and more people suffer from low or high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, atherosclerosis and other conditions. British scientists have shown that choosing to cycle to work rather than walk can help protect us from many of these diseases. Studies involving 264,377 people with an average age of 53 show that cycling reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Scientists found that cycling lowers the likelihood of developing cancer by 45% and cardiovascular disease by 46% compared with travelling by car or public transport.
Read more: Body Data: What Is a 3DFIT Scanner?
This is one of the main advantages of cycling over walking. Choosing to walk would reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by just 27%.
Cycling helps you lose weight
Cycling is a cardio workout that burns plenty of calories, depending on its intensity. In other words, pedalling helps us shed excess inches and pounds. It’s no coincidence that the stationary bike is one of the most popular machines in the cardio area of every fitness club. Here’s a fun fact: an hour on a stationary bike burns between 300 and 400 calories, while cycling in the park can burn up to twice as many.
Read more: HIIT or interval cardio: what is it, how do you do it, and what are the benefits?
Besides being a great cardio workout, cycling also helps strengthen your muscles. It improves muscle tone and strength, toning not only your legs but your whole body. Cycling develops mobility and range of motion in your limbs and strengthens your hip and knee joints.
If you cycle for at least an hour every day, you’ll also start to reduce cellulite.
Read more: What is cellulite, what causes it, and how can you get rid of it?
Cycling builds endurance
For some people, endurance is a secondary concern, but it’s actually very important for your overall health.
Read more: Swimming: the king of full-body fitness
If you cycle more often, you’ll improve your body’s aerobic and cardiovascular capacity. Studies show that choosing a bicycle as your mode of transport can increase cardiovascular activity by up to 3–7%. This will help you keep going for longer during different workouts at the gym, which means you’ll burn more calories. Best of all, it all happens naturally over time.
Cycling keeps you looking young
We all want to stay young forever, but unfortunately, even if our minds don’t age, our bodies can hardly hide the years. Regular exercise is one way to “fool” time. Cardio workouts like cycling help fight aging by keeping your heart active and helping preserve the flexibility of your tendons and joints.
Read more: An active life after 40: Mission possible
Cycling is a great way to stay in shape because it doesn’t put too much strain on the bones in your legs and knees. When practiced regularly, cycling also strengthens your back and abdomen. It’s recommended for people with circulation problems who are prone to fluid retention, as it helps improve metabolism.
Cycling is an activity for everyone
Cycling is an activity you can enjoy at any age, in any place and at any time. According to EU data, Bulgaria ranks fifth in Europe for the number of overweight children. Cycling is especially suitable for young children, as it can become a fun, active game or a family tradition. Older people can also cycle without worry, since this activity doesn’t put unnecessary strain on the joints.
Investing in a quality bicycle can be expensive, but even more basic models will do the job if your goal is to get moving and stay in shape.