The Benefits of Cycling...

Are you considering taking up cycling or buying a bike either for the first time ever or the first time in years. Well there’s no time like the present and don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today – here are some of the immediate health improvements…

Many of these benefits are not unique to cycling but are a consequence of moderate physical activity on a regular basis, in many cases cycling enables that benefit to be achieved more easily, more widely and more effectively.
People who exercise regularly are at a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 11 diabetes, most types of cancer, high blood pressure and obesity. Inactivity or lack of exercise is not good for the heart. Cycling is ideal for training the heart to be stronger as it makes the heart pound in a steady manner and so helps improve cardiovascular fitness and stamina, this results in less stress on the heart and all the risk factors that lead to the possibility of a heart attack are reduced. Physical activity also helps decrease the time it takes for food to move through the large intestine, limiting the amount of water absorbed back into the body.

Moderate cycling can prevent, or at least reduce high blood pressure and so help to avoid strokes and organ damage, blood pressure is also reduced by a lower heart rate, which is a result of regular cycling. Regular physical activity has also been shown to reduce the risk of colon, breast, prostrate and pancreatic cancers. Of course many cyclists are already aware of these benefits, however many of you thinking of starting cycling may not.

Cycling should not be a chore it should be fun and exciting as it opens a whole new world, how much you ride depends on your fitness and your lifestyle. New cyclists could start off by using the bike to pop to the shops or the post office, gradually increasing the distance that you cover.

In a few weeks your aerobic fitness will have improved and you will be able to ride for miles without feeling anything more than a little puffed out, the more active an individual is, the healthier they are. But whichever form of cycling you choose to pursue, remember to have fun whilst doing it!See you next month…