Pedal yourself fit: the top 5 benefits of cycling

The world of cycling saw the Vuelta a Espana conclude last month, where Team Sky leader Chris Froome began his quest to turn an ill-fated summer to a successful one. He may have crashed out of the Tour de France in dramatic fashion just days after Cavendish suffered a similar fate on the streets of Harrogate, but in the final Grand Tour of 2014 he hopes to prove that Britain still dominates the roads.

Away from the pro-cycling circuit, things have never looked rosier for cycling fans. Hot on the heels of London 2012, back-to-back Yellow Jerseys and a Tour de France Grand Depart in Yorkshire, cycling has now attracted more than 3.1 million regular riders to UK roads. And thanks to events such as the Prudential Ride London and nationwide Sky Rides, it is clear that enthusiasm for pedal power has never been greater.

Not been bitten by the cycling bug? Yet to be convinced? Let us give you a bit of food for thought:

1. Cycling is easy and convenient
Regularly find yourself stuck in traffic for half an hour on the way to work when it should take no more than 10 minutes? If you work in a congested city, commuting by bike may not only be a cleaner way to travel, it could also be a quicker one. Simply hop on to the saddle, buckle up that helmet and get rolling.

2. Cycling is low impact 
Exercising through cycling gradually improves your general muscle function with little risk of over-exercise or muscle strain. While running can take its toll on leg joints and muscles, biking has a far lower impact and actually engages the muscles in the legs without as much force coming down on the knees.

You’ll also find yourself moving faster and able to see more of the world than you would do running around the block a couple of times.

3. Cycling is good for your heart
Riding a bike is a comprehensive cardiovascular workout. Regular exercise gets the heart muscle working hard, keeping it strong and healthy. It also engages the whole cardiovascular system, pushing blood around the body, strengthening the lungs and burning through blood sugar. The result: a reduction in the risk of stroke, heart attack and other associated diseases.

According to the British Medical Association, cycling a distance of just 20 miles a week can reduce one’s chances of developing coronary heart disease by 50%. In their study that sampled 10,000 civil servants, results showed that those who cycled 20 miles over the period of a week were half as likely to suffer heart disease as their non-cycling colleagues.

Even slow, steady cycling can burn around 300 calories an hour, so you won’t just be saving the Earth by giving up your motor; you’ll be shedding those love handles too.

4. Cycling is green and good for your wallet
Cycling to work rather than driving helps to reduce carbon emissions. With Britain’s cities increasingly at risk of traffic pollution, cycling allows you to do your bit towards protecting the environment.

And by avoiding the high petrol prices and vehicle running costs associated with driving a motor vehicle, your wallet will be protected from damage too.

5. Cycling Reduces stress
Scientific research has shown that cycling can help to reduce stress and improve an individual’s sense of wellbeing. In 2006, a study by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute revealed that a higher rate of bicycle commuters reported liking their commute than people who made their way to work using other vehicles. A more recent body of research by the New Economics Foundation revealed similar results.

Exercising through cycling outside exposes you to sunlight, which helps with your circadian rhythm and rids your body of cortisol, a stress hormone. A good cardiovascular workout also releases endorphins – the feel-good hormone – meaning that by the time you arrive at your work, you’ll be happier and more productive than when you left the house in the morning.

So in conclusion, I think we can safely say that cycling is an outstanding way to keep fit and healthy in body, mind and soul. Find out how you can make the most of your favourite sport and keep your bike safe with Winns Cycling Service.

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