Sports Then and Now

Developing a fitness regime is a delicate balancing act. You need to balance exercise – your cardio, strength, endurance, flexibility and balance. Diet is also important. While you don’t need to buy into all the keto or paleo nonsense, you still need to eat a healthy, balanced diet that’s full of fruit, vegetables, grains and lean meats. And don’t forget rest days, as these help you to avoid injury, burn out and fatigue. But is there an element that’s missing from your regime? Let’s take a quick look at cycling, and why jumping on a bike may be the missing element in your exercise plan.

Cycling is a Low Impact Activity

Riding a bike – either a real bicycle or an exercise bike, is a great way to keep fit that’s also low impact when compared to running or other forms of cardio. You’re less likely to injure yourself while riding. This is great news because an exercise-related injury can leave you out of action for weeks and will undo all that good work that you’ve put into staying fit.

A Major Muscle Workout

Did you know that riding a bike will work the majority of your muscle groups? If you go to the gym, you’d have to work out on multiple machines just to activate your different muscle groups, but a short bike ride will do the job just as well.

It’s Not That Difficult

Unlike other forms of exercise which can require some skill, like yoga or team sports, cycling is easy. Chances are you learned to ride a bike as a kid, and it’s a skill that you never forget. So why break a sweat doing something tricky when you can go for a pleasant ride and work out at the same time?

Great for Strength and Endurance

Bike riding is a brilliant way to get your strength training done, as you’ll notice the cumulative effects of your efforts after a few weeks – you’ll go faster for longer. It will also build up your endurance levels too, which is great if you’re incorporating other cardio into your regime. You’ll swim for longer, run faster and last longer.

Cut Out the Car

If you cycle to work, you’re killing a few birds with a single stone. You’re exercising, which is always positive. You’re also leaving the car at home, saving you money on petrol, servicing and maintenance and you’re doing the environment a massive favour by reducing your carbon footprint for the day.

It’s Fun!

There’s nothing quite like zooming down a hill that you’ve just worked hard to cycle up, the wind in your face and the sun shining and warming your back. Cycling is a great way to have fun, and you can even take the whole family on a cycling trip on the weekends. The kids will love it!

In the Gym, at Home or Out on the Roads

Don’t have a real bicycle to get fit on? No problem. You can achieve the same ends by using an exercise bike – your local gym will have rows and rows of them, or you can buy one to pop in the corner or in your garage at home.

A Cycling Conclusion

Riding a bike, either a real one or an exercise bike, is a great way to stay in shape. It’s a decent form of cardio and will improve your strength and endurance. Your muscles will receive an excellent workout, and you’ll save money on car costs and enhance the environment. It’s also a low impact form of exercise that’s fun for the whole family. So what are you waiting for, get on your bike!