Sports Then and Now

Cycling is one of the cheapest and best ways to exercise today. It is perfect for people of all ages and abilities because the activity does not place excess strain on any areas of the body. No matter where you live in the country, there will be lots of designated cycling routes in your local area. Also, you might like to consider using a bike to get to work during the summertime if you are committed to lowering your fuel consumption. The health benefits of cycling are listed below.

Using a bike on a regular basis will help to build strength and muscle tone. Indeed, that is why so many boxers and bodybuilders choose to cycle in their spare time. If you want to improve your body image without working too hard, jumping on a two-wheeler could be a wise move.

Cycling is known to improve stamina greatly because the results from this exercise are relatively easy to judge. People tend to download an app to their phone to keep track of their movements these days. So, it is easy to see that you manage to travel slightly further with each ride.

Those who choose to use bikes in their free time encourage their heart to pound in a steady manner. That have been proven to help improve cardiovascular fitness. Studies have shown that people who cycle to work increase their fitness levels by 3-7% depending on the distance traveled.

As you can see, there are many health benefits to cycling that we simply can’t ignore. Now is the time to get started if you want to lose some weight and feel better about yourself before Christmas. The infographic will tell you more…

Infographic By peak1sports.com

There are many levels of competitive cycling.

The cycling world might have been rocked by revelations about Lance Armstrong, but it’s still going strong. Cycling is one of the best sports to get involved with, whether it’s at an amateur or more professional level. Once you start cycling in different events, you won’t be able to stop it becoming your whole life. If you already feel yourself turning into one of those people who always talks about cycling, you probably want to get started and enter a few competitions and events. But if you don’t know where to start, it’s not too hard to begin.

Get the Gear

You won’t get very far without a bike. There’s no need to rush out and buy all the latest equipment right away, from a bike that costs thousands of dollars to a lycra bodysuit. But you need to start somewhere, even if it’s just with a secondhand bicycle. First, decide what sort of riding you want to do. A city bike like these beautiful Shinola bicycles will get you around an urban environment if you want to start cycling to work. A road bike or hybrid is good for longer distances while you’ll need a mountain bike for challenging terrain. You’ll also need some appropriate shoes and clothes and a water bottle as a minimum to get you started.

Join a Cycling Group

If you want to meet other cycling enthusiasts and train with them, find a local cycling group. You’ll find like-minded people who meet up to ride together, talk about cycling and maybe even go on trips. You might find that they enter events together too, in case you’re a bit nervous to attend your first one on your own. Read the rest of this entry →

The Tour de France victory by Bradley Wiggins has helped spur interest in cycling in England.

Historically, cycling has always been something of an unfashionable sport in the UK. This has began to change in recent times, however, thanks largely to the efforts of Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and the impact of the London Olympics in the summer of 2012. Wiggins not only became the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France, but he also claimed time trial glory at the Olympics before being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December. This unprecedented success has triggered a rise in popularity for the sport, as youngsters nationwide look  to participate both competitively and as a way of keeping fit.

The Course of Cycling Since 2012: Embarking on an Upward Curve

While Wiggins’ victory in the Tour de France was historic, it was his success in the Olympic Games that really brought cycling into the mainstream conscience. Although the debate continues to rage concerning the cost of the Olympics and the value that it has delivered, there is no doubt that it has inspired the future generation of sports enthusiasts and potential stars. The actual financial cost of the Games came in under budget at £8.92 billion, and the individual cost of £142 per head may be a small price to pay for developing a more active and health conscious generation of children.

Bradley Wiggins’ gold medal at the Olympic time trial marked something of a watershed for British cycling, as it was played out against the backdrop of passionate support and widespread acclaim. This is arguably the first time that a British cyclist has been exposed to such adulation, as the Olympics provided Wiggins with the ideal platform on which to promote both his skill and the sport as a whole. The subsequent reaction has been significant, as a growing number of children look to engage in individual sports and pursue potential careers in cycling, tennis and athletics. Read the rest of this entry →