Why You Should Cycle To Get Fit And Healthy

When it comes to doing sports to keep fit and healthy, there are lots of different types of activities you can do from playing football and swimming to working out at the gym or in classes. However, one of the most popular modern ways to improve your health is to get on a bike and go cycling. Cycling is a popular sport all around the world and one of the reasons why it is so popular is that it allows you to get out and about to explore rather than just stay in one place. It is more active than walking and therefore has a lot of potential health benefits and it is a great way to get started if you want to focus on being fitter and healthier.

Cycling Clothes

Cycling is a sport that you can choose to do alone or as part of a group, depending on which option will get you the most motivated. You can invest in some proper cycling gear like cycling jerseys and having the right clothing can often be a good way to feel more motivated. Motivation is often the main problem when it comes to getting fit and healthy, and you should start off by shopping online for some cycling clothes, including the following items:

LEGS & FEET:

• Shorts
• Leggings
• Tights
• Leg warmers
• Waterproof trousers
• Bib shorts
• Bib tights
• Shoes
• Waterproof shoe covers

BODY:

• Gillets
• Long sleeved jerseys
• Short sleeved jerseys
• Long sleeved base layers
• Short sleeved base layers
• Windproof jackets
• Waterproof jackets

ARMS & HANDS:

• Arm warmers
• Gloves
• Mitts

HEAD:

• Helmet
• Bandanas
• Caps
• Woolly hats

Once you have all of the right clothing, you will feel more motivated to get out on your bike every day, no matter what the weather is doing. In fact, many new cyclists are surprised at how warm they get after cycling for just a few minutes and will quickly start stripping off the many layers that they put on before they left the comfort of their home, even in the winter.

The last thing you want to do is overheat, so make sure you wear layers that are easy to take off. The more experienced you get at cycling, the easier you will find it to judge how many layers you need depending on what the weather is doing, so don’t be put off if you get too hot or cold on the first few rides.

Improve Your Fitness

In order to be physically fit and healthy, you need to make sure that you get regular physical exercise and cycling is a great example of the type of sport that you should do if you need to get fitter and healthier.

Cycling regularly can help to protect your body from all kinds of health issues, including:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Gout

Many of us are guilty of living a sedentary lifestyle and riding a bicycle regularly is one of the best things you can do to combat the health problems associated with sitting for long periods of time for work.

There are also other health benefits to cycling regularly, including the following:

• It improves joint mobility
• It strengthens bones
• It tones muscles
• It can decrease stress levels
• It burns fat
• It increases muscle flexibility and strength
• It can improve your posture
• It can reduce your anxiety levels

Taking up a sport like cycling on a regular basis is a great way to help to keep mental health problems at bay as well, as it gives you something to focus your energy on.

Benefits of Cycling

There are lots of other reasons why cycling is a great option if you want to improve your fitness levels, namely:

• It can be as low-impact or as fast paced as you want
• It can be done at any age
• It is cheap to do
• It is good for the environment
• It works your muscles
• It gets your heart pumping
• It is easy and doesn’t require much skill to learn

You can get on your bicycle to do things such as ride to the local shops, get to work or pick the kids up from school and combining exercise into your regular routine is a great way to feel more motivated to do it. Every time you need a pint of milk, jump on your bike instead of getting in the car and it is good to encourage your children from a young age to learn about the importance of being fit and healthy, so buy them some cycling clothes, a helmet and a bike too.

Lose Weight

If you want to take up a sport in order to lose weight, then cycling is a good choice as it will raise your metabolic rate, burn fat and helps you to build muscle tone as well. You will need to mix cycling with a healthy diet if you want to lose weight and keep it off, and the great thing about cycling is that it is a comfortable sport that you can make as fast paced or as leisurely as you want, depending on the day and your energy levels.

You can build up the intensity of your exercise routine on your bike by doing different routes on different days of the week, with some flat and short and others longer and with slopes.

Fun Fact:

If you cycle at a steady pace for one hour, you will burn about 300 calories, which is why you will soon start noticing the difference if you cycle to work and back every day.

Cycling is a great sport to take up if you want to improve your fitness levels and overall health, and you should try to incorporate it into your daily routine in order to make it more enjoyable.