WANNA RIDE?
Lay hold of the handlebar and hit the trail!
Whether you are cycling for leisure or simply as a means to commute, the humble bicycle is economical, ecologically sound and one of the straightforward ways to include fitness/sport into your daily regime. Call it cycling, bicycling, biking or spinning, this healthy outdoor ride represents freedom, adventure and lots of fresh air.
Apart from the bodily perks, riding a bike offers a wealth of other benefits making it a fortifying and liberating escapade across people of all age groups and from all walks of life. And its only downside is that it can be habit-forming!
THE BENEFITS THAT FOLLOW
Easily accessible and having a broad appeal, cycling has got tons and tons of benefits making it the most pleasurable form of transport ever invented.
Some of the benefits of cycling that everyone should reap are:
Promotes weight management
One of the best forms of exercise, cycling is an ideal way to shed those extra kilos when done in adequate amounts and at high intensity, whilst having fun out in the fresh air. You can burn anywhere between 400 to 1000 calories depending on the duration and the difficulty of the terrain. Also, physiologists have discovered that fat continues to be burnt following your ride.
Boosts mental well-being
Cycling provides a much-needed mental break as it helps in easing of feelings like stress, depression or anxiety. It has the effect of boosting the mood through the release of endorphins which are natural pain killers the body needs to heal. These chemicals released enhances the mood and imparts a feel-good factor.
Healthy family fun
Say bye bye to smartphones and bond over some fun family biking activity. It’s a great way to spend your free time and discover new routes together and the shared sense of achievement of family fitness goals.
Excellent means of commute
Hop on to your bicycle and move around as cycling is also a feasible means of transport as it is faster than the public transport or a private owned four-wheeler as you won’t be held back by traffic. Also, this form of commute doesn’t burn a whole in your pocket in the form of fuel expenses.
Enhances the quality of your sleep
Struggling to sleep? Cycling is the solution! It has been proven that tiring yourself out on a bike improves your sleep especially among those who have insomnia issues or for people who lead sedentary lives. Although the best time to go for a ride is in the evenings, but riding anytime during the day will help you fall asleep.
Social circle and networking
This sociable activity is great for networking and grow your social circle. The cycling club culture is a big hit amongst cyclists and an excellent way to meet fellow cyclists and exchange/share biking tips.
Brain health
Riding regularly can improve blood flow through your brain which can help recharge the neurons involved in thought processing and memory. It also promotes the growth of new cells in the hippocampus part of the brain which further protects you from neuro-degenerative diseases.
Eco-friendly
Reduce your carbon footprint! You can reduce pollutants in the air by not being another contributor as cycling is an environment friendly way to move around especially in polluted and crowded places.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION ENCOURAGES CYCLING!
The World Health Organisation has recommended cycling to stay active during the corona virus
WHO recently made this welcome announcement that cycling is encouraged, both as transport and as a way of staying healthy during the global crisis.
A statement from the organisation said: “While cities around the world are introducing a broad range of measures to limit physical contacts to prevent and slow down the COVID-19 pandemic, many people might still have a need to move around cities to reach their workplaces when possible, meet essential daily needs or provide assistance to vulnerable people”
Whenever feasible, consider riding bicycles or walking: this provides physical distancing while helping to meet the minimum requirement for daily physical activity
