Since I wrote what a great idea it is to get into running last time, I think it’s time to talk about benefits of cycling. Many are the same, since they come from engaging in cardio exercise:
- Good for your heart and helps prevent cardiovascular disease
- Helps prevent diabetes
- You may be able to lose some weight
- Muscle – you will get a ton of leg muscle, but biking is better at engaging additional muscle groups than running
- You will sleep better
- Immune system gets a booster
- Improves your mental health
- New friends (and it’s a lot easier to make them on a bike than while running, too!)
- You are so much better put together when you get to work or school!
A bit of a downside
On the down side, you do need equipment: a bike and a helmet. Those are more expensive than just a pair of running shoes, but you can get pretty cheap ones if that’s your preference. You also get to enjoy shopping, since there are many types of bikes to choose from, depending on what you’re planning. Make sure you pick the right type of helmet, too!
I recently learned that if you ride enough, regardless of your seriousness, you will need a pair of cycling shorts. I’m not talking about myself – I’ve been riding in those for ages. My neighbor is new to this sport though and recently came to ask for advice regarding her sore butt. I guess she needs to invest in some proper clothing!
Let’s not forget: you do need to learn how to ride a bike. I sincerely hope that you got to learn as a kid, as it should be.
There is a danger of injury. You can crash and look like this:
The good news is that when you go slowly, it probably won’t get this bad. Crashing is also a rare occurrence. However, since it does happen, I figured it should be mentioned or I’d be called out for neglecting a drawback to cycling.
Unique benefits of cycling
But there are some unique benefits of cycling, so let’s focus on that!
Pick your own workout intensity!
Nice thing about biking is that you can do it at varying paces, ranging from a nice ‘stroll’ through the park to professional-level barreling down the street. For many families, having a kid join them on bikes is a way to squeeze in a run, since now they can keep up.
And if just going faster isn’t enough for you, hit up some hills! You’ll be surprised how fast you lose speed on those… Honestly, you will never know how many uphills there are around your house until you try biking. Things that are negligible while walking or running can still be very much felt while pedaling.
You can actually get places and be efficient
When you run, it takes a while to get anywhere. And you end up looking dreadful. You move a lot faster on a bike, even if you opt for a leisurely pace. If you don’t pedal too hard, you can arrive already dressed in your ‘normal’ clothes and are ready to join the activities. And yes, if you really insist, you can bike wearing heels. I tried. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but it’s totally doable. I also regularly see people riding a bike in flip flops. Personally, I wouldn’t do it, but you can try it if it’s your thing.
Ability to arrive places faster and possibly looking like a civilized human being means you can run your errands or commute on a bike. You get to kill two birds with one stone: you got your workout done while getting to work or store. Did I mention it’s also cheaper than taking a bus or driving a car? It’s a win all around!
The Views!
Speaking of getting places: you can actually climb that mountain or reach middle of nowhere and enjoy peace, nature and the views. Just picture yourself there:
Awesome, right?
Biking makes you smarter
I believe I mentioned it in the running article, but there is something special about cycling: it helps your brain work on special awareness. When you’re running, you are close to the ground and can either turn or stop on a dime. It’s not so when you are cycling. Because of that, you need to work on noticing animals, potholes, a-holes… You know, anything that may require you to stop or change direction. You don’t want to crash after all!
Benefits of cycling to the environment
Leaving your car at home is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint! Maybe your car will last longer, too, so you won’t be polluting the world as much, since it won’t have to be replaced as often?
What I found fascinating is that cyclists are exposed to less air pollution than drivers while travelling on the same street – check out this article in The Guardian. And here I thought that I mostly avoid pollution while biking because I choose greener routes (even if they are a bit longer – but they are safer and more pleasant).
Cycling is low impact!
In practice, this means that it can be done daily (remember: when you run, you need rest days to allow your body to recover from banging on the pavement). Yay! Although you may still occasionally plan a special day for yourself and your couch 😉.
On the flip side, low impact sports won’t help you fight osteoarthritis. Hopefully you won’t develop it though and won’t need to worry about treating it.
So what do you say: should we jump on our bikes and go for a ride? I vote yes and hope to see you out there!