Riding to Wellness

Summer is here! Time to dust of the bike, and get out and ride. Cycling is a family-friendly activity that has a ton of benefits.

It a good way to enjoy the outdoors, feel the sun on your skin and breathe fresh air while you exercise. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight. The average person will burn between 450 to 750 calories per hour cycling. Of course, the number of calories depends on your weight, speed, and time spent biking. It is a low-impact cardio workout that is easier on your joints than running.

Riding a bike obviously requires a lot of effort from your legs and glutes, the biggest muscle groups in your body. If you want to improve and strengthen the muscles in your lower body, cycling regularly is a great place to start.

Bicycling is also a wonderful family or social activity. What a great way to spend time with your friends or family! Finally, bicycling is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to get around town and even do some sightseeing. Here are five of the biggest benefits of cycling.

1
Manage Weight
Cycling habitually, especially at a high intensity, helps lower body fat levels, which promotes healthy weight management. Plus, you’ll increase your metabolism and build muscle, which allows you to burn more calories, even while at rest.
2
Improve Leg and Core Strength
Cycling is a low-impact way to improve function in your lower body and strengthens your leg muscles. It targets your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. Cycling also works your core muscles, including your back and abdominals. Keeping your body upright requires a certain amount of core strength.
3
Boosts Your Mood
Cycling can help decrease feelings of stress, depression, or anxiety. It can also improve concentration since you are focused on the road and not other thoughts that may be in your mind. Exercise releases endorphins, the happy hormones, which make you feel better and more upbeat.
4
Reduces Risk of Medical Condition
It has been said that a sedentary lifestyle can be just as dangerous to your body as smoking. Cycling is a wonderful activity to get moving without overstressing your body. It can help prevent cardiac issues such as stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure. Riding a bike may also help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes.
5
Almost Anyone Can Cycle
You have heard the saying "It's as easy as riding a bike." It became a saying because it is true. Almost anyone from a toddler to a senior can ride a bike. If you have difficulty with a standard bicycle, stationary bikes are a great alternative. If you’re new to exercise or are recoverink\ from an injury or illness, you can cycle at a low intensity and increase the intensity and time as you improve.