Riding a bike is fun and provides you with a great, low-impact workout. This activity is easy to add to your daily schedule & monitor your activity with an Effective Workout System since you can cycle to work or school. Plus, cycling every day can provide you with plenty of health benefits!
Daily cycling is a great way to stay active and healthy. If you want to learn more about why you should ride your bike as often as possible, make sure to keep reading! There are eight health benefits that we’ll be covering below.
1. Control Weight
When you cycle every day, you can manage your weight with ease. If you need another way to manage your weight and health, cycling is the perfect exercise. You can choose the intensity that you want and adjust as you ride.
Plus, cycling is a low-impact, aerobic activity, making it suitable for everyone. You can start riding a bike quickly regardless of your age, skill level, or current stamina. Overall, riding your bicycle every day helps lower your body fat levels.
2. Build Muscle
While cycling helps lower body fat levels, it also is a great way to build more muscle. When you pedal, you have to push against resistance. This process helps to work your legs and increase the amount of muscle in your body.
As your muscle levels increase, your metabolism increases- allowing you to burn more calories at rest! Researchers estimate muscle burns 20% of your calorie intake, while body fat burns about 5%. While this topic requires more research, it still shows the difference between having more muscle vs. more fat on your body.
Additionally, muscle is naturally more compact than fat is. If two people have the same weight and height, the person with more muscle will wear smaller clothing sizes than those with more body fat.
3. Reduced Risk of Disease
Cycling also reduces the risk of various diseases and health problems. You can cut back on the chances of developing heart diseases and cancer by getting your blood pumping often.
According to a study conducted by the University of Glasgow, riding your bike to work instead of driving can reduce the risk of developing a severe disease by about half. The study researched those who walk to work, but the health benefits were more significant for those who biked.
Overall, using your bike to stay active is excellent for your health! Simply riding to work or school can have a significant impact.
4. No High-Impact Risks
The activity is very low-impact when you ride your bike, unlike running. When you go for a jog, your body has to bear all of your weight, leading to injuries over time. You also may have to deal with inflammation in your muscles.
Plus, it’s an easy activity for beginners to get into. Many people cycle at low intensities when recovering from an injury. You also have the choice between a regular bike and a stationary one- neither of which are high-impact.
Riding your bike doesn’t come with any high-impact risks. You also are much less likely to suffer overuse injuries. So, if you want to work out major muscle groups without straining yourself, a bike ride is the way to go!
5. Improved Sleep
Being more physically active can also help you sleep better during the night. Exercise improves your sleep quality and makes it easier to fall asleep. If you aren’t sleeping well right now, adding more activity to your day will help you immensely.
When you feel more rested, you also experience boosts to your mood. In other words, riding your bike every day can positively impact your quality of life.
6. Improved Mental Health
Additionally, exercising every day is excellent for improving your mental health. If you’re feeling stressed, riding a bike for just 10 minutes can help you feel a lot better.
When riding your bike, you also need to focus on the road and where you want to go. As you ride, you’ll need to put your focus on the commute- helping to clear your mind. Many cyclists report feeling less stressed and anxious after a good ride.
You’ll notice more mental health benefits once you start riding your bike regularly. Overall, getting outside in the fresh air every day can assist with feelings of anxiety and depression.
7. Better Balance and Coordination
When you ride a bike often, you also train your sense of balance and coordination. You’ll need to hold yourself upright on the bike as you move. Training your balance also helps you during your day-to-day life since you’re much less likely to trip or fall.
Your coordination skills also will improve since you have to pedal and steer to move the bicycle in the direction you want to go. You’ll also need to focus on where you’re going, helping to improve your sense of direction. All of these tasks also engage your brain!
Overall, you’ll naturally develop and build on these skills as you cycle every day. Soon, riding your bike will feel like second nature to you!
8. Workout Your Core
Finally, riding a bike also works out the muscles in your core. When you have a stronger core, you also have lower back support, a stronger spine, and less pain overall. You also experience better posture and balance.
Those with a stronger core also feel like it’s easier to move around. You’ll find doing a variety of physical activities isn’t as hard as it used to be!
Start Your Day Off Right!
Adding any physical routine to your morning helps you start the day on a positive note. When you ride your bike every morning, you’ll also get to start your day with a clear head. Having a reliable routine is also great for getting the day started, even when you’re not feeling motivated.
In short, there are plenty of health benefits that you can experience when you start cycling every day! This activity is simple to start and is excellent for commuting all over town.