Cycling is a great form of physical activity that offers numerous health benefits, including:
- Improved cardiovascular health: Cycling can improve heart health by strengthening the heart muscle, lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of heart disease.
- Increased fitness: Cycling is an effective way to improve overall fitness, increase endurance, and burn calories.
- Weight management: Cycling can help with weight loss and management by burning calories and building muscle.
- Improved mental health: Regular cycling has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress, and increase feelings of well-being.
- Joint health: Cycling is a low-impact form of exercise that can be easier on the joints compared to high-impact activities such as running.
- Improved flexibility and balance: Cycling can help improve flexibility and balance, particularly in the legs and core.
- Better sleep: Regular cycling has been shown to improve sleep quality and help people fall asleep faster.
- Increased muscle strength: Cycling can help build strength in the legs, hips, and glutes.
- Reduced risk of chronic diseases: Regular cycling has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, certain types of cancer, and stroke.
- Improved brain health: Cycling has been shown to improve brain health by increasing blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, which can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
These are just a few examples of the many health benefits of cycling. It is however always important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program.
Further reading:
- Health Benefits (British Cycling)
- Do the Health Benefits of Cycling outweigh the Risks? (Environmental Health Perspectives 2010)
- Fitness Facts about cycling (Cycling for Fun, 2012)
- Cycling makes you work harder (Manchester Evening News, 2013)
- Training:Health & Recovery (British Cycling 2014-9)
- Eating a balanced diet, (NHS, 2016)
- Cycling and Health Guide (NHS, 2016)
- Cycling and Health (Cycling UK 2017)
- Cycling for Beginners (NHS 17 June, 2019)
- Tips for taking up cycling (British Heart foundation August 2020)
- Is Cycling Dangerous? (Discerning Cyclist, 2020)
- A Sedentary Lifestyle – One possible solution is a bicycle (Pirelli 2021)
- Calories burned cycling for 1 hour (Bicycle volt 2021)
- Cycling and Weight Loss (Cyclescheme September 2021)
- Top Ten tips for cycling in traffic (Cycling UK 2022)
- Is cycling to work safe? (Discerning Cyclist, January 2022)
- Email guylancaster@hotmail.com with any alterations or additions to this list.