Searching For A Low Impact Sport? Try Cycling

Offering myriad benefits for a healthier lifestyle, cycling is a low impact form of exercise that is suitable for just about everyone. Varying in intensity, whatever your level of fitness, cycling can be used to help you get from a to b, enjoy a casual ride around in the countryside or around park, or get physically fitter and stronger.

Once you’ve decided to take up cycling as a sport or pastime, chosen a suitable model from among the top 10 bicycle brands, and donned the appropriate safety gear, you’re ready to hit the road!

Here are just a few of the many benefits of cycling for a healthier lifestyle:

Weight loss

If you want to trim up your waistline without having to hit the gym or restrict your diet, give cycling a go. Regular cycling at high intensity (for the best, quickest results) can decrease the levels of fat in your body, and help you better manage your weight.

Leg strengthening

Improving the overall function of your lower body, and strengthening the muscles in your legs without applying too much stress to the joints, cycling is great for targeted strengthening of your glutes, quads, calves and hamstrings.

Simplicity

Most of us will have learnt how to ride a bicycle when we were younger, and can still remember how to do it even if we haven’t tried it for a while. But if not, it’s never too late to learn - with a regular bike, you can simply jump on and cycle off into the distance! You could even try a stationary bike if you want to get fit without having to outside.

Cholesterol lowering potential

Cycling regularly, even at a gentle pace, may help to improve your cholesterol levels, give your cardiovascular health a boost, and reduce the chances of you suffering from a heart attack or stroke.

Mental health and brain boosting

Most sports can help to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, or stress, through the release of endorphins. But due to the particular levels of focus required when cycling on roads or streets, cycling can make you concentrate more and be aware of being present in the moment; this in turn, can help to reduce any negative or overwhelming chatter you may be experiencing mentally.

Prevention and management of medical conditions

From stopping certain medical conditions from arising, to managing existing conditions, cycling regularly (or participating in any kind of sport for a few hours a week) is the key to good health and longevity.

Heart issues and diabetes are just two of the many health conditions regular exercise such as cycling can help prevent.

Respectful to the environment

Riding your bike instead of driving a car, or taking the bus or train (unless they’re powered by electricity) to wherever you need to go, is so much better for the environment, and if more of us did it, collectively we could decrease our carbon footprints related to transport, significantly.

Balance, coordination, and posture improving potential

Riding a bike requires you to stabilize your body to remain upright, and while this is simple for most people, it does still help you improve upon your overall balance, coordination, and even your gait.

As we age, balance tends to decline, so get cycling to stay upright, enjoy good posture, and most importantly, limit the risk of injury from falling.

Low impact

Even if you choose to cycle at top speed, cycling is very gentle on the body, and is a low impact activity for anyone wanting a workout that’s intense, without putting any unnecessary strain on their joints.

There are plenty more reasons to take up cycling, and when you start doing it, you’ll soon discover them! Many of the top bike brands have models for beginners, amateurs and professionals, so finding the right bike to start your cycling journey with, couldn’t be simpler.