Cycling is an active form of transport and a low-impact exercise for people of all ages – it’s healthy, environmentally friendly, and enjoyable.
You can cycle as a mode of transportation, for leisure activity, or as an intense exercise or sport.
Cycling is a wonderful workout that keeps you active. It can help shape a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally.
Bicycles provide tons of benefits in comparison with motor vehicles, including easier parking, increased maneuverability, and access to roads and trails.
With reduced consumption of fuels as a mode of transport, less air or noise pollution, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,[9] cycling is environmentally friendly and greatly helps reduce traffic congestion.
Cycling is an incredibly sociable sport, regular riding allows you to meet fellow cyclists and build a sense of community.
Cycling Health Benefits
Talking about benefits, here are some of the ways cycling can enhance your fitness level and well-being.
- Cycling decreased body fat levels. A fun way to get fit
- Cycling will help increase muscle strength and flexibility
- Cycling may lower cholesterol
- Cycling boosts mental health and brain power
- Cycling can reduce anxiety and depression
- Cycling improved posture and coordination
- Cycling may help prevent and manage medical conditions
- Cycling improves balance, posture, and coordination
- Cycling is a low impact option, a safe choice for older adults and people with weak or damaged joints
- Cycling may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
- Cycling can also help improve cardiorespiratory health
- Cycling can help to protect you from serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity and arthritis
Cycling Disadvantages
There are a few drawbacks to cycling to consider. These mainly apply to outdoor cycling, which involves variables outside your control.
It’s important to keep caution while going through intersections and busy areas, even if you have the right of way. Invest in a quality helmet and any other protective gear you may need. Use bike lights and reflective gear for nighttime cycling. Always follow traffic laws.
Even if you ride responsibly and behave cautiously, dangerous drivers are a cyclist’s worst enemy. Any collision can easily result in serious injury.
Fallen tree branches, stones, gravel, mud, oil spills, and small holes in the road can be disastrous for a cyclist, especially at night.
On days when it’s not possible to cycle outside, you can do indoor cycling for a workout. For the hot season, when taking extended daytime rides, use sunscreen on all exposed skin. Consider investing in UV-protective clothing and sunglasses.
Beyond simply riding, another skill needed for long-distance is riding efficiently and safely in traffic.
Choose to cycle on days when the air is cleaner or ride on less congested roads.
Even if your lock protects your frame, someone can still steal another components of your bike with relative ease if they carry a few simple tools.
Overall, the benefits of cycling are immense. Do the health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks? Care to share your comments?
Check out this article to learn more about Fatbike’s benefits and disadvantages.
References:
Wikipedia, Wiki/Cycling, accessed 18 May 2022, < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling>
Keeping active, Cycling – health benefits , accessed 18 May 2022,
Emily Cronkleton, December 15, 2021, 12 Benefits of Cycling, Plus Safety Tips , accessed 18 May 2022,
