Cycling is quickly becoming a popular sport. For those who are looking for a lifetime sport, cycling offers numerous benefits. Not only does it offer easy access to equipment and trails, but it is also easier on your joints than other popular activities like running or skiing. However, many people don't realize the numerous long-term health benefits of cycling. Cycling helps to build strong mental and physical health.
1. Increased Joint Mobility, Posture, and Coordination
Cycling is considered a low-impact sport. As a result, it's easy on your joints and can actually help to improve joint mobility. Because your joints are constantly on the move during cycling, it can help keep joints loose and free without putting stress or weight on them.
Additionally, cycling helps to build important muscles for posture. Cycling requires a decent amount of core strength to keep your trunk upright throughout the ride. As a result, cycling helps build the muscles of the back, torso, and neck leading to improved posture both on and off of the bike.
Finally, cycling requires an impressive amount of coordination to keep both feet pedaling while simultaneously steering and turning. The coordination between feet, as well as the coordination between the hands and the eye, combine to build excellent coordination between all parts of the body.
2. Decrease in Stress, Increase in Mood
Cycling is a sport that requires a significant amount of physical activity. Physical activity has long been researched to release important chemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins are known as a "feel good" chemical, which results in a more positive mood. Doing just a small amount of physical activity each day can lead to the release of endorphins, ultimately improving your mood.
Endorphins also help to fight stress, anxiety, and depression. Because they lead to good feelings in the body, those who exercise are less likely to experience stress. Exercise also gives the body an opportunity to regulate, leading to an outlet for stress.
3. Strong Muscles
Cycling is known to exercise all major muscle groups. As you pedal, both the upward and downward force of your feet gives your legs an excellent workout. However, your upper body works hard with the lower body as well. Muscles in your back, trunk, and neck play important roles in stability and balance.
As you cycle, each of these muscle groups gets a work out making them stronger for the short-term and long-term. The faster and longer you ride, the more of a workout you're likely to get. Those who spend hours cycling per week find they develop extremely strong muscles, especially in the legs.
4. Strong Bones
Cycling also helps to build strong bones. Just like the muscles, bones can become stronger as well during the act of cycling. This is especially true for the legs. As you continue to pedal, your body continues to build up its defense causing the bones to become stronger and more durable.
5. Increased Mental Clarity
In addition to decreased stress, cycling also has a variety of other mental health benefits. Because cyclists often cover many miles while cycling, their route often helps them to develop excellent mental clarity, focus, and memory. In order to remember their route and understand where they're going, they must have a sharp and quick mind.
Cyclists who ride on the road must know the rules for bicyclists. Those who choose mountain biking or trail riding must understand different signs and safety rules to navigate the paths. Those who cycle often like to explore new paths, both inside and outside the woods. They must have excellent mental clarity to keep themselves from getting lost. Additionally, being out in nature when cycling has been shown to have additional health benefits such as being smarter, happier, and more productive.
6. Increased Cardiovascular Health
Cycling also helps to increase your cardiovascular health. As you ride, it isn't just your muscles and bones that get a workout. The lungs, heart, and blood vessels all work together to keep your body moving.
First, your lungs must increase their capacity and strength to deliver oxygen to your body efficiently. Strong lungs are essential for cyclists as they work to provide oxygen as you travel up and down hills. Many cyclists enjoy riding for several miles which may take several hours at a time. As a result, it's important for their lungs to be in great shape.
The heart and the blood vessels must also be strong to pump blood to the body. In order for the muscles to function properly and become stronger, they first need blood. While cycling, your heart must become extremely strong in order to deliver blood quickly and efficiently all over the body.
Because the lungs, heart, and blood vessels get such an efficient workout during cycling, this helps to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease. Just like the muscles and bones become stronger, your heart and lungs become stronger as well. This decreases the risk for cardiovascular conditions like heart attack.
7. Lower Levels of Body Fat
Because cycling is such a rigorous form of exercise, it also helps to burn body fat. Those who spend time cycling burn more calories and as a result, more fat. Especially at high intensities, cycling can help to build muscle while burning fat. Those who cycle also experience an increased metabolism.
However, these health benefits of increased metabolism and fast-burning fat don't simply apply to when you're on your bike. Cycling also helps to burn fat when you are at rest. This leads to even lower levels of body fat.