- Get Smarter
- A study conducted by Charles Hillman back in 2007 revealed that exercise boosts brain power and helps stave off Alzheimer’s in the elderly. Another study in the same year by Dr. Phil Tomporowski showed that kids benefitted even more from time on a bike, and that exercise can help control issues, like ADD. In a recent study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, scientists found that people scored higher on tests of memory, reasoning and planning after 30 minutes of spinning on a stationary bike than they did before they rode. They also completed the tests faster after pedaling. Plenty of science backs the idea that a good ride can also have emotional benefits. Cycling can elevate your mood, relieve anxiety, increase stress resistance and even banish the blues.
- Recover From Injury
- A recent study found that elderly patients with knee pain and osteoarthritis actually improved their condition when cycling was introduced to their routines, proving that as we get older, taking time to exercise (even spinning only a few minutes a day) can be very beneficial. Cycling is ideal for recovery because it’s non-weight bearing, low impact, ideal for remaining in a stable position, is a recurring movement which nurtures joint cartilage, utilizes a range of motion that’s required for most daily living activities, applies controlled movement, allows you to vary resistance and is an effective cardiovascular work out.
- Improve Your Heart
- Cycling is great for your heart, and not only because you love to do it. A study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise spent 5 years following the activity of 1.500 subjects. Those who were active on a daily basis were 31% less likely to develop high blood pressure. On a personal note, I had a physical not too long ago, and because of a low resting pulse, my doctor felt it necessary for me to see a cardiologist. My doctors concerns were dismissed after an echo-cardiogram revealed no irregularities. My blood pressure was normal, and the cardiologist attributed my healthy heart to cycling.
- Feel Sexier
- This category has nothing to do with how you feel in Spandex, but if you go beyond recreational cyclist and start wearing the stuff, both you and those around you will be glad that you have a fit body from all the cycling you’re doing. It’s more about how cyclists are perceived. A survey of 600 men and women commissioned by the British Heart Foundation found that cyclists were perceived as 13% more intelligent and cooler than other people, and a whopping 23% said that a cyclist would be their preferred blind-date athlete.
- Lose Fat
- It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that weight loss is one of the big benefits of regular cycling, but it bears repeating. The media is often quick to promote the idea that dieting is the only way to shed fat, but science is proving otherwise. A recent study showed that older diabetic women could only drop visceral fat if exercise, along with diet was introduced into their routine. The same was proved for younger women. My personal experience is that when I’m riding regularly, my body craves fuel, and as long as I keep it healthy, I indulge in large meals and my weight remains constant.
- Help Prevent Cancer
- Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise and a conscientious diet (ie: lots of leafy vegetables, lean proteins and healthy grains) helps lower your risk of cancer. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association recently looked at nearly 14,000 men and concluded that those with a higher fitness level as they approached middle age were at a lower risk for lung and colorectal cancer.
Change Your Outlook on Exercising
- The way I look at it, health and fitness simply happen when you’re having fun on your bike. Climbing aboard an eliptical, stair stepper, rower or treadmill are other ways of getting your exercise (even exercise bikes, or spinning bikes). The difference to me is that the machines are one dimensional – they’re for working out. You feel better when you finish, but the process isn’t all that much fun. When I go for a ride, I’m caught up in the activity. There’s fresh air, there’s scenery, there’s climbing and descending, shifting and braking, there’s wind in my face…….and as a bonus, I’m getting a work-out.
