Bicycle Life – The Joy of Cycling
“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.”
John F. Kennedy
The Health Benefits of Cycling
To be fit and healthy you need to be physically active. Having regular physical activity as part of your daily routine helps protect you from serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, stroke, mental illness and diabetes. Remaining active can also help reduce the effects of arthritis.
Cycling is something that I do 6-7 days a week for my health and is one of the easiest forms of exercise to fit into your daily routine. It is a safe, low-impact exercise option for people of all ages. It is also fun, cheap and good for the environment. You can cycle to work, to school, to the shops or just for fun.
You can cycle on the road, on trails or up and down mountains. And if the weather doesn’t behave you can even cycle indoors on stationary bikes, with virtual set ups or at the gym.
Why is cycling good for you?
It only takes two to four hours a week to achieve a general improvement to your health. Cycling is:
- Low impact – it causes less strain and injuries than most other forms of exercise.
- A good muscle workout– cycling uses all of the major muscle groups as you pedal.
- Easy – unlike some other sports, cycling does not require high levels of physical skill. Most people know how to ride a bike and, once you learn, you don’t forget.
- Good for strength and stamina– cycling increases stamina, strength and aerobic fitness.
- As intense as you want– cycling can be done at very low intensity to begin with, if recovering from injury or illness, but can be built up to a demanding physical workout.
- A fun way to get fit– the adventure and buzz you get from coasting down hills and being outdoors means you are more likely to continue to cycle regularly, compared to other physical activities that keep you indoors or require special times or places.
- Time-efficient – as a mode of transport, cycling replaces sedentary (sitting) time spent driving motor vehicles or using trams, trains or buses with healthy exercise.
How does cycling improve your health?
Cycling is mainly an aerobic activity, which means that your heart, blood vessels and lungs all get a workout. You will breathe deeper, perspire and experience increased body temperature, which will improve your overall fitness level.
The health benefits of cycling regularly include:
- increased cardiovascular fitness
- increased muscle strength and flexibility
- improved joint mobility
- decreased stress levels
- improved posture and coordination
- strengthened bones
- decreased body fat levels
- prevention or management of disease
- reduced anxiety and depression
“You are one ride away from a good mood.”
Sarah Bentley
How to improve your performance?
As with any exercise, ensure you get the advice of your health professional before beginning a sport and make sure you warm up sufficiently. Here is a good routine:
For the more competitive amongst you or for those of you who have set yourself a goal of completing a cycling event; this video gives you some really great advice from a physiotherapist on what a good strength and conditioning routine looks like for a cyclist.
Remember P3 cream can be applied before, during and after exercise thanks to the natural ingredients and quick absorbing, water based formula. The cooling, anti-inflammatory properties will reduce pain and help aching muscles and sore joints feel at ease, allowing you to exercise in comfort.
Pop a travel size cream in a pannier or seat bag so you can keep the pain relief close to hand, this is particularly useful for longer rides.
Which route to take?
To encourage you to try this wonderful mode of transport here are 7 Slow cycling routes in British Columbia which should give you a great list to tick off as you begin. Once you’ve got going, or for our customers who live elsewhere, explore a little further with this lovely list Bike Across Canada: Top Trails For Cyclists and enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the way. Once you’ve started, why stop? Be inspired by this couple and plan a route around the world Our Cycling Route Around The World; their site includes loads more information on equipment, planning trips, fitness etc so it really is a valuable resource.
“Cyclists see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens.”
Dr. K.K. Doty
How to reduce injuries?
Injury prevention is always something high on my list of priorities and Cycling – preventing injury – Better Health Channel gives some great advice on road safety, visibility and common injuries to look out for and what to do. The key bits of advice are:
- Check with your health professional before starting a sport and warm-up and cool down before and after exercise.
- Be road safe and follow the rules of the road, make eye contact with drivers at junctions and use clear hand signals. Wear a helmet.
- Be visible, wear bright clothes, use reflectors, use lights front and back on your bike
- Regularly check your bike to ensure it is well serviced and breaks and gears are oiled and working properly
Cycling is as much about enjoying the ride as it is about reaching the destination. P3 cream is dedicated to getting you back to enjoying life, pain free; as Albert Einstein said “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”.
So, pop on the P3, hop on your bicycle and remember the joys of cycling!
With thanks to Better Health by Victoria Government, Australia Cycling – health benefits for some great information.
