ON YOUR BIKE!
It’s a cycling revolution! It’s hard not to notice that more-and-more people are getting back to basics and cutting their carbon footprints. Cycling has boomed in the last 5 years in Great Britain, and more recently, Transport for London has introduced a new scheme called Cycle Hire, which will be ready this summer. Cycle Hire will be a public bicycle sharing scheme for short journeys in and around central London and is based on a pick-up -drop-off self-service system that operates 24 hours.
Besides doing your part for Mother Earth, cycling is also a great form of exercise that packs in a mighty punch in the form of a host of health benefits like:
Cycling boosts cardiovascular health
Cycling is an energetic form of exercise that boosts the health of your heart by causing it to pump faster. Regular cycling can protect you from heart disease and other related conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Cycling promotes aerobic health
Research has indicated that moderate cycling significantly improves aerobic health. According to this, cycling four times a week for six weeks improved the aerobic health of the cyclists by as much as 11%. By improving your aerobic condition, you can do daily tasks more easily (like climbing stairs!)without getting tired or breathless.
Cycling helps maintain a healthy body weight
Obesity is a by-product of modern day sedentary living. It is also a major risk factor for a host of chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Cycling is a simple and easily accessible form of exercise that successfully burns calories and helps maintain weight. Cycling for about 30 minutes, five times a week may provide you with enough exercise to help you keep those extra pounds off and remain healthy.
Cycling conditions your muscles, making them stronger and leaner!
Cycling exercises predominantly the lower body, however it’s also known to strengthen arms and the back too. Varied routes, like hills, can really work the legs and when out the saddle, cycling becomes a total-body workout!
Cycling improves co-ordination and balance
Keeping balanced on your seat whist pedalling the legs is an excellent exercise for challenging co-ordination and balance (your core!). This in turn improves mobility and reduces the chances of injuries due to accidents such as slipping or falling.
Cycling relieves depression
Being physically active is not only good for the body, but also the mind! Enjoying regular cycles can improve moods and self confidence. This helps to fight stress and is an antidote to depression.
Cycling is easy!
Almost everybody – irrespective of age or health status – can take up cycling. It does not require any fancy equipment or specialised technique. It is also a relatively safe exercise that is also ideal for people with arthritis in the leg joints who do not cope very well with full weight-bearing exercises such as jogging.
Cycling gets you from A-to-B, costs nothing AND saves you time!
Cycling is also a means of transport, and those using it can get their required exercise merely while commuting from one point to the other without having to spend extra time on a more formal exercise routine. Best part, it’s free! Your travel expenses will disappear and you can save some pounds (the good kind!)
Safety
Cyclist safety is NUMBER ONE! Not only does this cover protective gear, like a helmet (compulsory!), but also road safety rules, cycle guidelines and riding behaviour. It’s also important to consult your doctor: While cycling is relatively safe, if you are new to it – or are taking it up again after a long lapse – it may be better to consult your doctor first to ascertain if it would be safe for you.
In November 2009, The Guardian reported an alarming sharp rise in cyclist deaths and serious injury numbers, according to the figures released by the Department for Transport . They reported 820 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in the three months to June 2009, a 19% increase on the same period of 2008. More minor injuries rose 7% over the same period. The reporter echoed cycle campaigners warning that such figures should be taken with caution as they can be easily skewed and when taken without the context of an expected surge in rider numbers for the period, the figures are quite hollow.
Safety issues are constantly rose, however CTC policy co-ordinator, Chris Peck, reminds us that cycling remains a fundamentally safe thing to do, particularly when the health and environmental benefits are considered. Chris states further that it’s perhaps the less experienced riders that can be less safe in areas such as road sense.
What’s amazing is that for the first time in years, people are realising that they can make a difference…and cycling seems to be the difference. So what are you waiting for? Get On your bike!
Here are some really useful websites, packed with info and help for novice and experienced cyclists alike:
TFL Cycling – http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11598.aspx
Cycling England – http://www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland/
CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation – http://www.ctc.org.uk/
