There are plenty of reasons why you might want to take up road cycling. Perhaps you want to improve your bank balance. Maybe you want to do your bit for the environment. Perhaps you want to get fit and healthy.
There are many benefits and few drawbacks. Here are just a few of the reasons why you’ll want to replace four wheels with two.
It Wakes You Up
Going out for a ride is a great way to brush away the cobwebs in the morning and prepare for the day ahead. All too often we sleepwalk to our cars in the morning, sit down and drive to work. And it takes us until well past 9 am to really get going.
But just going for a 15-minute ride before work can wake you up. Studies carried out on exercise and fatigue show that cycling can actually help to reduce fatigue.
It Makes You Happy
Just like any other exercise, cycling makes you happy. If you’re feeling a little low on energy or a little blue, hop on your bike and take it for a spin. When you get back you’ll be amazed how much brighter and positive you feel.
Andrew McCulloch is the head of the Mental Health Foundation. He says that just three 30 minute rides each week are enough to lift most people’s mood.
You’ll Live Longer
If there’s anything that is going to make you want to shop for a road bike, the promise of living longer is probably it. Studies on identical twins have shown that those that cycled every week were biologically younger. And that result held even when other lifestyle factors were taken into account.
It has long been known that a sedentary lifestyle is bad for our health. So including road cycling in your routine is a surefire way to ward off disease. Those who are inactive have a higher risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
It Will Improve Your Sex Life
If you are more physically active, you have better vascular health. And better vascular health means that the relevant organs in your body just work better.
Plus, the more physically fit you are, the more likely your are to be in the mood. You’ll feel more energetic.
You’ll Reduce The Commute
Commuting is one of the most hated parts of life. And that’s mainly because of how long it takes to do. We spend hours of our lives in traffic each week just trying to get to work.
But swap the car for a bike and you could save time and money. Research commissioned by Citroen found that cars move at an average speed of 7 mph in Cardiff’s rush hour. But bikes go an average of 12 to 15 mph. That means your journey time is effectively halved.
You’ll Have Better Sleep
Exercise during the day is an excellent way to get better sleep at night. Training usually exposes you to sunlight. And it is believed that this sunlight is what helps regulate our internal body clocks. Whatever the reason, those who cycle every other day tend to sleep better.
