When was the last time you hopped on a bike, felt the wind on your face, and the world around you flying by as your feet push down on the pedals? Cycling is more than just a good time. It’s a health and financial revolution. Whether you’re biking to see friends down the street, taking a scenic route through a park, or commuting to work, the benefits of cycling go beyond immediate satisfaction—beyond weight loss and A to B. It’s much more.
When did you last go for a bike ride? Hopefully recently—but if you haven’t been able to get on two wheels for years, you’ll be happy to know that cycling can help your life in many new ways that help everything from your attitude to your bank account. It’s a simple exercise with complicated benefits. Here are eight advantages to cycling that you never knew. Hopefully by the end of this article, you’ll be inspired to take your bike out of the garage and start pedaling. Let’s go!
1. Cycling Improves Your Mood
Everyone could use a little mood enhancement now and again. Let’s say you’ve had a long day—you’re feeling down and bogged down by responsibilities, failures, and things out of your control. You get on your bike and mint it all floats away up to the sky as you fade into your ride. This is because cycling gets blood moving and transforms energy into positive hormones floating around in the brain. Therefore, cycling works as a natural mood booster without pills or Five Hour Energy.
When you cycle, endorphins are released in your brain just like when it thinks you’ve accomplished something—you don’t even need to take the victory lap. Just turning around the block can make you happy as your body becomes one with the bike and its wheels go round and round. Then add in outside activity like fresh air, trees, or even welcoming people you know as you pass and it’ll feel like there’s no way to be in a bad mood as you cycle by, legs a-churning smoothly, unless you’re going uphill. But even then, how often do you realize that a bicycle ride, even for 10 minutes, changes everything? It’s an instant mood-changer.
2. Cycling Works Out Your Heart
Your heart works out every day when it beats with blood flow and circulation. Thus, cycling is like a mini-workout for your heart to strengthen the organ that essentially keeps you alive with everything you do. As you pedal, your heart beats a little faster to get blood moving through your system so your cardiovascular system becomes more efficient, one pedal at a time. Over time, this strengthens your heart as it learns how to do its job in a better way.
You don’t need to be a professional cyclist; even a few days a week helps heart health. It’s almost as if you’re giving your heart a break; it shouldn’t have to work as hard if you’re giving it the exercise it needs while simultaneously enjoying yourself—casual cycles through the neighborhood or a park are preferred. The fact is that you’re exerting yourself without even knowing! Who wouldn’t want a more healthy heart this way?
3. Cycling Builds Muscle
When one thinks of cycling, legs come to mind first; yet that doesn’t mean leg muscles are the only muscles involved in cycling. While legs are engaged in thigh and calf usage, the rest of the body benefits from musculature as well. The core involved in stabilization works abdominals and back muscle strength. The upper body is involved in waist turning and arm/shoulder movements adjusting for bumps in the road.
As one continues cycling, cyclical muscle memory occurs, making this muscle stronger in each area; that is, you will find your thighs more toned or that you can carry groceries up the stairs without getting winded. Thus, it’s important to note that cycling does not equal a bodybuilder built; it comes to naturally toned musculature built from functional strength application. For example, using a staircase or carting a heavy box uses the same kind of strength built from cycling. Ever cycled up a large hill? Those muscles burn—but over time—strength comes from it.
4. Cycling Saves Money
What about costs? Sure, there’s a cost association with cars—gas, insurance, maintenance, parking fees, etc.—many of which can be avoided via cycling. After the purchase of a bike, cycling is virtually free. Flat tires and chain problems are small fixes that shouldn’t break the bank rarely; in comparison to gas and other car-fix associated expenses, to avoid repairs to operate a car on the road would be a nuisance. Thus, cycling reduces costs when one can ride a bike to work, the grocery store, or a friend’s house instead of wasting gas or paying for public transportation.
Imagine this: Instead of putting gas in your car weekly, you’re pedaling your bike to the café or supermarket. That’s money saved. Bikes don’t require street parking and bike repairs are few and far between—a standard bike can last for years if you take care of it. Have you factored in how much you spend on gas to fill your car or bus/subway tickets? Your bike could be an unaccounted-for asset that’s saving you money.
5. Biking Helps You Sleep Better
Are you someone who has difficulty sleeping? Biking can help with falling asleep faster. Any kind of exercise expels energy you’ve used up during the day in healthy, physiological manners. By the time your head hits the pillow, biking can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. After a day well spent, your body lets itself relax.
Furthermore, compared to high-intensity interval training which can wire you, biking is very low impact and allows your body to prepare for sleep. Even a leisurely bike ride before bed can help your mind and body transition into relaxation. You don’t even need to get on your bike for a long time; 20 minutes or 30 will do. No one wants to wake up tired and cranky; everyone wants to wake up fresh and ready to go. If you’re someone who has troubles sleeping, bike during the day—you never know how effective it can be.
6. Cycling Energizes You
Do you ever get so tired during the day that you struggle to keep your eyes open? Cycling can provide you with the energy boost you’ve needed. Breathing in deeply while cycling and getting your blood pumping, cycling uses more oxygen inside your body, awakening your muscles and brain, making you feel re-energized at home or in the office.
You don’t even have to push yourself on the bike to experience the natural benefits; a brief morning ride or a midday excursion can recharge you better than a second cup of coffee. Your body will appreciate the notification that it’s time to wake up. When you get that midday slump, attempt cycling outside instead of a pick-me-up snack or energy drink; you’ll find yourself more re-energized. It sounds crazy, but cycling energizes you as if you’re more alive!
7. Cycling Improves Your Focus
Concentration is key in today’s busy world filled with buzzing phones, pending emails and social media notifications. While concentration is vital, it is also challenging to come by. If you’re unfocused and find yourself distracted easily, cycling can also help clear your mind. Like other forms of exercise that get your heart pumping, cycling allows you to focus on what you’re doing.
You’re more focused on work, school, that conversation after a bike ride. Why? Because cycling clears your brain. We have our physical, and we need our mental! Ever exercised when you’re in the thick of an essay with writer’s block and find it more beneficial to return to the screen after a sweat session because the ideas flow? It’s as if cycling gives you that leg up on focus to remain engaged.
8. Cycling Connects You with Nature
There’s something about the great outdoors, be it the sun on your skin or the wind blowing through your hair. Biking forces you to get out of the house and into natural situations. Whether you’re biking in a park, on a nature trail, by the river, or down a city block, you’re outside and experiencing Mother Nature. You can hear the birds, touch the leaves, and smell the flowers in a way that you can’t drive or bike indoors.
This exposure is important, especially in a world where nature offers such therapeutic qualities to humankind. Getting outside can clear your mind and help you appreciate what’s going on around town instead of being glued to a screen accompanied by colors and sounds made for digital use. When was the last time you appreciated nature? Biking makes sure it’s sooner rather than later.
Conclusion
Biking is more than just transportation; it’s a relatively easy activity that can transform your life. A few minutes a day to boost mood, save money on gas and repairs, and increase muscle development and cardiovascular function presents an undeniable case. To think that such a refreshing activity can promote better sleep, more energy, greater productivity, and stronger recognition of nature is astounding. You don’t need to be a biking Olympian or have the latest bikes and accessories—biking is something that virtually everyone can do, hop on, and enjoy the benefits.
So what’s stopping you? That bike in your garage or at the local bike shop is begging for an adventure. Just ten minutes or even an hour will help you create a positive experience for yourself. But don’t take my word for it; I dare you to find out for yourself. This week, take ten minutes a day on your bike, and you’ll see how easy it is. Biking will help you understand that it’s what you need for better physical and mental health! Strap on your helmet and get going!