Best Way To Be Fit Cycling For Fitness
why cycle?
Environmentally friendly
There is nothing quite like cycling: The thrill of speed, the feeling of traveling along under your own
power, the breeze in your face, the sounds, the fresh air. I enjoy the sensation of muscles tightening
as you work to climb a hill, the feeling of achievement when you reach the top, the view, and the
swooping freewheel down the other side. Cycling is freedom, fun, travel and exercise rolled into one..
In today's developed society, our dependence on cars threatens not only our health for easing us into lives of physical inactivity but also the environment. When you consider that the average car takes up the same area on the road as at least five bicycles, the effect of more people cycling on daily commutes to work, to see friends, or to visit a store is obvious. In 2000 in Boston, MA, for example, roughly 16,000 people cycled to work. If just ten percent more were added to this number, an area equivalent to 8,000 cars would be freed up. That would ease congestion,
Go by bike
Help the environment and your health: swap your bike for just a few of the journeys that you would normally make by car. reduce noxious, environmentally damaging emissions, and decrease travel time for everyone. In the US more cycle paths are being created in cities in order to encourage cyclists onto the roads. In 2005, the latest Transportation Bill guarantees a minimum of $3 billion will be spent on cycling programs through 2009.
Low cost and practical
Bikes are convenient. Not only do they require very
little maintenance and hardly any running costs, it
takes minimal space to store them. You don't have to
pay parking fees or fines for them, and you don't have
to put gas in them. In fact, if you were to give up your
car entirely, you could save an estimated $5,000 per
year in payments, insurance, and maintenance costs.
Bikes are adaptable, too. The same bike that you
ride to work can take you into the countryside, or
go on a trip. Regardless of the setting, riding it will
be getting you fitter. What else can act as exercise
machine, transport, and a vehicle for adventure?
No form of fitness training brings consistent results
over a broader range of ages and backgrounds than
cycling. You can train when and where you want,
with minimal specialized clothing and equipment.
With few technical points to master, in no time at all
you'll feel accomplished and able to go places and
see things on your bike.
Explore the great outdoors
a bike can serve as a convenient and economical mode of
transport in a city, but it can also be your means of escape
shoulder and chest muscles
gripping the handlebars to control the bike strengthens and tones the chest and shoulder muscles
arm muscles
riding out of the saddle or on off-road terrain tones and strengthens the muscles in your upper and lower arms
resistance training
changing gears alters the level of resistance that your muscles work against, so you can control the intensity of your workout
core muscles
balancing on a bike activates the muscles in your lower back and abdomen and helps to strengthen them
leg muscles
pedaling tones and strengthens the muscles in the thighs and calves, as they work hard to power the effort
Something for everyone
Cycling is an excellent form of exercise for all ages
and fitness levels. Because the bike carries the
rider's weight, children can cycle with no danger
of stress being placed on their growing bones, while
older people can enjoy cycling without the risk of
damaging their joints. Anyone who is overweight
will find 20 minutes of cycling more enjoyable
than high-impact, weight-bearing workouts such
as jogging or aerobics, and those with a history of
injury can also benefit from a cycling program.
Because it is so easy to control the intensity of
your workout, you can raise your heart rate without
putting your body under too much duress. Even
those who already have a good level of fitness will
find that they can cycle for longer than with many
other activities.
Convenience and flexibility
Part of the appeal of cycling is its convenience.
You can ride indoors or outside, and on- or off-road.
The minute that you set off from your doorstep,
you can begin training. If you decide to cycle to
work, you can be improving your fitness at the
very same time as you commute. Another attraction
12 getting started
Fun for all the family
Children like cycling because it is fast and exciting; many find
it a more interesting alternative to traditional school sports.