On Your Bike! The Benefits Of Cycling

Why should you cycle to work? Sure, it may require a little extra forethought and planning. A bike might also take a few extra minutes to unlock than your no-key-required 4x4 but when you fully understand the associated benefits of cycling daily you will be running for those pumps and helmets.

Cycling is accessible. Not only does it double up as traffic-beating, shortcut-finding transportation, it is a low impact sport. This means that those who are unfit can ease into it slowly and those with weak joints or injuries can exercise free of pain and aggravation. When you set your own targets, you should start to see time shaved off your commute and centimetres off your waistline.

A cycle a day keeps the doctor away for rather a long time and in more ways than one! Regular exercise improves cardiovascular fitness by 3-7%. This leads to a decrease in cholesterol and body fat and an increased supply of oxygen to your body, not just immediately after exercising but permanently! One of the lesser-known perks of cycling is its ability to help you sleep. Insomnia is a prevalent issue in the UK with up to a third of adults having experienced it. Cycling just 25 minutes every second day cuts the time that it takes you to fall asleep in half! Bliss!

After cycling for a while you’ll be, healthier, slimmer and sleeping better. Imagine what that could be doing for your psyche! Regular exercise, and cycling in particular, does as much for your state of mind as it does for your physical well-being. Pushing the pedals helps your body to produce the feel-god hormones, endorphins. This can combat the effects of stress. Coupled with longer, better quality sleep this could lead to more productive days at work. Studies have shown that cycling could also lead to less sick days from work, with regular cyclists registering 18% fewer sick related absences! Cycling could also improve your cognition! After doing so regularly, participants in an Illinois University experiment showed a 15% improvement on mental test performance. This is due to the increase in oxygen supplied to brain: something also proven to ward off Alzheimer’s in later years.

With the incredible effects stated above, not to mention the environmental and financial implications, it is surprising that as a nation less than 1.5% of us cycle to work. If you are interested in changing that statistic, check out the Reading Cycling Club; promoting cycling in Berkshire since 1974! And finally, remember safety when cycling. Always wear reflective clothing, a well-fitted helmet and adhere to the rules of the road.

Happy cycling!

Have you seen any benefits from cycling to work? Share your experiences below.