Benefits of Biking

       

Ever since you ate shit three years ago in the middle of the intersection crosswalk, you’ve been hesitant to jump back on your bike.
Instead it sits in the corner of the garage or your back porch repenting its sins. How dare that two-wheeler make you look like an idiot in front of proud, judgmental drivers?! Payback is a bitch.
But, your bike is not the enemy. Your coordination, on the other hand, is.
Actually, riding a bike is proven to help improve your mental state, motor skills, balance and coordination….as long as you stick with it. As far as shedding those lb’s, steady cycling can burn an upwards of 300 calories per hour.
The planet will thank you, too. According to GreenYour.com, 27-percent of total vehicle miles traveled by Americans are to and from work, which amounts to 734 billion miles each year.  In cities like our stomping grounds of Los Angeles, 60-percent of the commutes are less than five miles. If every one of us in this five-mile radius left our cars at home just one day a week and cycled to work, we’d save nearly 5 million tons of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road. It’s time to feel the wind in your hair, sister.
Let’s cut to the chase, what are some of the other benefits of surfing the streets on your handy spokes?

A bike acts as a supportive platform.

While all forms of exercise are good, cycling is particularly good because the bicycle acts as a supportive platform, reducing the risk of impact injuries like shin splints.  Regular cycling can also alleviate chronic pain like back aches, premenstrual tension and menstrual cramps.

It’s not a daunting form of exercise.

Granted you’re not aspiring to be the next female Lance Armstrong, cycling can be a non-intimidating form of exercise. Did you know that every four out of five people who begin a workout routine quit within the first month? Grab onto a routine workout that you will look forward to. A half-hour here and 20 minutes there makes a stifling difference.

Fight heart disease.

Riding a bike not only helps to improve muscular fitness – primarily your quads, ass, calf muscles and cardiovascular system – but cycling at least 20 miles per week greatly reduces your risk of coronary heart disease by half. Studies have also shown that cycling works to increase your cardiovascular fitness by up to 7-percent. Ladies, remember that heart disease is the number one killer of women. Keep that heart healthy.

Riding makes you younger.

According to the National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equivalent to being 10 years younger.

Boost your energy.

Cycling increases your energy levels, which helps to burn fat while you’re exercising and calories post-workout.

Get rid of stress.

When you have the picturesque views of nature or the city skyline at your feet, and the exhilaration of the bike underneath you, riding releases endorphins into the bloodstream helping to create a feeling of pure happiness.
Now before you jump on your beach cruiser and head for the hills, familiarize yourself with some Bike 101. Just like any piece of machinery, there are some road rules.
Lastly, consider how serious you really are. If you’re looking for a more urban form of two-wheel transportation to get you to-and-fro work, the grocery store and the community garden, check out Mother Nature Network’s rundown of the “12 Coolest Urban Bicycles to Replace Your Car.”
If you’re serious about using cycling to get into shape, check outwww.greenyour.com for bicycling and walkability checklists.
Your bike has sat in “Time Out” long enough.