A majority of people learned to ride a bike as a child. It was just one activity which all the neighborhood kids participated in together. For many of us, it was our only mode of transportation when we were young. Biking over to a friend’s house down the street or riding to the ice cream store around the corner or other neighborhood to hang out. But once we reach the driving age, most of us turned in our two-wheeler for a more powerful, V-6 engine, called a car.
Biking however is one of the best forms of exercise there is. There are many great reasons to ride a bike for fitness.
1. It is a great aerobic or cardiovascular workout. Biking gets the heart rate beating above its normal speed and burns calories and fat. Aerobic exercise keeps our hearts healthy and in good working order. Compared to walking, biking increases the heart rate faster and the pounding on the joints, like jogging can cause, is eliminated.
2. You can kill two birds with one stone. Biking can take you places as a mode of transportation so time is not lost exercising. Everyday you go to the bank to make a deposit so hop on the bicycle instead of the car.
3. Biking is fun and fast. Getting anywhere walking or jogging takes a long time. Riding a bike brings upon an accomplished feeling because the pace is fast. Another advantage is coasting. By taking short breaks by coasting on a bike can allow your legs to rest while still moving.
4. It is easy on the joints and muscles. Biking requires a smooth and fluid peddling movement. It is highly recommended by physicians everywhere.
There are many types of biking activities which you can do for fitness. If you live in a cold area of the country and biking year round isn’t possible there are classes available called spinning. Spinning takes the idea of bike riding to a stationary bike indoors. Throughout the class you change the resistance on the bike to give your muscles and your heart a great workout. This has become a very popular class in fitness centers across the country.
Lance Armstrong has brought a new interest to cross country biking. A “street cycle” is needed for this type of exercise, as are a helmet and other protective safety gear. Bikers ride their bikes for long distances over varying terrain to give themselves a great workout. This is often done in pairs or groups of people for safety reasons.
Another type of popular biking that is also great exercise is off-road biking or mountain biking. This too requires a special type of bicycle that has shocks or springs and good tires. Bikers ride through the woods or other off-road areas going over jumps and down steep hills or even rocky terrain. Mountain biking doesn’t have to be as dangerous as it sounds. A nice ride through the woods on a flat trail will accomplish the same fitness goals as doing intricate tricks and jumps in a wooded area.