The Benefits of Bicycle Riding
January 1, 2010 by Kandice Martinez
Filed under Super Fun
After more than 10 years this super mom is getting back on a bike!
The last time I owned a bike was probably about 10 years ago, my then-to-be husband and I picked up a couple of used mountain bikes at a garage sale with the intention of spending time together and getting more exercise. I rode the thing twice, and then it stayed in storage for the next 7 or 8 years until I had my own garage sale and sold it to someone else. It was clearly not the bike for me, I was so uncomfortable the couple of times that I had it out that I was completely unmotivated to keep at it.
What made me start thinking about getting a new one was watching my neighbors daughter learn to ride without training wheels. Not only was her excitement and joy contagious but listening to her ask her dad if they could go for a bike ride made me think of my own girls. Who was going to teach them how to ride a bike and who was going to take them on their first bike rides if both of their parents didn’t own a bike and hadn’t been on one in more than 10 years?
So about a month ago I started my hunt for just the right bike. But what kind to buy? Mountain Bike, nope the last one was really uncomfortable and I won’t be riding in mountainous terrain as I fear broken limbs more than ever now that I have kids. Long distance racing type bike, nope, the Tour de (insert place here) is not in my future. Electric Bike, tempting but defeats the purpose of the bike as exercise. What I was really leaning towards, what I had always secretly coveted was a bike with a basket, one of those cruising style bikes with the big seat and a basket and possibly tassels. And that’s what I got, A blue and white cruising style bike (my white wire basket is on order). It is soooo lightweight and comfy. It has seven gears so I can still tackle hills and pull the girls in a trailer if I want, a lot of the bikes I looked at had only 1 or 3 gears. And of course it’s pretty!
The first time I got on it and really started pedaling I remember that joy and euphoria that I saw on my young neighbors face! And as the saying goes, you never forget how to ride a bike.
From ezinearticles.com:
Bicycling is a good cardiovascular exercise that could increase the health of your heart. A bike with several speeds will allow you to increase you fitness level as your cardiovascular function improves. Begin by riding at an easy speed over even ground. If what you want is a challenge change your terrain.
Bicycling is kind to the joints. As we get older we experience Joint pain especially in the knees as they Osteoporosis causes joint problems to worsen because of the lack of proper calcium levels in the bones. Bike riding offers exercise without pain. The aerobic benefit is comparable to jogging or running without the strain. Check that the seat height on your bike is adjusted to allow your legs full range of motion with each revolution. Full range of motion also promotes better circulation to the lower extremities which do the majority of the work in moving the bicycle.
Bicycling whips those leg muscles into shape. For muscular endurance, stick to a flat terrain, but adjust the speed of the bike as your strength improves. To avoid cramping, stretch thoroughly before and after each bike ride.
Bicycling increases your balance. Learning to ride a bike is all about staying upright. To do that, you have to find a balance between your body and the bike. Maintaining that balance strengthens the core muscles of the abdominal region. Tightening the core muscles keeps you from falling off of the bike. The lower abdominals pull your legs back towards you body from the bottom of the cycling revolution. The lower back is also kept pain free by a strong balanced core.
It’s also great way to release your stress from daily work either if you work at home or have a regular job. You can do it inside the house with an exercise bike, but also you can take your bike out and enjoy nature. Families, friends, can share the experience which can help you be together and give the opportunity to communicate with each other. I believe that we as families, friends, have to look for common grounds to share with each other as we do with friends. Feeling good with yourself and with your loved ones, is one of the greatest benefits you can get from this exercise.
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