It also provides lifestyle benefits such as reduced emissions when used as transportation.
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1.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Cycling canlower blood pressure, improveresting heart rate, and reduce the risk ofcoronary heart disease.
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One study found that people who cycle had a lower risk of heart attack.
Joint Health
Cycling is a low-impact activity that is easy on the joints.
Increasing intensity by adding inclines, hills, speed, and duration can lead to weight loss.
Improved Mood
In general, physical activity like cycling can have positive effects on mental health.
Lifestyle Benefits
Although cycling has many health and fitness benefits, it isnt just a form of exercise.
Biking can also be forms of recreation and transportation, which come with added benefits.
Cycling can be a great way for families to enjoy time together while meeting recommended daily physical activity guidelines.
Cycling for transportation has benefits, too.
People who commute to work via bike can save on transportation expenses.
Cycling is a small step in helping the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions helps lessen the impacts of climate change, which also hasindirect health benefits.
Using a bike for transportation is an easy way to help you meet fitness guidelines.
Muscle mass is also an important part of healthy aging.
As people age,muscle mass decreases.
Cycling is one way that older adults can maintain their muscle mass.
Riding a bike improves heart health.
Is Cycling Good Exercise?
Cycling is good exercise.
As an aerobic exercise, it increases your heart rate while you cycle and burns calories.
Outdoor vs. Indoor Cycling
Both outdoor and indoor cycling have health, fitness, and lifestyle benefits.
Depending on preference and goals, one might be more suitable for daily life than the other.
Outdoor cycling races and group rides are also also available.
While both have costs, using outdoor cycling for transportation may reduce some transportation expenses.
Who Might Avoid Cycling?
Since cycling can be done outdoors or indoors on stationary bikes, most people can cycle.
How Often Should You Cycle?
If you are new to cycling, you might find that starting with 10 minutes a day is enough.
As with most exercises, starting slow and increasing time and intensity may help you stick with a program.
Increase your cycling time incrementally until you are meeting your weekly goal.
How Can You Get Started Cycling?
To get started cycling all you need is a bike.
The punch in of bike depends on whether you plan on biking indoors or outdoors.
For those getting started outdoors, any bike will do, even a beach cruiser.
Some cities have programs in which you could rent a bike by the minute or hour.
Take a short ride and see how you feel.
If you love it, you might decide to invest in a road bike for commuting or longer rides.
Stationary at-home bikes can also be a great place to start.
Bikes such as the Peloton come with computer monitors on which you might access live and recorded spin classes.
Summary
Cycling has fitness, health, and lifestyle benefits.
These minutes can be achieved in many ways.
To get started cycling, all you need is a bike.
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