Cycling is one of the best exercises to participate in! It’s hold great benefits for both physical and mental health and well-being, and also is a wonderful way to engage socially with fellow cyclists.

Nothing beats a leisurely bike trail through winding country roads on a beautiful Spring morning. Getting your heart pumping, enjoying the fresh air and beautiful surroundings, it’s a great time to just be in the moment. Especially when you’re looking for some meditative time.

Cycling is definitely something to consider doing, whether it’s as a fun hobby to do with the family or for serious workout and health benefits. However, bikes are expensive and they take up storage space, so make sure to do some homework regarding proper storage and transportation options – Rackmaven is a good place to start. If you’re looking for scenic, bike friendly trail rides then you can take a look at TrailLink! Here you’ll find all you need to know for your next cycling adventures.

As if you need any further convincing as to why cycling is a great sport to get in to, take a look at 7 of the best health benefits to be gained from regular cycling!

1. Cycling improves mental wellbeing

People take up cycling for a variety of reasons. Be it to lose weight, build muscle or to improve general fitness. Either way, physical goals aren’t the only benefits cycling offers! It’s contribution to mental health and wellbeing should definitely not be overlooked. A survey done by Cycleplan on the health benefits experienced by regular cyclists, found that 75% of the cyclists experienced a noticeable improvement in their mental health, with 8% stating that it helped with their anxiety and depression.

1. Promotes weight loss

Riding your bike is a great and fun way if you would like to lose a few extra pounds! It’s also important to remember to balance your meals together with the amount of exercise you get in through cycling. The great thing about cycling is that you don’t have to go hard at it in order to lose weight. A long (a couple of hours at least), slow paced ride burns a lot of fat and increases your endurance base! It’s a great workout for those that like to exercise at a more leisurely pace, while also being able to enjoy the scenery!

1. Better lung health and muscle endurance

Lung capacity and function increase through regular cycling. Not only that, but the increased supply of oxygen to your body and muscles will have further health benefits! Healthy lung function is important as it is responsible for determining how well your lungs distributes oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from your bloodstream.

You can increase your lung capacity with regular exercise such as cycling!

1. Low impact on joints

Because cycling is a low impact exercise, there is less stress on your joints such as hips, knees, and feet. Another added benefit is that the fluid moment created by cycling aids in lubricating the joints which is a great help in reducing pain and stiffness. This is a brilliant form of exercise for those who suffer from arthritis, as cycling will loosen up stiff joints and reduce and alleviate the accompanying swelling and joint pain. It can also aid in slowing down bone and joint degeneration!

1. Helps to improve your immune system

Cycling has been proven to have a wide array of remarkable health benefits. A 2017 study regarding the health benefits of active commuting, such as cycling, has found that cycling was associated with a much lower risk of Cardiovascular Disease and cancer, and helps to reduce the risk of burden and death due to a variety of chronic conditions.

Another recent study has found that long-distance cycling promotes the healthy production of T-cells, which remains high even though the cyclist ages. Physical activity also aids in flushing out bacteria from your airways and lungs, reducing the chance of contracting colds and flues. It also aids in preventing bacteria from growing due to the rise in body temperature from vigorous physical exercise.

1. Reduces stress and depression

Cardiovascular exercise is proven to be a useful way of combating and reducing stress and anxiety. By increasing the production of endorphins in the body, through regular exercise, the happier and relaxed you will feel. Only a few hours a week of cycling is enough to establish a steady flow of these microscopic feel-good chemicals.

Not only does it help to reduce stress and anxiety, but cycling is also a wonderful means to help relieve tension and improve your mental and physical energy.

1. Helps to promote better sleeping habits

As counterintuitive as it seems, exercise such as cycling is great for regulating sleep patterns and gaining more energy! How? Elevating your heart rate during cycling it creates a hike in your energy levels and increases oxygen-rich blood flow to the body.

Regular cycling can have a wonderful effect on the serotonin levels in the brain, helping to improve sleeping cycles and it can also aid in reducing cortisol levels in the body, which is a stress hormone.

With all these amazing benefits, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be out on a blissful bicycle trail! Or pumping those oxygen rich blood through your veins. Get out and get cycling!

For more go to: http://www.ripethinking.co.uk