For most people, riding for hours every day might seem like a hugely unattainable dream; clocking up serious miles every day does take commitment, but going on a daily bike itself is not only very feasible, but it can also have a positive affect on your life.
If you’re not quite ready to jump in at the deep end, why not try completing a short-term riding streak first, it’s much easier to start a habit by chipping away at smaller goals first. That way, you can prove to yourself what is actually possible to achieve. Here are some amazing reasons to ride your bike every day, no matter how much energy you have.
Commuting
If you want to incorporate a bike ride into your day, an easy way to do it is making it part of your daily commute. Unlike a gym workout, cycling Conwy can be easily integrated into your day. Those minutes spent on the bike commuting quickly add up; with many people able to hit their weekly target with their commutes and perhaps a longer ride on the weekend.
Cycling to work offers many health benefits, and it doesn’t require you to go out of your way to exercise; but the perks go way beyond simply avoiding traffic and living a more healthy lifestyle. Commuting by car has been directly linked to weight gain and obesity, even in drivers who do make time for exercise.
Sharper Mind
Once you’ve created the habit of commuting to work by bike, you’ll be more likely to choose to ride your bike for those little weekend errands too. Daily exercise has been found to actually increase energy and reduce fatigue – even a single 30-minute bout of exercise can help to improve memory, reaction time and creative thinking.
Cycling has been found to reduce stress, anxiety and depression – it has an overall positive effect on mental health. Along with physical benefits like reducing pressure put on the joints by participating in other activities like running.
Less Overeating
Regular cycling can help to reduce that shouty little voice telling you to put down that slice of delicious cake; it can also help to maintain your weight. An easy spin every week isn’t a flashing green light to go and grab a couple of pastries; but a daily bike ride can help you to loosen up a restricted diet.
One of the main reasons that daily exercise can be so useful is that it allows your muscles to act as a kind of buffer to the food we consume. When we use our muscles, they break down carbohydrates and fat stores. So even a short blast on the bike to the office can help to put your body in a much better place for the whole day.
Improved Sleep
With all the modern day worries and stresses we deal with, along with excess screen time, being able to “turn off” and go to sleep is tougher than ever before. There is a strong correlation between an increase in physical activity and finding it easier to fall asleep. This might sound completely obvious to anyone who’s cycled before and experienced the beautiful post-ride exhaustion and soreness, with some endorphins sprinkled in for good measure.
