Fitness Book

Bicycling is a great family activity that provides a wide range of benefits.  Considered one of the world’s favorite pastimes, cycling helps with weight loss, cuts back on the amount of pollution in the air, reduces heavy traffic of automobiles, builds stronger muscles, and even creates a more positive attitude.  This simple transportation system has quickly become a way to see sites as enjoyment or exercise.  Of course, biking as a sport has also grown significantly over the years to include the Tour de France.

Work or School Transportation

Some people choose cycling as a means of transportation for getting back and forth to work or school.  With this, you can save significant money on gas, especially considering prices in the United States are $3.00 and more.  You will also find parking to be a breeze.  Then, just imaging the scenery you can take in on your journey.  Biking to work is an excellent option for people in that position.

Environmentally Friendly

Again, cycling is an excellent way to benefit the environment.  Automobiles have emissions that create air pollution that everyone breathes in.  However, if more people were to use bicycling as a mode of transportation, the level of pollution would be decreased.  Today, we see many countries such as China and Japan using bikes as a key mode for getting around, helping to fight already overly polluted countries.  The types of emissions produced by automobiles include:

• Carbon Monoxide
• Carbon Dioxide
• Nitrous Oxide
• Methane
• Hydrofluorocarbon
• Perfluorocarbon
• Volatile Organic Compounds
• Sulfur Hexafluoride

Health Benefits

One of the primary benefits associated with cycling have to do with improved health.  As you will see from the information provided, the benefits are quite diverse.

• Fitness – With biking, you can increase both heart and lung fitness, while building stamina and strength
• Weight Loss – Today, the United States has reached epidemic proportions when it comes to obesity.  Therefore, it is vital that more people take up some type of physical activity to combat weight and improve health, such as cycling.
• Stress – In today’s society, people are more stressed than ever before.  However, by bicycling, you can greatly reduce stress and anxiety, providing a sense of mentally health, better concentration, and a clear mind.
• Heart – With regular exercise such as biking, you can actually, lower the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and even stroke.
• Life Expectancy – Studies show that people who improve overall health through biking actually live longer.
• Miscellaneous – Overall, cycling offers all types of health benefits to include reduced risk of diabetes, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, what we are now seeing in this country is a huge increase in the numbers of people who are overweight and a decrease in physical activity and exercise.  It is estimated that some 58 million adults are obese and the number of children falling in this category is growing by alarming numbers.  In fact, the percentage of overweight people in America has more than doubled in just the past 20 years.

We have also seen a reduction in the number of individuals participating in physical activity.  As a result, chronic diseases are on the rise, as are cardiovascular disease and death in general.  However, by adding something such as cycling into a weekly regimen, this can be changed.  In addition to having fun, you would actually improve your health with biking.

Then, there is the mental aspect that goes along with cycling.  As mentioned, you can cut back on stress, depression, anxiety, confusion, fear, and anger.  Using the body to exert energy is a great way to fatigue the mind.  Then, being outdoors in the fresh air has a positive effect on the mind, improving attitude.  As you can see, cycling has tremendous value and best of all, this is something that the entire family can do together, creating quality bonding time.

Finally, make sure that you and the family has helmets on, even if you are only going for a short ride around the neighborhood.  Numerous studies have been performed that show wearing a helmet can reduce not only the number but also the severity of head injuries.  Make sure you invest in a quality helmet and always use the chinstrap.  Cycling is a longstanding form of aerobic exercise that people love.  Because this activity can be done by family members of all ages, it makes the ideal thing to do on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  You will find some great parks locally that have bike trails specifically for this purpose.