It's common knowledge that cycling is a form of exercise, but how good is it for your body and which areas does it affect? A recently posted article from the Discovery Channel website investigates just that.
Titled,"The Top 7 Health Benefits of Biking," the article briefly summarizes each benefit. Its a interesting read (you can look at it
here) but I will repost the list here and give my take on each example.
1) Cycling is good for your heart- When I go biking, my heart begins to race, and I could definitely could see the positive impact.
2) Cycling is good for your waistline- When I am finished doing endurance riding, I can feel the burn on the sides of my torso, which is a good indication of building muscles.
3) Cycling is good for your lifespan- I cant give a specific example for this one, but ill take Discovery Channel's word for it.
4) Cycling is good for your muscles- This one is a given. If you put forth effort into your ride, you will reap the increased stamina and muscle tone.
5) Cycling aids in coordination- "Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and your body’s own weight is good practice for your coordination skills."
6) Cycling is good for your mental health- Riding a bike has been linked to improved mental health.
7) Cycling is good for your immune system- Cycling can strengthen your immune system, and could protect against certain kinds of cancers. Im all for this one, although I ride for fun, its always good to know the health benefits for motivational purposes.
