The Many Benefits of Cycling and The Body

Cycling has many benefits for the body, both physically and mentally. This includes the ability to decrease inflammation throughout the body, curing sciatica through cycling, and overall creating a clearer headspace for the body and mind. 

When you ride, you are not only releasing a ton of endorphins into your body, but you are also challenging yourself to keep moving and stay fit. Many riders find that they lose weight and regain a trim and fit look from cycling. 

In this post, you will learn about the physical benefits and mental benefits of cycling. Cycling is a fantastic sport and there are many benefits, including ones you may not consider like social benefits, towards riding and getting your wheels turning.

Our goal with this post is to help you consider picking up the sport for the sake of improving yourself and potentially finding a new hobby that you not only enjoy but is healthy for you. Cycling and exercise truly have a snowball effect on other aspects of your life.

Physical Benefits

I am a casual cyclist, and I will ride my bike once a week while using the exercise gym bike when I need to ward off small injuries from lifting and running or when I am looking for an alternative to my Sunday walk. 

The main thing that I notice from cycling is that my legs feel better, and from doing this consistently, I feel like I have more power when I do move to weights for leg day. I feel more agile, and when I go for runs, I feel refreshed, and my endurance has skyrocketed over time. 

Mental Health Benefits 

One of the main reasons why I feel that there is such a large community of cyclists is the benefit of mental health. Taking a ride once a day or every other day will help you declutter your head, and make you feel sharper. 

Cycling is an aerobic workout that allows the blood to flow throughout the body, gives you a clear mind, and places you in a good mood. When I started riding more consistently, I began to notice that when I skipped a ride I was not up to par with my normal state. I can’t thank my bicycle enough for moving me forward and those who have gotten me into the small but mighty habit.

Cycling can become one of those little things in life where you can be entirely present and choose to enjoy it unconditionally.  

Social Riding 

Are you looking for more people to meet who are also looking to help improve their lives and be around others who care about developing themselves? Cycling has a thriving community where you are constantly challenged (to have fun!) and enjoy yourself. 

If you stop by your local bike shop, there is a very good chance that they are running a peloton that meets once a week. This is a great social opportunity to meet other people who enjoy a similar hobby. 

Meditation 

Many think of meditation as sitting down and focusing on the mind going silent. This isn’t entirely true. There have been many times when I have ridden when I am going along the side of the road and looked out into the grass and felt the silence and peace coming from the space. 

There are plenty of meditative moments that you can have by riding in nature, riding indoors with a meditation track playing, or simply silencing the mind wherever life takes you while cycling. 

Exploration 

Do you feel like you might be in a rut of some sort? Do you go to work, then home, and then to the gym afterward without much of a chance to explore? Or do you feel like you are looking for others to spark creativity and adventure? 

Cycling is an incredible way to get your blood pumping while exploring every inch of your city or town. If you choose to bike, you can potentially explore many towns in one ride.

Final Thoughts 

Cycling is a fantastic activity. Now that it’s getting colder my auntie set her bicycle up so that it’s converted into a cycling machine. 

She rides half an hour every other day and can not speak enough of the benefits that she gets.  The key for everyone is consistency, and this is the way that you can improve many things – from the look of your body, to how you look at your mind and self. 

Take control of who you are and try out a wonderful habit like cycling!

Guest written by Natasha Reyes of Routeonecycling.com.