First, cycling for exercise, if you choose it, is a great cardio exercise.
Second, it works well for you and me and for anyone.
Third, it gives you these benefits:
- Improves your cardio-respiratory (meaning heart and lung) fitness
- Decreases your risk of heart disease. One study done on cycling and health finds that new cyclists covering short distances can reduce their risk of death (mainly due to the reduction of heart disease) by as much as 22.5% !
- Increases your capacity to burn body fat to lose weight. A 15-minute bike ride to and from work 5 times per week burns off an equivalent of 11 pounds of fat in a year!
And when you combine cycling for exercise with a healthy weight loss diet , you'll get an enjoyable and effective weight loss program!
- Helps you to maintain strength and coordination as the strength and co-ordination that regular cycling brings reduce incidences of your falling, injuries and hip fractures, when you're older
- Improves your leg strength and you're in for a bonus because leg strength improves other mobility, for example, by allowing you to get out of any seated position more easily and helping you to avoid falls (and the broken bones) and other injuries associated with the falls
- Regulates your blood pressure
- Has positive effects on how you feel too. Cycling for exercise or any kind of moderate exercise has been found to reduce levels of depression and stress , improve mood and raise self-esteem, and has also been found to relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.