Benefits of cycling

Most of my patients know I am an avid cyclist.  My experiences with cycling have been nothing but positive! I have seen beautiful landscapes, met wonderful people and racing has challenged myself both mentally and physically.  Personally cycling has helped me with managing stress, improving my time management and maintaining my health.  There are a lot of benefits of cycling but here are my top 5:

  1. Weight management– Cycling burns calories and builds muscle. The combination of these two characteristics helps keeping your weight down!
  2. Decrease heart and cancer risk– A research study https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1456 from Glascow showed that cycling to work could cut a person’s risk of developing heart disease or cancer by half.
  3. Low impact– Cycling is not a full weight bearing activity which decreases overuse and injury rates.
  4. Strengthen your immune system– There is a lot of research that supports aerobic exercise such as cycling can reduce the instances of the common cold and improve upper respiratory  health.  Cycling to work also decreases exposure to confined spaces such as buses and trains where germs are prevalent.
  5. Improved mental health– Cycling releases adrenalin and endorphins, improves your sleep and helps you gain confidence from achieving goals (mileage, hills, races/charity rides).  It also allows you to see new places and meet more people!

                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember to always wear a helmet and get your bike properly fitted at a local bike shop.  Connecticut has a lot of great bike paths and scenic roads to explore.  Be safe and get out and ride!