by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: May 12, 2009

There used to be a mentality of 'no pain, no gain' when it came to exercise, but as this attitude seemed to put many people off the idea of doing any physical activity, there seems to have been a re-evaluation of what is considered to be 'proper' exercise. It is generally accepted that as long as individuals engage in regular exercise - about 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity for at least five days a week - then they will be able to notice the health benefits. Cycling is one of those activities which virtually anybody can do as it doesn't require a great deal of fitness to begin with, and it can be as easy or as hard as people want it to be.

Therefore cycling can be hard work if individuals want to push themselves to the limit and to get as fit as they can, but even individuals who simply use their bicycle to go to-and-from work can improve their health and fitness, even if they are not trying very hard. Cycling is an activity which can be done alone or in a group and which can cover many miles or few. Individuals don't even need to leave their homes in order to cycle, as there are plenty of turbo trainers on the market as well as stationary exercise bikes, and so changes in the weather can be taken out of the equation for people who ride indoors. There are those who prefer to brave the gale force winds or desert-like heat in order to maximise their performance, though.

Cycling outside means that, depending on the route taken, many hills will have to be climbed as well as descended and individuals have to deal with changes in the temperature and the fact that something could go wrong with their bike. They may get a puncture which can be time-consuming to fix, but most cyclists prefer being able to appreciate the great outdoors whilst they also improve their fitness levels, and it can make the time seem to go by much faster.

Some individuals think of cycling as just a way to commute to work or to get around town, focusing less on the physical benefits of this activity. Others enjoy cycling for the sake of cycling, and though it may be hard work, that is the whole point. They might want to improve their fitness so that it becomes easier to cover longer distances and so that they are able to compete with others of a similar ability to themselves. Individuals who simply cycle the same route everyday to get to work might find that route easy because it is what they are used to, but may find others more challenging because they have not focused on their bicycle as a way of improving their fitness, simply as a form of transport.

Ultimately, cycling can be as hard or as easy as individuals want it to be, since there is a variety of different routes which can be taken, as well as the option of cycling at home, and plenty of gears to choose from. People cycle for different reasons - some focus on the activity itself whilst others see cycling as the best way to get around. Either way, cycling possesses many health benefits as long as individuals choose to do it regularly.

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