by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: May 15, 2009

Why not simply get on your bike and cycle your weight to fitness?! When people decide to improve their fitness they often look towards activities which they are continually told will help them lose weight and build muscle tone. However, this theory only works if they enjoy what they are doing, as if they choose to join a gym because it is what everybody does, but actually hate exercising indoors they will probably not put much effort into their workout and may even give up.

Who can find cycling boring, though? There are an infinite number of routes that people can take; it is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels; plus it is cheap. Before paying expensive gym membership fees in order to embark on a fitness programme, people should look closer to home and consider the benefits that cycling has to offer.

There are obviously a number of health benefits associated with cycling, since it is low-impact cardiovascular activity which works the heart and lungs, reducing the risks of developing heart disease and stroke, as well as diabetes. It is a very effective calorie burner, and can therefore help individuals to lose weight or to maintain a healthy weight, whilst also toning their thighs and calves. Cycling can also help people deal with depression, reducing anxiety and stress levels.

It doesn't require a great deal of fitness to start an exercise regime with cycling at its heart, and is therefore a good activity for people looking to lose weight and increase their fitness levels. Cycling can be useful in helping individuals to build stamina, as long distances can be covered in a relatively short period of time without putting too much stress on people's joints. As individuals get used to riding longer distances they will also be able to find more challenging routes to take, and it is the variety of options available which can make cycling such an interesting activity.

There may be some competitive individuals who are solely concerned with their performance, but for most people exercise can be tedious, and so being able to take in the beauty and diversity of their surroundings often comes as a welcome distraction from all of the pedalling.

Besides the health benefits of cycling, if people choose to make cycling part of their way of life they could end up saving a significant amount of money as well as helping the environment. Cycling to work rather than driving means people will be saving money on fuel, as well as reducing the amount of pollutants they are pumping into the air. Cycling can also offer people the chance to socialise with fellow cyclists, and in many towns and cities it is not unusual to see large groups of individuals cycling together towards their chosen destinations.

An increasing number of people are waking up to the advantages of cycling, and so isn't it time that you, too, jump on the bandwagon?

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