Why a Bike Can Be Your Best Friend
By Genevieve Cunningham
Most kids absolutely love riding a bike. It gives them a little bit of freedom, allows them to feel the wind on their face, and is a ton of fun. Unfortunately, most people stop riding a bike as they get older. But if you’re willing to pick up this old favorite pastime, there may be some big benefits to be had. Take a look at how riding a bicycle can boost your health and tone your body in a significant way.
Biking Burns a Ton of Calories
One of the best benefits to riding a bike is the massive number of calories it can burn. Riding at a brisk pace for an hour might burn as many as 800 calories! So especially if you’re trying to lose weight, biking can give you a significant boost. Even if you’re not riding fast enough to burn quite this many, you can rest assured that the constant movement is burning calories at a steady pace, which will eventually help you reach the goal weight you’re after.
Biking Can Help Tone the Legs and Backside
There’s no denying that biking is tough on the legs and the backside. It requires you to work these muscles over and over again with little to zero rest. Those who bike on a continual basis will likely begin to notice a more toned appearance in the bottom half of the body. Anyone who wishes to sculpt this area will enjoy this benefit of breaking out the bike and going for a ride.
Biking Helps Build Endurance
If you’re going to ride a bike, you have to get used to constant movement. Pedaling continuously is a requirement of keeping the momentum going. While this constant movement definitely works the muscles and burns fat, it also promotes greater endurance. After a while, you may notice that you can work out longer without gasping for breath. This can be beneficial for your exercise program, but better endurance can also help with the normal activity of everyday life.
If you haven’t ridden a bicycle in a while, it might be time to give it a try. You’ll likely find it challenging, but you’ll probably find it to be quite enjoyable as well. With a little practice, you can enjoy these and other benefits while having that old time fun at the same time.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in South Gate, Calif.