Whether it's to boost your fitness, health or bank balance, or as an environmental choice, taking up riding could be one of the best decisions you ever make. Not convinced? Here are 30 major cycling benefits, spread across improving your health, happiness and relationships.
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1. You’ll get there faster
Commute by bike in the UK’s major cities and you’ll get there in half the time of cars, research by Citroen shows. In fact, if you drive for an hour in Cardiff’s rush hour, you’ll spend over 30 minutes going absolutely nowhere and average just 7mph, compared to averaging around 12-15mph while cycling.
2. Sleep more deeply
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An early morning ride might knacker you out in the short term, but it’ll help you catch some quality shut-eye when you get back to your pillow. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers asked sedentary insomnia sufferers to cycle for 20-30 minutes every other day. The result? The time required for the insomniacs to fall asleep was reduced by half, and sleep time increased by almost an hour.
“Exercising outside exposes you to daylight,” explains Professor Jim Horne from Loughborough University’s Sleep Research Centre. “This helps get your circadian rhythm back in sync, and also rids your body of cortisol, the stress hormone that can prevent deep, regenerative sleep.”
3. Look younger
Scientists at Stanford University have found that cycling regularly can protect your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduce the signs of ageing. Harley Street dermatologist Dr Christopher Rowland Payne explains: “Increased circulation through exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells more effectively, while flushing harmful toxins out.
4. Boost your bowels
5. Increase your brain power
6. Beat illness
7. Live longer
8. Save the planet
9. Improve your sex life
10. It’s good breeding
11. Heal your heart
12. Your boss will love you
13. Cycle away from the big C
14. Lose weight in the saddle
15. You’ll make more money
16. Avoid pollution
17. It means guilt-free snacks
18. Enjoy healthy family time
19. Get better at any sport
20. Make creative breakthroughs
21. You’re helping others
22. You can get fit without trying too hard
23. Boost your bellows
24. Burn more fat
25. You’re developing a positive addiction
26. Get (a legal) high
27. Make friends and stay healthy
28. Be happy
29. Feeling tired? Go for a ride
30. Spend quality time with your partner
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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