The Benefits of Bicycling - 6 Steps in Turning it Into a Normal Exercise Regimen
The benefits of bicycling for one's fitness and health are obvious. Any type of normal exercise regimen, followed weekly, is good for an individual's long-term health. Exercise is beneficial for the human body. Sticking to a dedicated fitness regimen helps an individual improve his/her cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure within the body. Along with following a diet plan and eating healthy, a routine weekly exercise regimen helps keep off excess weight.
If you do not participate in a normal exercise regimen and are looking to get back in shape, I suggest that you consider taking up bicycling to fulfill your needs. I have outlined 6 steps, below, in which you can turn bicycling into something which will benefit you health-wise.
1). If you have not invested in any exercise regimen for several years, it is always best to consult first with your doctor or primary-care physician. He/she will set up an exercise routine for you to start out.
2).You might already have an old bicycle that has been in the garage for several years, and is still in working condition. Take it out, bring it to a reputable bicycle repair shop, and let them put in the maintenance work to get it in good running order. Above anything else, you should have a bicycle that is safe to ride on. If you do not own a bicycle; be it a street/road or an off-road mountain bicycle, you can invest in one. It is not necessary for you to invest thousands of dollars into a bicycle. To start off, a two to four hundred dollar investment in a new type of bicycle would be more than adequate.
3). Purchase a good bicycle helmet first before you begin riding. This should be mandatory. I know that I, personally, would not even think about getting on my bicycle without a helmet on my head. A good bicycle helmet would cost about $50-75. Many good helmets come with foam-fitting pad inserts which can be adjusted to fit your head size. I do not ever want anyone to have problems on their bicycle with regards to their safety. But, if an unfortunate incident should occur; injuring a leg, arm, or shoulder would present fewer problems than if something were to happen to a person's head. Protect your head. If adults have children going out on bicycle rides together, require that the younger ones ride with a helmet as well. As a matter of fact, the adult should role-model for a son or daughter, educationally, that riding with a bicycle helmet is an absolute necessity.
4). Take it slow and easy at first. Feasibly, you could not expect to go out on a ten mile ride, completing the route in under an hour's time period when you initially begin your bicycling regimen. At first, your body will not allow it. You may experience muscle fatigue upon completion. Actually, you would be smart to stretch your leg muscles as a warm-up before you ride. When you finish, do some more stretching to get rid of the lactic acid which may have built up in your muscles during the ride. Above all, start your regimen with short rides. Ride your bicycle only a couple of times per week, to allow your body to build up both strength and endurance. Remember, Rome was not conquered in one day.
5). Buy yourself a water bottle and as you ride, drink plenty of fluids. Your body loses liquids as you ride through the normal sweating process. You want to keep yourself as hydrated as possible while riding. Drink plenty of fluids after you finish your ride as well to replenish the minerals that you lost while exercising.
If you do not participate in a normal exercise regimen and are looking to get back in shape, I suggest that you consider taking up bicycling to fulfill your needs. I have outlined 6 steps, below, in which you can turn bicycling into something which will benefit you health-wise.
1). If you have not invested in any exercise regimen for several years, it is always best to consult first with your doctor or primary-care physician. He/she will set up an exercise routine for you to start out.
2).You might already have an old bicycle that has been in the garage for several years, and is still in working condition. Take it out, bring it to a reputable bicycle repair shop, and let them put in the maintenance work to get it in good running order. Above anything else, you should have a bicycle that is safe to ride on. If you do not own a bicycle; be it a street/road or an off-road mountain bicycle, you can invest in one. It is not necessary for you to invest thousands of dollars into a bicycle. To start off, a two to four hundred dollar investment in a new type of bicycle would be more than adequate.
3). Purchase a good bicycle helmet first before you begin riding. This should be mandatory. I know that I, personally, would not even think about getting on my bicycle without a helmet on my head. A good bicycle helmet would cost about $50-75. Many good helmets come with foam-fitting pad inserts which can be adjusted to fit your head size. I do not ever want anyone to have problems on their bicycle with regards to their safety. But, if an unfortunate incident should occur; injuring a leg, arm, or shoulder would present fewer problems than if something were to happen to a person's head. Protect your head. If adults have children going out on bicycle rides together, require that the younger ones ride with a helmet as well. As a matter of fact, the adult should role-model for a son or daughter, educationally, that riding with a bicycle helmet is an absolute necessity.
4). Take it slow and easy at first. Feasibly, you could not expect to go out on a ten mile ride, completing the route in under an hour's time period when you initially begin your bicycling regimen. At first, your body will not allow it. You may experience muscle fatigue upon completion. Actually, you would be smart to stretch your leg muscles as a warm-up before you ride. When you finish, do some more stretching to get rid of the lactic acid which may have built up in your muscles during the ride. Above all, start your regimen with short rides. Ride your bicycle only a couple of times per week, to allow your body to build up both strength and endurance. Remember, Rome was not conquered in one day.
5). Buy yourself a water bottle and as you ride, drink plenty of fluids. Your body loses liquids as you ride through the normal sweating process. You want to keep yourself as hydrated as possible while riding. Drink plenty of fluids after you finish your ride as well to replenish the minerals that you lost while exercising.
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