CYCLING CAN
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
CYCLING CAN
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
As our existence is all about getting you to cycle more, it’s worth dedicating a page to covering the range of benefits you can look forward to if you do adopt cycling to keep fit and healthy. It's a bit of a read, but we hope to enlighten you.
We all know exercise is good for us, but it is not just our physical health that benefits. Getting outside on your bike can do wonders for your mental health too. With the extra strain and challenges that we have experienced in light of the global pandemic, there are even more reasons for us to be aware of our mental health and the positive steps we can take to look after ourselves.
A leading WA Mental health charity spoke to over 6,000 people about the effects of the global pandemic and more than half of adults (54%) and over two-thirds of young people (67%) said their mental health got worse during the pandemic. MIND’s research shows that many developed new mental health problems as a result of the pandemic and, for some, existing mental health problems got worse.
One of the things that has helped us at Wedgetail to cope, is continuing to get out in the fresh air on our bikes as much as we can. Some days finding the motivation is hard; it is not always easy to make the effort, even for those of us who love cycling, but there is definitely refreshment to be found in a blast around on a bike.
MIND has plenty of advice to share on why cycling can help with depression and feeling low. There are many studies which have shown that doing physical activity can improve mental health. For example, it can help with improved sleep – by making you feel more exhausted at the end of the day. It can improve your mood by releasing feel-good hormones that make you feel better in yourself and give you more energy, and it helps with controlling stress, anxiety or unpleasant and racing feelings.
Performing physical activity releases cortisol which aids us manage stress and staying physically in action also gives your brain something to concentrate on and can be a constructive coping approach for difficult times. Studies have indicated that doing frequent physical movement can lessen the probability of experiencing a time of depression.
It’s no surprise that regular physical activity can help protect you from serious diseases such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes and arthritis.
The research is clear in this space – and points to an overwhelmingly positive benefit to your health and wellbeing.
Riding your bicycle regularly is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Apart from being fun, cheap and good for the environment - cycling is a low impact sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults.
Electric bikes have come a long way since the early bike models. They make it easier to go much further than on a manual bike. Allowing you to have more fun (more fun = more happiness). And who doesn't want more happiness?
You don’t need to be at peak performance to cover 50km anymore – and best of all, you are still getting fitter.
Riding to work or the shops is one of the most time-efficient ways to combine regular exercise with your everyday routine. An estimated one billion people ride bicycles every day – for transport, recreation and sport. Are you one of them?
As cycling is mainly an aerobic activity – your heart, lungs & blood vessels all get a thorough work out. You take deeper breathes, perspire and experience increased body temperature, which over time improves your overall fitness level.
Some of these health benefits include:
• increased cardiovascular fitness
• improved posture and coordination
• decreased body fat levels
• reduced anxiety and depression.
• strengthened bones
• improved joint mobility
• prevention or management of disease
• decreased stress levels
• increased muscle strength and flexibility
The recommended daily workout is 30minutes. If you can find 30 – you will get healthier over time. What better way to do this than by choosing a low impact sport that gives the muscles & lungs a good workout? Over time, your strength and stamina will improve and you will wonder what took you so long to make the switch.
You’ll also have enormous fun cycling at your own pace. Ever seen a smile on a person sitting on a bus? Exactly our point. With increasing traffic, you’ll probably find cycling a more efficient method to get around and it replaces sedentary (sitting) time spent driving motor vehicles, trains or buses with healthy exercise.
Cycling can improve both physical and mental health, and can reduce the chances of experiencing many health problems.
It’s a great way to control or reduce weight, as it raises your metabolic rate, builds muscle and burns body fat. If you’re trying to lose weight, cycling must be combined with a healthy eating plan.
Research suggests you should be burning at least 8,400 kilojoules (about 2,000 calories) a week through exercise. Steady cycling burns about 1,200 kilojoules (about 300 calories) per hour.
If you cycle twice a day, the kilojoules burnt soon add up.
British research shows that a half-hour bike ride every day will burn nearly five kilograms of fat over a year.
CANCER & CYCLING
Many researchers have studied the relationship between exercise and cancer, especially colon and breast cancer. Research has shown that if you cycle, the chance of bowel cancer is reduced. Some evidence suggests that regular cycling reduces the risk of breast cancer.
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND CYCLING
Cardiovascular diseases include stroke, high blood pressure and heart attack. Regular cycling stimulates and improves your heart, lungs and circulation, reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Cycling strengthens your heart muscles, lowers resting pulse and reduces blood fat levels. Research also shows that people who cycle to work have two to three times less exposure to pollution than car commuters, so their lung function is improved. A Danish study conducted over 14 years with 30,000 people aged 20 to 93 years found that regular cycling protected people from heart disease.
DIABETES AND CYCLING
The rate of type 2 diabetes is increasing and is a serious public health concern. Lack of physical activity is thought to be a major reason why people develop this condition. Large-scale research in Finland found that people who cycled for more than 30 minutes per day had a 40 per cent lower risk of developing diabetes.
BONE INJURIES, ARTHRITIS AND CYCLING
Cycling improves strength, balance and coordination. It may also help to prevent falls and fractures. Riding a bike is an ideal form of exercise if you have osteoarthritis, because it is a low-impact exercise that places little stress on joints.
Cycling does not specifically help osteoporosis (bone-thinning disease) because it is not a weight-bearing exercise.
MENTAL ILLNESS AND CYCLING
Mental health conditions such as depression, stress and anxiety can be reduced by regular bike riding. This is due to the effects of the exercise itself and because of the enjoyment that riding a bike can bring.
Take away thoughts..
Cycling can help to protect you from serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity and arthritis.
Riding a bike is healthy, fun and a low-impact form of exercise for all ages.
Cycling is easy to fit into your daily routine by riding to the shops, park, school or work. If you can build this habit into your daily routine, your body will thank you.
And what better way to start - than by trying out one of our bikes? You don't have to risk spending thousands of dollars on a bike you are not sure you'll use. Rent one of ours, and if you like it - we'll take the rental cost off the price of the bike.
Where will your Wedgetail take you?
Around Rottnest..
Around Rottnest..
Exploring Perth City..
Exploring Perth City..
Or along the coast?
Or along the coast?