10 Benefits of Cycling

According to a study by the YMCA people, doing regular any kind of exercise, score 32 per cent higher in well-being than people who have a more static life.

The main reasons for that is: 1. the release of the hormones adrenalin and endorphin and 2. the feel good moments coming from achieving physical goals. 

Even if mental problems go beyond the occasional moments of feeling not so happy, regular exercise can be a great help to improve wellbeing. Graeme Obree, former Cycling Hour Record holder, who had suffered from depression stated: “Getting out and riding will help people suffering with depression… Without cycling, I don’t know where I would be.”

A study conducted by the University of Glasgow shows commuting by bicycle decreases the risks of developing cardiovascular disorders and cancer by 50% !

Dr. Jason Gill of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences commented: “Cycling all or part of the way to work was associated with substantially lower risk of adverse health outcomes.”

A study published in the US National Library of Medicine examined the risks of injuries due to different kinds of sport activities.  Cycling appeared to be relatively safe regarding risks of injuries. Long distance runners for instance suffered 133% -144% more muscle damage than cyclists. Regarding inflammation the difference was even more significant: 256%.  Finally, the DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) was 87% higher than that of cyclists. The reason for this is the low impact character of cycling for being not weight bearing.

If "Cycling makes happy" the opposite could be true as well. Meaning:  a less active life could logically lead to unhappiness. Scientists at University of Georgia did a research on this. They observed men and women between the age of 20 to 85 over a period of 35 years. The study's conclusion: a drop in fitness of only 2% for men and 4% for women resulted in sleeping problems.

Just as your car starts to drive faster when you press the accelerator, your brain also gets a boost when more blood flows through it due to exercise.

According to a  study  in 2013 a cyclists’ brain blood circulation goes up by 28%, and even up to 70% in specific brain areas. Even more interesting:  after exercise the increase remained up by 40% in some areas of the brain. And that is fantastic because the blood contains all the goodies we need and keep us in good mental and physical shape.

The study concluded that it is advisable to cycle 45-60 minutes, at 75-85% of maximum ‘heart rate reserve’ during at least four times a week.

To calculate your values you can use the calculator below. See this page. for instructions how to use the heart rate zone calculator.

A study observing 1000 adults up to the age of 85 and conducted by Dr. David Nieman at Appalachian State University shows that exercise has remarkable benefits on the upper respiratory system.

And in his book Lore of Running University of Cape Town Professor Tim Noakes describes how mild exercise stimulates our immune system to:

• Release a protein called endogenous pyrogen, which increases the body’s temperature, making it more hostile to invading bugs.
• Produce more interferon, a protein that is active against viruses.
• Increase the activity of ‘killer’ white blood cells.