The Fascinating Ways Cycling Affects Your Body

The Fascinating Ways Cycling Affects Your Body

Source: Fix.com

This originally appeared as Put the Pedal to the Pavement Your Body While Biking on Fix.com.

From 2001 to 2011 there was a drastic 289% increase in the number of people cycling for transportation. Using a bike for transportation saves gas, money, and it tremendously helps the planet. If every American made a 4-mile trip by bike instead of by car each week, we’d burn 2 billion fewer gallons of gas annually. This should make you rethink driving to the nearest coffee shop. Aside from the environmental benefits, biking has incredibly low impact on your body compared to other cardio activities like running. Since it isn’t weight bearing, many people can cycle comfortably well into their 70s and 80s. Like many other forms of physical activity, cycling will increase energy and decrease fatigue. Cycling specifically improves energy by 20% and decreases fatigue by 65%. Just an hour of biking can burn five hundred calories, and the sport will bump up your metabolism, even after the ride is over. Just thirty minutes of biking will improve your mental alertness. Get in shape, reduce stress, help the environment, and prolong your lifespan by hitting the saddle.