Cycling to keep healthy and get fit
It only takes two to four hours a week to achieve a general improvement to your health. Cycling is:
- Low impact – it causes less strain and injuries than most other forms of exercise
- A good muscle workout – cycling uses all of the major muscle groups as you pedal. Cycling has been shown to get you fitter than walking, as it lifts your heart rate to a more beneficial level
- Easy – unlike some other sports, cycling does not require high levels of physical skill. Most people know how to ride a bike and, once you learn, you don’t forget
- Good for strength and stamina – cycling increases stamina, strength and aerobic fitness
- As intense as you want – cycling can be done at very low intensity to begin with, if recovering from injury or illness, but can be built up to a demanding physical workout
- A fun way to get fit – the adventure and buzz you get from coasting down hills and being outdoors means you are more likely to continue to cycle regularly, compared to other physical activities that keep you indoors or require special times or places
- Time-efficient – as a mode of transport, cycling replaces sedentary (sitting) time spent driving motor vehicles or using trams, trains or buses with healthy exercise.
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
