Continue reading to take a look at some of the ways cycling can enhance your fitness level and well-being.
Cycling is a wonderful workout that keeps you active. It can help shape a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally.
Cycling is a low impact aerobic exercise that offers a wealth of benefits. It also varies in intensity, so it’s suitable for all levels. You can cycle as a mode of transportation, for casual activity, or as an intense, competitive endeavor.
Cycling is an enjoyable way to stay healthy, including helping you lose weight, lower your cholesterol and strengthen your legs.
Cycling habitually, especially at a high intensity, can help lower your body fat levels, which promotes healthy weight management (1).
Additional studies suggest that including sprint and strength training with regular cycling may temporarily increase your metabolism and build muscle, which allows you to burn more calories, even while at rest (2).
Cycling improves overall function in your lower body and strengthens your leg muscles without overstressing your joints. It targets your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves.
To make your legs even stronger and enhance your cycling performance, try doing weightlifting exercises, such as squats, leg presses, and lunges, a few times per week (3).
Riding a bike is fairly simple. If you have difficulty with a standard bicycle, stationary bikes are a great alternative.
If you’re new to fitness or bouncing back from an injury or illness, you can cycle at a low intensity. As you get more fit, you can increase the intensity or continue to cycle at a chill pace.
Studies have shown that even sedentary people reap the health benefits of cycling, so it can be a great introduction for exercise novices (1).
The health-enhancing effects of cycling may help improve cholesterol levels, which can boost your cardiovascular health and lower your chances of stroke and heart attack.
According to one review of 300 studies, indoor cycling has a positive effect on total cholesterol. It may boost HDL (good) cholesterol levels while lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels (4).
Cycling can ease feelings of stress, depression, or anxiety. Focusing on the road or your cadence when cycling can help you develop concentration and awareness of the present moment. This may help take your focus away from the mental chatter of your day.
Research backs this up. One study found that biking outside improved cognitive functioning and well-being for older adults (5).
If you find yourself feeling lethargic, listless, or like your brain is moving slowly, get on your bike for at least 10 minutes.
Exercise promotes the release of endorphins in your body, which helps you feel better while lowering your stress levels. As the study above found, exercise outdoors only increases these effects (5).
You may feel more confident and content once you make cycling a regular part of your life.
Cycling is a fantastic addition to your care plan if you have or are recovering from cancer. However, many cancer patients experience low energy and pain during treatment, so be sure to work with your care team, listen to your body, and exercise only if you’re up for it.
Cycling can also help keep you lean and fit, which may reduce your risk for certain types of cancer, including breast cancer (6).
According to research from 2019, if you have breast cancer, staying active may help reduce side effects of cancer treatment, including fatigue, and improve your overall quality of life (7).
Beginning your day with a healthy activity like cycling wakes you up by boosting your circulation and allows you to start your day with a sense of accomplishment.
You may feel more inclined to make healthy, positive choices as the day progresses (8).
Fasted morning rides at a low intensity may burn fat, enhance endurance performance, and boost your energy and metabolism levels all day (9).
The caveat? The research seems to show that this is mainly true for casual bikers, and it’s not recommended that highly trained athletes fast before long endurance rides (9).
Whether you want to prevent health concerns from arising or manage existing conditions, regular exercise is key. Cycling regularly is one way to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and its possible accompanying health concerns.
Regular exercise can help prevent heart issues such as stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure (10, 11, 12).
Cycling may also help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes (13).
In fact, very recent research suggests regular cycling can lower mortality rates for people with diabetes by 24% and, if continued for at least 5 years, can decrease mortality rates by 35% (14).
Reduce your carbon footprint by riding your bike whenever possible. Recent research in Europe found that commuting by bike instead of by car once a day decreases your transportation carbon footprint by 67% (15).
Cycling is a great replacement for transportation options that involve sitting in traffic for extended periods. It’s especially useful when you’re going places that are a bit too far to walk, but you don’t want to take a car.
A bonus is not having to fight for a parking space in crowded areas.
As you stabilize your body and keep your bike upright, you’ll improve your overall balance and coordination and even your gait (16, 17).
Balance tends to decline with age and inactivity, so it’s vital to stay on top of it. Improved balance is beneficial in the prevention of falls and fractures, which can help decrease your risk of injury and keep you off the sidelines.
Cycling is easy on your body, providing a gentle, low impact option for people who want an intense workout without stressing their joints (18).
Cycling is a great option for people who have joint concerns or overall stiffness, especially in the lower body.
Cycling is a fantastic way to raise your heart rate, improve cardiovascular function, and enhance your overall fitness level.
The results of a 2019 review suggest that cycling is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. It’s also associated with lower mortality rates and lower rates of physiological risk factors such as diabetes, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure (19).
Are you interested in purchasing a motorcycle for yourself or as a gift for someone special? Trying to convince your parent or significant other that it’s not a frivolous purchase decision? Or perhaps you already own a motorcycle and are interested in learning more. In all cases, you’ve come to the right place.
Buying a motorcycle is a big decision. But it is also a rewarding one. Riding a motorcycle is an experience like no other. There are also many practical reasons to own a motorcycle.
If you’re on the fence, we’re here to help! The benefits below are sure to win anyone over. If you currently own a motorcycle, be prepared to fall in love with riding all over again.
1. The Thrill
If you are looking for a way to spice things up, purchasing a motorcycle is a great option. The adrenaline pumping through your veins makes you feel larger than life. Your hand grips the throttle and you know you’re in complete control. Taking a ride is sure to brighten up your day and make you feel vibrant and alive.
Undoubtedly, there are many self-proclaimed speed demons reading this post. Nevertheless, the motorcycle community makes it very clear that safety is the most important part of riding a motorcycle.
However, speed is undeniably one of the best perks! But, you don’t need to break the speed limit to get the rush you’re looking for.
Driving forty-five miles per hour in a car is a completely different experience on a motorcycle. Unlike cars, motorcycles are unenclosed. The feeling of acceleration is magnified and the power of the wind blowing through your hair is unmatched.
Sure, you could roll down the windows of your car. However, that breeze is sub-par compared to the refreshing gust you get on a motorcycle ride.
Riding a motorcycle is an incredible sensory experience because you are not enclosed and your senses are exposed to the elements. You can smell the fresh air, feel the powerful wind, hear the revving engine, and see the beautiful landscape. Incredible!
2. The Savings
Secondly, a motorcycle is a great alternative to a car, especially if you live in a city that has great weather year round. According to CreditDonkey.com, a popular credit card comparison and review website, the average cost of a new car is $36,270.
Whereas, the average selling price of a motorcycle on our marketplace, ChopperExchange, is about $12,000, which is considerably less.
Chances are, you can find a used motorcycle online that’s in good condition, at a reasonable price, and with fairly low mileage. Cars typically accumulate a lot more mileage before they are resold. Most people own a motorcycle in addition to their primary vehicle.
For this reason, bikes don’t tend to rack up as many miles as cars. Also, when you are ready to buy your next bike, the resale value on the old one may be reasonable if it is in good condition.
It goes without saying, motorcycles are much smaller than the average vehicle. This makes them less intimidating to work on yourself. As they say, repairing your bike gives you both the opportunity to “become one” and have some quality bonding time.
You can get advice from other riders and watch YouTube videos to learn how to perform repairs. You may also have a close friend or family member that rides. Perhaps, you can ask them for help.
If it’s an easy fix, they may do it for free. If it is something a bit more complex, hopefully they give you the friends and family discount!
3. The Adventure
A motorcycle is a great investment for those who love seeing new places and experiencing new things. Taking a ride is a great way to sight-see. Being out in the open air gives you the opportunity to take in the scenery in a way that is impossible in a car.
Think about the first time you rode your bicycle somewhere. Do you remember the feeling of freedom? Being one with the world around you? Now multiply that feeling times ten.
There are countless amazing places to travel to on your motorcycle. One Travel recommends that you take motorcycle road trips to the following beautiful locations across the nation:
4. Great Parking
Great parking is a cool perk of riding. Motorcycle parking is often the closest to the building, only second to handicap parking.
Also, if you’re parking in an unpaved/unmarked lot, restassured, you can scoot into any small space available. Just be mindful. You wouldn’t want someone to knock over your ride because you parked too close or parked in their blind spot.
5. The Camaraderie
Furthermore, riding a motorcycle is an easy way to meet new people. Let’s say you are leaving the store and are walking towards the motorcycle parking section. You may notice another rider.
This is the perfect opportunity to start a conversation. You already know you both have at least one thing in common. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Start a conversation by complementing their ride.
Once you purchase a motorcycle, you are automatically a member of the biker community. Research motorcycle clubs in your area. Make sure that your organization of choice is one registered with the American Motorcycle Association.
Once you meet other riders, you all can do things like casually hang-out, go to biker events, and go on motorcycle road trips.
Harley Davidson® has a motorcycle club named HOG®, (Harley Owners Group®). You can join the local chapter in your city.
HOG® also has membership programs. There are four different types of memberships: full membership, associate membership, full life membership, and associate life membership. The perks range from “member-only rides and events to milestone achievement recognition.”
HOG® full and full life members get exclusive benefits, such HOG® roadside assistance, AT&T® discounts, and motorcycle shipping.
6. The Freedom
Riding a motorcycle also gives you a strong sense of freedom. Going for a ride is a great way to get away from things for a while. There’s no need to pack a car full of stuff. All you need is you, your bike, and the open road.
7. The Cool Factor
This is the number one benefit on everyone’s mind. Frankly, having a motorcycle implies that you’re pretty badass. It also gives your cool points a major boost. If you are (or strive to be) a stand out type of guy/girl that lives his/her life to the fullest, motorcycle culture may be a perfect fit for your personality.
Leather boots, gloves, and jackets show the world your bold personality. Riding gear was created to shield you from the elements, to protect you from injuries, and to provide a barrier from hazards. But, gear also, undoubtedly, makes you look edgy.
8. The Health Benefits
“Four wheels move the body. Two move the soul.” – Unknown
This notion is now supported by scientific data. The UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior conducted a study, funded by Harley-Davidson®, that tested the effects of riding a motorcycle on the body.
The study found that riding “significantly decreased levels of cortisol by 28%…” Cortisol is a stress hormone. This research suggests that riding can be an effective tool for relieving stress.
UCLA’s study also found that riding a motorcycle “increases arousal of the sympathetic nervous system.” The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for your fight or flight response. This study found that riding a motorcycle causes an increase in heart rate comparable to light exercise.
Furthermore, the UCLA motorcycle study found that “riding reduced susceptibility to distraction,” and “heighten[ed] sensory processing.” This research suggests that riding increases attention by “strengthening focus and heightening the brain’s passive monitoring of changes in the sensory environment.”
Neuroscientist Don Vaughn, the study’s lead scientist, compares this increase in alertness to the effects of drinking a cup of coffee.
Are you getting your daily dose of vitamin D? There are three ways our bodies can take in vitamin D: through food, supplements, and sun exposure. One way to take in some sun is, you’ve guessed it, riding a motorcycle.
Medical News Today states, “Sun exposure is the most important natural source of vitamin D. The body uses vitamin D to absorb the calcium it needs to build and maintain bones.” Just be sure to avoid overexposure and don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
9. Eco-Friendly
Last but not least, in many ways, motorcycles are more environmentally friendly than cars. Green Choice lists some of the many ways motorcycles are more eco-friendly than larger vehicles. We’ve included some of their thoughts below.
Obviously, motorcycles are smaller than cars, which means they require fewer parts. This may not seem like a big deal, but think about how many cars manufacturers produce in a year.
Last year there were about seventy million cars manufactured. Consequently, a lot of natural resources were used to make them. Purchasing a motorcycle instead of a car could help conserve our natural resources.
Less Manufacturing Plant Pollution
More parts mean a longer manufacturing process. More manufacturing means more pollution. Purchasing a motorcycle instead of a car could potentially reduce air pollution.
You could also purchase a used motorcycle and eliminate your contribution to the negative impacts of vehicle manufacturing together.
It goes without saying, that motorcycles are much lighter than cars. Roads, bridges, and highways don’t stay in good condition forever. They must be maintained and repaired.
Think about how construction impacts our environment. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration states that construction vehicles negatively impact the environment by their fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
The Federal Highway Administration has created a plan to reduce the environmental impact caused by construction. We, as citizens, can help reduce wear and tear on the roads by driving smaller vehicles.
Whether motorcycles create less emissions is still up for debate. The theory is “the heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it uses, the more emissions it produces.”
According to this theory, motorcycles use less fuel and therefore create less emissions, consequently contributing to less pollution.
In conclusion
There are countless benefits to owning a motorcycle.
If you were on the fence before, comment below and tell us the motorcycle benefit listed that pushed you over the ledge!
If you currently own a motorcycle tell us your top two favorite things about riding!