|
|
| Author |
Message |
DiamondKiss
Yahoo User
|
 Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: What physical benefits would cycling bring>? |
 |
|
| i want to start cycling and would like to know what kind of benefits cycling will bring. im 5'6 109 pounds and want to tone up and improve my overall health. Would cycling be a good choice? Ive got a bike and a park near to my house so i could go every morning or so. Are there any disadvantages to cycling? Is so, what are they. Thnx for everyones advice. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
20x carbon footprint
Yahoo User
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Much better for you than running- will not be harmfull on your bones as much. Great for your cardiovascular system. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
♥ Emma© ♥
Yahoo User
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Cycling and healthGetting on your bike regularly not only gets you where you want to go faster than a car, it protects you against a wide range of ill health, and also makes you feel better.Cycling is good for your heart and healthEveryday cycling, where the exercise leaves you breathing heavily but not being out of breath, is an effective and enjoyable form of aerobic exercise. This is the type of exercise that is most effective at promoting good health. For example, cycling reduces the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and the most common form of diabetes.1,2,3,4One rough calculation suggests that new cyclists covering short distances can reduce their risk of death (mainly due to the reduction of heart disease) by as much as 22 per cent.5Cycling will help with weight managementCycling can be part of a programme to lose weight2 because it burns the energy supplied by a chocolate bar or a couple of alcoholic drinks in an hour (about 300 calories). A 15-minute bike ride to and from work five times a week burns off the equivalent of 11 pounds of fat in a year.6 That kind of cycling pattern also meets the Government's latest target on exercise: that we should take part in some mild to moderate physical activity that leaves us out of breath for at least 30 minutes five times a week.Cycling can improve your moodCycling can have positive effects on how we feel too.2 Moderate exercise has been found to reduce levels of depression and stress, improve mood and raise self-esteem, and has also been found to relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.4,5,7Cycling can help to maintain strength and coordinationThere can also be indirect benefits in terms of reducing injuries from falls, which can be seriously disabling, especially in older people. The strength and co-ordination that regular cycling brings make them less likely.4,5,8,9 Physically active older people have much reduced rates of hip fracture.10How cycling improves fitnessA study carried out for the Department of Transport found that 'even a small amount of cycling can lead to significant gains in fitness'. The study found that aerobic fitness was boosted by 11 per cent after just six weeks of cycling 'short distances' four times a week.8 If cycling the equivalent of four miles to and from work in total a day the aerobic benefit increased to 17 per cent.8According to the Department of Transport study people who do not exercise who start cycling move from the third of the population who are the least fit, to the fittest half of the population in just a few months.8Leg strength also improved in the cyclists in the study. This is more important than it seems because leg strength improves other mobility by allowing people to get out of chairs more easily, and helps older people especially avoid falls and the broken bones and other injuries associated with them.8Cycling, the researchers behind the study concluded, is 'one of the few physical activities which can be undertaken by the majority of the population as part of a daily routine'.8Cyclists breathe in less fumes than car driversIf you are worried about traffic fumes, there may be no need. Cyclists and pedestrians actually absorb lower levels of pollutants from traffic fumes than car drivers.4,11Who can cycle?There are no real age barriers to cycling, and people of most fitness levels can cycle, slowly and gently if necessary. Anyone with heart disease or other conditions affecting their activity should, of course, consult their doctor before starting any exercise programme. Those of all body shapes and all but the most extreme body weights can ride a bike. Getting StartedWhat sets cycling apart from most other forms of exercise is how well it fits into our busy, modern lifestyles. Apart from the bicycle itself (and a recommended protective helmet) no other equipment is needed, no special time needs to be set, and no special clothes are needed (although you might want to leave your best suit on the hanger). Instead of spending time stuck in a car or bus, you spend it on the bike, there is no need to find extra time to exercise.It's as easy as riding a bike. You simply start to use a bike when you would otherwise have gone by car, bus, train or on foot. How much you ride depends on you, your fitness and your lifestyle. New cyclists could start off by using the bike to pop a few hundred yards down the road to the shops or the post box, and gradually increase the distance they cover. In a few weeks aerobic fitness will have improved and you will be able to ride for miles without feeling anything more than a little puffed out.HelmetsThere is still some argument, but there is increasing evidence that cycle helmets can reduce the number and severity of head injuries in cyclists. To be any good at all the helmet must be worn correctly and be close fitting without being pushed to the back of the head. Get expert advice from someone in a bike shop. But remember, the health benefits of cycling significantly outweigh the risks of cycling on British roads.5Keep at itMost cyclists are 'utility' cyclists where the bike is a way of getting from A to B, and getting some exercise is an added bonus. Nearly three-quarters of journeys people make are of five miles or less, and these could be acheived by most people.12 On reasonably flat ground you will soon be able to cover at least four to six miles in half an hour - faster than cars in many towns and cities.But those bitten by the bike bug may improve their fitness and may make long rides to work, or may choose to go leisure cycling where they cover 30-50 miles a day.Competitive individuals may want to start racing - against other cyclists or against the clock.Fitter individuals with a taste for adventure may choose to try mountain biking, speeding down specially made trails on the side of hills, leaping over dips and jumping over obstacles.These more active cyclists are likely to increase their health benefits. In general the more active an individual is, the healthier they are. But, whichever form of cycling you choose to pursue, remember to have fun while you're doing it. As you are whizzing past drivers stuck in a queue, you can enjoy the fact that not only are you getting to your destination quicker, but you are getting fit at the same time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tanya
Yahoo User
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| GREAT for the Heart, Butt and Legs and Stomach and Balance and PEACE of MIND on the long rides away from everyone and everything |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Geoff E
Yahoo User
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise. I am a former racing cyclist and have never been so fit as when I was racing. Its good for respiration and the heart and tones the legs, stomach and facial muscles + you get lots of fresh air. Of course like any exercise you get out of it what you put into it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sk_sukla2003
Yahoo User
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Cycling is one of the best exercises,which not only helps to maintain ones fitness but also has hundreds of other beneficial effects.Apart from toning up your leg musculature,it has a profound effect in burning up excessive fat/cholesterol deposits in the body. Cycling also burns up a lot of energy thereby decreasing any sugar build up in blood.Due to excessive utilisation of energy, the heart has also to keep its pace with the exercise rhythm.The heart rate increases,to enable it to pump up excessive blood to muscles requiring more oxygen,this alone has a beneficial effect on the heart muscles apart from the heart muscles itself getting more oxygenated blood.The arteries and veins get more blood load,as a result there is internal cleansing effect on their walls thereby reducing the possibility of blocks or heart attacks.The lungs,the kidneys etc has to work extra hard during cycling exercise which have a beneficial effect on the body.There are no known disadvantages of cycling.So go ahead with your cycling and enjoy a healthy life |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gee Wye
Yahoo User
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Cycling is a great zero-impact cardiovascular workout, and strengthens the buns, thighs, and calves. You also have the added benefit that, as you exercise, you are actually getting somewhere.The key to cycling is not to ride hard--instead, keep up a steady medium pace, and try never to stop pedaling. Use your gears to modify your speed, get up and down hills, etc., and keep the pedaling at the same pace. Layering your clothes is a good idea, because as you ride, you will want to regulate your temperature by removing one or more of the layers.(Watch out about the calf-strengthening part though. After I cycled for some time, my calf muscles became so enlarged that my pant legs became snug! All-in-all, though, I'd say it was a good problem to have!) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Register
Log in
Powered by Yahoo! Answers