Most of us learned to ride a bicycle when we were kids, it was always great fun but as we get older and other interests take over, we tend to forget how enjoyable bike riding is. As adults, cycling is an excellent form of exercise, it is a fun way to lose weight and keep us fit, helping us keep a healthy weight and gives a boost to our overall fitness.
Bike riding is an excellent addition to our weight loss and exercise programme. Not only does bike riding strengthen and tone our leg muscles and buttocks, but also gives us a good cardiovascular work out.
It is possible to burn up to 500 calories per hour cycling. Of course this can vary depending on our current weight and the speed at which we travel. Cycling up hill will of course burn more calories, whilst just cruising will burn less. On flat land we can adjust the gears on our bike to increase the resistance, therefore requiring much more effort to pedal, resulting in more calories burned.
Not all of us have the availability or inclination to tackle hills or tracks. If this is the case, we can boost up our calorie burning by doing alternate intense fast speeds, followed by a period of slower more relaxed riding. This can often be more beneficial as our cardiovascular system is strengthened and a greater amount of calories burned. The results are often better with this routine rather than a more intense workout.
There are so many bikes on the market to choose from, but we must take into account that if we are very over weight we need to choose the correct machine for us.
Most bikes, for safety reasons have a weight limit. The frames, tyres and wheels are manufactured to carry certain weights. The average weight limit on most bicycles is up to 250 pounds for safety reasons. If our weight exceeds this and we want to try bike riding, some manufacturers do make bicycles capable of carrying weights of up to 550 pounds safely. Although these bicycles are more expensive, our safety is paramount.
Accessories are another consideration when purchasing a bike. A good helmet is a good investment for our safety on the track or road. Suitable, comfortable clothing for cycling and perhaps something in which to hold our water bottle and puncture repair equipment. Lastly we need to have a security chain and lock for when we leave our bike parked up.
The best option for embarking on our bike ride ideally would be on country tracks or trails, and parks. Providing we have the correct bike to cope with rough terrain, these can be both scenic and challenging without the added danger of traffic. Not all of us have access to country tracks and parks so we have no alternative but to ride in the streets. If this is the case try to avoid heavy traffic zones. Opt for less built up areas which may have wider streets and less traffic flow.
If we are not confident on a bike or outdoor bike riding does not appeal to us as a weight loss option, take a look at indoor exercise bikes. Stationary bikes are very sophisticated these days, they can monitor our heart rate, calculate our calorie burn, blood pressure, distance, speed and time, not to mention have a port for our mp3 player. When there is no need to concentrate our attentions on traffic, on a static bike we can watch a movie or listen to our favourite music. Another advantage of a static bike is we do not have to worry about adverse weather conditions.
Whether we choose a normal bike or a static one, there is no better way to help shed those unwanted pounds and boost our health and well being.
