The health benefits of cycling: stay in shape! | ODILO

Over the past few years, the number of cyclists on the road has skyrocketed. Whether they’re active retirees, competitive cyclists or simply people cycling to work, a growing number of people are out on their bike every day (or almost). Quite apart from the convenience and the low carbon footprint of this means of transport, cycling is a wonderful way to get some physical exercise every day. 

The many health benefits of cycling include better physical and mental shape! Wondering what regular cycling can do for you? In this article, we’ll review all of the benefits to be gained! 

The benefits of cycling for your physical health: a heart and body in better shape 

There’s no denying that, since screens became part and parcel of our lives, we’re becoming increasingly sedentary. Sometimes we pay a hefty price for our lack of activity through back aches, short-windedness and a weakened immune system.

To alleviate these pains and other chronic conditions, nothing beats physical exercise! And cycling is ideal for this. You’ll see for yourself that regular cycling brings about a plethora of changes in your physical fitness. 

A healthier heart 

All health professionals recommend getting regular physical exercise. 

It improves your blood circulation as well as your heart and lung function. Your resting heart rate drops, as does your working heart rate. 

So, cycling several times a week is an excellent way to stay fit. It is a widely accessible activity that keeps you active, whatever your level of physical fitness. 

Protected joints

Many people suffer from joint pain. Whether occasional or chronic (osteoarthritis, tendinitis, etc.), these pains are debilitating and by no means conducive to getting some form of physical exercise every day. 

And yet, physical activity is one of the recommended remedies for joint pain. Like swimming or walking, cycling is a gentle activity that does not place excessive strain on your joints. 

Naturally, you should always seek medical advice before taking up any sporting activity. If you’re over the age of 40, your doctor will recommend a stress test.

Better balance and greater muscle strength

Do you sit at a desk all day? As a retiree, have you noticed a decline in your physical fitness? Would you like to take up a sporting activity in your spare time? 

Whatever your age, lifestyle or physical fitness, cycling definitely helps you get into better physical shape. Pedalling strengthens not only your leg muscles but also your back, your glutes and your abs.  

If you’d also like to improve your balance, cycling definitely fits the bill! 

An efficient immune system

Autumn and winter are the peak season for viruses. And I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s nothing more annoying than falling sick all the time! 

Did you know that regular physical activity such as cycling could help you scale back these annoyances? 

EAccording to a British study published in the journal Aging Cell in March 2018, regular cycling is believed to slow the effects of aging on the immune system. Over the course of the study, the research team observed that octogenarians who had been cycling all their life had an immune system that was as efficient as that of young twenty-year-olds! 

A calmer, stronger mindset nurtured by regular cycling

If you’re already engaging in regular physical activity, you’ll know that sport is also a mood booster. In that sense, cycling is a powerful adjunct. It makes you smile, it boosts your mood, in short, it makes you happy! At ODILO, it’s a tried and tested method! 

But, in practice, what are the benefits of cycling on people’s mental health? Read on: we’ll explain. 

Lower stress

Anxiety, anguish, restlessness: to some degree, we all experience this unpleasant feeling. 

Stress is a physiological response to this emotion: it releases a variety of hormones, the best-known of which are adrenaline and cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”). 

However, a high level of cortisol over a long period has harmful effects on the organism. It can cause problems with weight gain, sleep, or mood disorders. 

Cycling outdoors is naturally beneficial. When you are making a physical effort, your brain (or, more exactly, your hypothalamus and your pituitary gland) releases endorphins, and this lifts your mood and lowers your stress! 

Improved sleep 

Providing you don’t engage in any strenuous physical activity within two hours of going to bed, cycling helps you get to sleep and improves the quality of your sleep. 

This is because the endorphins secreted when you are physically active, combined with the exposure to natural light, generate a feeling of well-being that in turn enhances the quality of your sleep. And we’ll all agree that quickly dropping off to sleep at the end of a long day is good not only for your health but also for your morale!

A better memory 

Sport, including regular cycling, also has a beneficial effect on your memory. This is the finding of a study carried out by scientists from the University of Geneva and published in 2020. 

It shows that a 15-minute session of intense physical activity (such as cycling) improves and helps protect memory. These studies are encouraging, in particular for people suffering from memory deficits. 

Staying in shape: traditional or electric bike? 

The electric-assist bike is gradually gaining ground on the traditional pedal-powered bike.

The electric-assist bike provides an effortless way to ride up hills or transport heavy loads (and tow a trailer or bike trolle for example).

That said, is using an electric-assist bike as good for your health as using a traditional bike?

Riding an electric-assist bike admittedly takes less energy for pedalling. You can adjust the level of assistance to cater for the number of hill climbs on your journey. 

But contrary to popular belief, the physical effort required and the number of calories burned are all too real when you are pedalling on an electric-assist bike. The type of effort required is simply less strenuous and generates less muscle tension.

This is the ideal type of bike if you are:   

• an older person keen to stay active;

• a parent who regularly transports your kids, your shopping or your gear; 

• a daily bike commuter who wants to get to work faster but with a dry shirt or T-shirt; 

• a professional who needs to tow a trailer for work purposes. 

Nonetheless, the traditional bike can’t be written off just yet. For riders cycling for sport, MTBs and pedal-powered bikes are still very popular. And for everyday transport, there are still many cyclists, in urban and rural areas alike, who feel no need to switch to an electric bike. 

In fact, it all depends on your physical fitness, the type of terrain along your journey, and also your budget! Whether you ride a traditional bike or an electric bike, you’re still active and on the move! And that’s good for your health!

💡 Further reading: Make shopping by bike a breeze: start with the right equipment.