Pedalling your way to a longer, healthier life...

Besides being an environment friendly option for commuting,bicycling is a great aerobic activity and has tremendous health benefits. ‘Aerobic’ means ‘in the presence of oxygen’ and doing an aerobic activity vigorously gives the benefits of even ‘power’ activities. In today’s wired world of mobiles, laptops and virtual games, kids are becoming couch potatoes, which makes them obese at a very young age.

This can lead to health issues like heart conditions, diabetes and hormonal imbalances later in life. A physical activity like cycling makes the body agile and helps with better absorption of nutrients due to improved circulation. This, in turn, makes for a sharper mind and better focus, which are vital in the formative years. The same benefi ts hold true for adults as well.

Cycling is a great cardiovascular activity that improves blood circulation, enormously boosting energy levels and lending a glow to a person. Good blood circulation aids the absorption of nutrients through the body. It is a great way to strengthen and tone the lower body muscles without impacting the knee joints. In fact, as the quadriceps, the muscle group responsible for stabilising the knee joint, are constantly engaged while cycling, it is a great activity for the knees.

Cycling efficiently exercises the hips and legs, the largest muscle group of the body, helping reduce weight in those areas. Additionally, aerobic activities are said to be great mood enhancers. It is ideal for both solitary and group interactions and people of all ages and fitness levels can ride a cycle.

Even those too young to pedal can reap the benefits of fresh air and unfolding scenery—from a bike seat or a trailer. For senior citizens, cycling is a safe way to stay fit. Good circulation leads to stronger bones, so important as this age group becomes vulnerable to osteoporosis, a degenerative condition that makes the bones brittle. Improved blood circulation aids digestion, another bane of increasing age.