25 reasons why cycling is beneficial
- Improved sleep. Riding your bike early in the morning is a great way to wake up faster. And thanks to regular physical activity on a bicycle, your sleep will be healthier, which means you will wake up rested. Regular cycling removes the stress hormone cortisol from the body, which prevents you from falling asleep during frequent exercise. Thus, cycling helps you get rid of insomnia.
- Improved digestion. Cycling improves metabolism. This increases appetite and improves digestion of food. Remember how hungry you feel after a bike ride? The appearance of appetite is a sign of active metabolism.
- Increased endurance. Thanks to regular cycling, you increase the overall endurance of the body, feel more energetic, active and stronger, can more easily bear the stress of the working day, and your emotional background stabilizes.
- Weight loss. The bicycle is very useful for those who want to lose weight extra pounds. Burns during a bike ride large number calories, unwanted deposits in the thighs are reduced. At the same time, your body burns fat not only during the trip, but also for several hours after. And those who drive fast, but short distances, burn several times more fat than those who ride for a long time, but more slowly.
- Improved skin condition. Regular cycling helps slow down skin aging. This happens because increased blood circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells more efficiently while removing harmful toxins. Cycling also creates ideal conditions to produce collagen, which in turn helps slow down the formation of wrinkles.
- Increased muscle tone. Regular cycling helps you train the muscles of your legs, chest, back, and arms. Thanks to this, their shape improves and at the same time muscle endurance increases.
- Reducing stress. Riding a bicycle is the easiest and most quick way get a dose of happiness hormones. Riding a bike like others cyclic species sports, - great way take your mind off unpleasant thoughts. Try to drive at least a couple of kilometers - everything unnecessary will fly out of your head right away. Monotonous movements, measured breathing - all this automatically puts thoughts and feelings in order.
- Strengthening nervous system. Cycling has a beneficial effect on your overall emotional state, helps strengthen the nervous system - your mood and overall well-being improve, you get a huge boost of energy. Bike - best way“let off steam” after a working day.
- Improved thinking abilities. Cycling increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, which activates and restores the action of receptors and promotes the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory.
In addition, writers, musicians, artists, executives and many other professionals use cycling to stimulate creative thinking. Indeed, due to the increased flow of oxygen into the brain, neural activity is activated. - Strengthening cardiovascular system. The cardio exercise provided by cycling helps strengthen the heart muscle, increase vascular tone, reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol and increase the level of “good” cholesterol. This significantly reduces the risk of heart disease.
- Enrichment of cells with oxygen. While cycling, your blood is intensively enriched with oxygen, which, along with other nutrients, is supplied to the cells of the brain and other vital organs of your body. Thanks to cycling, blood supply to the pelvic organs improves, which is especially important for men as a preventive measure for such an insidious disease as adenoma.
- Improved blood circulation. In general, cycling makes blood circulation more rational and efficient. The normal heart rate in a healthy person is 65-70 times per minute. In people who regularly ride a bicycle, this frequency decreases by 8-10 times/min - the heart switches to a more reasonable mode of operation, which saves the “resource” of the heart, preventing its premature “wear and tear” and the onset of all kinds of heart diseases.
- Prevention of varicose veins. People with a genetic predisposition to varicose veins Ven, it is very useful to pedal. At the moment of performing rotational movements with the legs, blood begins to actively circulate through the blood vessels, without stagnating anywhere. At the same time, when riding a bicycle there is no impact load at all, and this is good for the joints.
- Improving lung function. When cycling, your lungs work much more actively than usual - during long, at least an hour, cycling, a person's lungs work harder. full force. Thanks to forced ventilation, the lungs are faster freed from toxic substances, which are in abundance in almost any modern city. At the same time, of course, you should try to lay your route closer to nature and away from busy roads.
- Improved vision. Cycling is very good for eye training. Judge for yourself: no matter where your route runs - along forest paths or sidewalks - you have to closely monitor the road. Your gaze constantly focuses and switches from object to object. This kind of training eye muscles reduces the risk of myopia and sharpens vision.
- Strengthening the immune system. One who regularly conducts his free time Riding a bicycle significantly increases the body’s ability to resist infections (immunity), due to which it suffers from seasonal diseases - flu, colds, etc. - much less often.
- Development of the vestibular apparatus. Cycling is a great workout vestibular apparatus and coordination of movements.
- Saving travel time. Biking is definitely faster than walking. And if you compare it with a car, then you don’t have to stand in traffic jams, because of which we stand longer than we drive. The bicycle allows you to independently plot your own route without adjusting to the schedule public transport and a traffic map.
- No problems with parking. A bicycle will go where a car cannot go. A bicycle is very easy to park - it takes up significantly less space than a car.
- Saving money. Prices for bicycles are very affordable and bicycles, as a rule, are unpretentious in maintenance. If you buy a bicycle, you don’t have to refuel it every day, you don’t have to pay taxes and insurance, and if something breaks on the bike, repairing it won’t require a lot of money.
- Development of a growing child. The child who rides children's bike, receives all the benefits that adults do. A bicycle lays the foundation for a child’s future health.
- A positive example. In addition, it is worth remembering that children are influenced by their parents. If your children see you cycling regularly, they will soon want to follow your example.
- Strengthening relationships. Riding a bike together helps release hormones good mood, so that all minor conflicts and irritations will disappear without a trace. In addition, a trip is a good opportunity to talk about something romantic.
- Spending time with family. Cycling is wonderful family leisure, where there is a place for everyone. Even the most small child can climb onto a seat or special chair and join your journey.
- Meeting new friends. Except good health, cycling also has a positive effect on the social side of your life. Cycling is a great way to meet like-minded people who, with a high degree of probability, can become your friends, because you share common interests.
Feeling better
Improvement appearance
Improved psychological state
Health promotion
Saving time and money
Child development
Strengthening relationships
No, it's not slippery. Exactly to the same extent as it is slippery to walk or drive a car. The safety rules are exactly the same, no differences. The fact is that a person walking on ice usually falls either forward or backward when the supporting leg slides (let me remind you that walking is a controlled fall). The bicycle does not have this problem - it can only fall sideways. And this happens under exactly the same conditions under which a person falls or a car skids. For example, if you make a sharp turn right on the ice. Otherwise, rubber tires hold up better than 90% of winter shoes, and the likelihood of falling is much less than that of a pedestrian.
What is needed: Ideally, winter tires if you drive every day, say, to work. But in principle, if you drive carefully, just tires with good grip will work.
What not to do: turn sharply and - important! — “shift” the bike at speed. The side parts of the tread almost don’t hold up on snow, ice and even just slippery asphalt, you’ll definitely crash. No winter tires will save you.
Also, you absolutely (!) cannot drive on “bald” tires. Actually, the rule is the same as for a car. Tricks and subtleties: A much greater danger than ice or other slippery surface is uneven compacted snow, frozen, with potholes and holes. Even in the summer, if your tire slides sideways off the curb, you are likely to fall. Here, a snow “curb” can appear anywhere. To safely drive through an area of uneven crust, you just need hold the steering wheel very tightly- it will be pulled out - and move straight.
2. It’s so dirty!
This argument comes up all the time when I talk about winter driving in Scandinavia. Yes, our cities are dirty, nothing can be done. But, oddly enough, after a bike ride you are more likely to come home clean than after a walk. Let me explain why.
The fact is that the cyclist does not touch the ground with his feet. When everyone puts on heavy winter boots and boots, I ride in light sneakers that are afraid of water. And I arrive with dry feet. At the same time, I drive through mud, puddles, slush - all this remains on the tires. The spray is completely cut off by the wings.
What is needed: necessarily - correct wings. Shortened, sporty - all this is not suitable. The fenders must be full-size and cover the rear wheel completely, to the middle of the height, and the front wheel as far forward as possible. Otherwise, splashes and dirt will seep through. You can't ride without wings; you'll be covered from head to toe in brown goo.
Tricks and subtleties: Important factor- this is the bottom of the pants. Of course, you can wear special tight cycling pants, but if you are going to work or just on business, then this is not very convenient (you need to wear a change and change clothes). Because the hem of your pants in winter somehow touches the pedals, gears, gears - and becomes dirty in just a few minutes. The best way out is to carefully roll up the trousers literally 2-3 turns up so that their top edge is higher than the largest gear gear. Accordingly, we need warm woolen knee-high socks, best for skiing or for climbers.
3. It's so cold!
It's actually funny, to be honest. At minus 15, I'm driving in a shirt, a fleece sweater and a Gore-Tex windbreaker, and I'm hot. It's simple: cycling, if it's not for walking, is a pretty decent job, a sport. Like running (runners run in fairly light clothes in winter, isn’t it?) or, say, skiing (skiers don’t wear down jackets either). The body produces excess heat; even in such light clothes, sometimes you arrive at your destination steamed. This is individual for everyone - you need to calculate in what combination of clothes you will not be hot or cold. But in any case, this combination will be an order of magnitude lighter than the usual winter uniform.
What is needed: Well, I already talked about wool socks. I'll tell you about windbreaker- this is thing No. 1. Not a down jacket, not a jacket, not a sweater, but a good expensive windbreaker with Gore-tex or a similar membrane. I’ll give you a hint: really high-quality things start somewhere from 10,000 rubles. I generally have a mountain storm windbreaker; no wind gets through it. A good windbreaker is the key to keeping you warm in the wind. And what is underneath is the second question. Still absolutely necessary gloves. Don't even think about leaving without them. The hands will turn into two insensitive stumps. In principle, there is even a chance of getting frostbite. The gloves are warm, but do not restrict the movement of the fingers and do not interfere with pressing the brake.
Tricks and subtleties: There is a weak point in the pants - the protection of the inner thigh. In the middle it is protected partly by the saddle, partly by underwear and several layers of pants fabric (there is also a zipper or buttons, after all). But on inner surface An icy wind blows across your thighs. Ideally, you need thermal underwear. It’s better in the form factor of shorts, because if you put woolen socks on top of the bottom of your thermal underwear, you’ll be cooked alive.
4. Bicycle equipment
A bicycle is a relatively complex mechanism with a large number moving elements. And the frost affects them. I’ll tell you about the peculiarities of the impact of winter weather on various parts.
Brakes. If it’s disc, then everything is fine, you don’t have to worry (the main thing is don’t forget about increasing the braking distance). But if they are rim ones, then when left for a long time in cold temperatures below minus 5 degrees, they stiffen tightly and do not slow down at all (!). In order to bring them to their senses, you need to carefully drive forward, slow down, drive some more, slow down some more, after 15-20 braking sessions they will warm up by friction on the rim and start working. I won’t talk about other types of brakes - roller, drum, band - due to their rarity.
Transfers. After standing for a long time, they, like other parts of the bicycle, become frozen. The chain can simply slip to another gear without pressing the switch. Be careful. It is best to drive in the gear that has been established as stable. But this is only in severe frost and ice.
Pedals. They also become icy, and your foot can slip. If in summer it is, in principle, not very important which side of the pedal you press on (the opposite side usually does not have protrusions or hooks), then in winter make sure that the pedal is pressed into the sole of the shoe and held firmly.
Bike lock. It can freeze tightly (like a car). You'll have to warm it up. The easiest way is to pour boiling water over it. A lock with a key is more reliable and more convenient in cold weather than a lock with a code.
Seat. It’s better to have a cloth so that, like in the rain, you can wipe off the snow after standing outside.
Electrics. Cycling computers almost always die and do not work in sub-zero weather. They are simply not designed for this. There are some models that are indifferent to weather conditions, but to establish this, you need to test. At least the ordinary wireless Cateye doesn’t work for me in winter, and neither does O-Synce. So if suddenly some company makes a cycling computer that works in twenty-degree frost, I’ll be happy to test it.
Signal. Regular bicycle bell with rotating internal part freezes and stops ringing - especially if there is ice on it. But the “dudelka” doesn’t care about frost. Its timbre changes, but the volume remains the same.
5. Driving and care rules
Naturally, winter driving is different from summer driving. As mentioned above, in winter you should not shift your bike at speed and generally turn sharply. But there are a few more rules.
1. Keep a wide distance and do not accelerate to extreme speeds. The braking distance on slush increases by a factor of two compared to dry asphalt. If a pedestrian or car jumps out, you simply won’t have time to brake. 2. Keep a map of cleared surfaces in your head. A short path is no longer short if it is not cleared - the bike has difficulty walking on snow and crust. Sometimes it’s easier and faster to drive around on cleared sides. 3. Wherever there is a bicycle in the apartment, it is worth laying a rag or some old blanket under it. Upon arrival, water and dirt will flow onto it. 4. In winter you should lubricate your bike more often than in summer. There is almost constant water in its structure, and this is a negative factor.
I hope I haven't forgotten anything. Although I'm sure I forgot something. The main thing is don’t be afraid to travel in winter. There is nothing scary or dangerous about this. Summer has its own peculiarities - a sweaty T-shirt, a high probability of puncturing a tire (in winter, sharp objects are usually carried away by water or pressed into the snow), and so on.
Finns travel. And the Danes. Why are we any worse?
Why doesn't the bike fall? Most likely, not everyone can answer this seemingly simple question. Perhaps someone who was once asked by a child was interested in this topic. The main factors due to which this phenomenon exists include the following two:
- castor effect;
- gyroscopic effect.
Castor effect
It is based on constant steering, or, more precisely, on the possibility of using the centrifugal force that occurs when a moving body deviates from a straight path. What happens is that a leveling force occurs when the bicycle handlebars are turned. Moreover, its direction is opposite to the direction the steering wheel is turning. Therefore, moving straight, at the slightest deviation to the side, the cyclist only needs to turn the steering wheel slightly in the same direction, and the centrifugal force equalizes the balance.
Thus, if you carefully look at a riding cyclist, you will notice that when moving in a straight direction, his trajectory is not perfectly smooth. Moreover, the degree of tortuosity depends on the speed of movement: the lower it is, the more the bicycle twists. Or another example: you can take a closer look at the bicycle tracks on the ground. Trace from front wheel will be an elongated sinusoid with an axis in the form of a trace from rear wheel.
It is curious that steering occurs on its own, that is, the cyclist does not need to do this on purpose, but simply learn to use this effect. This is the skill that underlies the ability to ride a bicycle.
Gyroscopic effect
It is based on the property of a rotating round or spherical body to maintain its position in space until it is influenced by other forces. One example of this phenomenon is the top, known to everyone since childhood. It doesn't fall as long as it spins. In a bike, the role of such tops is played by wheels.
You can verify this by conducting a simple experiment. If you remove a bicycle wheel, grab the fastening points with your hands and unscrew it (it is advisable to have someone help you do this), you will notice that the rotating wheel is difficult to turn in space. Or, for example, a children's helicopter. When the propeller is spun, throwing the toy upward requires effort, as if you were holding a heavier object in your hands. The gyroscope effect is even more noticeable at high rotation speeds. This was probably noticed by those who had to work with some electric tools (grinder, parquet, etc.)
The ability of a rotating body to maintain direction is used in various fields, for example:
- in aviation (rotating stabilizer blades in the tail of a helicopter ensure its directional stability);
- in missile systems and marine navigation (the rotating sensitive element of the gyroscope is used in heading devices).
Thus, the evidence strongly suggests that castor and gyroscope effects do, in fact, play a role in maintaining the stability of a bicycle while in motion. But meanwhile, none of the facts proves that these effects are decisive. Therefore, there is still some kind of power, the manifestation of which is before the eyes, and the understanding is still beyond the reach of the human mind.
Sports activities have a beneficial effect on a person’s physical and emotional well-being. They relieve stress, charge a person with energy and, most importantly, make the figure more attractive. But any load on the body, in addition to its positive effects, can be harmful to health. This includes cycling, the benefits and harms of which are described in many medical and scientific publications. In what cases is it definitely useful and when you need to be more careful with it, it’s worth understanding in more detail.
What are the benefits of cycling?
In the context of a healthy lifestyle, cycling and health are almost synonymous, since a balanced diet and regular cycling are the key to excellent health and an attractive appearance.
Cycling, like jogging, strengthens the human body, has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system and helps to accelerate the cleansing of the lungs. It is for this reason that all modern gyms have treadmills and exercise bikes, although what could be better than a full bike ride fresh air?
Experts say that cycling even helps prevent the development of varicose veins, explaining this by the fact that while riding, blood begins to move through the veins much faster, and constant leg movements do not allow it to stagnate and form blood clots.
Also, while moving in the fresh air, the lungs begin to work much more actively, due to which they are quickly cleared of harmful substances that a person inhales every day in a dusty city.
Regular exercise trains the body's endurance, reduces fatigue, improves immunity and relieves insomnia. Moreover, this sport helps strengthen the eye muscles. By looking into the distance, a cyclist trains his eyes, preventing the development of myopia.
Harmful effects of cycling
As already mentioned, not only positive impact riding a bicycle affects a person. The benefits and harms of such trips largely depend on their duration and the state of human health.
The main reason for the negative impact on the body is an incorrect and hard bicycle seat. While riding, the weight of the entire body is directed towards the sacral arch, which is not designed to withstand such loads. Hard and bulging seats cause the arteries passing through the pelvis to be compressed, resulting in poor blood flow in the body.
In men, as a result of compression of blood vessels and nerve endings in intimate areas, reproductive function suffers and problems with erection occur.
In women, due to constant compression of this area, the sensitivity of the intimate area disappears, which also leads to sexual disorders.
It is worth emphasizing that these problems arise if cycling is regular and long. Periodic cycling in the fresh air does much more good than harm.
Losing weight with a bicycle
Separately, it should be mentioned that regular cycling stimulates metabolic processes in the body and helps to lose weight. overweight without exhausting diets, so this method of losing weight is very relevant today. When riding a bicycle, muscles quickly pump up, acquire elasticity, and the figure becomes close to ideal. Weight loss occurs by burning fat accumulated in the body.
Many people are interested in the question: how many calories are spent when riding a bicycle? It is difficult to answer unequivocally, since the number of calories burned depends on the person’s age, body weight, height and driving intensity.
A person weighing up to 50 kg at a slow speed (no more than 15 km/h) burns about 150-240 calories, at a speed of 20 km/h - from 250 to 350 calories, and driving more than 25 km/h allows you to get rid of 500 calories . At the same time, tall athletes spend much less energy, so in order to lose weight they are recommended to pedal as often as possible.
Where can you ride a bike?
When planning your own weekend, many people ask the question: where to go cycling? If you have your own bicycle, choosing places to go for a walk will not be particularly difficult. This could be a trip out of town, a leisurely family bike ride through a forest or park, or maybe someone decides to go to the mountains.
What should those who have not yet managed to acquire a two-wheeled vehicle do, but are not at all averse to riding one? In this case, you can use bicycle rental services. In the summer, rental centers open in most parks that will kindly provide transportation for the whole family, and anyone can enjoy a bike ride and the beauty of the surrounding nature.
How to choose the right bike?
At first glance, choosing a bike is very simple, you just need to find the model you like. But in fact, this process has some nuances that must be taken into account so that riding a two-wheeled “friend” is comfortable and does not cause harm to health.
It is very important to choose a bike according to your height, as it is too small or, conversely, high frame will certainly deliver a “blow” to the spine.
If a person is over 185 cm tall, he needs to choose a bike with a frame size of about 54 cm. For athletes of average height (170-180 cm), you can choose a frame with a height of 48 cm.
To choose the right bike by height, it is better to use the table below.
Frame size, inches | human height, see | Frame size, cm. | Frame size, conventional units |
13" | 130-145 | 33 | XS (XSmall) |
14" | 135-155 | 35,6 | XS (XSmall) |
15" | 145-160 | 38,1 | S (Small) |
16" | 150-165 | 40,6 | S (Small) |
17" | 156-170 | 43,2 | M (Medium) |
18" | 165-178 | 45,7 | M (Medium) |
19" | 170-180 | 48,3 | L (Large) |
20" | 178-185 | 50,8 | L (Large) |
21" | 180-190 | 53,3 | XL (XLarge) |
22" | 185-195 | 55,9 | XL (XLarge) |
23" | 190-200 | 58,4 | XXL (XXLarge) |
24" | 195-210 | 61 | XXL (XXLarge) |
You should be especially careful when choosing a seat: it should not be too hard or convex.
For people weighing more than 90 kg, you should purchase models made of aluminum or heavy-duty steel, since carbon frames are designed for loads of up to 80 kg.
What should a city bike be like?
A bicycle for city riding should be quite comfortable, have a high handlebar and a wide seat.
For everyday use, it is better to choose lightweight bicycles that are easy to carry down and up stairs.
Not really worth buying expensive bicycles, since in this case you will have to worry about the safety vehicle, leaving it under the walls of a store or office.
For ease of movement, city models are equipped with various baskets, racks and other little things that allow you to conveniently place purchased products and free your hands to control the bicycle.
The chain on city bicycles must be equipped with special protection to prevent clothing from getting into it.
Models for the city must be equipped with a front shock absorber and have several speeds.
Cycling clothing
The choice of clothing for riding should be approached no less seriously than the purchase of the bicycle itself. It determines how comfortable the walk will be, so it should not hinder the cyclist’s movements.
Many athletes also use them in the summer; accordingly, all clothing is divided into warm and light.
For measured winter driving, tight-fitting lycra pants with an insulating layer and so-called “diapers” are ideal.
You can buy any shoes for your feet: sneakers, sneakers, boots - the main thing is that they are above the ankle. It is recommended to wear exclusively cotton socks under your shoes, as they will be the most comfortable for your feet.
You should also purchase special thermal underwear (pants and a jacket), which is worn under your main clothes in the cold season.
To protect your hands from freezing, use special sports gloves with suede palm.
Clothing for summer walks is much simpler; simple elastic shorts and a T-shirt will do.
If desired, you can also purchase glasses to protect your eyes from the sun.
Are there any contraindications for cycling?
Any sport has its contraindications. Cycling is no exception, the benefits and harms of which depend on many factors. Direct contraindications to cycling are:
- various joint diseases;
- presence of intervertebral hernia;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- diseases of the spine;
- heart disease;
- problems with blood vessels;
- arrhythmia.
The presence of one of the listed diseases should be a reason to consult a doctor about the possibility of riding a bicycle. You should also understand that sometimes even the most common cold and nasal congestion can become an obstacle to cycling. That is why, before getting on a bicycle, it is very important to correctly assess the state of your health, so that the load while riding does not cause even more harm to the body.
Beginner cyclists will find some tips useful to prevent sudden physical exertion from causing health problems:
- You should not go for a bike ride immediately after eating.
- Every time you get ready to go, you need to take drinking water with you, as you often get thirsty while cycling.
- Before getting on the bike, it is recommended to do a short warm-up for your joints.
- You must pay due attention to your own safety. For this purpose, it is recommended to wear bright clothes with the presence of which help to identify a cyclist in the dark.
- It is extremely important to wear a protective helmet to prevent serious injury in the event of a fall.
- To maintain sports uniform You should ride a bike at least 2 times a week.
- You need to increase your travel distance gradually. When covering long distances, you should stop to rest.
- During long rides, it is recommended to periodically get up from the seat to restore blood flow in the body.
In conclusion, bicycles are becoming increasingly popular, and not just among avid athletes.
Many have already realized that cycling will allow you to significantly save your own time and money on the way to work. The benefits and harms of cycling are different in each case, but if you choose the right model and gradually prepare your body for the stress, cycling will only bring you pleasure.
Cycling to your place of work will charge a person with a lot of positivity and energy necessary for a productive day. And if you consider how many calories are spent when riding a bicycle, then it is quite possible that in the near future this type of transport will become the most popular.
It develops perfectly, and along with them the upper body. Many beginners are interested in the question of whether skating specifically improves muscles not only during free skating, but also when engaging in cycling. By riding this vehicle, every person has the opportunity to develop their gluteal and abdominal muscles, as well as the upper and lower arms, improve the relief of the shoulders and arms.
Gluteal muscles
During active cycling, these muscles work together with the quadriceps. An increased load is placed on the buttocks, since they are the ones that serve to maintain balance while riding a bicycle.
Abdominal muscles
To ride a bike quickly, you need to have trained abdominal muscles. Also, long bike rides allow you to develop them. The body and back should be kept in correct position, you also need to be able to hold your body while leaning forward evenly. These muscles that work when riding a bicycle need to be trained from the first day of cycling, as this will ensure an easy ride, during which a person will get tired much less often.
Upper legs
During cycling, all thigh muscles are developed. A large load, as a rule, is carried out on the quadriceps, but other muscle groups receive a relatively even load. When cycling for a long time, it may hurt upper part legs, which indicates muscle fatigue, but with frequent riding on this type of transport, the muscles become more trained.
Lower legs
The calf muscles are in their most active state when cycling. They are in the active phase when a person alternately presses the pedals to move the vehicle. During these actions, the hamstring muscles are also included in the work.
Hip flexor
It's small iliacus muscle, which is located in the groin area. It is involved in the process of ensuring flexion and extension of the leg at the knee, and also helps regulate hip movements. This muscle is easy to develop, but can be injured during serious cycling. Caution must be exercised when riding a bicycle as development of the hip flexor may cause discomfort. In this case, it is necessary to interrupt the workout to avoid stretching or tearing the muscle.
What explains the popularity of the bicycle?
This type transport is relatively accessible both economically and physically, since even a non-professional athlete can easily ride it and even cover quite long distances. While riding a bicycle, almost all systems of the human body are involved. When riding a bicycle, people also enjoy it emotionally, since it is a relatively easy sport that does not require much physical effort and has a minimum amount of risks.
Modern bicycles are complex units when viewed from the perspective of advanced manufacturing technologies. Everything is done to ensure that the person who decides to ride a bicycle feels comfortable. These devices are relatively lightweight, they have reliable brakes that help stop the unit almost instantly. Almost everything modern bicycles have several speed modes that switch depending on the desired speed of movement, as well as the terrain where the athlete is located on this type of transport.
Benefits of a bicycle
When the question arises: what are the benefits of riding a bicycle, we can use as an example negative consequences extended to at the moment way of life. Many people spend a long time at work that requires little or no physical activity. Physical inactivity develops due to the fact that people gradually stop playing sports. This process leads not only to the acquisition of increased body weight, but also to the development of many other pathologies. To solve these problems, it is enough to regularly devote time to cycling. If you devote at least 1 hour a day to this activity, and after a week you will see positive effect, which provides cycling.
The benefits manifest themselves very quickly, since cycling improves blood supply to the pelvic organs, which has a positive effect on the reproductive system. The work of the endocrine glands is modernized. Those women who often rode a bicycle before pregnancy usually tolerate it more easily, they do not develop complications, and their babies are born healthier than those who did not devote physical health enough time.
There is also a moral aspect to cycling. If children see that their parents spend a lot of time cycling, then they themselves strive for physical activity. There are many chances that they will lead healthy image life instead of smoking, gambling or other bad habits. The future of children depends on the lifestyle of their parents, which includes cycling. The benefit of such a pastime is that cycling helps improve physical fitness and set a positive example for juniors.
The positive effects of cycling
When a person exercises his muscles while riding a bicycle, the load on the heart is reduced, since the muscles help him carry out its function. When muscles are in the process of contracting, they seem to push blood through the vessels. Almost all the muscles in the lower part of the human body undergo improvement, so this process can improve the functioning of many organs if you regularly ride a bicycle.
There are also benefits from leisurely driving, which gradually develops muscles and strengthens the heart. Also, calm skating ensures the absence of injuries or reduces the risk to a minimum.
Cycling burns calories quickly, which means it helps to lose weight even for those who do not want to give up good nutrition in order to quickly lose fat through unhealthy diets. It is advisable to ride a bicycle where clean air, that is, in parks, on cleared forest paths. Cycling for weight loss allows you to lose weight gradually, while the body does not sag, as with a sharp reduction in nutrition, but remains in good shape and improves. You can lose weight and get healthier at the same time.
Contraindications for cycling
There are also contraindications to cycling, since even moderate physical activity and a small degree of danger may worsen the health of some people with various disorders. If you do not follow the rules or violate the ban on cycling, you may experience harmful consequences for the entire body.
There are diseases that make cycling dangerous or completely prohibited. Here are the main ones:
Serious coordination disorders or illnesses leading to temporary loss of coordination.
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system caused by serious disturbances in the functioning of this organ. It should be remembered that for non-serious illnesses, cycling's benefits outweigh the harm.
Disturbances in the functioning of cerebral vessels, dangerous situations leading to their damage, or other pathologies associated with the blood supply to the brain. When such a diagnosis is made, you should not immediately give up cycling, but you must consult a doctor and, if necessary, undergo additional examinations.
Fragility, fragility of bones, as well as susceptibility of joints to dislocation.
Any medical conditions that involve damage to the musculoskeletal system need to be re-evaluated and decisions made regarding cycling, the speed allowed and the terrain in which cycling can be considered safe.
Riding a bicycle is good for your health. This sport is positive in many aspects. To avoid injuries and dangerous situations, it is necessary to constantly exercise increased attention and caution, especially in cases where the athlete is unsure of his abilities. Then cycling will bring only positive results.