“Who does what to me, who does what to me, who does what to me today. I have the tires full of wind, no I have nothing to complain about.” The Drenthe text of the Skik classic On Bicycles speaks for itself. Riding your bike for at least 20 minutes as often as possible is good for your health. You can jump on your bike for relaxation, but also for practical matters. That is good for the environment, but at least as good for you. We list the most important benefits – both physical and mental – of a daily cycle tour.
Cycling is good for your brain
Exercise is always important to keep your body healthy. Over the years, your brain cells die, but you can slow down that process by exercising regularly. This way you ensure that the blood supply to your brain is maintained. An additional advantage is that you will be in different environments and will constantly receive new stimuli. “They are a good training for your memory, which will therefore continue to work more smoothly,” says sports doctor Tom Teulingkx. Libelle.be.
Cycling is good for your overall fitness
By sitting upright and putting pressure on your arms and legs, you continue to work a large number of muscles. Cycling for 45 minutes 3 times a week can reduce your biological age by 9 years. You also reduce the risk of unpleasant conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. With a round of 30 to 60 minutes you can burn all the necessary fat. 2.5 hours of exercise per week is the minimum recommended amount. Cycling to and from work – if applicable – and/or the supermarket will take you a long way in the right direction.
Cycling is good for your resistance
Cycling through wind and weather may not be fun, but it will improve your resistance. The more you go outdoors, the more resistant you are to bacteria and viruses. In addition, cycling can cause physical reactions that are actually good for you. If you last long enough and get to beautiful places, the amount of the stress hormone cortisol can decrease. And your body actually produces the happiness hormone endorphins.
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Cycling is good for healthy aging
Perhaps the best thing about cycling: you can continue to do it into old age. Because the fact that you can continue to play football, tennis or run has become less and less self-evident over the years. “Sports doctors sometimes say: in the end everyone is condemned to the bicycle,” Teulingkx said in conversation with Libelle.be. “Many people eventually switch to cycling to keep moving and then see a new world open up to them.”
Cycling is good for your social contacts
Cycling on your own offers all the necessary advantages, but you can of course also cycle in a group. This can be done in a cycling club or with a few friends or relatives. In this way, cycling is not only a healthy, but above all a social activity.
Cycling is good for you (provided you do it safely)
No matter how fun and healthy cycling is, an accident is always in a small corner. Therefore, pay close attention to your safety. Wearing a helmet on a bicycle or e-bike is not mandatory, but it is advisable. In addition, take other traffic users into account, especially in built-up areas. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to map out a route in advance so you don’t get lost. And finally: if you ride in the dark, make sure that your bicycle lighting is properly adjusted.
(Source: Archive, Libelle.be, Optimalegezondheid.com, Fietssport.nl, GGD Noord- en Oost-Gelderland. Photo: Shutterstock)