KEEP ON ROLLING...

It doesn’t matter how fast or far you go, road cycling offers plenty of mind and body benefits for every rider!

- Sarah Sellens

You don’t need a sports degree to know that road cycling is good for you. It’s great for your legs, lungs and mental health, with the main strength demands being placed on the quadricep, hamstring and gluteal muscles (but your upper body and core muscles will get a look in, too). Not only will regular cycling help you to meet the recommended physical activity levels of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, but swapping the car for a bike will also help you to do your bit for the planet. It’s a great form of aerobic training that’s good for the cardiovascular system, and because it’s not a weight-bearing exercise it places less stress on the joints than high-impact activities such as running. Whether you pedal, pootle or coast along the roads, the benefits are big! Here are all the reasons you need to get in the saddle.

1. IT SAVES THE PLANET

Sure, they’re convenient, but cars aren’t doing the planet any good. Motorised road vehicles are one of the biggest causes of pollution in the UK. Vehicle emissions, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, have been linked not only to climate change, but also poor health. Bicycling is the answer!

According to a 2021 study by the University of Oxford’s Transport Studies Unit, swapping the car for a form of ‘active transport’ (cycling, e-biking or walking) on just one day a week could significantly reduce the impact that carbon emissions have on cities. Yes, we thought that would get your attention. Why not dust down your bike?

2. YOU’LL BE RICHER