Riding bikes regularly can help include some physical activity in our busy schedules to improve our overall health and fitness. In 2021, statistics showed that 13 percent of the U.S population between the ages of 30 and 39 years ride a bike two to five times per week.
In the U.K, the number of women riding bikes rose by 50% during and after the pandemic.
Let us look at why cycling can be a particularly beneficial activity for women.
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Reduces obesity and osteoarthritis:
Studies show that women tend to be more vulnerable to diseases like arthritis and obesity than men. Cycling can help reduce body fat, thereby decreasing the chances of osteoarthritis and obesity.
Regular cycling can burn up to 300 calories per hour. It helps preserve cartilage, reducing pain in the joints, knees, and back.
Being a non-load-bearing exercise, women of all ages can do it. As famously said by 90-year-old Lan Yin Tsai, who has been a cyclist for over 50 years, “The body stops moving because you decide to stop moving. Everybody’s system works better when they ride.”
Helps to deal with hormonal changes:
Women undergo more hormonal changes throughout their lives than men. These hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle and menopause can result in mood swings, depression, anxiety, and frustration.
Cycling can act as a breath of fresh air, helping women cope with these undesirable side effects and improving overall health.
Improves mental health:
Studies show that women between the ages of 16 and 24 tend to suffer from mental health issues more than men and are more prone to anxiety.
Cycling helps to experience the fresh air and be more mindful in a natural setting, rather than staring at a computer or phone screen version of ‘reality.’
Women riding bikes can feel more confidence and pride with their growing fitness levels and feel better about their bodies.
It can also help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by generating adrenaline and endorphins.
Beneficial for your heart:
Riding a bike is an effective way to maintain cardiovascular fitness. It helps reduce body fat and cholesterol, thereby reducing the chances of heart diseases.
Blood circulation in the body improves due to regular cycling. On reaching a particular heart rate and having a controlled breathing pattern, cycling works on the entire body. It can also help lower blood pressure, further decreasing the risk of heart attacks.
Strengthens muscles:
It is no secret that cycling improves muscle strength, exercising all four of your limbs. It strengthens the calves and also tones the hip and thigh muscles.
Want to tone your body? Cycling is the best way to do it as it works on your body fat as you paddle down the road. Your arms also get to work out while you keep them on the handlebars all the time. Your shoulders, back, core and heart also work out, building endurance and lung capacity.
Gives the body Vitamin D:
Women get treated for Vitamin D deficiency more than men. Choosing to ride a bike outside early in the morning helps your body soak in the sun, a natural source of Vitamin D.
Higher Vitamin D levels help in improving immunity against diseases. It is essential for growth, bone development, and strong teeth. Lower Vitamin levels often can result in low moods. So if you want to have a healthier body and lift your spirit, go out there and ride a bike in the sun.
Better digestion:
Cycling is one of the most effective methods of regulating digestion in your body. It can make food travel faster through the digestive tract. The accelerated breathing and heart rate achieved while riding a bike can cause contraction of intestinal muscles, preventing bloating.
It boosts your heart rate and stimulates your bowels. A 20-minute cycling routine can work wonders for your digestion, preventing
indigestion and constipation.
Conclusion
Cycling can be a refreshing and fun way of working out rather than merely walking for a few minutes. It boosts your social life and mood. It releases hormones like adrenaline and endorphins in your body, improving your confidence and making you feel happy.
So what are you waiting for, ladies! Get your riding gear and hop on your bike for a ride.
