5 reasons you should take up cycling in 2017

Student cyclingEveryone makes resolutions at the start of a new year but almost all of them are same: lose weight, quit smoking, give up sugar, tell the boss to shove it…

They might be admirable goals but they’re not much fun and why bother having a resolution if it doesn’t make life better? More to the point, why focus on cutting something out of life when you could add something in?

This year, scrap the usual resolutions and make a vow to take up cycling. Not the sort that forces you to stare at the butt of the person behind you in a spinning class at the gym, but the sort that takes you out of the house and onto the road for a bit of an adventure.

Here are just 5 very good reasons why you, yes you, should take up cycling in 2017…

You could get fitter

Whether you choose to cycle a little or a lot, your body will thank you for it. The number of calories you could burn depends on your starting weight and fitness, the terrain and the duration of your bike ride, but put it this way: the calorie burn you’ll get is significantly greater than anything that can be achieved by walking or sitting behind the wheel of your car.

Cycle regularly and you can expect a slimmer body, stronger legs, a toned backside, improved cardio and lung efficiency, better skin and that epic feeling of simply being fit.

You could get richer

Whether you spend £50 on a second-hand set of wheels from eBay or treat yourself to a stunning Trek road bike, the more you ride, the richer you could get.

Research shows that cycling makes it easy to save money. Less driving means less expense on maintenance, insurance, fuel, parking and the commute. You could even quit that gym membership to save hundreds of pounds each year.

You could get smarter

Want to be a touch more savvy? Then match your book time with some bike time. Exercise triggers the release of feel-good endorphins that reduce stress and help the body build new proteins in every muscle and that includes the brain.

In clinical trials, this has been shown to improve memory, concentration and problem-solving abilities and, in time, actually increase brain volume.

You could be a good citizen

When you get out of your car or off public transport, you’re doing your bit to reduce overcrowding, congestion, noise and cut your carbon footprint to help take care of the environment.

You could get a life less ordinary

That’s right, your life will just be better. It’s a bold claim but it’s true.

When you immerse yourself in the world of cycling you’ll find a whole community of people, from bike-riding families to gnarly off-roaders and competitive pro-riders whose individual brand of cycling enthusiasm is contagious.

Whoever you are, whatever your cycling aspirations may be, you can get the support and encouragement you need to go for it from the cycling community. All you have to do is get involved.

And there you have it. With just one resolution you could get fitter, richer, smarter, happier and make a positive contribution to your community and the environment. All you need is a bike.

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