How to Get the Most Out of Cycling For Fitness

Whether you’re going on local adventures on two wheels or you are training for your first “century ride”, cycling is an amazing way to keep fit. Contrary to popular belief, cycling does much more than just work out your legs. In fact, hitting the road or the trail on your bike is an excellent way to build core strength, increase your cardio, improve endurance and to become more coordinated.

Cycling is not just a great way to keep fit. It can also be an exciting hobby for you to get involved in, allowing you to connect with a new group of people. There are bikes available to suit every ability level, style of riding and budget, and a range of accessories and clothing that can help you to get the most out of your rides. Cycling groups and clubs exist in just about every city and town around the country, offering you an easy way to get into this exciting sport.

Continue reading to learn how you can take up cycling for fitness and get the most out of your time in the saddle.

Choose The Right Bike

Depending on your budget, you can spend anywhere from a little over a hundred dollars to thousands of dollars on your bike. The style of bicycle you choose will depend greatly on the style of riding you will be doing, the distances you will be covering and your experience-level. With a huge range of bikes on offer, it is best to speak to your local bike shop about what type of bike will best suit your needs. Once you have the right wheels, you will be able to pursue your fitness goals with confidence.

Set Your Bike Up Correctly

Bike fitting is something of a science and many cycle enthusiasts will spend a few hundred dollars on a professional bike fitting. As a newcomer to the sport, this will not be necessary but it is important that you pay attention to how your bike is set up.

As a rough guide, your saddle should be at a height that allows for a slight bend in your knee when the pedal is at its maximum downward position. Also, the space between your handlebars and the front of your saddle should be approximately the distance from your elbow to the knuckles on the same hand. Setting your bike up correctly will ensure that your cycling is more efficient, help you to avoid injuries and get more from your time in the saddle.

Start Off Slowly

While it’s true that nobody forgets how to ride a bike, unfortunately, our muscles and joints do! When you’re not used to riding regularly, a long day behind the handlebars can really take its toll. Be sure to start with small distances on flat terrain, to begin with, and build up slowly over time. Taking on too much, too quickly, is one sure-fire way to end up with a host of injuries that will prevent you from riding as often as you might like. Needless to say, this will have a negative impact on you achieving your fitness goals on your bike.

Get The Most Out Of Cycling For Fitness

Cycling is a highly-effective, low-impact way for you to keep fit while enjoying the great outdoors. To ensure that you get the maximum benefit from your time in the saddle, be sure to choose the right bike for your specific needs and take the time to set it up correctly to avoid injuries and to allow you to proceed with confidence. Start off slowly, take the time to recover between rides and build up your time on the road slowly. With the right preparations, you will have more fun on your bike, enjoy your outings more and get the maximum benefit from your cycling efforts.