Cycling For Health — 6 Key Ways That Mountain Biking Is Great For Physical Fitness
It’s pretty obvious to anyone that mountain biking is good for your physical fitness.
While cycling you use a lot of different muscles, and you get a decent amount of that healthy outdoor exposure that’s so good for us.
What many people may not realize is just how good mountain biking can be as a regular, full exercise routine.
With more people working in offices and from home than ever before, getting proper amounts of exercise is becoming more important than ever.
Many people are turning to recreational activities as a more enjoyable way to get their daily activity — and it’s working.
As with any exercise, it’s important to take care of the basics before you get started.
That means stretching, proper nutrition and hydration, maintaining your bike, and wearing the proper gear.
Once that’s all sorted, check out these 6 important ways that mountain biking can improve your health.
1.Full Body Exercise
You might think that cycling mostly works out your thighs, calves, and butt.
It does that, certainly, but it also does so much more — especially mountain biking.
Staying upright on the bike and maintaining your balance is a great core workout, and all the climbing and descending is fantastic for your upper body.
2. Low Impact
Activities like running and aerobics put a lot of stress on your joints — they’re considered high impact — and that can lead to problems down the line.
Mountain biking is surprisingly smooth in comparison, and greatly reduces your chances of straining or pulling something while getting your exercise.
3. Outdoor Fun
Being able to get your daily activity outdoors in the sun is great, your body needs that sunlight.
The fresh air feels great too — just make sure you’re wearing the right gear.
A good mountain biking kit will help to keep you from overheating — and wick away moisture so you stay comfortable even on long rides.
4. Cardio
Cycling is great for your heart — it’s a fact.
The British Medical Association released a study that found cycling for at least 20 miles a week can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by up to 50%.
5. Better Sleep
I’m not talking about taking a nap after a long ride — though that’s nice too.
Outdoor activities help your body to maintain a good circadian rhythm, which is a large part of what lets your body know when to sleep.
It also decreases your body’s cortisol level, which is a hormone that keeps you awake during the day.
6. Lung Performance
You may not feel like it as you’re wheezing for breath trying to climb a steep hill, but mountain biking has been shown to improve the performance of your lungs by up to 25%.
It’s hard to deny that mountain biking is good exercise, but it goes beyond that.
Pedaling up those hills, maintaining your balance, and improving your endurance could just be one of the best exercises available — and it’s all in the great outdoors.
So forget about the gym membership and the expensive personal trainer, get a mountain bike instead!
Make sure you remember to hydrate — and get a good, breathable, moisture-wicking jersey — preferably with a crash replacement guarantee.
Before you know it you’ll feel better than ever — and you won’t have to do a single squat or push-up.
It’s a heck of a lot more fun than doing chin-ups.
