Why Biking Makes the Perfect New Year's Resolution
When last year’s pandemic restrictions put some of our old hobbies on the back burner, many of us were inspired to get creative, move outside our comfort zones and take up new activities. With 2020 officially behind us, the world is eager to move onwards and upwards - but if one thing sticks, let it be your openness to try new things.
We know we’re biased, but we have a strong case for why cycling should make it onto your New Year’s Resolutions list!
Cycling is an Affordable Method of Travel
If your wallet is - like most of ours - feeling a little light after Christmas, you may be thinking about ways to get your bank balance back up to a more comfortable level. Unlike maintaining and running a car, biking is super affordable. There’s no gas required, no hefty insurance bill, no need for a parking permit and you can (or used to be able to) pick up a decent bike for as little as $100-200. The bike boom is on!
If that alone doesn’t tempt you to give biking a go, we’ve got a few more reasons to get through!
It’s also Environmentally Friendly
Cycling creates no pollution or carbon dioxide emissions, making it not only one of the most efficient ways of getting around, but also one of the greenest. Engine idling isn’t an issue when you’re on a bike, and noise pollution is reduced too. In total, riding your bike accounts for about 21g of CO2 emissions per kilometre – more than ten times less than a car!
Since bikes require no gasoline, no antifreeze and don’t need many of the various fluids cars need to operate, cycling can even help to reduce the level of fluids that seep into local waterways and the overall environment. Check out this calculator to see how cycling can benefit the environment and your overall health.
All in all, it’s a useful, effective way to reduce your carbon footprint and help protect the planet!
You Can Ride your Way to Better Cardiovascular Health
Unless you experience regular road rage, car travel isn’t doing anything to increase your heart rate in any healthy way! To work exercise into their daily routine, car commuters often end up lengthening their days to squeeze in an hour at the gym, either before or after work.
With rush hour traffic, you can rest easy knowing you’ve not only saved time getting to work by bike, you’ve already added some cardiovascular exercise into your day, too. Biking has even been shown to lead to increased muscle strength and flexibility, improved joint mobility and decreased stress levels. Kind of magic, right?
Biking is Super Accessible
There’s a preconceived notion that gear and high fitness levels are required to take up cycling, which can scare people away. In reality, biking is actually one of the most inclusive, accessible sports there is. Any age person can do it, it’s fun to do solo or with friends and family, and you don’t have to wear head to toe lycra!
All you need is a bike, a helmet and some weather appropriate clothes. Check out our Dos and Don’ts of Biking for Beginners blog (ADD LINK) for tips and tricks on getting started.
Explore your City (And Others!) on Two Wheels
Cars and public transport are often the go-to when it comes to navigating a city. However, many major cities now have a network of cycle paths, which makes getting around by bike easier - and safer! - than ever. They often run through quieter, more scenic parts of the city, too - so you can soak up some beautiful scenes while getting from A to B.
It’s a Versatile Sport
As long as you can ride a bike, there’s lots of options available on how you choose to ride it. One of the best things about cycling is its versatility - so whether you’re into road biking, mountain biking or fat biking - (great for those keen to keep pedalling through the winter!), there’s something for everyone. Need more inspiration on cycling this winter? Check out our blog post on some epic winter riding destinations (LINK).
Biking holidays are also lots of fun, and one of the best ways to explore a new country! Gather friends and family, helmet up and take in some of the world’s most beautiful countries by bike.
Making Friends and Being Part of a Community
There’s nothing like a shared interest to really bring people together. The cycling community is really welcoming, and active in organizing social events and rides. In fact, joining a group or a community is the first step to forming long and meaningful friendships.
If you’re looking to broaden your social circle in 2021, or simply meet other like-minded people while improving your fitness, joining a cycling group is the way to do it!
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