It might be stating the obvious but cycling is good for you, good for the environment, it's fast, it's convenient, it gives you freedom and independence, takes you from door to door, allows you to double park, is reliable, and even allows you to make eye contact with fellow human beings!
Why use an exercise bike that's chained to the floor?
Cycling is one of the easiest ways to keep fit and is a lot cheaper than a gym membership. It can also be a lot handier. And, because the bike takes the strain, cycling is particularly good if you're returning to, or starting to exercise, and is gentler on the knees and ankles than jogging.
So why not liberate your bike and burn some calories? Cycling is a great form of aerobics but, unlike the aerobics class, it can actually get you from A to B and do so much more:
20 minutes of gentle cycling burns up to
100 calories
Regular cycling makes you fitter - as fit as an
average person 10 years younger
Cycling raises your metabolic rate, helping you to keep the weight off
Cycling firms the thighs and bottom, while working those tricky lower abdominals, taking you that bit closer to the elusive toned tummy
Arrive fashionably early
Cycling beats queues, and is the fastest way to get around town. In cities cycling is often twice as quick as driving, and the time you take doesn't vary with traffic, so you will always arrive on time, or even early. And double parking, often right outside the door, is positively encouraged with the added bonus of no traffic wardens giving you a ticket.
22 minutes of cycling can take you 4 miles, compared to a journey of 40 minutes by car in a city like London
Free parking - it costs you nothing, as long as you don't park where you're not meant to
Spend your money on you
When you cycle you don't spend money on road tax, MOT, or fuel, just the odd chocolate bar or treat to give you the energy needed, that you then burn off. Repairing and maintaining your bike is pretty reasonable and if you don't mind getting your hands dirty from time to time you can always do it yourself. If you cycle regularly you'll save yourself a fortune, so take your bike on your next retail therapy trip and there'll be more cash to spend on the finer things in life, like you!
The energy equivalent of a single litre of petrol will allow you to travel 650 miles on a bike saving you money to spend on more interesting forms of liquid indulgence
You'll only spend about ?75 a year
on maintenance, less if you do it yourself, but bike shops are so handy, and some even come to you
Change your world one mile at a time
Cyclist's emissions only bother the person behind, bikes require no motorways, just a nice cycle route, they take up hardly any space and are kinder to hedgehogs, badgers and birds. You don't often see cycle kill do you?
Cycling is the least polluting way of travelling after walking
10 bikes can be parked in the space of one car
Cycling is perfect for travelling short distances in urban areas - often the most congested and polluted routes
And, of course, cycling can be a lot of fun too. You may not believe it, but once you get out on your bike and experience the freedom and independence it gives you, it's hard to give up. You may even begin to enjoy cycling in the rain...
If you feel your confidence needs a boost before taking the plunge to get out and about more often by bike, why not check out cycle training opportunities near you? National Standard Instructors based across the UK can develop your skills and get you cycling safely.
