Cyclists in their slick Lycra bodysuits are showing off their sleek biker bodies everywhere. Not surprising, given all the attention bicycling is getting all across the United States. New bike paths, dedicated two wheel roads and additional bike lanes, like the sharrows, in my hometown city of Long Beach, California, are popping up everywhere. Not only is biking an environmentally savvy way to travel and cost efficient it is one of the most effective workouts you will ever do!
http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/2010/01/national-household-travel-survey-short-trips-analysis/
The great thing about bicycling is it is destination oriented so you can turn a trip to work or the grocery store into a workout. It has been estimated by the National Household Transportation survey that half of American workers live within five miles of their workplace. That’s an easy 20 minute ride each way or nearly 350 calories a day. Just riding your bike twice a week for one month will melt one pound of fat. Bike riding also improves your energy levels by 20 percent and decreases fatigue by 65 percent. This is because cycling triggers your brain to release dopamine, the hormone linked to energy. And you don’t have to ride hard to feel the positive effects. Riding at a low to moderate pace three times a week reaps the benefits in the fight against fatigue.
What I love about bicycling is it sculpts and beautifies your body from head to toe all in one nice fit fast burst of training. You’ve seen those packs of bikers headed down the highway. You know it’s true! They are notorious for killer legs because the pedaling works the quads, calves and glutes while managing the handlebars sculpts the upper body. Any woman who is afraid of bulking up up on top need not fear with this kind of workout. To make it an all over fitness routine and cover more muscles in your body spend 3 to 5 minutes riding up a hill. Standing in the pedals will engage your core and give a little extra emphasis on your triceps (that hard to work spot on the back of your upper arms).
For those of you who have not exercised in a while biking is the perfect “starter” exercise because it is easy on the joints. Riding a bike puts a lot less stress on knees, ankles and spine than walking or running. Best of all biking can lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and with heart disease the number one killer of women in this country lowering LDL and blood pressure is critical.
Want a fun way to get started??!
Join me at the 2nd annual Long Beach Bike Festival May 7 – 9. Several hundred of your closest friends are already planning to attend. The Festival consists of anything and everything bicycle-related: from Fixed Gear Fest contests to bicycle polo, a charity benefit Tour of Long Beach ride, USA Cycling Bicycle Grand Prix to theCYCLESTYLE Fashion Show, vendors, food, music and much more. The event represents the ongoing Bike Long Beach campaign, as Long Beach makes it’s way to becoming “the most cycling friendly urban city in the United States.” Want more info log onto www.longbeachbikefest.org.
