Cycling - a healthy chain reaction
2005-11-07
a healthy chainreaction
Many naturally think "I have to start running," when they sketch out that basic plan for training their way to fitness. Equally, many are turned off by the thought of jogging and the sweating, aches and pains - not to mention possible injuries - it can cause. Let's face it, running can be tough on your joints - especially your knees if you have put on a few extra kilos like so many of us have.
Rest assured there are other alternatives out there to both running and going to the fitness center. I suggest cycling. Yes, as frantic and uninviting as those main roads may be in a busy metropolis such as Tokyo or Osaka, there are great alternatives out there with benefits just waiting to be reaped. Kilometers of dedicated bicycle paths, deserted roads along rivers, old forgotten byways, coastal roads and many other scenic roads and paths. The possibilities are endless.
You don't need one of those fancy "Lance Armstrong Team Replica" road bikes that cost several hundreds of thousands of yen to start your new biking adventures. There are plenty of good bikes at very fair prices out there that will not bust your budget. Don't let yourself be taken in by flashy advertisements or fast talking salespeople. Some beginners even start out with their mamacharis!
Cycling is so much more than just exercising your calf muscles; it will improve your overall health. It increases your metabolism to burn off fat and boosts your stamina. Your breathing will become more stable and your heart muscles will get stronger, reducing the risk of atherosclerotic and other heart deceases.
If this isn't enough to get you on your bike, consider that your body will become more flexible, your muscles stronger and more durable! As your body begins to progress, you will start feeling better overall. Then, it will become easer to be positive about other things.
Putting the biggest muscles to work
Certainly, your lower-body muscles and especially your calf muscles are in for the long haul when you're working out on your bike. These are your body's biggest muscles! Getting them more active is very good for fitness; big muscles need lots of energy and this helps increase your stamina! Using these muscles more also helps your heart to pump more blood through the circulatory system, making your heart stronger and healthier and boosting your physical strength for other exercises and daily tasks.
In all, cycling can set off a "chain reaction" in your body: It strengthens your heart, which increases both stamina and well-being as energy and oxygen are distributed faster and more efficiently throughout your body. Your muscles become stronger and more durable - You can even eat more of what you want, as your metabolism increases.
Compared to other sports, cycling is the most effective overall workout for your heart - even compared to others such as running and swimming. Cycling is less advantageous when we talk about body flexibility, however, as you'll often be fixed in the same position for extended periods of time. It is therefore important to supplement your cycle training with an aerobic or anaerobic exercise to get the most benefit from your efforts.
For anybody - young or old, fit or unfit, slim or overweight - cycling can be enjoyable and healthy at almost any level of physical ability.
