Written by: Yuliia
In a world where the emphasis is often placed on practicality, the bike is gaining popularity for justified reasons. In addition to the obvious benefits, of avoiding traffic jams and caring for the environment, cycling can put a smile on your face, stimulate your brain activity, and even add a few years to your life. Therefore, we reveal why cycling is not only a mode of transport but also a lifestyle enriched with numerous health and environmental benefits.
Reduce the sick leave
Choosing pedals instead of gasoline can do wonders for your health. Studies by the University of North Carolina have shown that people who cycle for as little as 30 minutes five days a week take half as many sick days as those who exercise irregularly. This is a simple but powerful strategy that contributes to strengthening your immune system and makes you more resistant to various diseases. Since your health is the most important resource you have, don’t neglect the power cycling can have on your immune system. Your immune system will thank you!
Improve the ability to learn and remember
If you’ve ever thought about how to improve your mental abilities, cycling can be an easy and effective way to achieve that goal. Various studies have shown that exercise promotes the formation of new connections between brain cells, resulting in improved cognitive function and memory. Every ride thus becomes like a little exercise for your mind.
While cycling, you activate different parts of the brain, encouraging their collaboration and strengthening connectivity between brain cells. This can improve your ability to think, learn, and remember in the long run.
In addition, cycling can also be useful in the recovery process after brain injuries. Cycling stimulates blood flow to the brain, which helps restore damaged areas and speeds up the recovery process. So, if you want to strengthen your mind and advance your mental health, cycling is a great way to achieve that.
Live longer and look younger
If you want to add a few years to your life and keep a youthful look, riding a bike can be your secret trump card. A study by King’s College London found that even just three 45-minute bike rides a week can “biologically rejuvenate” your organism by nine years. It’s like discovering the elixir of youth on two wheels!
Regular cycling also reduces your risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, helping you enjoy a longer and healthier life. Given the accelerated lifestyle and constant stress we are exposed to, it is important to invest in our health.
Cope with stress easy
In everyday life, we face various challenges that can cause stress. Riding a bike can be your effective strategy for relieving that stress.
Scientific evidence increasingly confirms that cycling is the best ally in preserving mental health. When you feel pressured and burdened by everyday worries, riding a bike provides refreshment and an escape from stressful situations. Pedaling stimulates the secretion of endorphins, the so-called “hormones of happiness”, which positively affect your mood and reduce stress levels. In addition, cycling allows you to relax in a natural environment, contributing to your mental well-being.
Protect the environment
When you decide to ride a bike instead of driving a car, you’re doing good not only to yourself but to the whole community. Reducing traffic means less pollution and reducing emissions of harmful gases that have a significant impact on the climate crisis. That’s why, by choosing a bicycle as a means of transportation, you’re contributing to a global effort to protect the environment.
Your example can inspire others in your community to think about the benefits of cycling and encourage local authorities to invest in infrastructure that will make cycling even more enjoyable and accessible. This together contributes to the creation of an environment that encourages environmentally friendly forms of transport and environmental care.
Riding a bike is not just a mode of transportation. It’s a gateway to a happier, healthier, and more sustainable lifestyle. And if you want to support sustainable mobility, join us at the 12th Split Biking Tour! Together, we can take a step towards a better tomorrow. See you at the start, in front of the Church of St. Francis on September 17th at 4 pm!