RIDING A BIKE: 10 HEALTH BENEFITS - ARTE - 2024

Riding a bicycle is one of the most considered practices when it comes to obtaining certain benefits for our health. Whether it is a mountain bike, stationary bike or tandem, you can lose weight or stylize your buttocks among other advantages.

In a world where the population is increasingly aware of physical exercise, going out with these machines for a walk or relaxing in the gym is most encouraging.

It is also convenient to point out that the movements we carry out on a bicycle guarantee us an adequate support situation for our cartilage, which results in a reduction in the risk of suffering from osteoarthritis.

4- Improves back pain

It is well known by all that many back pain derive from sports inactivity. Over time, both the musculature and nutrition of the intervertebral discs are reduced, losing their ability to cushion impacts.

Therefore, the reason for this benefit is due to the posture we adopt in the saddle. When we sit in the right way - with our torso slightly bent towards the front - our own muscles, which are under tension, force us to stabilize our trunk.

If you usually cycle fairly regularly, you will greatly decrease the possibility of suffering a hernia.

5- It will make you more attractive

According to the following survey by the British Heart Foundation, nearly a quarter of the population admitted that they would rather meet a cyclist than any type of athlete.

Similarly, 80% of the participants admitted that they would be impressed to see a cyclist in full action.

6- Prevents infections and cancer

Did you know that people with cancer or AIDS are recommended to ride a bicycle?

This is because it promotes the creation of phagocytes, which are cells that fight against different infections in the body, mobilizing and eliminating both bacterial and cancer cells.

The expert Ingo Froböse, doctor in Sports Medicine and head of the Health Center of the German Sports University (DSHS) affirms that "these types of cells exist in our body asleep, and that when we pedal, they wake up."

7- You will learn different security techniques

Riding a bicycle is one of the most dangerous sports practices that you can find. Safety is crucial if you don't want to risk your life and for this reason, cyclists must learn a series of safety measures.

To give examples, in the first place they should dress in the appropriate clothing so that, in the event of an accident, damage is minimized. Helmets are very important for this - 97% of cyclists who have died in traffic accidents were not wearing helmets.

You can also mention the safety distances that must be carried with other cyclists or with cars on the road. Despite this, it should be noted that the health benefits of this practice are greater than the risks that are run.

8- Improve your life expectancy

If what you want is to live longer and above all in a healthy way, put on your shoes and propose to pedal for a while as a daily routine.

According to various investigations, Tour de France cyclists live on average about eight years longer than the rest of the population. This has been stated by the International Journal of Sports Medicine.

Likewise, there is other research that explains that the intensity with which we pedal will shape our future. If we can pedal at an intensity with which we can breathe properly and chat with the partner next to us, it will help our life expectancy to increase. Specifically, four more years for women and five for men.

On the contrary, if we begin to suffocate or suffer, it can have a negative cost for our health. When we get to this point it is convenient to lower the intensity.

9- Improve the functioning of your brain and avoid depressions

Riding a bicycle is one of the physical activities that requires the least concentration. If you are not going to practice it at a high level, just let yourself go. Thanks to this beneficial sport, you will get your brain to oxygenate much more easily than normal, which will lead to more fluid and lucid thoughts.

This physical activity is considered one of the best natural antidepressants that exist. The explanation for this derives from the secretion of endorphins - commonly referred to as the happiness hormone - that is generated with physical exercise.

It is for this reason that people who regularly ride a bicycle are less likely to suffer from brain diseases such as anxiety or depression.

At the end of your training you will feel much stronger mentally.

10- You will get instant results

You will be in front of one of the sports that will offer you results faster. With an appropriate routine, you can reach the last of the following states that I explain below:

- After ten minutes pedaling, your joints, blood flow and muscles will be enhanced.

- At thirty, it will be the turn of your heart, the heart function being strengthened.

- At fifty minutes, the fat metabolism will be activated. This facilitates relaxation and anti-stress and depressive stimulation.

- Finally, when you have already been exercising for an hour, the anti-aging treatment will begin to take effect.

Curiosities of riding a bike

- Did you know that more than fifteen million bicycles are abandoned in the storage rooms of different houses around the world? All the more reason to take it out, clean it, and prepare it for use.

- The most expensive bicycle in the world can be found in the United States. Built by the House of solid Gold and named The Beverly Hills Edition. It is covered with 24 carats, 600 black diamonds and 500 sapphires embedded on its surface. And if that wasn't enough, the seat is lined with crocodile skin leather.

- It has been proven that for distances of seven kilometers or less in the city, it is faster to go by bicycle than in any other transport. So now you know, if you want to save a few minutes, go for the bike rather than the car.

- The number of bicycles in the world is double that of cars. There are an estimated 1 billion bicycles around the world. Only in China we can find 450 million of these.

- The first bicycle models that were built did not have brakes. This was a real problem for anyone who wanted to hang out with them. The high speeds they took surprised those who used them. Furthermore, this danger was compounded by the lack of insurance.

- The world record for cycling speed belongs to Eric Barone, who reached a whopping 223 kilometers per hour.

- The fastest bike in the world is called AeroVelo. It weighs only 25 kilograms and can reach 137 kilometers per hour on the road.