Fitness biking has many benefits to your personal health.
- It forms part of your resistance training, so it’s good for building muscle as well as burning fat.
- It’s a low impact activity, so unlike running (which is weight-bearing), there is less risk of personal injury to yourself when training.
- It is good for your mental health, as you are both engaged in an activity that will release mood-enhancing endorphins, and you are out in the great outdoors, which in itself, can raise your mood.
For more on these and other benefits, read the article here. If you haven’t taken the two-wheeled route yet as part of your fitness training, then you might now consider it.
However, safety is paramount. Because you will be out on the roads and possibly rough environments, you need to adhere to a few safety tips to prevent the callout of a bicycle accident attorney in the event of an accident.
Consider the following.
- You need to pick the right bike for your needs. There is a difference between mountain bikes and road bikes, so consider the environments you will be riding on within your fitness training. We have some advice here which should prove useful to you. Then ensure you buy the right size bike for your height – you don’t want to cause yourself an injury because you have chosen something that is difficult for you to ride and handle.
- Ensure your bike works correctly. Before every ride, you should check the tyres to make sure they are pumped up to the correct level. Ensure the brakes work effectively. And follow these bicycle maintenance tips, as a malfunctioning bike will both reduce the effectiveness of your training, and put you at risk of an accident or injury when you’re out on your ride.
- Wear a helmet. This should be a no-brainer, but let’s face it, how many people do you see out on the roads without a helmet? Considering the heavy traffic on the roads, as well as any unevenness on the surfaces you may be riding upon, an accident is possible. Without a helmet, you are putting yourself at risk of a serious head injury, and sorry to say it, but that could be fatal!
- Ride somewhere safe. To alleviate the risk of an accident, choose to ride somewhere safe. Instead of venturing out on the roads, you might choose to use a bike track at your local leisure centre, or you might want to ride around your local park. If you are looking to go offroad when biking, choose a designated area for cyclists, instead of running the risk of an unfamiliar environment where hidden dangers may lay in wait for the unwary.
- Don’t push yourself too hard. It’s the old adage: don’t run before you can walk. And while you won’t be running, you still need to follow the principle. Before tackling harder routes, remember to pace yourself. Take gentler and shorter routes until you are ready for tougher and longer bike rides. And don’t forget to bring water and energy snacks with you. You need to keep your energy levels up, so having supplies to hand will ensure you don’t flag mid-ride with exhaustion.
Fitness biking is good for you, but not when you don’t adhere to safety tips. Follow our advice, and you should see the benefits that two-wheeled exercise can give you. And let us know if you have any further tips for the benefit of our readers.
Thanks for reading!
