Bike Week: 7 Good Reasons to Get on Your Bike

It's Bike Week this week, the annual event designed to help people fall in love with cycling.

Last year saw nearly half a million people take part across the UK and I'm sure this year will be just as successful - cycling is a fantastic way for individuals to get in shape and boost their energy.

Over the years many of the people we've worked with have found cycling to be the answer to their wellbeing challenges. Here are some of the most common reasons why.

It saves time
Commuting by bike (even if it's just for 1 or 2 days a week) means you can fit in a workout without eating into work time or family time.

It's social
Cycling is a great way to work out with a partner or with children.  Many people also get friends involved or join clubs or groups and make new friends.

It's easy to get started
Bikes don't need to be expensive and many people even have one lurking in the shed or garage.  All you need to do is make sure it's safe and off you go.

but...

There's lots of kit involved if you like that kind of thing
Men particularly love a sport where they can talk jargon and compare stats and specification.  But if it gets them moving when they can sometimes resist the idea, we can forgive it.

You can enjoy your surroundings
Whether you cycle in town or in the countryside, the view from a bike is different from other perspectives and certainly more stimulating than the view from the gym.

It's liberating
There's nothing like being in charge of your own travel timetable.  With a bike you can go at your own pace and arrive when you want to.  No traffic jams or delayed trains or buses.

And best of all for most people, it's fun!

Cycling allows you to exercise without thinking about exercise
This is the perfect solution for those who don't like the idea of exercise.  When they start cycling they focus more on the commute, the journey from A to B, time spent with the family or time spent with friends, before they think of the element of exercise.  This means they look forward to cycling rather than dreading activity as they may have done in the past.

So, if you've not been out on your bike recently, there's no better time than this week to get the pedals turning.  Encourage your family, friends and colleagues to do the same, and witness the enjoyment and feel-good factor spread far and wide.

Image by Flickr: tejvanphotos