On your bike - ten reasons why pedal power is good for you

Want to increase your fitness and maybe drop a little weight? Then it’s time to get on your bike!  And there’s no need to worry if it’s cold outside, with the right equipment you can cycle indoors, or just hit the gym to include some spin classes in your weekly regime.  Here are our top 10 reasons why cycling is awesomely good for you: 

Yes, one of the benefits of cycling is that it promotes weight loss. At the end of the day losing weight is simply a matter of burning up more calories than you consume, and depending on how hard you hit it, you can expect to burn between 400 and 1,000 calories each hour. 

Cycling is a bit of an all-rounder when it comes to exercise – not only is it a great cardio workout, but the resistance elements associated with riding your bike are great for building lean muscle in your legs and butt. 

All that cardio work will have you sucking in more oxygen, which in turn helps your lungs to become more efficient at getting oxygen to the tissues throughout your body. 

Unlike running, cycling isn’t a weight bearing exercise, and there’s none of the bone jarring impact that can come with pounding the pavement for long periods of time. In fact, research conducted by Appalachian State University in the USA showed that long-distance runners experienced more muscle damage, soreness and inflammation than cyclists after a period of intense workouts. 

According to the National Sleep Foundation, people who exercise sleep better than people who live a more sedentary life. You’ll feel less sleepy during the day and you’ll also reduce the risk of suffering from sleep apnoea. 

The Heart Foundation advocates exercise in order to reduce the risks of heart disease and having a heart attack. If you head out on your bike for just 30–45 minutes on most days of the week, you’ll end up with a healthier heart. 

A recent study in the USA with a total of 266,939 participants found that being active for 150 minutes or more each week was associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of depression. Exercise also gives you a greater chance of experiencing positive events and a feeling of achievement, and can improve memory and cognition. 

When you ride rather than drive you’re minimising the use of fossil fuels and going pollution-free, so the world will be a better place because of you! According to the Dept of Transport and Main Roads, if you cycle 10km each way to work, you’ll save 1500 kg’s of greenhouse gas emissions each year. 

OK it might be a bit chilly outside but if you head off on your bike for a local adventure you’ll probably see a lot more of the area you live in than if you drive the same old routes every day. And if you invest in a mountain bike you can get off road and explore some of the terrain you normally wouldn’t get to see. 

Cycling is a social sport and no matter where you live there’s likely to be a local club that meets regularly (usually on the weekend) for a social ride. Most groups will ride at a pace that makes it easy to chat with each other and there’s always the obligatory café stop mid-ride to enjoy a tasty coffee or indulgent treat.

Time for a new bike? 

Now that we’ve got you excited about all the benefits of cycling it might be time to buy a new bike. Whether you’re after something basic or you want to go high tech with carbon fibre, we’re here to help you fund your new purchase. Just take a look at our fast cash loans from $1K - $5K to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. One a loan is approved, we can usually deposit the cash into your bank account within a few hours - so you can head into your local bike store tomorrow and try out your new ride for size!