"Bicycling For Aerobic Fitness"

Here is a bicycling guide if you wish to pursue a moderate, but effective and enjoyable form of aerobic exercise.  If you bike regularly for recreation, your fitness and cardiovascular health will improve.  Significant gains in health can be yours even with a small amount of cycling. Bicycling is an aerobic exercise which leaves you breathing heavily but not out of breath.  This makes it very effective in reducing heart disease and high blood pressure.

It is a good program to implement to lose weight as cycling for 30 minutes three to five times weekly could mean burning off several pounds of fat in a year. 

Bicycling will help to maintain co-ordination and strength which will assist older persons in reducing injuries from falls.  Older persons who are physically active have reduced rates of hip fracture.  Improved leg strength from cycling will especially help the older person avoid falls.  So this is an activity which can be undertaken from young to old and by any fitness level.  Of course, have a medical checkup before commencing any fitness program. 

Investing in a bicycle, helmet and a good pair of seamless biking shorts is all you would require.  Helmets can reduce head injuries if you fall, so be sure to get expert advice from a bike shop in order to get a proper fit.  Ride a bike that fits you and check that the seat and handle bars are in a comfortable position.  Your seat and seat height should be suitable for your build. Your feet should touch the ground when seated on the bike so you won't fall off when stopping.  If using an indoor bike, be sure it has foot pedal straps so your feet don't slip off.

Increasing the length and frequency of cycling sessions slowly is a sound bicycling guide recommendation.  Too much too soon can result in muscular pain, joint pain and numbness.  Overuse injury could also be caused by incorrect bicycle or seat fit as well as riding for extended periods of time before you have reached a suitable fitness level.  After a few weeks your aerobic fitness will have improved greatly and you can ride for longer distances without feeling puffed.  Be sure you have water on hand to keep you hydrated while riding. 

As you become fitter with your bicycling program you might want to be more adventurous and try mountain biking.  Cycling tours in different parts of the world would prove to be quite adventurous and exhilarating as well. 

Bicycling is very beneficial for people suffering with arthritis in the lower limbs.  If you are unable to jog or walk for any distance, then cycling is ideal for preventing impact to joints such as knees.  However, cycling, like swimming, is a non-weight bearing exercise and does not promote bone density.  Cycling uses the largest muscles in the body and is excellent for losing body fat.  As well as reducing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity, cycling will reduce levels of stress and depression and improve your mood. 

So, do enjoy cycling in your town or city's streets, parks, along beaches and keep mindful of the suggestions offered in this bicycling guide.