Cycling to lose weight is a great idea..

So do you like the idea of cycling to lose weight? It can be a great way to burn off those excess pounds if cycling is something you enjoy.

I always think one of the great things about cycling is you can get a lot further than if you are walking. In fact a typical bike ride will get you around three times as far as walking and you only use the same amount of energy.

Cycling to lose weight is especially ideal if you love great scenery and country roads. I much prefer cycling down quiet, scenic country lanes than the busy, polluted main road, don't you?

Why should I consider cycling to lose weight?

  • Burn plenty of calories and aid weight loss
  • Ideal exercise to lower your blood pressure
  • It can help reduce many the risk of getting many serious diseases including heart attack and stroke
  • Cycling can be great fun on your own or with your friends and family
  • You may have the option of exploring new places nearby that you have never been to
  • It's relatively cheap once you have a bike.
  • Cycling can be a great stress reliever
  • Cycling helps to tone and strengthen your leg muscles
  • Cycling can be great for improving your mood

    • Set realistic goals for yourself

    If you decide you like the idea of cycling to lose weight, it is important to set realistic goals. Set yourself goals you know you have a realistic chance of sticking to. Make sure it never becomes a chore, so don't too much at the beginning.

    Remember, even 15 minutes a few times per week is massively better than nothing. It is also better than doing 2 hours per day, for a week than getting fed up and never cycling again. Be realistic.

    cycling

    Consider getting a bike speedometer

    A bike speedometer will allow to keep track of the distance you are biking. This can be great for motivation and for setting goals.

    Most modern speedometers also track many other things including calories burnt, average speed, time spent cycling etc.

    How many calories will you burn cycling?

    There are obvious going to be many factors in this including the speed you cycle, the weight of your bike etc. However, as a general guide, half an hour of moderate cycling should burn around 250 calories.

    Be sure to always keep safe when biking

    In many country's it is now law to wear a helmet when cycling. Even if it isn't law I would strongly advise wearing one!When cycling on public roads, always be sure to keep as close to the side of the road as possible.

    Unfortunately, many motorists are not very tolerant of cyclists so it's very important to be careful. This is one of the main reasons I prefer cycling on quiet country roads.

    How about joining a cycle club?

    If you are serious about cycling to lose weight or you just enjoy cycling, what better way to improve your motivation than joining a cycling club and making some new friends.

    Be sure look online or check your local paper for clubs. usacycling.org provides details of many cycling clubs in the USA.

    In the UK there is the CTC, the largest cycling group in the country.

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