Tired of the gym and five-a-side? Then you should get into cycling and try the An Post Cycle Series.
While we all know that keeping fit is a great idea, many of the regular activities may not suit you. Running can be a bit boring, the gym involves a monthly subscription and five-a-side can play havoc with any old injuries you may still be carrying.
So, what can you do? Well it is hard to beat a bike ride and here’s a few reasons why.
1 It’s easy
Just grab your bike and go. Once you have the bike, and a helmet, you can get out there and start exercising. Of course you might get rained on a little but that goes with the territory in this country and as your mother would say, a bit of rain never hurt anyone. No matter where you live in the country, you can find great stretches of road, cycle paths or off-road paths to enjoy and even a quick spin around the block will do wonders for you after work.
2 Tone up with a reduced risk of injury
After a while, cycling will do wonders for all aspects of your legs. Every bit of you, from your backside to your calves will be gently toned into shape and it is done in a gradual way that won’t put too much strain on your muscles. Not only that, but it is easy on your hips, knees and ankles and mobility in all these joints will improve after a spell of cycling. This is particularly good if you have an old injury there and if you are heading towards the veteran stage of your soccer/GAA career, it is a great way to stay in shape.
3 Calorie burning
Steady cycling will burn between 300 and 800 calories an hour, depending on how hard you go and your body type. And, due to the type of exercise it is, it will build muscle and increase your metabloic rate, meaning you will burn fat off for many hours after you hop off the saddle. You can calculate just how much each ride will burn using this nifty calculator.
4 Heart disease prevention
The good folks at the British Medical Association say that cycling just 20 miles a week reduces your risk of coronary heart disease by a staggering 50 per cent. Just by cycling into and out of work a few times a week, you can really improve your general health.
5 Mental health
Exercise produces endorphins, that make you feel great. Any exercise will do that but cycling also gets you outside, into the fresh air and away from all the stresses and strains of everyday life. Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the UK’s Mental Health Foundation believes in exercise therapy as a treatment for depression and says that “Just three 30-minute sessions a week can be enough to give people the lift they need.”
If you think that cycling might be for you, then check out the An Post Cycle Series. The next event is the Tour de Burren, on June 21, and distances begin at just 5k if you are new to cycling. An Post have events all through the summer with distances to suit all levels of experience.
Check out their site here and join the 16,500 people who took part in 2013.
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