Need Motivation to Take Up Biking?

Have you thought about how much you enjoyed biking back when you were a kid, but have been too intimidated to get back on the proverbial bicycle? The following five reasons will get you back in the saddle again.

Biking is an accesible sport, even for those who haven't touched a bike in decades.

Even if you're out of shape, you can handle some form of biking. If you can balance on a bike, you can bike. Feel free to go at whatever pace you feel comfortable, slowly working your way up as you get more comfortable.

Biking is a great calorie-burner. Let's compare calorie burning for a few forms of exercise, assuming you weigh about 150 pounds and exercise for a half hour each day. Thirty minutes of moderate biking will burn 264 calories. Thirty minutes of moderate (general) swimming will burn 200 calories. A half hour walk will only burn 132 calories. Throw yourself into a hearty biking workout to burn some calories.

Biking is versatile. You can bike at home, at the gym, both inside and out. If you're traveling (for work or leisure), you will probably still find either a bike rental shop or bikes inside the hotel or resort fitness center. There’s no excuse not to bike.

Biking gets you somewhere. You can use biking as an alternate mode of transportation, meaning you aren’t just wasting your time in the gym. You can actually get somewhere, doing something that is both good for your body and for the environment. Before you take to the road, gear up with a helmet and reflectors, plus put a rear view mirror and a heavy duty lock on your bike.

Biking is easy on the joints. If you’ve injured yourself while running or playing another sport, you may find biking to be a welcome change. Biking provides a hard workout that will burn calories and work your heart and lungs without wearing out your joints.

Dust off your bike, bring it into the shop for a tune up, and get back out on the road. Try biking with a friend or a bike club for maximum safety and support for long road trips. Or, if you prefer biking indoors, check out your local fitness club's spin classes.