Health Benefits

Research suggests that regular cycling is as beneficial as any other form of physical activity in promoting health. A recent review presented an impressive range of health benefits from regular cycling. Cycling provides protection against:

• coronary heart disease
• stroke
• non-insulin dependent diabetes
• falls, fractures and injuries (through improved strength and co-ordination)
• colon cancer
• overweight, and obesity

Cycling also promotes psychological wellbeing, notably self-esteem.

Everyday cycling, where the individual breathes more heavily without feeling out of breath, will benefit health.

Research indicates that cyclists and pedestrians absorb lower levels of pollutants from traffic fumes than any other road users. Regular cycling, such as to and from work or school, can be an easy way to achieve the recommended ‘half an hour a day’ of physical activity for health.

Fitness

Cycling can make a big difference to your fitness - even if you only cycle short distances. A study carried out for the Department of Transport found that "even a small amount of cycling can lead to significant gains in fitness". The study found that aerobic fitness was boosted by 11 per cent after just six weeks of cycling "short distances" four times a week.1 If cycling the equivalent of four miles to and from work in total a day the aerobic benefit increased to 17 per cent.

According to the Department of Transport study people who do not exercise who start cycling move from the third of the population who are the least fit, to the fittest half of the population in just a few months.

Another important benefit of cycling is that leg strength improves.1 This is helpful in later life because leg strength improves other mobility and helps older people to stay independent. Leg strength allows people to get out of chairs more easily and helps older people avoid falls and the broken bones and other injuries associated with them.

The good news is that you can gain these benefits without having to make radical changes to your life. As the researchers behind the Department of Transport study concluded, cycling is "one of the few physical activities which can be undertaken by the majority of the population as part of a daily routine".

By making us fitter and helping us to taking more aerobic exercise, cycling can help with weight loss and weight control.

References: Bupa (www.bupa.co.uk), NationalCyclingStrategy, Travel for Work (TfW) (www.tfw.org.uk)