Health and Fitness

What Happens When You Bike Every Day

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There are many good reasons to cycle more. We’ve researched the effects daily cycling can have on your body, psyche, environment and your finances – and show you the best things to look out for before you take off. So you are always safe and sound for your next Vave Casino experience. 

Cycling is booming. Especially in larger cities, more and more people are using bikes to be mobile. In Düsseldorf, for example, weekday bicycle traffic in the inner city has doubled since 1999. And the Corona pandemic has reinforced this trend. Berlin saw a 17 percent increase in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period last year. There are many reasons for this – not least the desire to do something for health and the environment. But what exactly happens when you switch from car to bike and ride every day?

HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR BODY

The positive effects of cycling on our body are not only shown in numerous studies, you can also feel them yourself as soon as you get on your bike: The exercise in the fresh air does you good, you get your cardiovascular system going, and you increase blood flow to your muscles and brain. And best of all, you don’t even have to cycle for long to do your body so much good.

  1. cycling increases your fitness – and your life expectancy

People who cycle for as little as 30 minutes a day have a longer life expectancy than those who don’t, according to a Swedish study. The cardiovascular system and muscles are strengthened, blood pressure drops, and physical fitness increases. What’s the reason for that? Our bodies are designed for maximum efficiency. That means it adapts as well as possible to the demands placed on it. So if you used to travel by car or public transport and now cycle these distances, the body adapts to the new circumstances to be able to cope with them more easily in the future. Small disclaimer: This also means that your physical fitness will decrease again when you stop cycling every day.

  1. cycling helps to lose weight

Even a few kilometers of cycling every day can help you lose weight. This is because you burn more calories – compared to car or public transport rides, but also to walking – and thus reach a calorie deficit more easily at the end of the day – and that’s what you need to lose weight. You can burn up to 250 kilocalories with 30 minutes of cycling at a moderate pace, depending on your body weight. In 2018, a French study suggested a positive effect of cycling on reducing obesity: subjects lost weight, reduced their hip circumference and body fat percentage.

  1. cycling helps you prevent diabetes

Cycling can also help prevent diabetes, according to a study from Denmark. According to the study, just one hour of cycling per week can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 28 percent. And even those who are already diabetic can regulate their blood sugar levels better with regular relaxed cycling.

HOW TO GET STARTED

If you want to try using your bike more often in your daily life, here are three good tips for you:

  • Start right now! Because now the conditions outside are still good, the temperatures are also pleasant in the early morning and evening, it is not yet so late light and early dark.
  • Check your bike before you go! Or take it to a specialist store if you want to make sure your bike is fully functional and roadworthy. Especially if it has been sitting in the garage for a few years, you should have all safety-related parts checked.
  • Set yourself small, achievable goals! Your workplace is ten kilometers away? Then start with the shorter route to the bakery or supermarket. That way, you can slowly get used to your new routine and build it up bit by bit.