Biking and health
 

More and more people that I know start to bike. Instead of going to a gym for practicing, biking provide a more colorful and enjoying activity with friends and with family.
But people adopt this sport activity not only for social adventure and experience, but also for the benefits in terms of health. Biking is perceived by many as a healthy sport activity, and is recommended by family therapist for adults, as well as for youngsters.
There are lots of researches’ conclusions that biking (or cycling) is most suitable for improving health of the population. Specifically biking is most used for people that want and need to improve their cardiovascular performance. Also is reported that biking has positive affect for people with arthritis at their legs. This is under the assumption that the harm to the knees is minor. However, massive and extreme cycling can harm one’s knees. On the other hand, when used correctly, cycling can contribute to injured knee rehabilitation.
This is done specifically by using stationary bikes, in controlled training programs. Avoiding damages to the knees needs certain care as to correct adjustments of the bike and its saddles to the rider, proper selection of a gear, and adjustments of the handles bars. Need to achieve a relaxed and easy position on the bike. A proper seat is also important for relaxation, and for avoiding damage to the urogenital area of the rider.
Cycling lacks a major need, specifically for adult people. Since cycling has nothing to do with weight lifting or pushing, it does not contribute to bone density, which is most needed for adult population.
Another aspect of cycling and health is avoiding injuries. Aspect of possible knee damage was already mentioned above. Yet, injuries do need special attention. Appropriate safety equipment need to be used to reduce possibility of injuries. Special accessories and dedicated apparel can help protecting our body in the event of accidents, falls and so on. Most important is to provide adequate protection to the head by a helmet. A good helmet can be the distinction between regular injury and a deadly one.
I would summarize with a general advice: do not exaggerate. No need for extreme activity. Keep length of ride and frequency of ride sessions in normal orders, relative to your capabilities. Follow your senses and do not push your body to extreme limits.
The author owns B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering M.Sc. degree in Interdisciplinary Engineering, and an MBA degree.

I have been retired for the last 2 years, and in the summer month cycle about 30 miles every other day. I have lost and kept off about 20 pounds. I have type 2 diabetes and take tablets to control it. When I ride my A1c drops to about 6.1. There is no doubt in my mind that cycling is extremely healthy.

Now to the point that will get some discussion Im sure. I ride a LWB recumbent. Personally I believe it to be a far superior way to cycle. Since there is no pain associated with bents there is no damage to the body. I disagree with the thread about calicum loss because on my bent I do load my legs between the seat back and the pedals. People with several physical problems can cycle on a bent. People with back, neck, arm. wrist, and hand problems find that they can ride a bent with little or no pain at all.

There is no comparison between cycling and exercising in a gym. The gym is totally boring, while riding my bent setting upright I can view the road and surrounding. In a sched amout of time I can travel a fairly long distance with many different routes which lowers boredom.

Before I get lumped into one group or another I cycle a fair amount, and I use both uprights and recumbents.

They both offer me advantages and I would not call any one style superior to another, it's all personal preference and usage related.

As a 'member of the choir', I have to agree that any exercise is better than nothing.

RonH, thanks for the edit. As I read this I was waiting for the sales pitch.

Oooooo, I hadn't noticed the edit!

Now I understand why I felt like a member of the choir!! :D

I can't figure out the reason for this post?

Does the OP think this is new stuff to us? Or, does he just have an urge to share his "knowledge?"

Or was it a commercial?

Befuddled!!

Best I can figure, it was a commercial - RonH edited it.

The reason? Maybe there's a lot of lurkers out there and they just want to see what's being said.

Is there a question the op would like to pose for the choir?

Marc

Cycling is great for the heart and lungs and certain leg miuscles, but does nothing to fight osteoporosis. I lift weights, speedwalk more than 5mi/8km per day, and take 25mi/40km bike rides on weekends. General health maintenance requires a variety of activities.

It is most likely a spammer, since he hasn't posted again.

Spammer

He didn't say ANYTHING about beer. MUST be a spammer.

His grammar is really bad, which tells me he is from out of the US (my guess is China). Which warns me that he posted his on line bike store as a scam. People order a part, pay their money and the part never arrives. Perhaps the post should have been deleted altogether.

Where'd he go?

He's cooking a Spam dinner.

http://monkeysayswhat.com/images/sma...ackcover_s.jpg

I like fried Spam for breakfast, don't eat it very much, can't be good for you.
I like beer too.
Oh, did I change the subject, sorry.

Don't understand why folks get upset about Spam. It can be a real lifesaver.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=194359

No, you just moved the goalposts a bit. Perhaps from football to soccer?

I remember reading that cycling is the 2nd best exercise for overall health and fitness there IS. (Swimming is rated #1, I'm told, and I can believe it; but nobody I ever heard of DROWNED from getting a leg cramp while riding, so I'll stick with #2)

That's all I need; the JOY I get from riding covers the WANTS.