26 Reasons to Take Up Biking

If you haven't ridden a bike since you were a kid, maybe now is the time to get in the saddle again. Here are 26 reasons to take up biking.

1. Biking is fun and exhilarating.

2. It is an excellent aerobic exercise that can help to protect and strengthen your heart and reduce your risk of stroke.

3. It will make you feel young again. Most of us remember the thrill of learning to ride a bike as a child, the pride we had in our first two-wheeler, and the sense of freedom our bikes gave us. Riding now can help you relive those youthful memories.

4. Biking is a great activity to do with kids and grandkids.

5. It is also a fun activity for couples.

6. Biking is relatively inexpensive, requiring mainly a bike and a helmet. You can spring for bike clothes, shoes, gloves, and other biking paraphernalia if you want to, but you can have just as much fun with a good bike and comfortable clothes.

7. If you look around, you'll probably find that there are plenty of places to ride your bike. For example, many communities now have bike paths or rail trails.

8. Biking is a good way to meet new people.

9. You can have fun biking and do good at the same time by participating in a charity ride.

10. You can ride your bike all year, even in the winter, with an indoor bike trainer.

11. You can get plenty of exercise in a relatively short period of time on a bike.

12. Biking can help you lose weight. If you weigh 160 pounds and ride your bike for an hour at an average speed of 12-14 miles, you will burn about 600 calories.

13. Biking can help your keep weight off (see 12).

14. You help to protect the environment when you bike. Every mile you bike instead of drive contributes to a little less global warming.

15. Biking can save you money by reducing the number of miles you drive, the amount of gas you purchase, and the wear and tear on your car.

16. Biking will make you a better role model for your kids by showing them how much you value staying fit, exercising and protecting the environment.

17. Biking will get you out in the fresh air.

18. Biking is a powerful stress reducer.

19. Almost anyone can ride a bike. You'll see young and old, male and female, rich and poor, and black and white, fit and not-so-fit pedaling on the rail trail or bike path.

20. There is no age limit on biking.

21. You don't need a license to bike.

22. You can set your own pace when biking.

23. Biking is relatively safe. Sure you can have an accident, especially if you ride on the road, but if you take the right precautions, biking can be both safe and fun.

24. Biking is a unique way to see the U.S. You can bike in national parks, on rail trails, at the beach, in the mountains and in the desert.

25. Biking gives you time to think.

26. Biking can help you improve your balance, which is especially important as you grow older.

Source:

wiki.answers.com, WikiAnswers - How many calories do you burn when cycling