The link between regular exercise and generally feeling better in your own skin seems to be something that is quite well documented. Whilst there are those of us that perhaps love the challenge of running long distances and taking part in more intense forms of exercise, you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to enjoy the benefits of a more active lifestyle.
One possible way to incorporate exercise into your day is to take up cycling. Getting on your bike in the morning to commute to work can be a great way of beating the traffic and saving on petrol and parking costs, at the same time as getting a workout at either end of your working day. Depending on where you live and how congested the route to your workplace is, you may even be a fair bit quicker than the people sitting in their cars or on the bus.
Get on your bike
It doesn’t have to be all work, work, work, though. The beauty of a bike is that you can effortlessly switch between practical and leisure modes. While there still seems to be far fewer regular cyclists in the UK than in other areas of the world, there is still a great network of cycle paths and routes throughout the country to take advantage of.
For starters, there are the increasing levels of on-road cycle lanes, which aim to provide riders with greater visibility on roads. Then there’s the National Cycle Network, which has around 12,000 miles of traffic-free and quiet road routes. And if you want to get away from it all, the UK has an enviable collection of bridleways. While some will need the off-road capabilities of a mountain bike, others are perfectly accessible with a less burly bicycle.
Crank it up another notch…
Whilst a leisurely pedal along a canal towpath, or a coast through a park can have its health benefits, especially if done regularly, recent research has shown the possible rewards of taking it up a notch and doing more intensive exercise.
According to a 20-year Danish study of 5,000 healthy daily cyclists, the faster you cycle, the longer you are likely to live – and the intensity is more of a factor than the distance cycled. The Copenhagen City Heart Study found that men who cycled quickly lived an average of 5.3 years longer than those who cycled the slowest. Average male pedal pushers lived 2.9 years longer. Meanwhile, the study suggested that fast females live 3.9 years longer, and average cyclists 2.2 years longer than the slowest.
Research leader Dr Peter Schnohr told the Daily Mail that while there was no precise definition of what constituted ‘fast’ cycling – as this is going to be relative to the cyclist’s age – the most beneficial should leave the rider a little breathless. How intense you want to make your cycling is obviously up to you, and as you get faster, you will need to make sure your awareness of other people increases – on roads and on cycle paths – and that if you are pushing yourself, you are doing so in a way which is suitable to your environment.
Intensive cycling however is not likely to be an advisable form of exercise for those of us who aren’t extremely active. As with any new form of exercise, starting slow and building up gradually is thought to be the safest way to begin with. If you haven’t cycled in a while, it could be a good idea to start in your local park away from any traffic. That way, you can build up your confidence and feel more comfortable on your bike before having to think about negotiating other cyclists and vehicles. Becoming familiar with the Highway Code is also advisable before advancing to cycling on roads.
Also, if you have any existing medical problems or concerns to do with your health it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before taking up any new form of exercise – especially if it’s something that is going to push you.
If you do decide to take up cycling, investing in a decent new bike is likely to cost from at least £300. This cost can rise further, if you need to purchase an appropriate helmet, cycling clothing and lights for your added safety.
Before buying, it could be a good idea to do plenty of research in advance to make sure you get the right model for you and at the best price. One convenient way to pay could be by credit card, especially if you’ve got one of the credit cards that offers a 0% period on purchases or rewards your spend.
Issued by Sainsbury’s Finance
Sainsbury’s Finance is a trading name of Sainsbury’s Bank plc. All information correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change. Any views or opinions expressed in this article are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any part of the Sainsbury’s Group of companies.
Sainsbury’s Finance is a financial services provider engaged in savings accounts and car insurance. It also supplies insurance services in home insurance and life insurance as well as being a provider of travel money services.
