Riding Consistently: Why Should We Do It?

Coach Roby Herber has advised cyclists, whether new or veteran, to ride as consistently as they can.  

Herber coaches the national team of PHILCYCLING, the home of the Philippine Cycling Team in all cycling disciplines, which is also sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF). 

Riding consistently means setting a riding schedule. For example, riding during a particular time of the day daily or for a set period of time, either weekly or whenever your schedule allows for saddle time. This can also mean cycling as a means to get to work, or finding new cycling routes to those probably taking up cycling right now, other advice adds. 

All of these can keep you motivated to ride consistently. Cycling, after all, can be a sport or an activity. 

Cycling brings many health benefits. Being an aerobic activity, cycling can give heart, blood vessels, and lungs a workout. You can breathe deeper, perspire, and have your body temperature increase. This all improves overall fitness level.

Being a form of exercise, it can extend your life expectancy, too. 

Herber adds that it’s ideal that you “understand cycling and its benefits to one’s healthy living.” And better yet, he adds that “Filipino’s physiology…leans towards cycling.” Physiology is defined as a study of the human body’s nature. 

So what are the other benefits of riding regularly and consistently? Read on to know them more. 

1.    Convenience 

Going to and from work by bike is said to be a form of consistent riding, an exercise routine which doesn’t require you to allot too much time for. Research has shown that by getting around by car has been attributed to weight gain and obesity, even for drivers who allot time for exercise. Also, women who bike at least 30 minutes each day had decreased chances of breast cancer.

2.    A sharper mind

A simple exercise of 30 minutes can already improve one’s memory, reaction time, and creative thinking, so the same goes when riding a bike. Moreover, riding the saddle has been linked to reducing anxiety and depression, and increasing overall mental health. 

3.    Increased confidence 

That improved mental health could result in one’s newly discovered confidence. It’s been reported that men who exercise six or seven days per week, rate that their sexual desirability as above average. Women also rated their own increases, but not as highly. The theory behind this is that exercise can up sexual drive. However, too much physical activity can lower testosterone levels in men. 

4.  Maintaining body weight

Regular cycling can somehow help you maintain your weight. In a study, two groups of men ate high quantities of food, but one group exercised daily. Despite consuming the same amounts of calories, the exercising group managed to lower the effects of overeating, such as rises in blood sugar. 

5.  Better sleep quality

Moderate to strenuous cardio activities like cycling boost one’s fitness and ease how they can fall and stay asleep. A study that included over 8,000 subjects whose ages ranged from age 20 to 85, discovered a strong connection between a decrease in fitness and the inability to fall asleep. 

So these benefits, along with the fact coach Herber mentioned that “Filipino’s physiology…leans towards cycling,” should motivate you to get on those two wheels. 

Herber also been a Level 3 coach at the UCI; Level 2 coach with distinction at USA Cycling where he was also a consultant for the Race-Ready Coaching Program; and on-board coach for the Taiwan National Cycling Team for the Race Across America competition. 

Photo is from Giant/cyclingnews.com