2. Health
- Physical health
Cycling offers a superb opportunity to stay healthy while forgetting you’re exercising. In fact, the French government recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day. One of the best ways to achieve this is to pedal to school or work !
Cycling is an ideal aerobic activity. It helps to exercise large muscles 10 such as the thighs and buttocks. What’s more, developing these large muscles helps improve posture and balance, which in turn helps prevent certain injuries 11.
Daily cycling helps reduce heart problems. Studies show that cycling for 30 minutes a day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by a factor of 5 12.
Cycling also helps reduce obesity and a sedentary lifestyle 13. Recurrent cycling has a positive impact on life expectancy, with cyclists adding around 2.5 years to their life expectancy 14.
- Mental health
Cycling has several benefits for mental health.
The first benefit is improved sleep 15 :
- Quantity of sleep ;
- Ease of falling asleep;
- More restful sleep.
Better sleep promotes a sense of well-being and more energy during the day 16. What’s more, improved sleep combined with exercise reduces the risk of depression and anxiety 17 .
The second benefit is to the well-being of the brain. When you pedal, more blood and oxygen circulate in the brain. This improved circulation helps the brain to function better 18.
The third benefit concerns academic performance. Every student who rides a bike arrives at school with a brain that is more ready to learn. Their concentration and productivity are enhanced by cycling 19 and often lead to better academic results, which in turn boost their self-confidence and self-esteem 20.