Ride your way to fitness
Ok, all of us wants to be more fit, toned, better looking, and in-shape, but most make excuses for why they don't do what it takes. Many of those excuses are they do not have time, or do not know where to start, or it just is not fun to work out. Well, if any of these excuses sound familiar to you, you have not tried rising your way to fitness,
Bicycling is a great way to get fit, and have fun too. You can ride on wooded trails, through historic cities, and scenic country sides, or simply ride your bike to work to save money, and get your exercise in for the day. Not only is bicycling a cheap and healthy form of transportation, it doesn't hurt the environment. If riding your bike to work does not sound fun, get a stationary bike, and read the morning paper while your ride it, or study up for your work presentation. There are plenty of stationary bikes with book stands built in so you can multi-task.no more can no time for fitness be an excuse.
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So, when you decide to ride your way to fitness, the first thing you must do is get a bike. So, what should you get? What kind of bike will work best for you? The answer depends on the use. For example, if you are going to ride it through trails, and up mountains, or down them, then you will want to get a mountain bike. For street riding, a speed bike, etc. However, no matter what your use, when you shop for a bike, think comfort. When it comes down to it, if it is not comfortable, you won't want to spend much time on that bicycle.
Getting a bike that is the right size and style for your body and needs is important. And, a good sales person can help you find the right size and style for you. Things that will affect your comfort and thus should be considered include:
height and angle of the handlebars and seat
height and size of the bike
shape and style of the seat
Give the bike a try, sit on it, ride it around the store, make sure nothing about it bothers you. Some bicycle gear can add comfort to your ride, so try each gear.
Also, when riding your way to fitness think about the extras that can help add to your comfort. For example, a cushioned bike seat cover and biking shorts add extra padding, and cycling shoes can make pedaling easier. Things like sunglasses and protective clothing like gloves and windbreakers can also improve comfort. So, all of these should be considered and addressed so that you have no excuse to not work out.
Bicycling your way to fitness is so fun. You can even do it in a gym by taking cycling classes. However, if you choose to bike on the street, be aware of biker safety. Consider the following:
Helmets
A helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment you can wear. Bicycle-related head injuries send about 17,000 people to the hospital and 500 people to their death each year. Don't be one of these stats, wear a helmet.
Choose a helmet by finding one with a CPSC sticker, one that sits level on your head, and fits snug, one that has enough ventilation so it's not too hot, also, look for one that is brightly colored so it's easy to see, and has extra foam thickness.
Next, follow traffic signals and laws
Being on a bike does not mean that you can disobey traffic rules, you still must stop at red lights; follow stop, yield, and other traffic signs, etc. You should also be sure to always ride on the right and with the flow of traffic so cars can see you. And, because you do not have blinkers like a car, use hand signals when switching lanes, stay alert. Cars are not watching for you, so you should watch for them.
