The start of a new year always represents a good opportunity to take stock and look at ways to improve your life. Perhaps that means getting into great shape and getting out into nature to recharge your batteries both physically and mentally. If so, cycling is a great option.

Cycling provides many benefits, and besides, it’s a fun activity. This article will give you many concrete reasons why taking up cycling could be the perfect way to turn your life around in the New Year.

As we will show below, cycling helps reduce stress, improves your health in general, and can even expand your social circle and help you make new friends (when lockdown restrictions allow). It will also literally take you to places you have never been before and otherwise might never go. There are so many reasons to take up cycling!

The right tools for the right hobby

Of course, equipment is important. When looking for Cycle Solutions, whether it be women’s bikes or men’s, you are looking for, it’s important to invest upfront in something with a good frame that’s strong and lightweight. People tend to underestimate the importance of good tyres and the right type of tyres for the riding you will do.

It’s very important to get the best helmet you can afford, and it’s a good idea to protect your joints with elbow and knee guards when you ride. If you have these on and unfortunately have an accident, these safety devices will help to cushion the impact.

Finally, make sure you have a white light at the front and a red light at the back of your bike. (Even if this isn’t required by law where you live, it’s a good idea to use these lights anyway; they truly save lives).

Smash that stress & get healthy

Stress is a common problem in the modern world, and it has been becoming more and more of an issue over the years. In 2020, many people’s stress meters went off the scale! Cycling is one of the best ways possible to help counteract that. Cycling can help reduce stress in these three ways:

• Cycling has been shown to reduce cortisol levels (cortisol is the stress hormone)
• Cycling balances and stabilises your body’s hormonal system.
• Cycling helps regulate your sleep patterns.

Regular cycling is also a major contributor to the health of people who practice it. It not only makes your muscles stronger, it also strengthens joints and improves their mobility. Cycling has also been shown to strengthen bones. And of course, the main benefits of cycling are cardiovascular.

Also, looking to the future, and making plans for when the coronavirus pandemic has ended, another often overlooked and undervalued benefit to cycling is that, as a hobby, it gets you out there and in the mix with new people. A new cyclist can be sure to wind up meeting people invariably just in the course of being on the road or the bike paths, not to mention all the cycling groups on the Internet. Once coronavirus restrictions are no longer in place, this could be a great way of extending your friendship group.

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