Archive for category Bicycling
Bicycling – 7 Safety Tips For Riding a Bicycle
Posted by in Bicycling on July 11, 2011
Riding a bicycle is an excellent way to spend time outside. It can be a great way to be with your family. There are beautiful bike paths all over the country that allow for different levels of skill and speed when cycling.
Using your bike as an alternate means of transportation is a proactive way to help save our environment. By riding your bicycle to work or to the store you are not contributing to the exhaust excreted from automobiles. Riding your bike is also a great way to exercise. Some of the exercise benefits include increased balance, flexibility, strength and stamina.
It is important when bicycling to ride safely. Below are 7 safety tips you need to know.
1. Ride on the right side of the roadway.
Most of the time the safest way to ride is as part of the traffic, going with the flow of the normal traffic pattern. Bicyclists who ride this way get where they are going faster and safer.
2. Know your hand signals.
For a left turn, point your left arm straight out. For a right turn, point your right arm straight out. If you are slowing or stopping you may use either the left or right hand. To do this put your arm out from the side of your body so the palm of your hand is held facing back toward traffic and the other riders behind you.
3. Always wear a helmet, even on bike paths.
There have been serious bicycle accidents that have happened on quiet residential streets, on bike paths and in parking lots. Many bicycle accidents do not even involve automobiles. Accidents can happen to riders of any age, therefore you should wear a helmet regardless of your age. It should not matter whether you are riding across the street or on a busy road. Helmets are brightly colored so drivers can see you better. They also provide protection from the sun or rain. The main reason to wear a helmet is to protect your brain from injury if you were to collide into something unexpectedly. Read the rest of this entry »
Health Benefits of Bicycle Riding
Posted by in Bicycling on July 11, 2011
I loved riding my bike as a kid. We would ride all around town and back and forth to school. After school we got together to ride bicycle and talk about what happened at school, our worries, our dreams. Bike riding kept us healthy, busy and happy. As an adult I realize bike riding offers many benefits for the body, as well as for the spirit. Now that I am in my 40′s I started again to enjoy it. One of the things the doctor ordered was exercise to be in better health condition.
Bicycling is a good cardiovascular exercise that could increase the health of your heart. A bike with several speeds will allow you to increase you fitness level as your cardiovascular function improves. Begin by riding at an easy speed over even ground. If what you want is a challenge change your terrain.
Bicycling is kind to the joints. As we get older we experience Joint pain especially in the knees as they Osteoporosis causes joint problems to worsen because of the lack of proper calcium levels in the bones. Bike riding offers exercise without pain. The aerobic benefit is comparable to jogging or running without the strain. Check that the seat height on your bike is adjusted to allow your legs full range of motion with each revolution. Full range of motion also promotes better circulation to the lower extremities which do the majority of the work in moving the bicycle.
Bicycling whips those leg muscles into shape. For muscular endurance, stick to a flat terrain, but adjust the speed of the bike as your strength improves. To avoid cramping, stretch thoroughly before and after each bike ride. Read the rest of this entry »