As fuel prices rocket, the cost of driving is a good reason to leave the car at home. Cycling to work also improves your health and can be enjoyable.
Whether you are popping out to the shops, cycling to work or enjoying a family bike ride with the family, North Devon has some of the best cycle routes available. Whether you are enjoying a scenic ride along the Tarka Trail to Instow, or alongside the River Taw, through Rock Park for a picnic, there has never been more reasons to grab your bike!
Take a look at the Barnstaple Cycle guide below..
Benefits of Switching to Cycling
Cycling combines physical exercise with the beauty of the outdoors and exploring new places.
You can ride alone which gives you time to process concerns and troubles or spend valuable time with family and friends.
Exercise releases endorphins which in turn help you feel better whilst lowering stress levels.
The resistance element of cycling means muscle is built as well as burning fat.
Muscle is leaner than fat so people with a bigger muscle percentage burn more calories.
You will also tone your gluteus maximus so it isn’t all bad!
Cycling is amazing at getting blood pumping around your body as it burns calories which in turn limits your chances of being overweight.
A study by the University of Glasgow studied 260,000 people over 5 years and found that cycling to work can cut a riders risk of developing heart disease or cancer in half.
A study carried out on past Tour de France riders shown an increase in the racers ages.
The average person at the time of study lived for 73.5 years where as the cyclists lived until 81.5 years!
The simplest weight loss equation is the more calories you burn the more weight you lose.
Cycling burns between 400 & 1,000 calories an hour dependant on intensity and rider weight.
In the real world if you you combine cycling with a well balanced diet and good sleep pattern you should lose weight.
Unlike running, cycling isn’t a weight-bearing activity which means you have a much lower chance of muscle damage, inflammation and sore joints.
It is always important to make sure the bikes seat and handlebars are adjusted properly before riding to prevent aches, pains or injury.