If you are one of those people who aren’t completely convinced that it’s a good idea to give up the car and ride the bike to work instead (if not on daily basis at least once in a while), I’ll bring up some solid arguments toward convincing you that getting on your bike and ride is the best possible idea you can come up with… Why? Read on and decide for yourself…

Bicycling, along with being the most efficient mode of human locomotion, is also one of the best all-around activities in order to improve your health. From head to toes, cycling’s health benefits are hard to beat, even if one would try… Therefore you should definitely take advantage of the healthy benefits of cycling as much as possible.

So, I’ve chosen to name 8 health benefits of cycling:

1. Cycling is good for your heart, because it is associated with improved cardiovascular fitness, as well as a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease. Your heart muscles are strengthened, resting pulse is lowered and blood fat levels reduced. It is a known fact that people who take regular physical activity suffer far less heart disease than people who don't!

2. Cycling is good for your muscles - Riding a bike is awesome for toning and building your muscles, especially in the lower half of the body: your calves, your thighs, and your rear end. It’s also a great low-impact mode of exercise for those with joint conditions or injuries to the legs or hips. Choosing cycling, will impact your strength, stamina, aerobic fitness and general muscle function and you’ll surely notice a great improvement when it comes to these functions. Cycling is a low impact activity and one of the safest ways to exercise without risk of over-exertion or strain to muscles and joints. Regular physical activity also facilitates other healthy behavior and could help you reduce weight or even give up smoking.

3. Cycling is good for your waistline, Shedding Excess Weight - You can burn a lot of calories while biking, especially when you cycle faster than a leisurely pace. Also, cycling has been associated with helping to keep weight gain down - and, it has the added benefit of ramping up your metabolism, even after the ride is over. By burning body fat and raising your metabolic rate you can of course lose weight. Therefore if you undertake physical activity regularly you can enjoy a more varied diet without increasing body weight. Cycling is known to be one of the most comfortable forms of physical activity for those who are new to exercise, allowing most people to get fit easily and safely.

4. Cycling is good for your lifespan - Cycling is a great way to increase your longevity, as it has often been associated with increased ‘life-years’, even when adjusted for risks of injury through cycling.

5. Cycling is good for your coordination - Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and your body’s own weight is definitely good practice for your coordination skills.

6. Cycling is good for your mental health – Some studies have linked riding the bike to improved mental health.

7. Reduces Stress - Anxiety, stress and depression are all ameliorated, partly because of the physical activity itself, but also due to the pleasure and satisfaction of riding a bike. Cycling is convenient for short journeys, and often proved to be a faster choice across town than any other forms of transport. It's a stress free means of taking physical activity because it can become part of your daily routine. So, choose to ride your bike, you'll feel better!

8. Cycling is good for your immune system - Cycling can strengthen your immune system, and may protect against certain kinds of cancers as well.

As three quarters of all personal journeys are usually less than 10 kilometers long (that's about half an hour on a bike), switching at least your short journeys from car to bicycle will benefit your health and your community, too. You would also help to reduce noise and air pollution, as well as traffic congestion.

Although more cycling is good for the environment and your local community, the biggest benefit however is for you as an individual!

Even with all these health benefits to cycling, some of you may ride them just for fun, or…

Why do you ride the bike? Share with us in the comments below.