The benefits of cycling
Apologies if I sound really repetitive but the success of this project is based on the community and based on individual contributions from people all over the world and as a collective we can inspire and motivate each other via photography, art and articles. If you would like to contribute please visit the contributor page.
I have received some amazing feedback on my own personal projects but I want this project to be a community project and we can inspire each other.
my personal love of cycling
My personal hobby is cycling and yes I am a member of the MAMIL group, ( Middle age men in lycra.) I have enjoyed cycling since I was a kid and bikes were an important part of my childhood and again my dad was my inspiration.
My dad was born in Castleisland, Country Kerry in Ireland and his house/farm was 3 miles from Castleisland town and he had to either walk to school or borrow his brother’s bike that was an old style steel bike from the 1950s. Growing up in London, dad would always have a bike and cycle to building sites all over London and he loved the freedom and just being outside and exploring the wonderful sites of London. The image below is a great example of a 1960s steel framed bike and over the years by dad purchased many different versions for his commute. The image below brings back amazing memories as he would fix his sandwich box to the back and always return home with the London evening standard newspaper attached to the rack.
I have so many great stories about my dad and his escapades on his bikes but one that always makes me laugh relates to an incident with the police in the summer of 1990. Most summer holidays from the age of 16, I would work on the building sites with dad for extra cash for school and college. One summer, we were working on the hospital extension at Guys hospital London. My dad chained up his bike to a lamppost but the top light was missing. A group of lads on the building site, including me thought it would be very funny to jump on the back of a truck and slowly push the bike over the top of the lamppost and then hide his bike. It took 6 of us to slowly manoeuvre the bike up the lamppost and we were nearly over the top when we heard the police sirens!. Two police cars and 4 police officers stopped us and told us to line up against the police cars. We tried to explain that it was a joke and I asked permission to find my dad in the canteen ( his favourite place) and he would explain. I was allowed to find my dad and bring him to the front of the building site. Police officer “ Good afternoon sir, is this your bike?”, “ yes officer.”; replied by dad. “ We just stopped these men stealing your bike and we believe they are responsible for the increase in bicycle thefts in the area. Do you know these men ?” We all relaxed as we knew Dad would vouch for us. Dad, “ Officer, I have never seen these men before…..”. In our shock we did not see Dad give a cheeky wink and smile to one of the policeman. Then dad checked his bike and said “ Would you like my details for the trial?”.
At this stage one of the police officers started with the caution “You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
We all panicked and then one of the officers could not hold contain himself anymore and burst out laughing and hugged my dad and said
“ You deserve an Oscar for that great acting”
my happy memories of cycling
Every time. I ride my bike I think of my dad and it really makes me happy to have this connection and as I have mentioned in a few of my articles, the power of gratitude on our minds. I am so grateful and happy that my dad was my inspiration and I know how he worked hard and volunteered for overtime to ensure that he could nurture my passion for cycling as a child. I remember, the Christmas morning rushing down to open my various Christmas presents from the Raleigh Chopper to my BMX, that was fuelled by the 1983 film BMX bandits or the release of the film ET. I was obsessed with BMX bikes and the kids on our estate would build ramps from old bits of wood and bricks. I am very lucky and fortunate to still have the same friends from my childhood and we meet up on a regular basis and we have an Amigos Christmas Sunday club drink, ( always the last Sunday before Christmas day.) We often talk about the BMX days and how we would build these makeshift ramps and then lie down to see how many people Micky Conlon could jump over!. I still vividly remember the day when we persuaded 12 kids in the park to lie down and still remember the look on his face in mid air when he released he was not going to make it !! And I still remember the sound of the crunch as his back wheel landed on a poor kids face ! I think the image below encapsulates the freedom of flying in the air on your BMX!
Why do I enjoy cycling ?
For me personally, my knees are struggling with wear and tear from years of playing rugby, football and running and I love the fact that cycling is low impact. More importantly, it provides the opportunity to explore nature, Please read my article on the benefits of spending time in nature. I really enjoy cycling and exploring new cycle paths, towns and villages.
I also find it a brilliant stress relive and it is also a type of mediation as you need to focus on the road, manage your gears and concentrate on obstacles etc. The combination of being in nature and focusing the mind has a brilliant meditative impact. I am still a novice but it is on my list to try and taster day at the local cycling club as my research for this project has shown me that spending time with a group and sharing any passion is great for your mental wellbeing. The image was taken in local cycle friendly woods with a bridle path but please remember to be aware of dog walkers, runners and horse riders and be respectful.
Loneliness has become a modern affliction of epidemic proportions and a 2019 YouGov survey recorded that 44% of UK men admit to frequent feelings of loneliness. Cycling with a group offers a unique opportunity for men to open and talk about issues rather than bottling them up. Please check out your local cycling club and I have noticed that my local club runs a taster day on the last Sunday of the month. They stress that everyone is welcome and you don’t need a fancy road bike and more importantly the pace will be slow and no one will get left behind. I will take my own advice and try and taster day, when the weather gets better!. As I am writing this update the temperature in the UK is -4 and just started to snow !
If you are based in the UK there is a great scheme called https://www.bike2workscheme.co.uk/ and you can save up to 42% of the cost of the bike and accessories as your company will debit the cost of your bike from your salary before tax and national insurance. Speak to your human resources department to see if they are a member or ask them to join. It is a fantastic scheme and all major bike retailers are members and you can redeem your voucher for a ebike, mountain bike or road bike. I am not sure if there are similar schemes in other countries but it is a great initiative to purchase a bike via your employer, you save tax, get fit and great for the environment and reducing your carbon footprint.
The benefits of cycling
The following benefits are based on my own personal experience and you don’t need to invest heavily in all the latest gadgets or carbon bikes but just give it a try.
Improves cardiovascular health: Cycling is a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, as it helps to increase your heart rate and improve blood flow throughout your body. Please read my article “ Why did I wake up in an ambulance” to understand the catalyst for this project. I still don’t know why I had a seizure on the way to work but my medical investigations did Identify that I had a slow heart rate and also some eptopic beats. My article “ Looking after my heart and cardiovascular health” is a more detailed summary of the issue. However, I honestly believe that cycling has been one of the main drivers for such an improvement in my heart health.
Builds muscle strength and endurance: Cycling can help to build muscle strength and endurance in your legs, hips, and core. It is such a great all round exercise and please remember that you will build muscle and strength and you might actually see an increase in your weight!. That is why I encourage you to measure your weight as a guide but it will fluctuate and remember muscle weighs more than fat!
Helps with weight loss: Cycling can help you to burn calories and lose weight, as it is a great form of cardiovascular exercise. As you know, I am a data geek and the Strava App is a great tool to monitor your progress, look at your maps and identify new routes and also share your progress with friends and family to keep you motivated and accountable. Cycling outdoors is brilliant for mixing up the pace and you can try short sprints to hit both your aerobic and *anaerobic systems that will increase your calorie burn.
Aerobic = “with air” , and refers to the body producing energy with the use of oxygen.
Anaer0bic - “without air”, and refers to the body producing energy without oxygen and is typically exercise performed at high intesity.
Reduces stress and improves mental health: Cycling can help to reduce stress and improve your mental health, as it can provide a sense of freedom and help to clear your mind. This has been one of the key benefits for me and I find there is a strong community and cyclists will always stop for a chat, provide advice and always help if you are stuck on the side of the road trying to fix a puncture. When you exercise outdoors it increases your endorphins and elevates your mood and being in fresh air will lower your stress and reduce your cortisol levels.
Low-impact exercise: Cycling is a low-impact form of exercise, which means that it is easy on your joints and is a great option for people who may have joint pain or arthritis. Just like swimming, this is one of the key benefits for me and I know my knees are struggling but cycling has been brilliant and I can easily cycle 20km with no adverse impact to my kness.
Improves balance and coordination: Cycling requires balance and coordination, which can help to improve these skills over time. My wife laughed at this statement as I ended up in a ditch on my 4th cycle on my new road bike. I was really motivated to buy a new road bike and I spoke to my work colleagues ( all expert cyclists) and they said “ You must use cycling shoes with cleats”. These are shoes that fix directly into the peddle of the bike and provide extra traction and cadence for your cycling. It took me some practice to cycle with these shoes but on my 4th ride, I came to a junction and forgot to take my foot off the peddle and lost me balance and ended up in a ditch with the bike on top of me. I really made me laugh and took me about 10 minutes to free myself from the peddles. Half was through my struggles, a van passed and shouted “ You can’t park there…..” and I noticed they were videoing on their camera phone! I have never seem the video but maybe iy went viral !
Improves overall fitness: Cycling can improve your overall fitness levels, as it provides a full-body workout that can help to improve your strength, endurance, and cardiovascular health.
Eco-friendly transportation: Cycling is an eco-friendly mode of transportation, as it does not produce any emissions and can help to reduce your carbon footprint. This is a fantastic benefit and I am very passionate about the environment and reversing climate change and it is great to see so many cyclists on the roads in London commuting to work.
A few ideas to get started
If you are new to cycling, it cam be a bit daunting but in the United Kingdom there are brilliant cylcle only lanes and paths for you to practice and improve your confidence. I would also recommend hiring a bike in an off road location or forest away from traffic and cars. I have hired bikes in the following 2 locations with the family and they were great and safe experiences.
1. Cyclexperience - New Forest & Dorset Bike Hire
This is a fantastic company to hire a range of bikes and explore the fantastic New Forest. The area has many well-maintained trails and paths, making it an ideal place for exploring the great outdoors. The New Forest has a rich history and heritage, dating back to the time of William the Conqueror. It has many ancient monuments, such as the Rufus Stone, and traditional New Forest villages, such as Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.
You will be provided with a map of the area and The New Forest is known for its delicious local produce, such as fresh seafood, game meat, and locally brewed ale. There are many pubs, restaurants, and cafes in the area, serving up tasty dishes made with locally sourced ingredients and great places for a stop on the bike.
For me it is a great opportunity to spend time in nature.The New Forest is a stunning natural landscape, filled with ancient woodlands, heathland, and open fields. It is home to an array of wildlife, including deer, ponies, and birds, and is a popular spot for nature lovers. The biggest attaction is the wild ponies and it is magnificinet to share the paths with these beautiful creatures.
2, https://www.bike-treks.co.uk/
This is a bike hire company in the Grizedale Forest,Lake District. Just like the New Forest this is a beautiful part of the UK and the Grizedale Forest paths are traffic free and brilliant trails to enjoy your cycling.
The above are just some of the benefits of cycling from my own personal experience and it would be brilliant for you to share your cycling routes and experiences from around the world by sharing on our social media channels. If you would like to share your hobbies or experiences by contributing an article please contact me via the contributors page. We are looking for a diverse list of contributors and it can it cover any of your passions from rock climbing, to photography, astronomy, cooking, art, hiking, music, your choir etc.
If you have embarked on an epic cycling tour and would like to share your experience then please contact me. I have been inspired by some recent Facebook posts that have appeared on my feed of people cycling from Cambodia to Thailand!.
Good luck with your cycling adventures !!