Cycling provides several health benefits in terms of physical, mental, and emotional wellness. It’s also a sociable sport where, when group cycling, you can connect with people from various socio-economic backgrounds and learn something new every day.
If you haven’t been cycling for a long time and you’re trying to find inspiration, group cycling is all the therapy you need. Here are the top ten health benefits you can acquire when riding your bike in a group.
1. The Early Bird Habit
We all know waking early is good for your body. Though it may take time to get into the habit, once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll feel content and refreshed.
Cycling in the morning will give you a mental and physical boost leaving you feeling energized throughout the day. The result, in the end, is that you’ll be able to develop a healthy habit of waking early. This also means you get to finish activities at work and come home – on time.
2. A Little Push
If you’re group riding, you’ll be motivated to wake up early. If, somehow, you miss the morning alarm, one of the members of your group can give you a call.
Sometimes, due to pressures at work or personal troubles, we tend to sit at home and brood on it repeatedly. Our stress levels pique, and we forget the entire routine that was put in place for living healthily.
If this is you, then you may be at a point where you may need a little extra motivation or a push to get you out of the house. This is where your group members come in, and it is one of the great benefits you can have when cycling with them.
3. Being Fit
Cycling in the morning will make you stay fit and healthy. You’ll also be motivated to cycle more in a group. All that catching up will make you cover more miles and lose more calories than you imagined. Even bicycling around your neighborhood can improve your mental and physical health by about twenty percent and burn 2000 calories weekly.
4. Safety in a Group
We all know there’s safety in numbers. If your chain falls off or you get a flat tire, there’ll be people around you to help you. In addition, crossing roads in numbers is easier than crossing them solo. Not all motorized vehicles will stop to give way, but when you are crossing as a group, they have no option.
5. Help Overcome Stress, Anxiety & Depression
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical entity. When you decide to take a step outside, your mental health improves immediately. So imagine what’ll happen when you wake in the wee early hours of the morning and go cycling with your friends or colleagues! It’ll strengthen your bond with them and leave you feeling rejuvenated.
6. Connect With Others
Apart from your friends, you can also connect with new participants. Sharing stories about each other’s lives can make group cycling more exciting and lively. Plus, you get to make new friends and grow your network.
When group cycling, you also get to learn new things from others. For example, learning about new bikes, emergency maneuver techniques (such as quick turn, quick brake, quick dodge etc.), hacks to fix broken parts or tips on where you can store your things on your bike.
In addition, you also get to learn about the people riding with you. Their culture, societal norms, and traditions are among the many things you can discover when bike riding together.
7. Improves Cardiovascular Health
Cycling itself lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases. When group riding, you tend to ride longer and further, which helps with your posture, and coordination, increases your heart rate, and enhances your overall physical fitness.
8. Appreciate Nature
Cycling can be therapeutic. And when riding in a group, talking and laughing can become the best medicine for a sound body, mind, and soul.
Since you’ll ride in a group, you can take the long, scenic route together. You’ll be able to connect more with nature and appreciate its beauty. If you and your group are up for the challenge, you can try mountain biking up hills and through forest terrains.
9. Builds Confidence & Appreciation for Life
Each of us is struggling with a different reality. If you’ve been an introvert for most of your life, group cycling can help you change that. Once you ride with others and get to know them, you’ll see how you’re no different from them. This fact actually helps us appreciate our life and value the people around us. It boosts our confidence level, and in time, you’ll be able to see the difference in your life and work productivity.
10. Increases Patience and Stamina
Cycling builds endurance and strengthens muscles. It gives you the stamina you need to get through the day. Beginners in the group can slow down a few paces to catch up. This improves the patience levels of cyclists.
Final Thoughts
Bike riding in a group can be a fantastic experience. Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll never want to ride solo again. It provides several helpful and healthy benefits for the mind and body. Group cycling can bring one out of their shell and engage with other like-minded souls. The main advantage when riding in a group is that if one of the members feels tired, everyone else can take a break to give that member some time to catch up. This is what group cycling is all about. Teamwork!
