10 Health Benefits of Mountain Biking
Date: 31 Oct 2019
Taking up mountain biking can be one of the best decision you can ever make when it comes to your health and longevity. In this article, we give 10 great reasons on how you can benefit …
- The cure for exhaustion
Feeling tired? Then go for a ride! It sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but a little physical activity for even a few minutes can be an effective wake-up call. A research study conducted by the University of Georgia revealed that exercise results in a significant drop in fatigue levels. “Too often we believe that a quick workout will leave us worn out - especially when we are already feeling fatigued,” said researcher and lead author of the study, Dr Tim Puetz. “However, we have shown that regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy - particularly in sedentary individuals.”
- Lose that stubborn belly fat
Sports physiologists have found that the body’s metabolic rate is not only raised during a ride but for several hours afterwards as well. Although your stomach muscles aren’t working as hard as your quads and glutes, its aerobic nature means you are burning fat. If you cycle at a moderately intensive pace - one where a conversation is possible but not easy (at less than 80% of your maximum heart rate) - three times a week for about 2 hours, you will burn a greater percentage of fat. Just be careful with the post-ride snacks!
- Get fit without trying too hard
Regular cycling has huge benefits that can justify you binning your gym membership. According to the US Coronary Heart Disease Foundation, regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person who is 10 years younger!
- Boost your self-confidence
Whether you just completed your first log, mastered that technical descent or cleared a gnarly rock garden, meeting challenges that you have set yourself can give you a major self-confidence boost. Improving your stamina and physical fitness level will help you feel good about your outer appearance too.
- Escape from everyday life
Mountain biking acts as a distraction and helps riders to take their mind off any worries temporarily. This escape from reality breaks the cycle of negative thoughts that contribute to anxiety.
- Don’t worry, be happy
The Mayo Clinic notes that exercise helps stave off depression by releasing endorphins. Physical activity also decreases the immune system chemicals that make depression worse. And that is why you typically end a ride happier than you started - unless you find yourself unprepared on the trail.
- Go easy on the joints
Mountain biking proves to be an ideal alternative for the growing number of people who may be suffering from knee injuries after years of high-impact sports, such as running. The sport offers similar cardiovascular benefits to running, but without the impact on your joints.
- Save the planet
Twenty bicycles can be parked in the same space as one car. It takes around 5% of the materials and energy used to make a car to build a bike and a bike produces zero pollution.
- Increase your brainpower
Researchers from the University of Illinois found that a 5% improvement in cardio-respiratory fitness from cycling led to an improvement of up to 15% in mental tests. That’s because cycling helps build new brain cells in the hippocampus - the region responsible for memory, which deteriorates from the age of 30.
- The Fountain of Youth
Cycling regularly can protect your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduce the signs of ageing. Dermatologist Dr Christopher Rowland Payne explains that increased circulation through exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells more effectively while flushing harmful toxins out. Exercise also creates an ideal environment within the body to optimise collagen production, helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles and speed up the healing process.
