You know you will. When your heart ramps up, the endorphins start pumping and your ride provides a natural high.
The heart workout does you good as well, of course. Regular bike riding cuts the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Researchers at Baker IDI have shown that it improves heart capacity, lung function and blood circulation. Your heart muscles are strengthened and resting pulse is lowered.
In addition bike riding will help to maintain healthy levels of lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol) in the blood and helps to raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, thus preventing clogging of the arteries. It has a positive effect on blood vessels by improving their ability to widen and increase blood supply when necessary.
So how much good can you do your cardiovascular system in a month? Let’s establish a baseline. Measure your resting heart rate (here’s a simple guide) and write it down. We’ll check it again in a few weeks and see if it’s changed. Here’s a guide to normal resting heart rates. We covered this in more detail in our Hale and hearty article.
Now put out your riding clothes tonight before bed so you’re set for the morning. But what clothes?
Tip – dress in layers
Dress in layers so you can peel them off as you warm up.
It’s also likely to be colder in the morning and warmer for your ride home, so layers allow you to tailor the right combo for the temperature. Take an extra layer of warmer clothes in case the weather turns. Sorted.
This was post number one of Ride On‘s June riding challenge.
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