Get on Your Bike and Get Fit: Some Essential Advice for Success

Are you one of those people who has tried a thousand ways to get fit and found that none of them work for you? It can be a real frustration, but you shouldn’t just give up. The right way to get fit for you could be just around the corner. One thing that you should definitely try out is cycling. This is a great way to get fit and work out. It moves lots of muscles, and it’s a cardiovascular form of exercise. I found that I really enjoyed the challenge of spin classes a couple of years ago, but due to scheduling, I was unable to keep up with going to the studio classes. Luckily, I saved up some money and bought myself a spin bike for my home gym and have really enjoyed it (the pink bike in the picture above is mine). Here are some tips to help you get fit through cycling:

Fuel Your Ride the Right Way

What you put into your body is just as important as what you do on your bike. You need to eat healthily in order to ensure that your cycling efforts aren’t cancelled out by your poor diet. But, at the same time, you also need to make sure that your body is fuelled for the ride ahead. If it’s not, then you could run out of energy and burn out before you have finished your ride. That’s no good for your fitness efforts in the long-term.

Set Your Bike Up Properly and Make it Comfortable

You should set your bike up in the right way. If you don’t do this, you won’t be able to get what you want from the bike. You won’t be able to cycle it properly or for as long if you’re not comfortable when you’re riding it. Your leg should be straight when the pedal is at the lowest point. So, adjust the saddle of the bike until that’s the case. Bicycle insurance is important if you want to make sure that your bike is safe when you’re not using it too. I have too many friends who have lost their expensive road bikes due to accidents or theft that this is a pretty great idea.

Do Intervals

Intervals are short bursts of cycling that you should do when you’re on your bike. It’s all about changing pace and putting your body through a more intense workout for a short burst of time. These bursts of increased intensity don’t have to last for very long. It can be good to make them last for about a minute before going back to your normal cycling pace again. If you want to lose weight and improve your fitness, going at a steady pace and not changing things up won’t work as well. Instead, you need to push yourself a bit further sometimes. There are actually a lot of good youtube videos and apps out there that have virtual trainers & playlists to keep you motivated for rides either on the road or on your bike at home.

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Always Stretch Before Getting in the Saddle

You should always make sure that you stretch properly before you get in the saddle. Warm up your muscles with a quick walk or some jumping jacks. When you do this, you will be able to ensure that you are prepared for what your body will be put through. Many people who are new to cycling underestimate just how strenuous and rigorous it can be for your body. That’s not a trap that you should allow yourself to fall into if you’re serious about getting fit. When you don’t stretch the muscles in your legs and arms properly, you will sustain an injury. Doing some squats is an especially good idea because they work out all the important muscles for cyclists, although lets be honest here- squatting is good for everything!