- Biking can improve your appearance.
- With summer soon to be around the corner and vaccines making hanging out with friends in person more viable, we all want to show off our post-quarantine summer bods. Regular bike riding has been found to improve strength in the glutes, thighs, hamstrings, and calves, all integral to maintaining balance and a steady pace on a bike. Over time, biking, combined with a healthy diet, can greatly enhance weight loss. No more do you have to awkwardly navigate a crowded gym with complex equipment to meet your weight loss goals. Instead, take a bike ride and let others see the results.
- You’ll be smarter
- As college students, grades can often be the source of a great amount of stress. Thankfully, your studies can be enhanced with bike riding. In studies done by the University of Akron that tested the effect of bike riding on cognitive ability, researchers found that those who cycled did 15% better on mental tests compared to those who did not bike. Furthermore, regular bike riding can help prevent the development of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
- You’ll be less sleepy
- Besides stress, college students are also very familiar with tiredness. Whether it be cramming for an exam or struggling to finish a project, all of us wish we had more energy. While it may sound odd, the physical exertion given off in bike riding can actually serve as a wake-up call to your brain. Instead of chugging away at caffeine that you’ve more than likely become immune to, try going for a bike ride before your 8 A.M class and you might find yourself looking forward to waking up early.
Besides, the hidden benefits of biking, much of what we know about regular bike riding is clear. Bike riding enhances cardiovascular health, sustains joints, and can help curb sedentary lifestyles. Besides the health benefits of biking, making sure your bike is in working condition through proper and regular maintenance will help ensure your riding is free of any speed bumps. Before finding out the hidden benefits of biking, be sure to register your bike, and ride safely. If you have any questions, feel free to reach to bike@illinois.edu. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
