Once winter arrives, many people put their bikes into storage. But, this doesn’t mean that you have to give up your rides. While the cold weather will require you to bundle up more, choosing to keep riding through the winter months provides you with some serious benefits for your mental and physical health. Taking a look at how bike riding helps you stay more engaged with your community can give you more motivation to keep up with your cycling routine.
Maintain Your Mental Health During the Winter
Many people struggle with a dip in their moods during the winter months. Fewer hours of daylight combined with holiday stress can cause you to feel more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Although you might feel the temptation to isolate at home, choosing to go on a bike ride helps your body get more sunlight and release endorphins that make you feel better. You’ll find that riding your bike to see your neighbors or visiting a nearby venue helps you get in the mood to socialize upon your arrival.
Make Strides Toward Your Fitness Goals
Putting your bicycle into storage only means that you’ll experience a temporary lapse in your normal fitness routine that can hold you back. Considering that the winter season spans several months, you’ll miss out on valuable opportunities to refine your skills.
Making bike riding a priority means that you won’t miss the chance to strengthen your cardiovascular system and leg muscles. Burning calories during your bike ride is also a great way to make progress toward your New Year’s resolutions for fitness.
Ride to Nearby Restaurants and Other Venues
Avid cyclists often find that they make new discoveries on their rides. Choosing to ride your bike to a nearby restaurant could help you discover a new place to get a cup of coffee or browse a bookstore.
Riding your bike also opens up chances to meet new people. Whether you stop to take a breather or walk your bike across the crosswalk, you’ll get the chance to engage with new people in exciting ways that could lead to new friendships.
Encourage Your Kids to Ride
Children also benefit from riding their bicycles in the winter. Your kids may enjoy riding their bikes to a nearby friend’s house for a play date. Or, they may have fun planning bicycle races with their siblings.
Riding your bikes to a local park as a family is a wonderful way to enjoy community amenities while boosting everyone’s mental and physical health. Teaching your children that bicycling in the wintertime is fun also builds a lifelong love for riding that they can use to stay fit as they grow.
Find a Bike That’s Comfortable for Winter Cycling
Finding the motivation to go cycling when it’s cold outside is easier when you have a bicycle that’s designed for winter riding. You’ll want to make sure that the seat is at the right height to accommodate your leg movements while wearing bulkier clothing.
Depending on where you live, you might also want to change your bike tires to wider versions that have tread designed for snowy or icy conditions. Adding a comfortable seat also makes it possible to enjoy longer rides. Your kids might need an adjustable bicycle that you can custom-fit as they grow over the next several months.
Remember to Prioritize Your Health and Safety
Similar to packing extra water to stay hydrated in the summer heat, you may need to take a few additional precautions to make winter riding safer. For instance, you’ll want to start your bike ride by checking the outdoor weather.
If the conditions are frigid, then adding extra layers of clothes and wearing gloves can protect your body from the cold. Most cyclists prefer layers that they can remove or put on to adjust their body temperature as they ride. If inclement weather is expected, you might choose to ride closer to home. But, getting out for even a short ride will still provide you with benefits for your health on colder days.
Bike riding is a year-round activity that everyone can enjoy. As you plan your rides, remember to take into account the ages and abilities of your cycling group. Then, keep up with safety checks and enjoy riding throughout your community all winter long.
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