Definition
A bicycle also called a bicycle, is a two-wheeled steerable machine that is pedaled by the rider’s feet.

USAGE

Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of a bicycle for personal transportation, exercise, or touring, for everyday activity, or as an intense, competitive endeavor and other forms of recreation.
Cycling is a low-impact aerobic exercise that offers many benefits.  It is also suitable for all levels, as it varies in intensity.
Cycling causes less strain and injury than most other forms of exercise.  This means that it is one of the healthiest forms of exercise.  It can actually be a hobby that you can enjoy continuously.

BENEFITS

Cycling offers individuals numerous fitness benefits, including:

• Weight control.  Physical activity while cycling burns calories and boosts metabolism to help control weight and fight obesity.  Studies suggest that incorporating sprinting and strength training with regular cycling can temporarily speed up your metabolism and build muscle, allowing you to burn more calories, even while you’re at rest.

• Good heart health.  Cycling reduces the risk of heart disease.  Aerobic exercise in cycling increases cardiac output, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and keeps the heart strong.

• Strength and improves joint mobility.  Cycling uses low-impact exercises to promote strong muscles and bones while minimizing stress on the joints.

• Defines shape and muscle tone. Cycling helps develop good muscle tone, especially in the legs and hips.

• Increases balance.  To stay stable on the bike, our abs work overtime.  The constant contraction of our abdominal muscles as we ride improves their strength and, in turn, our overall balance.

• Increases flexibility – Cycling helps loosen the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and hips.  In this way, the lower body becomes more flexible over time.

• Improves coordination – cyclists pedal with their feet, steer with their arms and keep their heads on the swivel to look for cars and pedestrians.  This can lead to improved hand-to-leg, foot-to-hand, and body-to-eye coordination.

• Reduces the risk of certain diseases and health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.  Cycling can also lower cholesterol.

• Good circulation.  Movement while cycling increases blood flow throughout the body, which increases oxygenation to the muscles, brain, and heart.

• Cycling can help people with cancer.  Cycling is a fantastic care plan if you have or are recovering from cancer.  Cycling can also help keep you lean and fit, which can reduce your risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.

• Overall well-being.  Regular exercise helps promote more energy, and stamina and reduce stress.  It reduces anxiety and depression.  It makes you feel good and gives you more energy to do other things during the day.

Many people also find that cycling can reduce their transportation costs by minimizing the use of a car, while others enjoy the opportunities for slow travel through national parks and other scenic areas that cycling provides.

RESEARCHES

Cycling is a topic of research in many different areas of medicine and public health. As of 2017, several clinical trials continue to gather valuable medical information regarding the use of cycling as a form of low-impact exercise for people with osteoarthritis and as part of an obesity treatment program. 

However, as in other sports disciplines, injuries occur in cycling as well.  Public health researchers are studying the rates, risk factors, and distribution of traumatic and overuse injuries associated with cycling, as well as various approaches to reducing the risk of such injuries.