Bike Workouts that Make You Feel Better
Bike workouts make you feel better because they release endorphins and the release of endorphins makes you feel good about yourself. There are four types of bike workouts that can make you feel better. Stationary workouts, short distance sprints, medium distance casual and long distance cross country.
Types of bike workouts
Stationary bikes are good for people on the go who don’t have time to leave their busy lives, but still need a ‘pick me up’. They are at every local gym and they provide the lift a busy person needs without having to weave in and out of traffic. Most stationary bikes provide different terrains that simulate with very good accuracy what the real life scenario would seem like. They also provide heart rate, caloric burn and miles traveled which is something that makes you feel better because there is a sense of satisfaction in seeing what you have accomplished and you can’t get that without a lot of instrumentation on a real bike. If the instruments are small and sleek, there are usually difficult to find and expensive to purchase. If they are cheaper and affordable, they are bulky and hard to deal with. Stationary bike workouts give you the satisfaction of a real bike workout without the difficulties associated with a real bike workout. They are perfect for the busy on the go professional.
Short distance sprints are great for the individuals who still nurture their inner child. There is a thrill in going as fast as you can for as long as you can and when you can do this on a bike. Whipping through the wind makes it all the better. In order to complete this workout, you will need space for safety reasons and the proper safety equipment, which you should have at all times anyway. You will need a speedometer and an odometer. A heart rate monitor and caloric burn monitor. Most of this can be found at your local bike store and in most cases, you can find at least two monitors if not more in one. For sprinting, the best bike is your traditional ten-speed with street tires that will glide along the asphalt trail or bike path you pick to ride on. This ride allows you to achieve the highest possible heart rate and caloric burn in the shortest amount of time. It offers the vitamin D factor that you cannot get while being stuck in a gym and it just makes you feel good about yourself. This workout makes you feel powerful like you can do anything. This workout is perfect for the young at heart that still have a little time to play.
Bike workouts for the whole family
Medium distance casual are perfect for families who like to bike together or individuals who have more time leisurely when biking. They can be done at any time but they seem most fitting in the early evening, right before or after dinner. They are a slower, more relaxed ride which allow for the meanderer or just people who like to wander on bikes; a person who takes the time to smell the roses. For all intensive purposes, this is like taking a walk on two wheels. Any bike will do and with the proper safety equipment which usually just means an affordable, safety approved helmet, you could be biking in a few hours. The workout potential is somewhat lower than the other three types, but you will feel better just the same. Depending on the distance and speed traveled, if you travel at a slower, steadier pace which is likely since it’s not a race. You will cover more distance than a short distance sprint, you will achieve the outdoor advantages such as the vitamin D factor provided you bike when the sun is still up or if you ride in the evening, it’s still a calming ride. Even though it may not burn excessive calories, it will burn calories and in this case, the exercise seems less chore-like, which means it’s more likely to fit into the family routine. It is most suited to being a family activity which is commonly more and more becoming forgotten activities. It is highly suited for neighborhoods in suburbs, although it’s something that can be done anywhere, with friends as well as family and even alone. This workout is suited to a person who is into casual exercise and has time to enjoy nature through natural activity.
Long distance cross-country is a workout that is for the intense bicycle enthusiast. This workout is not casual, short or easy. As always, proper safety equipment is a must. This workout is conducted in wide open spaces. It can be done with a street bike or a mountain bike. Street long distance workouts usually utilize ten or twelve speed bikes with tires that are best suited for riding on asphalt, whereas mountain bikes are best suited for dirt trails and hilly terrain with switchbacks. This is a fun and on your own ride. There is less concern for where your fellow rider is and how he/she is doing. This is a high distance, high heart rate and high caloric-burn ride.
After you complete this ride, your adrenaline will be pumping. You may not go as fast as the short distance sprint ride but you go much faster than the medium distance casual. Speed wise, you should be about the same as the stationary bike. This is a fun ride for adventure seekers and serious bicycle riders. This is for the most part a weekend activity when you go to desert or the mountains on a vacation or when you have nothing to do and a few hours to spend. It will burn more calories than any of the other workouts put together because you should be travelling at higher rate of speed for a longer amount of time.
All of these bike workouts will make you feel better, they are simple, easy and for the most part inexpensive.