One of my most vivid memories of being a kid is when I got my first bicycle. I assume that is probably the case for many people. The feeling of fun and freedom that came with hopping on my bike, cruising around, and hitting sweet jumps was amazing.
Eventually, as I got older, instead of riding my bike places I would take the city bus and once I got my driver’s license I would drive to where I needed to go. My life has come full circle now that I am middle-aged and I ride a bike around my neighborhood both for fun and to burn calories. I cannot hit sweet jumps like I used to, but I still enjoy riding around and it is a radder way to burn calories in my opinion compared to being on a treadmill.
According to Harvard Medical School, a person weighing 185 pounds bicycling (non-stationary) for 30 minutes at a speed of 12-13.9 miles per hour burns about 336 calories. Doing ‘moderate’ cycling on a stationary bike burns about 294 calories every 30 minutes for a person weighing the same number of pounds (185).
In 2011 a team of researchers based in Finland conducted a meta-analysis of 16 cycling-specific studies, finding that “the existing evidence reinforces the current efforts to promote cycling as an important contributor for better population health.”
A separate study conducted in 2022 by researchers based in Missouri found that “preliminary evidence suggests older adults who ride a bicycle have better balance than those who do not.”
Lastly, a recent study conducted by researchers affiliated with various universities and health entities from several states in the U.S. found that “people who participated in bicycling had a lower prevalence of frequent knee pain” and that “bicycling may be favorable to knee health and should be encouraged.”
If you have a bike collecting dust in your garage or shed, perhaps it is time to whip it out! Be safe, wear a helmet, and if you are bicycling at night time make sure to use a light. Happy peddling 🙂
***
Disclaimer: The contents of this article and this website are not meant to substitute for the professional advice of a doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer. This content is provided as an educational tool to help people on their fitness journeys. While we strive to research topics as much as possible and provide useful and accurate information to the best of our abilities, we also strongly recommend talking to your doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer before starting any workout, therapeutic, or nutritional regimen, as each individual’s needs and situations vary depending on the person.