Top Reasons to Ride a Bike

Many people like to ride a bike out of pure enjoyment and will look forward to a leisurely ride on occasion. However, there are many other reasons you may wish to ride a bike and several benefits both to your body and lifestyle. Here are the top five:

1. Cycling saves money
For those of you who are feeling the effects of the current credit crunch may be looking into ways to save money. By cutting out some of the big expenses you pay out during the month such as a wasted gym membership, you may be saving small amounts. However it is the everyday costs, which build up to a substantial amount of your monthly outgoings. Choosing to cycle instead of driving around will end up saving you a small fortune both on petrol and repairs. Then there is also the added benefit of bikes not needing an MOT or insurance. The upfront cost of buying a good quality bike somewhere in the price-range of a popular Specialized bike may seem daunting, but many work-places offer a bike buying scheme. Ask your employer today about this.

2. Keeps you fit
Cycling is one of the easiest ways to both lose weight and stay fit and healthy. By leisurely cycling for around an hour a day you can burn around 300 calories and this may be much more if your route includes hills or you choose to cycle more vigorously. If you choose to cycle to work and back each day, this could amount to a significant amount of extra exercise every week, which will keep you both trim and young.

3. Puts you in a good mood
When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These are more commonly known as 'Happy Hormones' and can block feelings of pain as well as help increase that feeling of wellbeing after exercising. Cycling is known as a particularly good way to release a large number of endorphins making you feel even happier and euphoric than when you are doing other forms of exercise.

4. Helps the environment
This may not be very high on everybody's agenda, but saving the environment is vastly becoming one of the most talked about subjects due to the fact people are starting to realise how much damage we are doing to the world. By using a bike instead of a car you are doing your bit to help the environment and significantly reducing your carbon footprint. For example, cycling to and from work everyday is a great way to ensure you are making a difference.

5. There is literally a bike for everyone!
Compared to cars, pushbikes have far more of an affordable range to choose from. From the most basic road bike to top of the range, high quality mountain bikes - there is literally something for everyone. Unlike cars, you can also custom build your own bike made from the parts you choose. For example you may wish to by a high quality Specialized frame for your bike but not require all the top quality parts, so you can add more basic and slightly cheaper parts in order to make it affordable. The great thing about this is that when you are ready to upgrade, it is just a matter of taking that part out and replacing it with a better part - something you wouldn't normally do with a car.

About Primera: We are often described as the leading UK bike specialist on the South coast. Catering to all disciplines of cycling including triathlons, we offer products both off and online. We have a huge range of mountain bikes such as Specialized bikes as well as Specialized cycling accessories.