Pedaling Toward Wellness: Why Cycling Might Be Your New Favorite Way to Move

Today is National Bike to Work Day, and it’s the perfect time to highlight a fun and flexible way to support your health: cycling! It’s an incredible outlet to stay active, reduce stress, and enjoy the outdoors, and it doesn’t matter if you’re just starting your fitness journey or simply looking to switch things up—biking might be exactly what you need.

So Many Ways to Ride

Cycling is so versatile! Depending on your goals and environment, you could have several options:

• Stationary biking: This is a great cardio option if you want to stay indoors or avoid rough terrain. It’s easy on the joints and lets you multitask—listen to a podcast, worship music, or a good audiobook (check out my recent blog for my book recommendations)!

• Road biking: Whether you’re commuting, cruising around the neighborhood, or running errands, riding your bike gets you moving and outside. It’s a great way to blend fitness with function.

• Mountain biking: For the adventurous types, this can be a full-body workout with the bonus of fresh air and beautiful views.

• Group cycling or spin classes: High energy, music-fueled, and a fantastic way to stay motivated with others.

The Benefits of Cycling

Here’s a glimpse at cycling’s real, science-backed benefits:

• Boosts heart health and endurance: Cycling is an excellent cardiovascular workout. It gets your heart rate up in a steady, controlled way—great for building endurance and supporting long-term heart health. Even just a few rides a week can help reduce your risk of heart disease and improve circulation.

• Strengthens your lower body: Pedaling powerfully works your glutes, hamstrings, quads, calves, and even your shin muscles, helping tone and strengthen your lower half. Regular cycling can increase muscle endurance and give you strong, sculpted legs that support all your other activities.

• Improves joint mobility without high impact: Unlike running or jumping, cycling is low-impact and gentle on your joints. That makes it a great option for people dealing with joint pain, arthritis, or recovering from injury. You still get movement, strength-building, and cardio—without the high-impact movement.

• Supports mental clarity and stress relief: There’s something calming about the rhythm of pedaling. Whether you’re riding through nature or zoning out during a stationary bike session, cycling can clear your mind, boost your mood, and help you process stress.

And if you try cycling to work or for errands, you might find it adds a bit of joy and rhythm to your day. That daily dose of fresh air, movement, and purpose can be a surprising boost to both your physical and spiritual wellness.

Keep Your Form in Check

Proper exercise form is always important, but particularly so when it comes to cycling—poor biking posture can leave your back in shambles. While there are different positions for the differing intensities of cycling—aerodynamic posture looks different than relaxed biking posture—I’ll leave you with some general tips to get you started!

Don’t:

• Round your back

• Arch your back

• Let your knees bow out to the side

Do:

• Maintain relaxed shoulders and bent elbows

• Engage your core

• Keep a neutral spine position

So even if cycling isn’t your favorite (or even on your radar), give it a chance today. You never know what small change could unlock a whole new level of wellness in your life.

Cheering you on,

Amber Dabney Smith

Your Hope Dealer