5 Reasons to Take Up Cycling

Our good friend Emily Kachorek, who rides for the women’s cycling team Vanderkitten recently posted a candid and inspiring message on Facebook titled “Why I Ride.” The post quickly went viral, and it got us thinking – cycling has always had a lot of men’s professional teams, but more women are getting into the sport too! So, ladies, if you’re considering whether or not to get into cycling, consider these five convincing reasons to get out there and start cycling:

1. You’ll get a Great Workout

Cycling is great for all ages and fitness levels because it’s a workout can be easily adjusted to suit many different fitness goals. You can go on long flat rides for a slow paced workout to gradually build up your cardio, or shorter hilly rides to get your heart pumping for interval-type training.

Cycling is also great for people with joint problems because it provides a low impact workout while still getting you to sweat!

2. Cycling Reduces Stress like no other Sport

Studies have shown that exercise reduces stress and can minimize anxiety, but cycling is even better at reducing stress than your average workout. Being outside in the sunshine and watching the scenery go by as you ride can boost your serotonin levels and put your mind at ease.

3. Adrenaline Junkies are Welcome

Cyclists get to go fast! Riding is a great fix for adrenaline junkies and is a lot safer than a lot of other extreme sports. This adrenaline rush is what keeps you working hard and pushing yourself long after you would have thrown in the towel at the gym.

4. You can be an Explorer

When you’re out cycling you can cover a much larger distance than if you were running or walking; and being outdoors, whether you are on a scenic nature trail or whizzing through the city, always provides new experiences and sights to see. Cycling is an adventure that you get to write every time you get on your bike!

5. Cycling is Accessible for Beginners

Most adults already know how to ride a bike, so instead of learning something brand new, you simply have to learn how to get better as a cyclist.

All you need to get started cycling is a bike, a helmet, and a – and you don’t have to break the bank to get these. There are plenty of places where you can find a used bike if you don’t want to spring for a new one, helmets are relatively inexpensive to begin with, and the Halo II Pullover Headband is a low-cost sweatband that’s perfect for use by cyclists under a helmet. Some other accessories that you may want to pick up include:

• Sunglasses
• Cycling gloves
• Padded bike shorts
• Reflective tape for your bike or a hi-vis shirt
• Waterproof wallet/cell phone pouch

Cycling is already popular nationwide so getting plugged into a community is easy no matter where you live. Even if you just want to ride casually a lot of your friends probably already own bikes, so you’re likely to find some people that are willing to go on rides with you.

So, no matter what your reasons are, hop on a bike and get started! You’ll be glad you did! And once you get it in gear, tell us, why do you ride?

Staying Hydrated While Working Out

Staying hydrated is vital during any physical activities, but can often be an afterthought. Not staying hydrated gets people into trouble, particularly when undergoing serious physical exertion like trail running, cycling, and team sports. It’s incredibly easy to become dehydrated during these times. Unfortunately, the body usually does not do a very good job of signaling dehydration until it’s too late. At Halo Headband, we believe it’s important to make sure to take preventative measures to maintain hydration when exercising.

Hydration needs can be broken down into three segments – pre-exercise, during exercise, and post-exercise. Taking care of your body’s hydration needs during each segment will help keep you healthy and fit.

Pre-Exercise

This period is all about “priming the pump” so to speak, and preparing your body for what will likely be a sudden reduction in water content via sweat. To prepare, drink about 16 oz (2 cups) of water 2-3 hours before exercising. Also, consider drinking another cup about half an hour before exercising if the exercise is particularly strenuous or in hot conditions. Don’t drink immediately before exercise – this can make you feel bloated and sick. During this time, you may also want to weigh yourself so that you can compare your weight to your post-exercise weight later.

During Exercise

Steadily replenishing lost water is the order of the day here. That doesn’t mean drinking constantly; drinking too much can result in a rare but deadly condition called hyponatremia (low sodium levels due to dilution). It means drinking roughly every 20 minutes or so – about 6-8 oz of fluid each time. When you are engaged in a short workout (less than 40 minutes), just drink water. For longer workouts, you’ll probably want to consider a sports drink containing salt and sugar to help replenish lost energy and lost salt content through sweat. Sports drinks also typically have a higher diffusion rate than water, meaning that the nutrients will transfer into your blood stream faster than usual.

Post-Exercise

If you weighed yourself before you started exercising, post exercise hydration is easy. Simply weigh yourself again, and drink about a cup of water for each pound lost. Remember to eat after exercise as well.

So that’s all you really need to do to keep yourself safely hydrated during exercise. Of course, these are just general guidelines – there are many variables that might mean you need to drink more or less. Affecting factors include temperature (hotter equals more fluid loss), sweating pattern (Sweat a lot? Drink more, and try our Halo II), and the length of time you are exercising. You will have to experiment with some of the numbers provided here to find exactly what is right for your body, but these are good general guidelines to start with. And of course, if you’re having trouble keeping sweat out of your eyes and face, try Halo Headbands for the most effective sweatbands available.