Health Benefits

Regular activity is vital for good health but it’s a fact that most of us in Northern Ireland don’t get enough. Cycling can be a fun way to build more exercise into your day. It offers a healthy, flexible, inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to travel for people of all ages.

Regular cycling can improve your health. It can:

• provide an excellent workout for the heart;
• almost halve the risk of a heart attack, by helping to reduce risk factors like obesity, high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure;
• improve mental wellbeing, by helping us to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, promoting self-esteem and reducing stress or insomnia;
• build strength, especially in your back and legs;
• promote the mobility of hip and knee joints.

Just a total of 30 minutes most days of the week could make a real difference to your health. You don’t have to do the 30 minutes all at once. You could do two 15 minute rides or three 10 minute rides.

By cycling to work, or cycling during work, you can be active without using up your free time. Cycling can be a great way to spend a weekend morning or afternoon... There are a number of traffic-free cycle ways across the country that are suitable for cycling picnics or gentle bimbles. Click here to find somewhere to cycle.

If you have any health problems or any worries about starting cycling, check with your GP first.

For more information on lots of different ways to be more active visit www.getalifegetactive.com.