Lifestyle Changes May Lead You to Bicycling

By Peter Flucke
For the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin

Overweight, dealing with divorce, drinking too much, managing a heart condition. If life's challenges are leading you to consider a lifestyle change, then a change which includes bicycling may be just what you need. While there are no magic bullets, biking regularly has been shown to improve both your physical and emotional well-being, maybe better than anything else you can do.

The Physical You
It's no secret that bicycling is good for our health, but what most people don't know is just how badly they need to go for a ride.

In a recent press release, U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher states, "The number of overweight children, adolescents, and adults has risen over the past four decades. Total costs (medical cost and lost productivity) attributed to obesity alone amounted to an estimated $99 billion in 1995. During 1994-98, 11 percent of children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years were overweight or obese. During the same years, 23 percent of adults aged 20 years and older were considered obese."

"Overweight and obesity substantially raise the risk of illness from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep disturbances and problems breathing, and certain types of cancers. On average, higher body weights are associated with higher death rates."

These numbers paint a grim picture. But, not if you are a bicyclist.

A recent Danish study by Andersen LB, Schnohr P, Schroll M, Hein and HO says, "Those who used the bicycle as transportation to work experienced a lower mortality rate even after adjustment for leisure time physical activity, and sports participation discriminated mortality rates even among the more physically active subjects."

The Emotional You
Bicycling is not just good for your physical health, it is wonderful for your emotional health as well.

According to RealAge.com, "Happy Heart Workout", "Regular workouts not only will make your heart stronger, they may make your heart happier, too."

"Research shows that regular exercise reduces negative feelings. In a recent study, people who exercised at least two to three times per week experienced significantly less depression, anger, stress, and distrust in their lives than people who did not exercise."

The "RealAge benefit (of) taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger."

Why Not Just Join a Health Club?
BICYCLING is especially good and convenient. Nearly everyone owns a bike, lives on a road and travels. And, nearly everyone spends too much time traveling in their cars and looking to save time.

The bicycle is an appealing way to get quality, low-impact physical activity and save time by converting some of those auto trips to bike trips. Even if converting trips is not possible or desirable, a person can easily jump on their bike, it's sitting in the garage, and take it for a 30-minute spin. That's as much time as most people spend getting ready for an organized sport.

In addition to improving yourself physically and mentally, by bicycling you are helping those around you as well. Bicycling decreases traffic congestion, protects the environment, decreases dependence on foreign oil, saves money and builds strong communities.

Bicycling cannot cure all of the ills of the world but it will make you physically and mentally stronger to help you meet life's "little" challenges.

Keep on biking!

Peter Flucke is the President of WE BIKE, a bicycle consulting company located in Green Bay. He is also the President of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (BFW).