Why Cycle ? The health benefits Cycling is an easy and low-impact activity which can significantly improve your fitness. It can help to reduce the risk of a range of health problems, notably heart disease and cancer, the leading preventable causes of premature death. In a country like the UK, where obesity is at epidemic levels among adults and young people, one of the main benefits of cycling is that people can do it as part of their normal daily activity – by cycling to work, to see friends or to the shops – rather than having to find additional time for exercise. One study found that people who cycle to work experienced a 39% lower rate of all-cause mortality compared to those who did not – even after adjustment for other risk factors. Simply getting on your bike can yield much the same health benefits as doing a specific training programme, and including cycling into your daily routine for most days of the week, can achieve weight loss (for proof of this see what it did for Rob by visiting the CycletoworkNow.com site). As well as improving physical health, cycling has a positive affect on emotional health – improving levels of well-being, self-confidence and tolerance to stress while reducing tiredness, difficulties with sleep and a range of medical symptoms. Safety One of the barriers to taking up cycling is a perception of the physical danger posed by motor traffic. However, the real risks are minimal and, the research suggests, are outweighed by the health benefits by a factor of around twenty to one. It may be more risky to your health to be sedentary! Why Join Cycle Somerset ? The main reason to join is that you will gain from an increased motivation. Additionally you will find yourself riding further than you would normally have ridden (on your own). There is a physical and psychological reason for this, for one its easier (because of the reduced wind resistance when riding in a group) and secondly when you are chatting away happily both the time and miles disappear without you noticing their passage. Joining (or going out with) a club for the first time can however be daunting - you are unlikely to know anyone else and secondly its natural to worry that you will not be able to keep up. Don't however let these two issues concern you, you won't be a stranger for long in Cycle Somerset, everyone is friendly, welcoming and keen to provide help and encouragement. As for being left behind the Cycle Somerset rides always go at the "club" pace (which is basically as slow as the slowest rider!) But please don't believe me, turn up for one of our rides and find out for yourself ! You do not have to be a member to come along on any of our rides. |
Why Cycle / Join us |
The membership form can be sent by post or emailed to our membership secretary. For the email address see the "Contact us" page on this web site.