New Year ‘Revolutions’ 2021

In a YouGov survey the most common New Year’s resolutions for 2020 were:More exercise/improving fitness               47%Losing weight                                                 44%Improving diet                                               41%Saving more money                                      31%Taking up a new hobby                                15%One way of ticking all these boxes in 2021 is to start cycling regularly. It is kinder on the body than many other forms of physical exercise and far easier to fit into busy lifestyles - so you’re more likely to stick with it. You’ll be doing your own bit for the environment too!In research undertaken by Copenhagen University cycling was found to be just as effective for losing weight as exercising in a gym five times a week. Those who cycled to work for 6 months managed to lose an average of 4.2 kg (9.2lbs).There are also longer-term health benefits. A major five-year study of over 250,000 UK commuters completed by Glasgow University found that those who cycled to work cut their risk of getting cancer by 45% and heart disease by 46%.Reducing and maintaining a healthy body weight also reduces the risk of getting Type-2 diabetes and there’s clear evidence that cycling improves your mental health by reducing stress, boosting self-esteem and improving restorative sleep patterns.So why not start cycling regularly in 2021?  A decent bike is cheaper than a gym membership and you’ll save on motoring costs too.There are plenty of tips on how to start or get back into cycling on the Cycling UK and other websites.