Bike To Wherever
Helping biking become more accessible in the Valley of the Sun
btwphx
Intro to Cycling
Here you'll find some useful guides and articles to help you on your cycling journey. Whether you're new or here to connect, we hope to help you find the information you're looking for.
THE MANY BENEFITS OF CYCLING
IMPROVES MENTAL WELL BEING
“A study by the YMCA showed that people who had a physically active lifestyle had a wellbeing score 32 per cent higher than inactive individuals.” Cycling Weekly
​
Exercise boosts your mood by releasing adrenaline and endorphins. You gain confidence by completing new things and meeting new goals.
A STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM
WEIGHT LOSS
“Dr. David Nieman and his colleagues at Appalachian State University studied 1000 adults up to the age of 85. They found that exercise had huge benefits on the health of the upper respiratory system - thus reducing instances of the common cold. ‘People can knock down sick days by about 40 percent by exercising aerobically on most days of the week while at the same time receiving many other exercise-related health benefits.’” Cycling Weekly
Weight loss is one obvious benefit of cycling. So how does this happen? The simple formula to weight loss is ‘calories out must exceed calories in’. In cycling you can burn between 400-1000 calories per hour, based on the intensity and your body type.
BUILD MUSCLE
Cycling also requires resistance training. Which means, it burns fat and builds muscle. Muscle is more lean than fat which means you can burn more calories even at rest. Cycling is not only a great cardio workout but great for building muscles in your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves.
BETTER LUNG HEALTH
It almost seems counter intuitive but studies have shown that cyclists take in less pollution than people who ride in cars. “A study by the Healthy Air Campaign, Kings College London, and Camden Council, saw air pollution detectors fitted to a driver, a bus user, a pedestrian and a cyclist using a busy route through central London.”
CUT RISK OF GETTING HEART DISEASE AND CANCER
It’s really quite simple: cycling raises your heart rate and gets the blood pumping round your body, and it burns calories, limiting the chance of your being overweight. That’s why, it's recommended as being one of the most healthy ways to cut your risk of developing major illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
MARICOPA COUNTY IS MAKING CYCLING EASIER
Helping everyone make connections that increase quality of life is the mission of the Maricopa County Department of Transportation. Every day, MCDOT is working to update the way in which bicycling, walking and mass transit fit into the overall transportation strategy. They are trying to make the Valley more bike-friendly with paths, protected bike lanes, and more.
IT HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT
When there’s pollution in the air, children, senior citizens and those with respiratory issues are especially at risk. According to Arizona Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 600,000 Arizonans suffer from asthma. In 2013, there were 161,912 asthma-related emergency room visits. The cleanliness of our air isn’t just a quality of life issue; it’s a health issue and a financial one as well.
The fact is, government can only do so much to keep our air clean. The Maricopa County Air Quality Department works with businesses to ensure they are meeting emission standards.
With the fastest-growing population in the country, we are going to see more cars on the road, not less. Additional vehicles mean more exhaust fumes, and greater risk to our health.
LOW IMPACT EXCERCISE
Running is weight bearing which means there can be higher injury rates. Cycling, by contrast to running, is not weight bearing. Not to say that injury can’t happen on a bike. Which, is why, it’s also important to have the right gear and fit for your body and bike.
SAVE TIME AND MONEY
Cycle to save time (and money).
Not only do you save on gas money, but you spend less time driving and parking. It's a win-win.
IMPROVES NAVIGATIONAL SKILLS
In an ever changing digital world, there isn’t much opportunity to sharpen our natural sense of direction anymore. Apps and maps get us everywhere we need to go. Cycling can help you improve your internal mapping capabilities by helping you navigate through different areas of the city.
BOOST YOUR BRAIN POWER
“Exercise has been repeatedly linked to brain health - and the reduction of cognitive changes that can leave us vulnerable to dementia later in life. A 2013 study found that during exercise, cyclists' blood flow in the brain rose by 28 per cent, and up to 70 per cent in specific areas. Not only that, but after exercise, in some areas blood flow remained up by 40 per cent even after exercise.”
IMPROVE YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE
Cycling is a very social sport. It’s an entire culture. Joining a cycling club or group is an excellent way to grow your social circle, and if you're new to riding - you'll probably find all the maintenance and training advice you may have been looking for there, too.
Where to buy and fix a bike
This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.
Types of bikes
This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.
Why cycling is important
Click here to read about all the important benefits of cycling
Where to fix your bike
This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.
Useful cycling apps
This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.
Glossary of cycling terms
This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.
Understanding your bike
This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.