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.

Levels of Difficulty

Unsure which riding events may be the best fit for you? Read here to learn about the different levels of cycling.

Where to buy and fix a bike

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