Exercise should ideally be a part of everyone’s lifestyle, regardless of age. This is because being active on a regular basis promotes both your physical and mental wellbeing. For older adults, riding a bike is an accessible and efficacious way to stay fit. Luckily for you, Colorado presents just the kind of beautiful environment that can support this. Read about the benefits of cycling for seniors and consider starting this activity today.

It Strengthens the Heart

Biking is similar to walking or running in that it causes your heart to pump harder than it does while you are sitting mostly motionless. As it continues to rise up to meet the oxygen demands of your working leg muscles, your heart grows stronger and more efficient. In turn, your risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke markedly declines. The same goes for the likelihood that you will develop a heart-related illness. Since heart disease is the top cause of death in the United States, it’s easy to see why this is so important.

It Can Help Weight Loss

Weight gain is a common issue among older adults since many follow sedentary routines. Besides making movement more difficult, this often goes hand-in-hand with the development of diabetes as well. Aiding weight loss is a benefit of cycling for seniors that is thus highly relevant for many. You can burn lots of calories while propelling your bike forward and slowly ramp up the distance you travel and the speed that you ride at to further the positive effects over time. For those that have a difficult time pedaling in the beginning due to their weight, there are e-bikes you can use to ease yourself into the exercise. The main advantage of e-bikes is that they offer motor power to support you, which you can incrementally increase or decrease according to your needs.

It Is Good for Mental Health

Cycling is furthermore good for your mental health. It gives you a pleasurable reason to go outside and spend some time in nature. The picturesque scenery allows you to gain a better appreciation of your setting while also engaging your mind more than sitting idly in your home can. Along your rides, you might also have opportunities to interact with people in your neighborhood, which can help to stave off feelings of loneliness. Overall, you’ll de-stress while soaking in the sunlight and fresh air. In the long run, this can prevent degenerative diseases that harm your cognition.