Mountain biking is perfect for all kinds of people. Whether you are a people person and want to bike with friends and a local mountain biking group or prefer your own company riding solo, mountain biking will bring you out into the beauty of the world, while challenging you in new and exciting ways.
Mountain biking isn’t just for pretty scenery, general exercise and a touch of extreme adrenaline, though. There are many benefits you get from being an active participant in the sport, whether as a pro athlete or amateur.
Become the Hulk by Mountain Biking
Okay, not really. If you really want to become the hulk, we suggest looking elsewhere. But if you are looking to build strength and muscle, mountain biking is a great way to build and condition your body. You’ll be pedaling up and down hills, powering through some difficult to balance terrain while working your leg muscles.
As a mountain biker, you’ll also be using your core and upper body muscles, like arms, shoulders and back. As time goes on, and you ride consistently, you’ll benefit from increased muscle strength and endurance that will help protect your joints from injuries…great news for your back, hips and knees!
Improve your Mental Health by Mountain Biking
We’re all aware of how going outside will improve your mood and make you feel better – getting fresh air, being in nature and movement are three key elements of feeling refreshed and ready.
Exercise can help reverse low moods and depression, and you sure get a ton of exercise while mountain biking! According to a study published in the Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry, “aerobic exercises have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression”, and mountain biking is a great form of aerobic exercise.
Reducing stress and anxiety while boosting your mood, helping you sleep better and increasing your energy levels can all be done by spending time on the trails.
Loose & Maintain Weight by Mountain Biking
Want to get in shape but don’t like going to the gym, or want to supplement your gym routine, mountain biking might just be the thing you need. Biking at a moderate pace for 30 minutes can burn about 300 calories, and how many calories you burn will of course be determined by factors like your current weight, intensity level when biking, and the terrain you are riding on. It’s definitely an activity to consider if losing weight is a goal.
However, if you are not looking to lose weight, maintaining a healthy weight is something mountain biking can definitely keep you on the path of health and workout-happiness.
Improve Balance & Coordination on the Trails
Riding a mountain bike helps hone balance and coordination skills. How? Mountain biking requires the use of both your upper and lower body to control and move the bike while changing your proprioception – aka the ability to know your body’s position space.
Being flexible, having good coordination and balance are key aspects of being safe on the trails and help reduce the risk of injuries both while biking and off the bike.
Relieve Stress & Anxiety While Mountain Biking
If you’re looking for a way to relieve stress, mountain biking can be a great option. Exercise and spending time in nature can help relieve tension and stress, so mountain biking is a great choice if you need to blow off some steam.
Whether it’s a quick post-work spin on local trails or a week-long mountain bike vacation to Moab, mountain biking is a great – and healthy – way to manage and reduce stress and anxiety.
Mountain Biking Challenges You – Physically & Mentally
Mountain biking can be tough. Really tough. And not just physically, but mentally as well. Trying new features on the trail that look and feel scary requires a willingness to take risks and break down mental barriers. More often than not, I find that tackling a new drop or rock garden is more about getting over the mental side of things than a lack of skill or ability.
As for the physical challenge of mountain biking, I think that’s pretty self-explanatory. Pedaling uphill is hard, but the more you do it, the easier it gets and the fitter you become.
Mountain Biking Helps You Build Confidence
Besides the obvious benefit of exercising outside, one of the biggest benefits of mountain biking has been building confidence on and off the bike. Regardless of how skilled you are, breezing down a singletrack trail on a mountain bike will make you feel like a badass.
It helps you build confidence in your self, and this confidence often impacts your life off the bike. Imagine what you could accomplish with improved self-esteem in life, relationships, work and so much more!
Sleep Better Thanks to Mountain Biking
That’s right – better sleep is a common benefit for mountain bikers. Often, you’ll feel worn out after an explosive ride, and it will ultimately lead to improved regenerative sleep. Riding Mountain bikes is exercise, and exercise decreases cortisol – a hormone that keeps you awake.
Since mountain biking is an outdoor activity that takes place out in the daylight, it helps maintain your body’s natural circadian sleep/wake cycle and your production of vitamin D. just make sure not to ride too late in the evening, as you get the opposite effect by stimulating endorphins that can keep you wide awake!
Mountain biking takes place across the world, in so many new climates and locations.
There are literally incredible trails all over the world from parks in Bali and New York to the majestic Swiss Alps – wherever you go, 9 out of 8 times you’ll be able to find an interesting mountain biking location to explore.
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