Exercise is an essential ingredient in our goal to lose weight (diet is another but we’ll talk about that later) and riding a bike, cycling, is a great exercise. You don’t have to train like Lance Armstrong to lose weight cycling but you have to do something. For those of us that are overweight, cycling is a great sport to help us and here’s why I think so.

Weight Scale

• You probably already have a bike. There’s probably a pretty good chance you’ve already got a bicycle sitting out in the garage that’s seen little to no use. Why not use it to help you shed those pounds? Whether it’s in serviceable condition is another story so make sure you give it a good once over before heading out for a ride. If you can’t remember the last time you rode it then you’re probably not going to be able to hop on it without the tires being flat.
• Cycling is a great recreational sport. Like I said earlier, you don’t need to be racing like the professionals in order to enjoy the sport of cycling or to lose weight. Those guys and girls are great inspiration but their goals are different than ours (at least right now). Cycling is a great recreational sport you can enjoy while riding local trails or in your neighborhood. It’s also a great exercise to enjoy as a family.
• Cycling is low impact.I think this makes cycling a truly great sport for those of us that are overwieight. If you are overweight, you may already be experiencing joint problems due to carrying around those extra pounds. Participating in a high-impact sport, like running, can make those problems worse. I’m in no way saying running is bad, it’s a great exercise, but cycling lets use Clydes and Athenas work on getting the weight off without putting undue stress on knee and ankle joints.
• Cycling can help save you money. Along with using cycling to lose weight you can also save money by starting to commute by bike. Not everyone will be able to do this but if you can it’s a great way to save money on gas, parking fees, and car repairs. Plus it’s environmentally friendly. Losing weight while cycling to work is an added bonus.
• You’ll be uber-cool. Well maybe you won’t but you’ll feel uber-better after putting some time in on the bike.

Those are five reasons I think you should seriously consider cycling to lose weight. Cycling being low impact is one of the big reasons I’m doing it.

Are you cycling to lose weight or have another reason why cycling is a great exercise for losing weight? Let me know in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Peter Blanchard.