One of the popular sports activities that is great for our body is cycling. Mainly an aerobic activity that is great for the heart and lungs, this sport can either be a competitive activity or simply a pastime. Various categories are also included in this sport and various gears such as cycling helmets and elbow and hand pads are necessary when practicing this kind of sport.
Cycling history dates back as far as the 1800s. Cycling started in the year 1817 when Karl Drais developed the first actual bicycle. This bicycle was patterned to the first human powered vehicle invented by Giovanni Fontana in the 1400 and was said to have been developed as a response to the widespread starvation and horse slaughtering in the region. By the year 1890 a safety bike was created which had one wheel bigger than the other. It was made of strong metal but was light and small enough for humans to power. The year 1890 also started the mass production of bicycles. It was then that cycling became popular not only as part of business especially for mail delivering but also as leisure and sports. Cycling became quite popular that many cycling gears such as the cycling helmets and shoes as well as different cycling events and cycling competitions like the Tour de France have been equally popular.
The four general categories of cycling are off-road, on-road, cyclo-cross, and BMX or stunt riding. Off-road, also popularly known as mountain biking is a type of cycling that generally uses mountain bikes. This category of cycling was made popular in 1970 when mountain bikes were introduced. These bikes were said to perform optimally on rough terrain are made to handle the rigors and stresses of large obstacles and uneven terrain. The boundaries of this category of cycling were further pushed with the mountain bikes' rapid-shift gears, drum brakes, and suspension.
On-road biking, on the other hand, is a cycling category that ranges from commuting and fitness to multistage tour racing focuses on speed and distance. On-road cycling also involves the use of specially designed road equipment. Next is cyclo-riding, a category of cycling that is a hybrid of mountain biking and on-road racing. In this category, participants ride in groups over unpaved and obstacle heavy off-road course that slow down the overall pace of rider, yet adding new challenges. Finally is the BMX or stunt riding. This cycling category does not focus on speed or distance, rather, it uses pieces of equipment designed for stunts. Popularized in the early 1970s, BMX cycling is popular among youngsters seeking the excitement and energy of motocross. This sport has also been included in the Olympic Games since 2008.
Cycling has many benefits for our body. Being a cyclist requires an individual to eat healthy food and maintain a proper and balanced diet as the body needs constant supply of renewable energy. Some of the common food cyclist enjoy includes lots of vegetables and fruits, as well as foods high in carbohydrates and protein. Being an aerobic activity, cycling also helps in keeping our hearts and lungs healthy. Cycling with regards to your different activities such as riding to work, school, university or college, or taking your bike on short neighborhood trips can become a convenient and practical way to incorporate regular exercise into your busy day. Thus, it is also important for a person to wear protective gears like cycling helmet and knee pads in order for one to fully enjoy the health benefits of cycling.
Cycling is definitely a sport worth knowing. It can be enjoyed as part of leisure time and at the same time act as part of ones daily exercise or take it seriously and become a full time cyclist. Do not forget to always wear safety gears such as cycling helmets in order to fully enjoy the benefits of the said sport.
Cycling history dates back as far as the 1800s. Cycling started in the year 1817 when Karl Drais developed the first actual bicycle. This bicycle was patterned to the first human powered vehicle invented by Giovanni Fontana in the 1400 and was said to have been developed as a response to the widespread starvation and horse slaughtering in the region. By the year 1890 a safety bike was created which had one wheel bigger than the other. It was made of strong metal but was light and small enough for humans to power. The year 1890 also started the mass production of bicycles. It was then that cycling became popular not only as part of business especially for mail delivering but also as leisure and sports. Cycling became quite popular that many cycling gears such as the cycling helmets and shoes as well as different cycling events and cycling competitions like the Tour de France have been equally popular.
The four general categories of cycling are off-road, on-road, cyclo-cross, and BMX or stunt riding. Off-road, also popularly known as mountain biking is a type of cycling that generally uses mountain bikes. This category of cycling was made popular in 1970 when mountain bikes were introduced. These bikes were said to perform optimally on rough terrain are made to handle the rigors and stresses of large obstacles and uneven terrain. The boundaries of this category of cycling were further pushed with the mountain bikes' rapid-shift gears, drum brakes, and suspension.
On-road biking, on the other hand, is a cycling category that ranges from commuting and fitness to multistage tour racing focuses on speed and distance. On-road cycling also involves the use of specially designed road equipment. Next is cyclo-riding, a category of cycling that is a hybrid of mountain biking and on-road racing. In this category, participants ride in groups over unpaved and obstacle heavy off-road course that slow down the overall pace of rider, yet adding new challenges. Finally is the BMX or stunt riding. This cycling category does not focus on speed or distance, rather, it uses pieces of equipment designed for stunts. Popularized in the early 1970s, BMX cycling is popular among youngsters seeking the excitement and energy of motocross. This sport has also been included in the Olympic Games since 2008.
Cycling has many benefits for our body. Being a cyclist requires an individual to eat healthy food and maintain a proper and balanced diet as the body needs constant supply of renewable energy. Some of the common food cyclist enjoy includes lots of vegetables and fruits, as well as foods high in carbohydrates and protein. Being an aerobic activity, cycling also helps in keeping our hearts and lungs healthy. Cycling with regards to your different activities such as riding to work, school, university or college, or taking your bike on short neighborhood trips can become a convenient and practical way to incorporate regular exercise into your busy day. Thus, it is also important for a person to wear protective gears like cycling helmet and knee pads in order for one to fully enjoy the health benefits of cycling.
Cycling is definitely a sport worth knowing. It can be enjoyed as part of leisure time and at the same time act as part of ones daily exercise or take it seriously and become a full time cyclist. Do not forget to always wear safety gears such as cycling helmets in order to fully enjoy the benefits of the said sport.
About the Author:
Stewart James is cyclist from Brisbane. Being in the cycling sports for almost two decades, Stewart is quite familiar with the different rules of the sports as well as the importance of wearing protective gears such as a cycling helmet.
No comments:
Post a Comment