The United Kingdom (UK) is a great place to go on a cycling tour. If you consider its geological layout, you’ll find it similar to the rest of Europe in many ways. Cycling tours are popular in Europe, but they are equally interesting and rewarding in the UK as well. The scenery is stunning and the weather is pleasant. There’s usually a nice cool breeze to stop you from getting too hot as you cycle through lush green pathways towards your destination. Everything gets better when you embark on a Sea-to-Sea cycling holiday tour set up and managed by a company like Mickledore.
The idea is simple, you start from one coast and cycle all the way to another. You pass through all kinds of terrain and live adventures and amass stories you’ll tell your friends and family about. Interestingly, it’s not about just the experience and joy. A coast-to-coast cycling tour does something to your body as well and this article is all about that. Let’s get right into it, shall we?
The best of both worlds
Some people like having fun during their tours. Others find fun in their workouts. Some people love to exercise all the time. But they can’t find the time or place to workout during holiday tours. So, they enjoy a place and relish the delicacies available there, but there is always something missing in their hearts. Just make sure you have the right cycling gear at hand before you go on your first cycling tour.
If you’re the sort of person who likes going out on tours and loves workout, a sea to sea cycling tour is just for you! You get a great workout experience with immense views of natural scenery that soothes your mind. You get to travel while satisfying the workout desired of your heart. That’s not all. You get to detoxify yourself too. Your lymphatic system gets in action and your body starts removing the toxins in the congealed parts of your body. Everything freshens up and you come back with a newer self.
It strengthens your heart
Your heart is one of the strongest muscles in your body. It is always working. The heart keeps your body running in optimum condition, but an unhealthy diet and stressful work may affect your heart. If you are having a stressful week at work or have given in to an unhealthy diet, you need to go on a cycling tour. Cycling improves your heart’s overall function, dramatically. It makes old hearts young again. I think everyone needs a younger heart these days.
Not only does cycling help improve your heart functionality, but it also improves your body’s blood flow. Improved blood flow in your body means increased delivery of oxygen to your vital organs. Oxygen causes combustion which helps in burning fat. It also prevents the building-up of fatty deposits in your heart and the rest of the body. So, when you are pedalling from one coast to another, remember that you are doing your heart a favour.
You get stronger muscles and bones
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. You must have heard it many times, but you realise it only when you go on a cycling tour. When you use certain muscles of your body consistently, they get stronger and durable. When you go on a cycling tour, this also happens with your bones. Cycling tours are great for strengthening your muscles and bones. They offer you a great way to build muscle and reinforce bone density. Cycling also activates your abdominal muscles along with many others.
So, what happens when you have stronger muscles and bones? You get more active and your movements are swift. If you stumble or fall, you will be less likely to suffer muscle damage or fractured bones. Now, who wouldn’t want that? And it all comes with a holiday tour!
Weight Loss on Holiday!
“You lost weight on a holiday?… What are you talking about?!”
People may not believe you but a cycling tour is a great way to lose weight as well. It is a known fact that cycling is not only a means of travel but also one of the most enjoyable forms of exercise. Thankfully, this particular form of exercise is great in losing weight.
If you are cycling from one coast to another, you are working out continuously. You breathe in the fresh air that causes oxygen to reach your lungs and blood. This rejuvenates your body and gets everything in action. When your body is exerting to keep the cycle going, it uses the stored energy in your body. That’s the fat you carry around all the time. So, when this fat is burned, you lose weight and everyone loves losing weight.
You get increased stamina
Regular exercise increases your stamina. But you know what else increases your stamina? Cycling tours! When you exert your body beyond the limits, your body gets stronger and your stamina is boosted, New boundaries are set to what you can accomplish in a given set of time.
The best way to increase your stamina and stay healthy is by starting slow at first. So, you can try small cycling tours. Once you get the hang of it, you can progress to longer cycling tours. The amount of stress your muscles and bones can take will increase gradually and finally, you will be able to take on that coast to coast cycling tour.
Say hello to better mental health
People always find this very surprising. How can a cycling tour improve my mental health? Along with the numerous physical benefits of cycling, there are some psychological benefits too. Cycling uses that extra pent up frustration in your body and channels it into energy needed to keep the wheels moving. It is a great way to deal with anxiety, tension and stress.
Regular cycling has proven to boost certain hormones in the brain that are responsible for happiness. When you cycle along those lonely roads and across those high passes, you get to think about stuff you never do. You appreciate everything around you and this induces positive thinking. And we all know that positive thinking is great for mental health.
There you are! These were the incredible health benefits of cycling holidays that I promised at the beginning of the article. I hope you liked them and they are convincing enough for you to get on a cycling tour as soon as possible. If you need help in choosing the right tour, choosing a reputable tour operator takes the stress out of it for you. All the best and Good Luck!