There are a lots of ways cycling is good for you and your heart. From feeling younger to saving money, here are 5 of the many benefits of cycling. 

• It's good for you

Cycling is a fun and effective way to improve on your fitness levels and the health of your heart. Two short rides to the shops and back each day equals around 30 minutes of daily cycling, this will begin to benefit your aerobic fitness and cardiovascular health. 

• It saves you money

There are plenty of cheap options for a bike, including exploring your organisation's cycle to work scheme! Owning a bike is at minimal running costs, cycling is free. You're also getting fit while you get from point A to point B, avoiding the stressful traffic and expensive gym memberships! 

• Cycling makes you stronger

Cycling is an activity that engages almost all the muscles in the body. The leg muscles are worked the most as they power the pedals forward, however, the abdomen and back muscles are used to maintain balance and stabilise the body at the core. Your upper body muscles including the shoulders and arms support you at the handlebars, cycling works your whole body strength and as your core muscles improve, so does your balance. 

• It's planet friendly

Cycling produces zero carbon pollution. This means that it is an environmentally sustainable form of transport and can even replace your car or bus journeys. The more cyclists, the less congestion-related emissions and if you have an add-on like a trailer or seat, children can go green too! 

• It’s suitable for all fitness levels

A bike saddle holds around 70% of your body weight, this means that cycling is a form of non-weight bearing physical activity and relieves a lot of the pressure on your joints that walking or running would apply. If you are new to cycling, recovering from an injury or live in a hilly area - an electric bike to give you an extra push where you need it might be more suitable.

If you would like to read more reasons to go for a cycle, follow the link, www.bhf.org.uk.