Sports are for everyone, but not everyone likes to compete. Some activities are more welcoming than others, in the sense that they do not require you to compete against anyone in order to participate, but they can still be considered sports.
Here is what you can expect from cycling, in other words, what cycling can be for you or anyone else.
Cycling as a Recreational Activity
One of the most common ways people use cycling is to have fun. Whether you go and tour your local city or countryside, by yourself, or with other people, or simply joyride, cycling is a way to have some exercise, but also to practically enjoy motion as it is happening.
There are few activities which allow you to go different places at moderate speed, using only the power of your own body. Other activities which allow this are either slow, or give you a helping hand with motorised equipment, or are otherwise impractical outside the winter season (like skiing).
Try cycling when you don’t know what to do on a warm afternoon.
Cycling as a Means of Transport
Commuting happens daily, all over the world. However, with fuel prices going up and with the recent global pandemic, people have had to find different ways to travel. Bicycle sales exploded in 2020 and 2021, at the height of the pandemic. People wanted to spend time outdoors, because the odds of getting infected lowered exponentially by not being close to others.
Cycling is also a very effective way of commuting in large cities. You have a smaller footprint, both physically and in terms of carbon waste. Using your own two legs, you are able to transport yourself from one place to another, while saving money and getting exercise. Bicycles also have the benefit of being able to go through traffic jams, just like motorcycles, without the need for fuel or overly expensive maintenance.
Cycling as a Professional Sport
Cycling is a professional sport and it has many disciplines. The most common ones are road bikes or stage racing, often done with road bikes. Mountain biking has its own categories, namely cross country, downhill, enduro or all mountain, freeride and trail riding. Track cycling is a special variant of cycling done in velodromes, special race tracks built for the purpose of this race.
As you can see, cycling has multiple disciplines and subdisciplines, where any type of cyclist can express themselves freely, depending on their preference. Most professional cyclists compete in different categories, until they find a way (and funding) to specialise in one.
Cycling as a Recovery Method
Cycling is often used as an activity to help recover from injuries. Cycling is great in this regard, when considering leg injuries. It is easy on the joints and it can help strengthen certain muscles like the quadriceps. By eliminating some of the otherwise present pressure on the joints, it is great with knee injuries, though that can vary depending on the injury.
It is also a great way to help people start exercising, especially people who struggle with weight loss. It is less likely to do any damage, while also providing the person with enough of a workout to make a difference.
Cycling can be a lot of things but mainly, it is a great activity that can be practised by amateurs, professionals and those in need of a recreational activity or a method of transport.