Summer is around the corner and suddenly, binge watching Friends on Netflix and scarfing down family-sized bags of Doritos in a single serving doesn’t seem as good of an idea as it did in the cold months of Winter. Well, have no fear because we have the perfect solution to help cut out some of those extra calories without the dread of actually going to the gym. Although we do love our Doritos (and let’s be real, Nacho Cheese is the best flavor), taking care of our health goes beyond physical appearance. Exercising regularly strengthens the cardiovascular system, speeds up metabolism, and greatly reduces the risk of developing certain types of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
So, you’re probably thinking, what is this “magic” solution you guys are trying to propose here? It definitely isn’t magic, but bike riding is fun, affordable, and accessible to all ages!
That’s right! What if I told you that burning hundreds of calories could be fun and exciting? And could be done practically anywhere! Central Park? It’s gorgeous in the summertime. Brooklyn Bridge? Absolutely. That creepy, abandoned playground in your neighborhood? Sure, why not!
The key to burning the most calories while bike riding is to switch up the intensity throughout your workout. High-intensity interval training has been proven to maximize your calorie burn in a shorter amount of time. So, try alternating between your comfortable riding speed to a faster, more challenging speed in order to get your heart rate up and down. For example, say your average riding speed is about 12 mph. In a high-intensity interval bike ride, you would ride at 12 mph for one minute and then raise the intensity to 15 mph for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, drop your speed back to 12 mph for another minute and repeat for 5-10 minutes. You can track your speed using a portable speedometer or download one of the many apps available on your phone! As you build your endurance, gradually increase the intensity of your training, as well.
Another way to burn more calories when outdoor biking is by incorporating inclines in your ride. Rather than only riding on a flat terrain, challenge yourself with some steep, uphill inclines in order to raise that heart rate and burn more calories. Riding uphill can be a bit of a challenge for some, so we recommend starting off by conditioning yourself with smaller hills and working your way up to the mountains! You would be surprised how quickly your body can adapt to the training!
Outdoor cycling is a great workout, overall, to burn calories, lose weight, and even build muscle in your lower body. The best part of outdoor cycling is being able to sightsee the world around you as you ride along. The adventure in the ride almost makes you forget that you’re actually exercising!
Not sure if biking is right for you? Here at Unlimited Biking, we have countless locations where you can rent Cannondale bikes, one of the best names in the bike industry, for a short ride to see if outdoor biking is a right fit.
So don’t hesitate! Visit our website and try it out today. You never know, you might just be the next Lance Armstrong
Our locations:
56 W 56th Street New York, NY 10019
346 W 57th Street New York, NY 10019
111 W. 110th Street New York, NY 10026
38 Park Row New York, NY 10038
