During the lockdown, it’s understandable that many of us felt claustrophobic. Due to all the lockdown restrictions during the pandemic meaning we had to suddenly spend a lot more time indoors, follow social distancing rules, and start working from home remotely.
One ray of sunshine from the gloom of the pandemic period that has dawned on many people over the past 20 months is just how awesome it feels to go out cycling. And it’s not just a solo activity, you can share the enjoyment and go out cycling in a group with your family in friends. We have thought of 5 brilliant reasons why cycling is a great activity to take up as a hobby in 2021.
- Cycling is a New Skill You Can Learn as a Novice
Ok, you certainly don’t have to be on a tour de France elite cycling team to take up cycling this year. Even if you are an adult who didn’t learn how to cycle as a kid, it’s never too late to learn how to ride a bike. Swallow your pride and get some stabilizers, wear a helmet, and start giving it a go in your local area.
Learning how to ride a bike and taking cycling up as a hobby is a fun, exciting experience, whatever age you are, but it would be an even better experience if you have a cycle tailored to your riding goals. Yes, you read it right! So, you should consider working with a custom bike builder and enjoy cycling like never before. In addition, remember that safety must come first. You may want to seriously consider getting bicycle insurance to cover you and your close ones for unexpected events such as injury, theft, accidental ‘crash’ damage to your bike, damage, or loss of your bike in transit (whilst on an airline or by courier for example), and roadside assistance if you need a lift when your bike breaks down. If you want to find a reliable bike insurance agency that can provide you with up to $100,000 liability coverage if you damage someone else’s property when riding your bike and covers you for injury, sickness, death, or damage to your bike, go and check out Velosurance.
2. You Can Share the Enjoyment and Go Cycling in a Group
Cycling Certainly Does Not Have to Be a Solo Activity, going out on your bike can be a fun occasion to enjoy spending some quality time in a group with others. Want to get your family a little bit more fit this fall? Then why not go out cycling with the kids. After all, it’s a wonderful opportunity to get them outside and amongst nature and tear them away from looking at screens 24/7. Want an excuse to meet up with mates whose company you greatly missed during the lockdowns? Get your bikes out of the shed or buy yourself a new one online and go cycling with your buddies as a group.
3. Competing in Cycling Events Near You is a Great Way to Meet New Friends Post Lockdown
Taking up cycling and going to cycling events near you is a great way to meet new people and make fresh friendships and bonds after the pandemic. Signing up for a membership to USA cycling gives you the possibility of competing in beginners right through to Olympic level races. USA cycling supports thousands of grassroots cycling events across the nation every year and has a bustling packed events calendar. Are you someone who has always clearly had a competitive streak in them and enjoys a bit of competition at any level? Then we recommend practicing homing in on your cycling skills a bit and applying to take part in a racing event near you.
4. Cycling is a Far Cheaper Option than Wasting Tons of Money on Driving All the Time
Cycling around is quite clearly far cheaper than driving your car everywhere. When driving there’s fuel to think of, car insurance, car maintenance, and repairs, not to mention the price of buying the car itself. Not only is cycling an enjoyable way to get yourself out exercising in the fresh air of the great outdoors, but it also has the benefit of saving you some dollars if you can cycle to the local store instead of taking the car for example.
5. Cycling is Greener and Doesn’t Pump Out Nasty Fumes into the Atmosphere
Whether you believe in climate change or not, having the air in your local neighborhood constantly swamped by vile-smelling car fumes certainly isn’t pleasant for the residents to live with. Going out on your bike you can be safe in the knowledge that you are not contributing to pumping out harmful chemicals and spoiling local nature spots. Cycling is a great activity to take up for nature lovers out there and cycling through hills, valleys, mountains, fields, parks, nature reserves gives you a revitalizing feeling and is great for your wellbeing.
So, hop on your bike today and make cycling become your new favorite hobby in 2021.