Pink has become a staple in women’s awareness. Pink helmets, pink hair, and pink stickers on cars. But the pink campaign hasn’t always extended itself to cycling to such a degree. A recent study found that only 24 percent of all cycling trips made in the U.S. were by women. Other countries, Germany for example, has a statistic of 49 percent women cyclists. Getting more women cycling is an important issue not only in the sport as a whole but also in that so many women are missing out on what could be a valuable addition to their life.

Women Cycling – Why More Women Should Ride

Cycling is one of the most rewarding things women should do more of. Age and activity level has nothing to do with it, even the smallest effort pays off. Here are some reasons for women to get out there, and give the body and mind some real benefits.

Looking Good

Nothing promotes your attitude like looking your best. Glowing skin is just the beginning. A Stanford University study found that regular cycling can reduce symptoms of aging by promoting oxygen flow from increased aerobic exercise. The oxygen-rich blood delivers nutrients to skin cells, and flushes out harmful toxins. Cycling has also been reported to optimize collagen production, which reduces fine wrinkles.

Improves Immunity

You’re more likely to contract bugs if you spend all day working in a closed building. Going outside on your bike and breathing fresh air helps to keep you out of the doctor’s office. Research done by the University of North Carolina states that women who cycle for 30 minutes, five days a week called in sick half the number of sick days than their sedentary co-workers. The study concluded that the exercise done while cycling aided the immune system by keeping cells more active, making them ready for a fight with nasty viruses.

Cardio Benefit

Cycling allows you to add fitness into your day when you don’t have time for a workout. Workouts, as beneficial as they are to muscles, don’t always aid the cardiovascular  and respiratory systems to the extent of cycling. Cycling can add a very effective cardiovascular benefit. A study from the British Heart Foundation reported that cycling only 20 miles a week may reduce your risk of heart disease by half. You can cycle 20 miles a week by simply riding to and from some of your regular errand runs, or by commuting to work once or twice a week.

Cholesterol and Weight

Another way that cycling can help you is by lowering cholesterol, primarily because it helps you to lose weight. Carrying too much weight tends to increase the amount LDL in your blood; that’s the cholesterol that’s been linked to heart disease. HDL cholesterol, the kind that your body benefits from, can be increased by regular cycling. Just two months of regular cycling is enough to raise your HDL numbers by 5 percent, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Brain Matters

A study done by the University of Illinois reported that improving your cardio-respiratory fitness by  5 percent led to a 15 percent improvement in test scores. The study indicates that the boost in blood flow to the brain is the key. Blood flow is also a key player in  reducing cognitive decline, forgetting things, and lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Getting on your bike can also do wonders for solving mental blocks. The increased flow of oxygen stimulating the neurons is responsible for problem solving and creativity.

Low Impact

Even though you’re not lifting weights like you might do in a gym, your muscles get a boost from cycling too. Cycling strengthens your thighs, hips and rear end. If your ride includes hills, your arms and upper body benefit as you stand up on the bike. Low-impact cycling is gentle on your joints and helps preserve cartilage. That’s particularly beneficial for why more women should ride who suffer from strained muscles, foot and ankle issues, knee troubles, back pain or impact-related injuries caused by running, jogging, walking or lifting weights.

Digestion Issues

Regular cardiovascular exercise such as cycling helps to strengthen abdominal muscles. Getting your heart rate up on a regular basis fires up your gut by stimulating the right muscles needed to push digestive waste through your body. Experts at Bristol University found that regular cycling helps to decrease the amount of time it takes food to move through your large intestine.

Expecting Cyclists

Old-school doctors would likely advise against women cycling when expecting a baby. But all that’s changed. Doing regular miles not only keeps you from gaining excess weight while pregnant, but studies show it leads to easier, less complicated labor and a faster recovery after the baby is born. Regular cycling can also lead to better brain development in your baby and is reported to cut the chances of your baby becoming obese.

More Sleep

Almost everyone agrees that nothing makes you feel better than a good night’s sleep. Studies have shown that getting out on your bike several times a week can have a long-term effect on your overall health. A Stanford University study asked a group of couch-potato insomniacs to cycle for 20 to 30 minutes every other day. The findings were undeniable. The participants found that the cycling routine was solely responsible for cutting the time it took for them to fall asleep in half. And those same participants reported staying asleep for an hour longer.

Make New Friends

Cycling brings people together. Look for a local cycling club in your neighborhood and meet up. Many bike shops offer no-drop rides,   and heading out on the road with a group of like-minded individuals is a great way to make lasting friendships. Some places also have “women only” rides which can be a great option with the sometimes brashness of male riders when riding with women.

Female Empowerment

Of all of the reasons for why more women should ride a bike, one of the best reasons is self-confidence. The attitude and strength you gain from cycling translates into every other area of your life. And, if you’re competitive, the feeling you get while passing a man on your bike is worth every penny you spent on that new bike.

There are endless reasons to get more women cycling but hopefully these few benefits spur you toward riding and if you already do ride, get some more of your girl friends to give the sport a try.