Dust off your old bike because summer is officially here. With the College spring semester coming to a close across the United States and the return of the foreign exchange students from their respective trips abroad, you can finally drag yourself and your friends out the door for a good old fashioned bike ride. Whether you're a newcomer to the sport or you are rocking a new Bianchi road bike, the roads will always welcome you on the start of your journey.
The main reason people are getting out on the roads and onto their bike is for exercise. Worldwide people are united by the same joy of exercise. The language is universal no matter what language you speak. There are some norms that occur in these cycling endeavors. In a more advanced riding group, people will alternate taking the lead to spare the fellow riders the burden of leading in the headwind. The cyclists typically are rotating the lead every minute or so, in order for every rider to experience lead changes, riding close in a pack, and taking the bull by the horns and cutting the wind for the other riders. The camaraderie of riding in a group is second to none, the banter you receive from your friends for a late night out or a funny story you re-live on your hour or more cycle always keeps the ride fun and relaxing as you all typically are suffering up a hilly terrain. By becoming more advanced at biking you can relate to a whole new crowd as well. You can find semi-professional bikers in almost any city, it's a profession that a lot of people are still trying to "live the dream" in and commonly can be found at your local biking store.
Biking is more than just simple exercise however, it develops into a lifestyle. You wake up and crave the sensation that your muscles are ripping themselves apart as you attack the hills, the adrenaline that pumps through your body as you jet down a hill at 40 MPH, and the satisfaction that oozes out of your body when you finally complete your grueling ride. These things that may at first seem crazy, will become an addiction for pleasure and turn into a way for you to see how far you can push your body.
Physical exercise is never a chore for the individuals who do it often. They seek to push their bodies further than the average male or female, the satisfaction and self-worth that is gained from being able to cycle for 50 miles without stopping is far better than lifting a few weights. These physically draining rides will create a new you, physically and mentally. By being able to go on rides that are more than 50 miles, you are mentally putting yourself through an enormous task, most people aren't even exercising thirty minutes a day, you however are going above and beyond by cruising around town for more than two hours at a time. The physical gain is obvious, toned quads and calves, improved cardiovascular system, and a general improvement to your bodily functions such as oxygen intake and blood cell production. There's a reason people who exercise more are less sick— their bodies are more efficient.
I encourage anyone who hasn't thought of biking to at least go out on a casual ride with friends to just get the tips of your toes wet in the metaphorical pool that is biking. The pain and pleasures will test your character and improve your body mentally and physically along with the chance of making a few friends along the ride.
