Cycling is very good for your health. It's a great way to lose weight and to firm up your legs. Cycling also helps to keep your heart and cardiovascular system healthy.

Here are ten tips that that can make your cycling experience more enjoyable:

*Finding a bike that is a good size for you is important if you are going to enjoy your ride. Make sure that your posture feels good while riding. *The kind of bike you should invest in depends on what type of riding you will be doing. Are you riding in the city, travelling long distances or will you be

going off-road? For long distances you want a light bike with thin wheels, for off-road you want a thicker frame and wider tires.

*Another thing to look at if you are planning to go long distance is your bicycle seat. A long distance bike needs to be more comfortable and it's great to have extra padding on the seat.

*Make sure that you bring plenty of water with you for your ride. A good idea is to have a water bottle attached to the bike so you can easily have a drink at any time.

*If you're going on a long ride it's important to eat proper food a few hours before. Pasta, rice and bread are foods with a high amount of slow carbohydrates wich help to stabilize your body's energy level.

*It can be helpful to bring some fast carbohydrates with you on the ride, such as granola bars, bananas, energy drinks,etc.

*Always bring a phone with you when you are going out. It's helpful if something unexpected happens, for example if you drive on something sharp and get a flat weel. I recommend keeping it off and only using it when you need to, don't get distracted by talking while you're riding.

*Bikes do get stolen every so often so it's well worth it to invest in a quality lock. Also, it's a good idea to park your bike at designated parking areas since a lone bike usually attracts thefts easier.

*The clothes you wear also has a great impact on your experience. To choose comfortable yet fitting clothes makes a big difference. In this way you can move with ease and still have as little resistance from the wind as possible.

*Another tip is to start off slowly and go for short rides in the beginning, then you can increase the distance and you will be able to go for long rides without having a sore bottom and aching muscles afterwords.

Cycling really is a wonderful way to get out into the fresh air and it's a great way to see the landscape where you live. Most of us could use a little more excercise and cardiovascular training, it can be as easy as getting on the bike and pedalling.

---

Jason Storm is a cycling enthusiast and is involved in the sports community SackUpSports. Check it out!