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Summer Cycling: Enjoying the Outdoors on Two Wheels

TREOAs summer rolls around, many people in Portland look for ways to enjoy themselves outdoors. Some take to hiking, others to swimming. We like to recommend cycling as a great way to get some exercise and burn off some energy, especially when it gets so nice outdoors.

Here are five reasons why you should consider taking up cycling during this summer and enjoy the beautiful summer weather we get to enjoy for the next few months:

Cycling is good for your muscles: If you’ve been on a bike for more than a few minutes, you should be familiar with a burning sensation in your legs. This is, of course, a good thing. Cycling is great for improving the muscles in your thighs, calves, and rear.

Cycling can help with joint conditions: Because cycling is considered a low-impact form of exercise, it can be especially beneficial for those who can’t take part in other higher impact exercises (jogging for example).

Cycling increases lifespan: Cycling has been linked to improving cardiovascular health, and drastically decreases your risk of heart disease. According to the British Medical Association,cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 50%. Discovery Magazine even writes cycling can improve your immune system, and has even shown evidence of fighting cancer. Even when adjusted for risk of injury, cycling has associate with increasing “life-years.”

Cycling improves the waistline: On an average ride, a cyclist will burn approximately 300 calories per hour. An average person will burn approximately 11 pounds of unhealthy fat per year, while building muscle mass and increasing metabolic rate.

Cycling improves mental health: While the physical health benefits are usually very apparent, few consider the mental benefits behind riding a bike. Bicycling has been proven to reduce stress and increase hand-eye coordination among those who choose to cycle a mere 30 minutes a day. The Journal of Occupational Health published an article showing cycling significantly improved mental health among those who choose to commute daily to work.

Some of these benefits may seem obvious, but it’s important to remember you can only take advantage of them if you choose to climb on the bike. The most important thing to remember is that this is an enjoyable experience! Get out and explore some of the fantastic bike trails Portland has to offer!


Meet Brook, One of the People Behind the Pedals!

A couple of weeks ago, I met one of the People Behind the Pedals and wrote a bit about Alex, one of the great minds at Portland Pedal Power. I really enjoyed learning a little bit about our team, so once more I set out to get to know the PPP team and give you, our customers, some insight on who is delivering your vegetarian pizza, organic sushi, or hand made pie.

Say Hello to Brook, our dispatching, cycle-riding savant! Brook hails from the far east, from the exotic land of Baltimore. Brooks earliest memories of being on a bike date back to childhood summers, when he and friends would ride bikes  around his neighborhood for hours at a time. During one ride, he found himself brutally attacked by a marauding boat trailer, barely getting away with a mauled back tire and a vendetta against any form of marine travel that dare cross his path.

…OK, I might have used a little artistic license there, but a good story nevertheless. Today, when he’s not delivering from Pacific Pie Company, Brunch Box, or Gonzo Falafel (all of which are among his favorites in Portland) Brook rides a Kona Lanai mountain bike.

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