| Bicycles are commonly used by people seeking | | | | |
| to improve their fitness and cardiovascular | | | | Overuse (intrinsic). |
| health. In this regard, bicycling is | | | | |
| especially helpful for those with arthritis | | | | Acute physical trauma includes injuries to |
| of the lower limbs and who are unable to | | | | the head and extremities resulting from falls |
| pursue sports such as running that involve | | | | and collisions. Since a large percentage of |
| more impact to joints such as the knees. | | | | the collisions between motor and pedal |
| Furthermore, since cycling can be used as a | | | | vehicles occur at night, bicycle lighting is |
| form of transportation, there can be less | | | | required for safety when bicycling at night. |
| demand for self-discipline to maintain the | | | | |
| exercise because of the practical purpose of | | | | The most common cycling overuse injury occurs |
| the activity. | | | | in the knees, affecting cyclists at all |
| | | | levels. These are caused by many factors:[5] |
| Cycling while seated is a relatively | | | | |
| non-weight bearing exercise that, like | | | | Incorrect bicyle fit or adjustment, |
| swimming, does little to promote bone | | | | particularly the saddle. |
| density[2]. Cycling up and out of the saddle, | | | | |
| on the other hand, does a better job by | | | | Too many hills, or too many miles, too early |
| transferring more of the rider's body weight | | | | in the training season. |
| to the legs. However, excessive cycling while | | | | |
| standing can cause knee damage. It used to be | | | | Poor training preparation for long touring |
| thought that cycling while standing was less | | | | rides. |
| energy efficient, but recent research has | | | | |
| proven this not to be true. There is no | | | | Selecting too high a gear. A lower gear for |
| wasted energy from cycling while standing.[3] | | | | uphill climb protects the knees, even though |
| | | | your muscles are well able to handle a higher |
| Endurance cycling is an aerobic exercise, | | | | gear. |
| Sprint Cycling is an anaerobic exercise, | | | | |
| however both types involve both forms of | | | | Overuse injuries, including chronic nerve |
| exercise to some degree and can improve | | | | damage at weight bearing locations, can occur |
| cardiovascular health. One measure of | | | | as a result of repeatedly riding a bicycle |
| cardiovascular health is Vo2 max. | | | | for extended periods of time. Damage to the |
| | | | ulnar nerve in the palm, carpal tunnel in the |
| Cycling makes use of the largest muscles in | | | | wrist, the genitourinary tract [6] or bicycle |
| the body (the Gluteus Maximus and Quadriceps) | | | | seat neuropathy may result from overuse. |
| so it is good for people who are trying to | | | | |
| lose body fat. Exercising at low intensity is | | | | In extreme cases, Pudendal Nerve Entrapment |
| better for people who want to lose weight as | | | | can be a source of intractable perineal pain |
| the body doesn't have the chance to burn fat | | | | [8]. Some bicyclists with induced pudendal |
| at high work rates and will burn glycogen | | | | nerve pressure neuropathy gained relief from |
| instead (although the body will replace the | | | | improvements in saddle position and riding |
| burnt glycogen by metabolising body fat as | | | | techniques [9]. |
| soon as it can - see Krebs cycle). | | | | |
| | | | Note that overuse is a relative term, and |
| It has been estimated that, on average, | | | | capacity varies greatly between individuals. |
| approximately 20 life-years are gained from | | | | Someone starting out in cycling must be |
| the health benefits of road bicycling for | | | | careful to increase length and frequency of |
| every life-year lost through injury . | | | | cycling sessions slowly. Muscular pain is a |
| | | | normal byproduct of the training process, but |
| Injuries can be divided into two types: | | | | joint pain and numbness are early signs of |
| | | | overuse injury. |
| Physical trauma (extrinsic) | | | | |