Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

The bike was created 200 years ago and is the most popular vehicle in the world. Over a billion people use it every day. In Poland, cycling has also become a fashionable and recognized form of physical activity. Cycling improves the condition and body shape, provides pleasure and thrills. See why it is still worth riding a bike.

Cyclinggives men what he cares about the most: fitness, endurance, muscle strength. It improves the figure, allows you to check yourself, provides pleasure and thrills. It is like flying, but without taking off the ground. In addition, it allows you to reach virtually everywhere for free.

Cycling is one of the he althiest sports but …

Cyclingis currently the most common form of physical activity also in Poland. A sick labyrinth is actually the only contraindication to its cultivation. After swimming, it is the he althiest and most versatile sport for developing. However, it can also be harmful. For example, a 40-50-year-old man who led a sedentary lifestyle. Feeling pain in his chest, he doesn't get tested, but decides to finally take care of his he alth and gets on abike . Meanwhile, such pain can be a symptom of coronary heart disease. Then the ride or run ends with a heart attack - warns Dr. Robert Pietrusiński, MD, a cardiologist, specialist in sports medicine, doctor of the national team of cyclists.

The bicycle is the most efficient sports device and the most effective vehicle: it develops high speed with the minimum energy inserted. But this advantage is its greatest disadvantage. Many cyclists died because of it and inadvertently. You have to drive sensibly and with imagination. Observe the traffic situation and apply the principle of limited trust. After a traffic accident, the cyclist can only be glad that he survived.

But this is not the cause of the most common injuries among cyclists: abrasions (so-called cycling cuts), cuts and fractures. Riding a bicycle is not as obvious a skill as walking. It's not enough to keep your balance, look ahead and pedal. Abrupt stops, pre-corner braking, bank, corner exiting, braking downhill fast, slalom fast, and falling must be mastered. It's worth working on it.

Why is it worth riding a bike? Check it out!

Important

Downhill biking is a favoritediscipline of young cyclists. It consists in sliding down massive bikes on bumpy roads at a speed of up to 90 km / h. Despite the protective "armor", leg protectors and solid helmets, this is the most injured form of cycling: fractures are the order of the day. BMX jumpers suffer slightly less serious injuries: bruises, breakouts and sprains dominate here.

Myths about the negative effects of cycling

There are terrible legends among men, especially non-verified men, about the alleged influence of the saddle on the prostate gland. As an example, they give the case of the American Lance Armstrong - the best cyclist in the world today - who fell ill with a malignant type of prostate cancer (after surgery and acute chemotherapy, he miraculously survived and was given a 3 percent chance). Well, millions of men who walk or drive cars suffer and die from prostate cancer every year, and there is no reason to say that Lance was caused by years spent in the hard saddle. In addition, the organisms of professional athletes, and in particular the best cyclists, are subject to such great loads that it is impossible to build universal theories on this basis. - Cycling is a bit like riding a horse - says Czesław Lang. - You do not sit in the saddle with the full body weight, but only slightly support your legs, absorbing shocks. Therefore, the saddle of the bicycle should not be set too high. In "road bike" we treat them only as an additional support. I have not heard of any saddle rider developing prostate cancer or becoming sterile. On the contrary: cyclists like uhlans are known for their high sexual temperament. Perhaps it is thanks to "massaging" with the saddle - adds the creator of Tour de Pologne. One thing is certain: the saddle must first of all be comfortable and fit the spacing and size of the pelvic coccyx. Therefore, when buying a bicycle or saddle, do not be guided by a low price, taste or fashion. To avoid pain, chafing and excessive pressure on the testicles, different types of saddle must be tried. A safe, comfortable saddle should be quite wide under the buttocks and covered with natural leather or a gel cushion. I recommend it for a comfortable one, consisting of two separate parts that only support the buttocks.

Problem

Get on your knees!

Many active cyclists today could not even walk. Their adventure with cycling began with exercise on a stationary bike recommended by a doctor, which is an excellent rehabilitation device in diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Paradoxically, however - cyclists' knees are particularly often injured - they are movable, protruding parts of the body that can be hit by something, andwith which you hit the ground in the event of a fall. So they need to be protected, because you won't ride with a bruised knee. - They are also harmed by the cold. Lubricate them with warming ointments and put on warming bands - Czesław Lang suggests.

Cycling allows you to lose weight

Professional cyclists, unlike bodybuilders, do not use high-protein supplements. They eat a lot but are slim. In canteens, everyone is surprised where they all fit. - Cycling is one of the best, most natural and he althiest slimming measures - laughs Zenon Jaskuła. A lot of energy is lost during the race - it is the most difficult and exhausting sports competition. During the day, the athlete loses up to 3 kg. The cycling diet is based on certain principles. First of all, you must not eat normal meals at least 3 hours before the ride.

- At the beginning, just like other young players, it was difficult for me to switch to this style of eating - recalls Czesław Lang. - When the peloton was accelerating strongly, undigested food from the stomach was coming to my throat. Besides, during strenuous exercise, not only cyclists have digestive difficulties. It wasn't until I learned that you weren't allowed to get on a bike until your meal had been digested that my heartburn and flatulence subsided. - The efficiency of driving is influenced by the amount of carbohydrates assimilated before the start and converted into energy - explains Dr. Pietruszyński. - Therefore, the basis of nutrition during the competition are quickly digestible foods, containing simple sugars absorbed into the blood instantly. Before setting off on the route, but after a warm-up, the cyclists eat, for example, a peach roll, a waffle with jam, a banana, a pancake.

They eat everything out of the season. Restrictions apply only to products that contain fiber that remains in the digestive tract. That is why they avoid lettuce, apples and beets before training. It is very important to stay hydrated during the strenuous exercise. Drinking sweet hypoisotonic drinks helps in this. Thanks to them, the body better absorbs and uses water.

Long-distance cyclists drink up to five liters of these drinks. If this were ordinary water, they would use four of those five liters. A whole liter would be unnecessary ballast. The first symptom of insufficient fluid intake is loss of strength. Then you feel thirsty, but then it is too late to save your physical performance. This is why endurance sports have a strategy to drink as much fluid as possible. Dilution of blood is nonsense - emphasizes the doctor.

You must do it

Protect what's most valuable

Probably the worst thing that can happen to a cyclist is a serious injuryhead. Its consequences are always serious. Therefore, you should not spare money for a helmet. Above all, it must be durable and protect the head from all sides - including the face. Too tight or too heavy can cause a headache. Unfortunately, after driving over 300 km in even the lightest helmet, a professional feels as if his head weighs 10 kg.

Cycling has a positive effect on the psyche

Cycling not only develops comprehensively physically, but also has an exceptionally good effect on the psyche. Riding a bike triggers reflexes and self-preservation instinct, teaches imagination and resourcefulness. Grinds a hard character. This is the second, more important meaning of "cycling cuts". After ending their sports career, most ex-cyclists do well in plain clothes. They have features that are very desirable in men: they are cheerful, self-confident, composed, resolute. Examples include the achievements of Ryszard Szurkowski, Czesław Lang and Zenon Jaskuła.

Zenon Jaskuła, Olympic and World Cup silver medalist, currently a businessman, incl. President of Europ Polska (Mapei) and Zenon & Zenon Design (furniture), he traveled the first 100 km as a 15-year-old. "While cycling, the only serious he alth problem I had was when I was hit by a car during training, the day before the most important Olympic race in Atlanta. I regained consciousness after three days. months I walked on crutches. I didn't even dream of racing. To recover I got on a stationary bike. After six months of training I was already riding on the road. One day the sponsor asked me to pose for a photo with the team. It hurt that I was only needed for this. practicing so intensively that soon I returned to the professional peloton "- he says.

Czesław Lang, Olympic vice-champion, general director of Tour de Pologne: - In my opinion, there are no "occupational" diseases in cycling, only accidental injuries. For example, my right shoulder is knocked out and twisted with screws, but it doesn't bother me at all. Even though I have been driving intensively for 20 years, and I have covered about 40,000 a year. km, I don't feel any other ailments either. Also my colleagues from the peloton are he althy, active.

"Zdrowie" monthly

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

ABC of exercises