Bicycle Network is calling on Australian men to go back to the shed, and get out their bikes.
As part of Men's Health Week 2018 (11-17 June), Bicycle Network is helping put a spotlight on the health and happiness of Australian men.
The health of Australian men is generally worse than women and it’s mostly due to physical inactivity.
Aussie men are nearly twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease and one in two Aussie males also suffer from a chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. One in two men have also experienced a mental health problem.
While most Aussie households have at least one working bike, two thirds of Australian men don’t get the 30 minutes of exercise needed each day to maintain their health.
Bikes are the cheap, easy and readily available wonder drug to help get men’s health and happiness back on track.
It’s been proven time and time again that riding a bike improves and lengthen lives. Studies continually show that the impact of even a casual pedal can have near-miraculous health outcomes, both physically and mentally.
Incorporating bike riding into your daily life is also cheap, as you don’t have to find extra time or money for a gym membership you won’t use.
Plus, it’s fun. It gets you off the couch and out of the house, giving you plenty of opportunities to connect and socialize with mates.
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Getting motivated
Finding motivation to exercise on a regular basis isn’t easy. Many men report lack of interest, time, motivation and ability as they key reasons they don’t get enough exercise.
However, many people find motivation in setting realistic exercise goals. Goals help you direct your energy, make plans, push through barriers and get buy-in from your friends and family.
What goals to set?
Goals are more effective when they’re yours and when it comes to riding a bike, there are plenty to choose from.
It could be riding to work once a week, riding with the kids to school or even training up to tackle one of the ten ride distances in Around the Bay.
Once you’ve got your goal – now set a plan.
Getting your friends and colleagues involved will also help keep you accountable. Set some mini goals to get some quick wins along the way, monitor your progress and don’t be too hard on yourself
Taking the time to remind yourself why your goal is important can help to make it yours, increase your commitment and ultimately improve your results.
The best thing about setting a bike riding goal is that the journey is just as beneficial as the outcome. You’ll suddenly find yourself riding for the sake of it. And we promise that it will change your life for the better.
Sign up to ride your way in Around the Bay before 27 July to score a bonus jersey and the early bird price. Enter now.
