Learning to ride a bicycle is like a rite of passage. However, one thing that is often forgotten is teaching new riders why it’s so important for them to have proper balance. This issue has caused 5.8% of all Americans to be unable to ride a bike, along with 9% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34.
As anyone who can ride a bicycle knows, the secret is having and maintaining good balance, and even though it may seem overwhelming, it can easily be practiced and mastered. In fact, balance can make the difference between just being able to ride around your neighborhood and being able to go mountain biking on a difficult course.
1. Keeps You in a Powerful Riding Position
Having control and solid stability makes it a lot easier to successfully avoid debris and potholes, along with being able to maneuver a lot more efficiently. Whether you wish to drink or eat something while cycling or want to use more speed while climbing or cornering, good balance ensures you’ll stay upright and riding.
2. Reduces Your Risk of Injuries
Many road accidents and bicycle-caused muscular injuries could be avoided by improving your balance. Most kids won’t be thinking of this, but if you’re an adult who wants to ride a bike, it’s a good idea to do balance drills. These include single-leg Romanian deadlifts, the yoga tree pose, step-ups with dumbbells, and stability ball planks. Furthermore, cross-training with a weekly session of Pilates or yoga will help.
3. Reduces Uncomfortable Riding Positions
When you don’t have proper balance, it can affect you in a number of ways. For instance, you’ll be more likely to find yourself riding in uncomfortable positions. This will lead to aches and pains, which may prevent you from riding your bicycle as often as you’d like. Sadly, it might even cause you to give up riding altogether. This would be a shame because regular cycling provides many benefits, including the following:
- Improved Joint Mobility
- Increased Flexibility and Muscle Strength
- Decreased Stress Levels
- Strengthened Bones
- Improved Cardiovascular Health
- Reduced Depression and Anxiety
4. You’ll Be Able to Slow Down with More Ease
The slower you ride, the harder it will be to remain balanced. This can be problematic, especially if you go for a bicycle ride in a city. It’s necessary to follow traffic laws and stick to a narrow bike lane, which includes frequently slowing down. If you learn how to balance better, though, you’ll be able to handle slowing down without feeling wobbly. This will reduce your risk of getting into a traffic accident and give you more confidence as you ride.
Increasing the Number of Bike Riders
If everyone had a better understanding of proper balancing techniques, they’d be more likely to still ride as an adult. Currently, 51.2% of American adults can ride, but choose not to. By teaching them the importance of balance at a young age, we can increase the number of cyclists nationwide.