Athletico Health Resources

Indoor cycling is an extraordinary way to improve your health and fitness from the comfort of your home. But where do you start? Do you buy an upright bike, recumbent bicycle, bicycle trainer for your road bike, or fancy “smart trainer?” The options may seem daunting but let me help you make the best choice for your needs.

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Winter is when many of us hibernate inside to watch Netflix and make sweet treats in the kitchen. But if you are someone looking to build your endurance for later in the year – such as for a race or general fitness – you do not want to take these winter months off before resuming activity in the spring. If you are usually active in the other three seasons of the year, it would greatly behoove you to maintain regular activity in the winter months. Winter is the perfect time for endurance athletes to take it a little easier and focus on building and maintaining their base for a more efficient aerobic system. Here are some tips to consider during the cold months:

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If you’re like us, you may find it hard to believe we have reached the end of the year! Like 2020, this past year was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines were rolled out globally, and a few significant events, like the 2020 Summer Olympics, were hosted to make up for the year prior.

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As an Athletico physical therapist and competitive cyclist, I am eager to share my love for cycling with others. Right now, I’m super excited about the Tour de France. Over the past several years, it’s been gratifying to see cycling grow in the United States as a competitive sport, a fun way to exercise, and an environmentally-friendly way to commute. All outdoor cyclists, from the Tour de France riders to the city commuters in Chicago, are at risk of crash-related injuries. One of the most common is concussions. In this blog, I will discuss what you can do, as well as what physical therapists can do, to help you protect yourself.

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Both indoor and outdoor cycling has increased in popularity within the fitness industry for exercise and for good reason. This form of exercise is used by people of all ages. Cycling has many benefits and is a great way to keep moving during the ongoing pandemic. Cycling is a low impact activity allowing for decreased joint impact, while improving core and leg strength, cardiovascular health, and endurance. While cycling is a great form of low impact exercise, it can still lead to injury. Cycling injuries can occur due to: overuse, improper bike set up, as well as a lack of proper warm up and cool down.

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Did you put a lot of miles on your bike this summer? Ready to head inside for the year now that the weather is changing? Outdoor cycling in the winter in the Midwest can be difficult – even unsafe. Luckily, there are many ways to keep up your fitness (and sanity!) until next spring.

This off-season is the perfect time to work on cross-training. Off season training for cyclists should include two important components: injury prevention and performance.

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As the weather turns warmer, many people go outdoors for their workouts. Cycling is a great outdoor activity, providing a cardiovascular workout that places minimal impact through the joints. In this way, cycling can be a good option for those who do not tolerate higher level impact activities, such as running. Cycling can also be an essential component to any cross training program.

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As we gear up for summer in the Midwest, more people will turn to biking as a way to enjoy the outdoors and stay active. In fact, statistics show that bicycling is growing as a recreational sport, with a 64 percent increase in cyclists traveling to work from 2000-2012.¹

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