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Cycling is a brilliant way of exercising and there are also several benefits, both physically and mentally, which can be attained from getting out and about on two wheels.

However, increasingly busy lifestyles can make it tough to find the time, with work, kids, household jobs and other commitments understandably taking precedence.

If you’re determined to make it work, there are a number of ways to ensure you don’t miss out on your weekly cycling fix.

Organisation is the key to being able to squeeze a quick ride into your hectic schedule, and just making one or two changes to your routine will enable you to get back into the saddle in no time.

 

Commuting

 

Although it isn’t quite the same as hurtling down an empty country road, cycling to work can be a very effective way of ensuring you get some much-needed time on the bike. It could potentially cut down the length of your commute, and it will certainly eliminate the misery of being stuck in convoy of static vehicles each morning. There are a number of models which are specifically designed for commuters, and these require very little maintenance; however, the majority of road bikes would also be sufficient to get you to and from the office each day.

Not only will cycling to work improve aerobic-fitness levels, but it is also likely to aid concentration, and has the potential to increase positivity in the workplace. Other benefits include improvements to sleep patterns and the ability to help alleviate stress.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]

Get Up Early

 

Although the thought of a 6am alarm seems reasonably unappealing, getting out early can have huge benefits, and you’d be surprised by the number of like-minded individuals who relish the opportunity to squeeze in a pre-dawn pedal. It is significantly easier to rouse yourself during the summer, however, it’s vitally important to keep a consistent routine throughout the winter months as well.

It can often be difficult to motivate yourself to get out of bed and resist hitting the snooze button, although thinking of the long-term benefits, and the prospect of perfect solitude may just be enough to persuade even the sleepiest of cyclists to hit the road.

As well as being organised, and ensuring everything is in place the night before, having the same structure each week can also be beneficial. Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome often speaks about the importance of getting into a routine, and how it can accelerate your progress as an athlete. The Kenyan-born cyclist also recommends having several interval days, and suggests that taking a friend along can improve the overall experience, especially over longer trips. Froome is currently the 3/1 second favourite in the cycling betting for the Tour de France 2020, and the 34-year old will be determined to bounce back after missing this year’s iconic race due to injury.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]

Include the Family

 

If you’re unable to escape family commitments, it may actually be possible to take them with you. Whilst it would be ill-advised to throw them straight in at the deep end, there are a number of family trails around the UK which are ideal for getting started. The National Parks are a great place to begin, and bike hire can be relatively inexpensive for any members of the family who don’t own suitable equipment.

Of course, it won’t have the same benefits of a high-octane pre-work 20-mile dash, but it is a great way of spending time with the family and squeezing in some much-needed time in the saddle.

Finding time to get your cycling fix can be extremely tough. Juggling a work-life balance can be hard enough without worrying about when you’ll get chance to get back on your bike. However, there are plenty of solutions available, and just making small adjustments to your daily routine will significantly improve your chances of hitting the road. 

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