Cycling

All over the world there have been a number of restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 which have impacted our regular day to day lives massively. As a result of this, our mental health has been greatly impacted by these rules and regulations. But to help us keep ourselves balanced we have seen a large uptake in people exercising and getting creative, so within this blog post we are going to look at the various ways in which you can improve your physical and mental health during a lockdown.

Find Activities Which Engage Your Brain

While in a lockdown you might find yourselves spending a lot more time at home by yourself. And more often than not we find that alone time can be precious but can also be hindering to your mental health if you have too much of it and feel isolated. During these times you may find that you find yourself binge watching TV series and movies or endlessly scrolling through social media. But these provide only a limited amount of satisfaction and engagement before becoming mundane.

Therefore, you could start to find activities to fill your day with which will keep your mind engaged and almost distracted from the current situation to create a feeling of peace. You could work your way through puzzle books such as wordsearches, crosswords, sudoku to keep your mind active. There is also the option to join in with online and TV show quizzes as well as the possibility to start a family, friends or work quiz which could also give you the social interaction you may have been craving.

As well as looking into puzzles and quizzes you could also join a number of online courses and start studying a subject which has caught your eye, but you have never found the time to sit down and go through properly. Finding a course that interests you will keep you motivated and could also help with future

In the UK, and most western countries, there is a high incidence of obesity. A report published in 2019 highlighted that 28.7% of adults in the UK were obese and a further 35.6% were in the overweight category; this means that less than 36% of the adult population in the United Kingdom is of an acceptable weight for their height. This statistic makes it clear why the diet and exercise industry is big business. However, if people were successful at weight loss these statistics wouldn’t be so shocking.

When embarking on a weight loss regime many people opt to do one or both of the following:

1. Improve their diet and decrease calorie intake
2. Begin/increase exercise

Many people lose varying amounts of weight; however, the vast majority of people quickly put it back on, and often more, quite quickly after stopping their new regime. So, what could we do differently to make weight loss sustainable? Are diet and exercise equal? What are the benefits of each? Keep reading to find out all the answers to these questions and more.

Is Diet or Exercise Better for Weight Loss?

Food is emotive; most people love to eat it is social, the tastes and textures can evoke memories and feelings of happiness, and chemicals in some foods can release feel good hormones in the body. However, most of us lean toward unhealthier foods to satisfy these feelings. Many people struggle to change their eating habits so go along the exercise route to promote weight loss. The problem with this is that the mentality of ‘I run to eat’ often means limited or no weight loss. It is hard to lose weight through exercise alone.

Some studies suggest that the impact of exercise on weight loss is minimal, with the statistics estimating that diet is responsible for around 80% and exercise 20%. This however doesn’t mean that you should hang up your running shoes; it means that exercise alone is unlikely to make

Modern life is often high-pressured; and more so than for previous generations. Today with an idea of ‘perfect’ being incessantly portrayed on social media young adults and working families come under a lot of pressure to conform. Pressure to achieve goals and progress your career, while being a devoted partner and gushing parent with high-achieving kids is taking its toll on modern families. Add to that the pressure to look good, exercise regularly and eat healthily many men and women feel as though they are failing at so called ‘adulting’! However, could exercise and healthy eating actually make it easier to succeed in other areas or your life, and improve your work-life balance?

Life of a Working Parent in 2020

Many parents spend each week juggling work, childcare, housework, and other commitments such as family, friends and extra-curricular activities. Most parents get through each week and complete everything required of them; but how many feel that they are doing a good job?

A 2019 study, based on UK participants, highlighted that working mothers with two children are on average 40% more stressed than their same age counterparts without children. A similar study also noted that 44% of parents check their work emails or do work in an evening. These statistics indicate that there is a lack of work-life balance for parents and families in 2020.

In addition, even before adding the stress of parenthood to the mix, it appears that young people age 16-24 are also suffering under the burden of pressure. A 2018 survey in the UK estimates that a concerning 60% of young adults, in the age range 16-24, struggle to cope with the pressures of everyday life. This generat

Here in the UK and around the globe we are all facing huge changes to our daily lives due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Since March many countries have been in lockdown with residents allowed outside for only certain activities. In the UK outdoor exercise has been on the allowed list throughout. Initially everyone was permitted to go out for exercise once per day for an hour, while following strict social distancing guidelines. Since May 2020 the guidance has been altered to allow unlimited exercise, but social distancing rules remain.

Exercise is more important now than ever. With many peoples usually active lifestyle at a standstill and gym facilities, both indoor and outdoor, closed it is easy to become more sedentary. Add to this boredom eating, and the negative mental health effects of such a drastic lifestyle change, exercise could be a helpful focus for many people.  So, we thought we would take a look at the different types of exercise available, the social distancing guidance for each and how you can get started if your usual exercise type is currently unavailable.

Social Distance Running

In the UK running has been one of the go-to activities throughout the Covid-19 lockdown, and it is easy to see why. Most people can have a go at running even if they have never done it before, there are loads of free/cheap apps to help get you started such as Couch to 5K Runner. The only equipment that is essential is a pair of running trainers, and you can do it by yourself or with other family members.

If you already go out running or are inspired to give it a go after almost two months of lockdown, there are just a few things to bear in mind to ensure that you comply with social distancing rules.

1. Maintain a 2-metre distance wherever possible – as a runner you are likely to overtake people walking on the pavement, be sure to do so at a safe distance, consider crossing the r

Bike technology and design is always evolving as we see new trends and developments arise each year. Therefore, within this blog post we are going to explore the top 5 mountain bikes which are already released for 2020. We will look into what sets them apart from the rest, what enhancements they have received along with the average price for each model. The bikes in particular which we are going to look at today are:

• Specialized Enduro
• 2020 Trek Top Fuel
• KTM Sonic Scarf
• Santa Cruz Hightower
• Scott Contessa Ransom 901

We are only a few weeks into 2020 and we are already seeing new cycling technology hitting the market which is giving us an insight as to what to expect for this coming year. Road bikes are the most popular type of bicycle for athletes and commuters as they are designed to be used on the road rather than muddy off-road tracks. Within this article we are going to explore five bicycles which have been released for this year and see how their technology has been updated to make them the most lusted after bikes on the sale at the moment:

• Cannondale SuperSix Evo
• Trek Domane
• BMC Roadmachine
• Scott Addict
• Specialized Roubaix

Is your loved one an avid cyclist? Whether they use their bike to commute to work, compete in races or enjoy taking it off-road on hair raising tracks, then this article will help you decide on the perfect gift for them for Christmas. It may appear that they have everything they need for their cycling adventures, therefore we have created this gift guide to provide you with inspiration to find the ideal gift for them. Covering a range of budgets and categories, read below to find our list of amazing cycling gift ideas.

Some of the types of gift ideas you will find in this article are:

• Novelty ideas
• Cycling clothing
• Cycling gadgets and accessories

Whether you cycle casually or competitively the market for new and innovative biking tech is forever changing to make your ride as safe and well-planned as ever. Throughout 2019 we have already seen a number of brands launch new cycling tech which would benefit you in a variety of aspects during your ride. Therefore, we have put this cohesive article together to discuss the standout technology gadgets which you can purchase today. So, if you want to see how the market for biking accessories and tech has evolved this year, then keep on reading to find out more about:

• Bike mounted safety gear
• Strava application
• Wearable tech
• Mounted GPS

One of the main things which draws people to cycling is the sense of adventure. When you are on your bike you can travel to just about anywhere, from short journeys and commutes to travelling a long distance to explore, the possibilities are endless. Short rides don’t normally require too much preparation beforehand, however if you are planning on going on a longer distance cycle, you would need to ensure that you are fully equipped with the right nutrition and amount of water to keep yourself fuelled. Therefore, within this article we are going to look into the best food and water prep which will see you through your long journey happily. Our tips in this article include:

• Breakfast preparation
• Food on the go
• Ensuring that you stay hydrated
• Importance of staying hydrated
• Making sure you get enough recovery time

Do you enjoy using the machines at the gym but want to train in the comfort of your own home in a supportive environment? Then Zwift training could be something you should look into giving a go.  Within this article we are going to explore what the Zwift brand is all about and how you can update your training regime using virtual training equipment. So, if you want to find out more about Zwift, then keep on reading.

Within this article we cover:

• What is Zwift?
• How to get involved