It’s already known that cyclists typically have a level of fitness equivalent to being 10 years younger, but now scientists believe cycling could be responsible for maintaining youth itself; a two-wheeled fountain of youth.
Researchers at Kings College London monitored 120 cyclists aged between 55 and 79 and failed to observe signs of ageing that would be typical in the same age profile.
Cycling can counter the ageing effect of a sedentary lifestyle
Cycling and the ‘fountain of youth’
Cycling and the fountain of youth. The association may seem fanciful, but the researchers found that regulat riders ‘optimise the ageing proces’. Steve Harridge of King’s College London, senior author of the study published in the Journal of Physiology said: “We had assumed that there is a linear straight line decline in physiology with ageing, but that is very unlikely to be the case. We’re not saying we’re reversing ageing, but that cycling seems to optimise the ageing process.”
“Because most of the population is largely sedentary, the tendency is to assume that inactivity is the inevitable condition for humans. However, given that our genetic inheritance stems from a period when high levels of physical activity were the likely norm, being physically active should be considered to play an essential role in maintaining health and well-being throughout life.”
In order to qualify for the study, the 120 cyclists had to be capable of covering 100 km (60 km for women) in less than five and a half hours. The subjects had their respiratory, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, metabolic, endocrine and cognitive functions assesed over two days.
According to the researchers, the main problem facing such health research is sedentary lifestyle, which causes physiological problems at any age. This can cause confusion over how much the decline in bodily functions is due to the natural ageing process and how much to the combined effects of ageing and inactivity.
Lucy MacArthur
An interesting article which confirms what many of us (cyclists) already know – or at least suspected!
Karin Starmar
I am not a car driver, so public transport and the cycle are my two options, apart from walking. But I can for see that if I had a car, I would probably resort to the comfort and warmth that it provided and not cycle. Although we know that exercise is essential, getting from A to B can be more important at the time, so the cycle might be shelved in place of an easy car ride. When cycling, the elements take their toll, and clothing and shopping are first to get wet from the rain. However in Holland they have wind proof umbrella which are attached to bikes and can withstand 70mph winds. Also the bikes are fitted in a superior way with carriers and internal bike locks etc, which all make for a more suitable and convenient travelling mode.