Cycling through the years: how pedalling keeps you young

We all age. But what if we didn’t have to age quite so fast?

We’re told that physical decline is an inevitable part of growing older, but a growing body of research suggests that the rate of decline might be less about age – and more about how we live. And for those who cycle regularly, the news is startlingly good.

Turns out, pushing pedals might just help you push back the biological clock. A two-wheeled fountain of youth.
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A UK study found that regular cyclists had the fitness levels of people five to ten years younger. Unlike other forms of low-impact physical activity, cycling often includes short bursts of intensity – think hills, headwinds or making up time on your commute becuse you slept through the alarm. These bursts do more than get your heart pumping: they actively improve your cardiorespiratory fitness, lower blood pressure, and reduce body fat.

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All this isn’t just about feeling fitter. It’s about living longer – and better. Studies have shown cyclists are significantly less likely to develop heart disease.
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In 2018, researchers turned their attention to the muscle cells of older cyclists aged 55 to 79. Not your occasional Sunday riders, mind you – these were high-mileage, committed cyclists.

What they found surprised them. Thigh muscle cells – critical for mobility and strength – showed barely any signs of ageing. Even the mitochondria, the cell’s energy factories that usually wind down with time, were still going strong.
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The second study focused on another casualty of ageing: the immune system. As we get older, our T-cells – white blood cells that help us fight viruses – typically decrease. This makes us more vulnerable to everything from colds to serious infections.

But in older cyclists T-cell levels looked more like those of someone much younger. In the control group – people of similar age who didn’t cycle – the expected decline was evident. The message was clear: the drop in immunity might be less about age, and more about inactivity.

That’s powerful. Because while we can’t stop time, we can choose to move.
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As research piles up, the message is becoming hard to ignore: cycling doesn’t just add years to your life – it adds life to your years.

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Cycle Rescue is free with ETA bicycle insurance

If you suffer a breakdown (including punctures, or even a flat e-bike battery) while out cycling, our 24-hour Cycle Rescue team is on hand to arrange transport for you and your bicycle to a safe location. The service is included for free with ETA cycle insurance, along with:

• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
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The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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