Fundraising
Keep Britain cycling this winter
This winter we are helping to keep Britain cycling by encouraging the nation to take on our virtual cycling challenge, MyCycle.
Cycling has never been more popular. Earlier this year the Secretary for Transport announced levels of cycling in the UK has increased as much as 200% in 2020 and Forbes revealed that between April and June 2020, bicycle sales increased by 63% year-on-year.
But as the winter draws near how many of us will make our new hobby a healthy habit? Signing up for a challenge like MyCycle is a great way to help people stay motivated to keep cycling throughout the winter months and improve their heart health.
Four reasons cycling why is good for you and your heart:
• Improves fitness and cardiovascular health - being physically active helps to reduce your risk of heart and circulatory diseases. Cycling is a great way to improve your cardiovascular fitness as it raises your heart rate and helps burn calories, which could contribute to weight loss. The resistance element of cycling also helps to build and tone muscle, improving your overall fitness.
• Gentle on your joints - cycling is a low impact sport compared to other aerobic activities, like running, and therefore kinder to your joints.
• Good for you and good for the environment - cycling is not only good for your physical well-being, it is also good for the environment. Choosing to cycle on our journeys helps create less air pollution, which in turn is better for heart and lungs.
• Improves mental wellbeing - many of us experience a dip in mood over the winter months. Exercise, such as cycling, helps to increases your level of endorphins which are a natural mood booster and can have a positive impact on your mental health. Completing a challenge or goal, like MyCycle, can also have positive affect on your mental health. This combined with the knowledge that the miles you’re covering are helping to raise vital funds for the our life saving research, is sure to put you in a good mood.
MyCycle
MyCycle, has three challenges suitable for riders of all cycling abilities. You can choose to ride 100, 200 or 300+ miles over 30 days and raise vital funds for our life saving research. It doesn’t matter how you cover the distance – you can do it on the road or in the gym and on your own or as part of a team.
Cyclists who raise £150 or more will receive our exclusive MyCycle medal to celebrate their achievement.
Setting yourself a challenge will help keep you motivated
Barbara Kobson, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “It’s fantastic to see such an increase in the number of people cycling in 2020. As winter draws in it’s especially important for us to keep active, especially as many of us are faced with further lockdown measures. Government advice recommends adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity, each week.”
“Setting yourself a challenge like MyCycle will not only help raise vital funds for the BHF’s life saving research, but it will keep you motivated to get on the bike even when it’s cold and wet.”