The pandemic has certainly taught us to appreciate the many little blessings we have in life. We learned not to take for granted our health, our loved ones and certainly the great outdoors.
For most of us, the way we plan our travel has certainly changed, making us more inclined towards outdoor activities. Imagine feeling the gentle breeze of fresh air or the warm morning sun after a period of quarantine. Nothing feels more liberating than that! Hence, why not consider going on a biking tour? Here are six reasons why you should!
1. Cycle for a healthier you while exploring new places!
The health benefits of cycling have long been known. Cycling is a good total body cardio workout, engaging almost every group of our muscles. Besides its benefits to our physical well-being, cycling might be a balm to our mental health as well.
With the stress of everyday life and living in such times of uncertainty, we need to cater to our mental well-being as much. Cycling or any form of physical activity releases endorphins, our body’s very own feel-good substances, which in turn boost our spirits and enable us to live in the moment.
What’s more, we can bring our love for travelling into the picture while going on a cycling tour, a win-win situation.
2. Mother Nature will thank you
I’m sure many of us are aware of the restoration of life and order in Mother Nature during the early phase of the pandemic or have seen documentaries depicting it. I certainly wouldn’t want to go back to those days but the Earth truly healed itself when humans are in lockdown, during which there were fewer human activities and cars on the road.
Cycling is a good way to reduce carbon emissions on Earth and conserve the environment of places you visit. By taking care of the ecosystem, all lifeforms will benefit from your kind effort.
3. It saves cost and resources
With the current turn of world events, the prices of oil and gas have skyrocketed. There is no better time than now to rely on more cost-friendly travel alternatives.
While not everyone can afford an electric car, why not choose a more affordable alternative – bicycles! Convert your favourite nasi lemak or roti canai into fuel for moving your bike, it can save you a ton on petrol and medical bills.
4. Discover new places on a more intimate level
Cycling exposes us to the great outdoors and enables us to soak in the sights, smells, and senses of the places we encounter during our journey or at our destination. The journey becomes an essential part of our travel experience.
Along our journey, we get to be up close and personal with the locals and witness with our bare eyes the landscapes, culture and architecture of a place. We can interact with the surrounding with all our senses.
5. Get to know like-minded people
Birds of a feather flock together. By joining group cycling tours, you can meet people from all walks of life that share a common interest. Besides, you can group with your cycling buddies to form a convoy to discover new places together.
The pandemic has truly limited our interactions, while work and studies can easily cut us off from fostering new friendships with people of similar interests. Let’s take some time out of our routines to enjoy some healthy activities and foster new connections while going on our dream trip.
6. You can support altruistic causes while cycling
Many cycling rides are organized to support noble causes. For example, if you’re planning a trip to Borneo and wish to join a cycling ride, why not consider joining Cycle for Cancer 2022, an event organized by MMA (Malaysia Medical Association) to raise funds for MAKNA (Malaysian National Cancer Council)?
Brace yourself for a ride spanning more than 1100km across beautiful Borneo. You will get to enjoy picturesque sights and marvel at the natural wonders the island has to offer. You will also get to enjoy the time of your life while making a difference in the lives of cancer patients. Find out more here. Registration ends 31 May 2022!
Are you up for the challenge?
Finally, let’s challenge ourselves in preparation for our next biking tour. As biking tours often cover long distances and can span days, let’s train ourselves for the ride ahead. For couch potatoes, do not despair.
Start with small steps like going on short bike tours around familiar surroundings or start a fitness routine, adding in some cycling. You will truly reap its benefits. For those avid cyclers out there, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and plan that biking tour you dream of and challenge your limits!
