Learning to Ride a Bike: The Joys and Benefits

18 Dec

Learning to ride a bike can be a source of great pride and enjoyment for any person, but it isn’t all just fun and games, learning to ride offers a wide range of developmental benefits, both physical and cognitive.

Whilst some physical benefits can include lower limb strengthening and improvement in a new bike rider’s stamina, coordination and balance, cognitive changes can also be seen in their planning, visual/spatial working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibition.

Importance of the above areas:

Lower limb strengthening: Pedalling engages the major muscle groups in the lower limbs, therefore contributing to the development of a rider’s leg strength and overall physical fitness.
Stamina: The continuous pedalling motion helps to strengthen a rider’s cardiovascular system, which in turn will build their stamina or endurance when it comes to bike riding, enabling them to ride further and faster than before!
Coordination & Balance: Riding a bike requires the use of your fine motor skills (manipulating the handlebars and brakes) and gross motor skills (pedalling and maintaining balance), repeated use of these skills will see a great improvement in a new rider’s overall coordination and balance.
Planning: Although you might not think it at first, planning and decision making are a key part of the bike riding experience. These skills are put to the test in rider’s when it comes to choosing your riding route and judging your speed.
Cognitive flexibility: Adapting to the terrain ahead of you is great mental exercise to improve your cognitive flexibility, which is extremely beneficial in assisting people in being able to switch tasks and perspectives with greater ease.
Inhibition: Learning to navigate traffic and follow safety rules requires inhibitory control, a cognitive skill that is strengthened through the process of learning to ride a bike.

Eager to improve your bike riding skills? One Culture Support Services has new Learn to Ride sessions coming up in January 2024 in both Adelaide SA and the Central Coast NSW! Get guidance from our knowledgable Allied Health Assistants about your riding skills so they can get you riding rings around your friends in no time! Adelaide sessions will be held on Wednesday 17th, Thursday 18th, and Friday 19th of January from 2:30pm to 4pm at Futsal Park, Lionel Avenue, Blair Athol SA. Central Coast sessions will be held on Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th of January from 1pm to 2:30pm and from 2:30pm to 4pm at Garnet Adcock Memorial Park, West Gosford NSW. Book in by clicking SA or NSW!