True, it cuts down on your gas bill and reduces your carbon
footprint, but the most obvious reason for leaving your car in
the garage tomorrow for Bike to Work day is right under your
nose—or at least several inches below your nose: your heart .
Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart muscle at the same time
that it helps keep weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure at
healthy levels. It may also reduce arterial inflammation, which
increases heart-attack risk, and slow the progression of heart
disease. Need another reason to bike? It can stave off
arthritis. A recent study suggests that women with stronger
quadriceps (the muscle at the front of the thigh) are less
likely to get painful knee arthritis. Thirty minutes of
moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week can start with
a brisk walk or a jog—but if walking bores you and running is
hard on your knees, biking might be just the thing that helps
you start or re-start a healthy habit. A word on safety: Helmets
are one of the most effective ways to avoi